TOURING CAMP. Touring Camp asphalt and easy dirt roads, loads of social experience and stunning landscapes.

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Eleanore Griffin
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1 TOURING CAMP Touring Camp asphalt and easy dirt roads, loads of social experience and stunning landscapes. Duration: 8 days (6 days riding) Distance per day: 40-70km Elevation per day: m. Technical difficulty: easy (asphalt cycling experience required, any off-road cycling experience required) Physical difficulty: moderate (good physical conditions, frequent sport activities required) Accommodation: mountain hotels and family-run guest houses DAY 1 Arrival Detailed itinerary Arrival at Sofia Airport, Bulgaria. Transfer to the hotel in Sofia and check-in. Get together meeting and short discussion. Optional: Evening visit and dinner in city downtown, accompanied by our guide. Overnight in Sofia. DAY 2 Transfer to the village of Sestrimo, 2,30 min Route Distance: 52 km Start point/finish point: village of Sestrimo/town of Velingrad Start/Highest/Finish Elevation: 1434m/1960m/750m Description: The first day of our trip takes us up in the mountain for a refreshing day away from the heat. The support car leaves us a few kilometers up the valley of Kriva Reka River, just after the village of Sestrimo. We start with 12 kilometers of steady ascent on asphalt with several steeper sections. A rewarding panorama awaits us at the end of the uphill. As we reach the mirror surface of Belmeken Dam, we can enjoy the view towards the massive green peaks of Belmeken and Kameniti

2 Chal. Moreover, back in the distance, the Alpine forms of Pirin Mountain also offer us stunning views. After a few kilometers of flat terrain, we leave the dam behind us and start a long descent towards the town of Velingrad. On the way, we pass by the village of Youndola, where the geographical border between Rila and Rhodope mountain passes. The village is also famous for its market for forest fruits and forest fruit jams. We continue towards the atmospheric village of St.Petka located on a picturesque ridge. To finish our route in Velingrad we join major road, so we expect a few cars from time to time. Accents: high mountains panoramas, Belmeken Dam, fruit market, long descent Overnight in the town of Velingrad DAY 3 Transfer to the village of Avramovo, 30 min Route Distance: 53 km Start point/finish point: the village of Avramovo/the village of Godlevo Start/Highest/Finish Elevation: 1300m/1710m/916m Duration: 4-5 hours Description: Today we have a day of mixed terrains in between series of Pomak villages scattered around the grassy ridges of Rhodope Mountains. The Pomaks are Bulgarian Muslims who were Christian Heretics and accepted Islam during the Ottoman presence on the Balkan peninsula (15 18 century). We start cycling from the village of Avramovo, famous for being the highest train station on the Balkans. The asphalt takes us towards the village of Rohlevo where an easy forest road ascends towards Peak Velica. The road is sandy and smooth, offers no major technical difficulties and several steep sections. After the peak ahead of us is only descent with great panoramas towards Pirin and Rila mountains. Soon we reach the village of Ortzevo, where we start cycling on a quiet and picturesque asphalt road through a few more Pomak villages. The end of the descent is the in valley of Mesta River, by the village of Kraishte. We continue towards the end of the tour with two short ascends and descends until the village of Godlevo. Here we stay for an overnight in a family-run guest house with self production of vegetables and dairy products. Accents: Pomak villages and lifestyle, easy forest road riding, overnight in familyrun guest house Overnight in the village of Godlevo DAY 4

3 Transfer to village of Mesta, 30 min Route Distance: 53 km Start point/finish point: the village of Mesta/the village of Dabnitza Start/Highest/Finish Elevation: 670m/1270m/500m Description: The day starts down in the valley of Mesta river, near the village of Mesta. A head of us we have a 400m ascent towards the village of Osenovo. Though the road climbs steep and requires some commitment, it is rewarding. We pass by the impressive rock formation Svadbata (The wedding) and soon we reach the village. From now on we ride on one of the most panoramic stretch of the whole camp tour. The road continues either gently climbing or flat until we reach another picturesque Pomaks village, called Ribnovo. During the whole time, we can enjoy great views towards Pirin and Slavyanka Mountain, Mesta River and event part of Greece. After Ribnovo we continue our panoramic tour for several kilometers until we get to Osikovo villige, where a nice decent back to Mesta valley starts. Accents: Pomak villages and lifestyle, panoramic day, Svadbata rock formation Transfer to village of Dolen, 30 min Overnight in the village of Dolen DAY 5 Route Distance: 60 km Start point/finish point: the village of Dolen/ the village of Trigrad Start/Highest/Finish Elevation: 1019m/1392m/1063m Description: A day of distance with no major ascents, but lots of short climbs and descents. Today s route will take us along a road that winds deep inside Rhodope Mountains. The road is of local importance and has some traffic in the early morning and late afternoon, but should not be considered a menace. The route starts with a short descent. Afterwards, we continue cycling through the hilly terrain surrounding the town of Satovcha, until we reach the impressive Dospat dam and the town of the same name. Until the end of the route we continue cycling surrounded by mild Rhodopian landscapes passing by an old Roman bridge and several typical for the region villages. After the village of Borino our route turns off the main road and enters the dramatic Trigrad Gorge, after which is our overnight venue. Midway in the gorge we make a stop for a visit of the Devils Throat Cave with the biggest underground waterfall in Bulgaria. Accents: Dospat Dam, Rhodope landscapes and lifestyle, Trigrad gorge and Devil`s Throat Cave

4 Overnight in the village of Trigrad DAY 6 Route Distance: 42 km Start point/finish point: the village of Trigrad/the town of Smolyan Start/Highest/Finish Elevation: 1063m/1805m/989m Description: We start our day with a beautiful decent through the Gorge of Trigrad until we reach the village of Gyovren, here our route turns on a easy forest road. Ahead is a long and not too steep ascent that will end into the magical village of Mugla, famous for its preserved traditions and folklore gatherings. After a rest in the village we start descending on a quite asphalt road, which will take us to the mountain town of Smolyan. Overnight in the town of Smolyan DAY 7 Transfer to village of Momchilovtsi, 30 min Route Distance: 46 km Start point/finish point: the village of Momchilovtsi/the village of Yugovo Start/Highest/Finish Elevation: 1210m/1690m/536m Description: The last day of riding starts in the village in Momchilovtsi. A steady and long descent will take us all the way towards the village of Yugovo. Firstly, we ride in between green meadows with panoramas over the hilly peaks of Rhodope Mountains. After the town of Laki, the road follows the valley of Yugovska river. Impressive rock formation appears here and there. As we start to go deep into the valley we reach another main road where our support car awaits us. Transfer to town of Asenovgrad, 30 min Overnight in the town of Asenovgrad DAY 8 Optional: Visit of Thracian sanctuary Belintash or Plovdiv city tour. Transfer to Sofia Departure: Airport sofia

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