Stay in the heart of Sofia after a superb long weekend of walking in the Pirin Mountains of Bulgaria. The ultimate short break to Vihren (2914m) and Kotelo (2908m) Fantastic introduction to via ferrata on the airy Marble Ridge Experience the welcoming capital of Sofia and all meals included Visit the spectacular Rila Monastery a UNESCO World Heritage site HOLIDAY CODE BWE Bulgaria, Trek & Walk, 4 Days 1 night hotel, 2 nights guesthouse, 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners, max group size: 12, 2 days trekking, max altitude - 2914m VIEW DATES, PRICES & BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY HERE
PAGE 2 Introduction This latest addition to our successful range of weekend adventure breaks takes you to the wild Pirin Mountains of Bulgaria and includes one of the most spectacular ridge ascents in Europe. Rugged and dramatic, the Pirin mountains of Bulgaria have some of the most breath taking and undiscovered mountain scenery in Europe. In true KE style, we ascend Kotelo `the Horse` via the breath-taking and airy Marble Ridge before heading up Vihren. After two fantastic summits we take a cable car up to the Bezbog Hut and follow ridge-top paths and traverse alpine meadows to the peak of Mt. Polejan (2851m). On leaving the mountains we pay a visit to the fantastically located and ornate Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Finally to round off this trekking adventure we return to Bulgaria's welcoming capital, Sofia. With its gold domed cathedral, pavement cafes and laid back atmosphere, this is a great city to end the weekend. Is this holiday for you? This is a real mountain adventure with significant amounts of ascent and descent on two days. The trails are predominantly good paths but sections of stony ground will be encountered. During our ascent of the Marble Ridge, the group will be provided with a via ferrata harness for extra security. Apart from the Marble Ridge there is very little exposure on either days. As with any mountain area the weather can be unpredictable but we would anticipate good conditions for each of our scheduled departures. You will walk for an average of 10 hours on day 2 with a further 4-5 hours on day 3. This exciting long weekend of walking is suitable for regular hill walkers, looking for an excellent jam-packed short break in a largely undiscovered part of the world. Holiday Itinerary Day 1: Meet at the group hotel in Bankso. A single timed transfer from Sofia Airport is provided. Arrive at Sofia Airport. Once the group is all together, KE Land Only package begins with a single, timed group transfer (approx 2hrs) to our hotel in Bansko. Situated 160 km from the capital and in the south-western region of Bulgaria, Bansko lies at the foot of the Pirin mountains. With a reputation as Bulgaria's most popular ski resort, during the summer months the town has a more laid back feel and a rich cultural history. We aim to arrive at the group hotel mid-afternoon, leaving time for a quick wander and freshen up before we re-group for dinner and our trek briefing. ACCOMMODATION GUESTHOUSE MEALS D Day 2: Spectacular ascent of Vihren (2914m) and Kotelo (2911m) via the Marble Ridge. The distinctive peaks of Vihren and Kotelo are the highlights of the weekend and many find ascending the airy Marble Ridge a fantastic and memorable achievement. To ascend Vihren we head to the Vihren Hut and from here we ascend steeply at first through forest opening out into meadow affording us fine views of Vihren s towering west face. From here the well-marked trail ascends steadily, before we make a short, steep scree scramble, followed by a steady climb to a col. Here we make the exciting, optional return traverse of the Koncheto, Marble Ridge. The Koncheto is a genuine knife-edge ridge. A traverse across the ridge to the summit of Kotelo (2911m) is an exposed and airy undertaking, although aided by a fixed wire cable for support and solid rock underfoot. Via ferrata harnesses giving extra security are provided locally (and must be carried on this day). For those not wishing to make the 2 hour round trip traverse of the Koncheto it is possible to wait at the col and enjoy the extensive views. Back at the col, Vihren's summit is achieved by way of a 30 minute steep, but straightforward, rocky ascent.
PAGE 3 From the summit, on a clear day, we will be rewarded with a magnificent 360º panorama of not only the Pirin and Rila Mountains, but also the lesser known Rhodopi Mountains and on occasion, even into Greece and Macedonia. We descend by way of a scenic path to meet up with our transport at the Vihren hut and return by vehicle to Bansko. After taking a shower we can toast our success over dinner with a Zagorka beer or a glass of the excellent locally produced Melnik wine. ACCOMMODATION GUESTHOUSE MEALS BLD ASCENT 1200M DESCENT 1200M DISTANCE 11KM TIME 8-9HRS HOURS GPS DATA VIEW NOW Day 3: Walk to Lake Bezbog, explore the UNESCO Rila Monastery and transfer to Sofia. Today is an easier day after yesterday as we start with a transfer to the Doze Delchev Hut. We take a 25min chairlift ride to reach the superbly located Bezbog Hut, situated on the shores of Lake Bezbog (2240m). After taking in the views we walk to Mt. Polejan (2851m), the highest granite peak in the Pirin Mountains and one of the highest summits in the north east part of Pirin. From here we are rewarded with amazing views over the biggest glacier lake in the Pirin Mountains Lake Popovoto. After descending we transfer to the Rila Monastery. This UNESCO World Heritage site is situated at 1147m and one of Bulgaria s most celebrated. Looking more like a fortress with magnificent 24m stone walls in the shape of a pentagon, the monastery has provided shelter and security to countless pilgrims who have visited the site since the 14th Century. After time to view the magnificent murals and architecture, we'll transfer to Sofia for our final night and celebratory group meal. ACCOMMODATION HOTEL MEALS BLD ASCENT 600M DESCENT 600M DISTANCE 7KM TIME 4-5 HRS TREKKING HOURS GPS DATA VIEW NOW Day 4: Depart Sofia. A single timed transfer to Sofia Airport is provided. Depending on your departure time you may have time to explore the centre of Sofia taking in some of the sights that this interesting capital has to offer. A must see in Sofia is The Crypt Icon Museum in the Aleksander Nevski Cathedral which holds the largest collection of Orthodox icons in Europe, a total of 200 icons dating from the 13th to 19th Century. This impressive basilica, the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedral in the world, can hold up to 10,000 people and its showcase is a beautiful gold plated dome. Sofia is a welcoming capital and if you wish to extend your time in the group hotel, we can help organise that for you. KE Land Only package services end after breakfast with a single timed group transfer to Sofia Airport. MEALS B Holiday Information What's Included An experienced professional English-speaking Bulgarian Mountain Guide A single timed Sofia Airport transfer on days 1 and 4 All accommodation as described in the trip dossier All meals Vehicle support throughout the trek
PAGE 4 What's Not Included Travel insurance Airport transfers (other than the single timed group transfers) Tips for local staff Miscellaneous personal expenses Meal Plan All meals are included from Dinner on Day 1 to Breakfast on Day 4. Food In the evening we will enjoy a three course meal which will predominantly feature dishes of trout, pork, chicken etc. cooked in Bulgarian style. Vegetarian and other special diets can be catered for, although choices are usually limited. All meals are included in the trip price but you may wish to buy additional snacks for the trekking day. On most days we will come across a mountain hut where we can buy a hot or cold drink and light snacks. Lunches will be a simple, but a filling picnic and shared amongst the group to carry each day. The lunches will usually consist of fresh bread, ham, salami, tomatoes, cheese and fresh fruit. Joining Arrangements & Transfers A single timed group transfer will provided on day 1 of the trip itinerary from Sofia Airport to Bansko. This transfer will depart Sofia Airport at approx 13.30 after the arrival of the Easyjet flight from Manchester and British Airways from London. On the final day of the trip itinerary a single timed group transfer will be provided from the group hotel in Sofia centre to Sofia Airport and is timed to arrive at Sofia Airport at approx 9.30, in time for the departure of the Easyjet flight to Manchester and British Airways to London. Taxis to and from the centre and the airport are easy to organise and cost between 5 and 10 euros depending on the time of the day. The KE leader and hotel can help organise this if you wish to leave at an earlier or later time on day 4. Hotel contact details and an emergency number will be provided with your booking confirmation. Accommodation During this trip the group will spend 2 nights in a simple hotel in Bansko and a hotel in Sofia. In Sofia and Bansko accommodation will be based on twin room sharing. In Sofia we use the Hotel Sveta Sofia, excellently located in the centre of Sofia, the Sveta Sofia offers a great location to explore the city from. Single rooms are available for a supplementary cost. Sofia ia a colourful capital and If you wish to extend your time there, then please contact one of our specialist team who will be happy to book additional nights for you. For hotel prices and single supplement costs please refer to the dates and prices page of the trip on our website. Group Leader & Support Staff Professional, English speaking qualified Bulgarian Mountain Guide Altitude This holiday involves going to moderately high altitude. During the course of your trip you will reach a maximum altitude of 2851m. Most people will have no difficulty with this level of altitude but before coming on the holiday, we recommend you read the advice on trekking at altitude on our website which can be viewed via the link below. You can also talk to one of our trekking experts if you have any concerns about altitude. www.keadventure.com/ page/altitude.html
PAGE 5 Spending Money Approximately 50-75 (or equivalent in euros or dollars) should be allowed for miscellaneous expenses. We recommend that you carry your travel money in the form of currency rather than travellers cheques, since you will exchange the majority of this on the day of your arrival in Bulgaria. If you are intending to buy expensive souvenirs, you should budget accordingly (credit cards can be useful in this respect). There are ATM s at Sofia Airport and and Bansko. Note that the local currency is the Bulgarian Lev. Guidance On Tipping Tipping is the accepted way of saying thank you to your leader and local team. Tipping is entirely voluntary and should be dependent on good service. We advise you to tip as a group. Free KE Gift We give you a free gift as a way to thank all our clients who book a KE holiday. Choose from KE T-shirts, buffs, KE trek bags* (where applicable) plus many more. Alternatively you can choose to make a 10 donation to the Juniper Trust Charity. You can make your selection in your My KE account after booking. * A trek bag is not required for this holiday. You can however purchase a KE trek bag for 24.95. Delivery outside of the UK will be charged. Baggage Allowance There is no weight restriction other than that imposed by your international carrier but we do ask you to limit your luggage to one piece plus your day pack. Group Size & Holiday Status For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in Dates and Prices table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status and so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements. General Information Passport & Visas A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required for visits to countries outside the EU. The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. Please check the relevant embassy or consulate for other nationalities. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Visa requirements and charges are subject to change without notice. If you are travelling outside the EU you should have at least 2 blank pages in your passport for each country that you visit. Visa Europe UK and USA passport holders do not require a visa.
PAGE 6 Electricity Supply & Plug We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at: http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/ Preparing For Your Holiday It makes a lot of sense to spend some time before coming on a trekking or climbing trip getting some additional exercise. The fitter you are, after all, the more enjoyable you will find the experience. We would suggest that you adopt a weekly exercise regime leading up to your trip. Running, swimming and cycling are good for developing better stamina. Before departure, we suggest that you try to fit in a number of long walks in hilly country. Travel Aware As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign & Commonwealth Offices' Travel Aware campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single, authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that prior to travel, all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCO Travel Advice for their chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: www.travel.state.gov for essential travel advice and tips. KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe. Should the FCO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation. We receive regular updates direct from the FCO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground. If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office. Climate From July to September the weather is generally very good. We can expect daytime, valley temperatures of between 18ºC and 28ºC in August, dropping to 12ºC to15ºc overnight. September and July temperatures can be a few degrees cooler. Temperatures will also be cooler at altitude, but usually very pleasant for mountain trekking. As with any mountain area there is the risk of some poor weather, with rain and wind. There is always the possibility of encountering occasional late lying snow in gullies, particularly in July. But we should encounter mainly clear and sunny days even in September. This area usually enjoys a very pleasant and stable climate in summer. Books The Rough Guide to Bulgaria. Lonely Planet. Bulgaria. The Mountains of Bulgaria. Julian Perry (Limited descriptions of our route). Flight Information Flight Inclusive Or Land Only? On our website we display a UK Flight inclusive package price and Land only package price for the majority of our holidays.
PAGE 7 Flight Inclusive Notes The dates and prices above are for the FLIGHT INCLUSIVE itinerary, based on UK from London (Heathrow) to Sofia airport with BA. Outbound flights will depart the UK in the morning, arriving in the afternoon of the same day (Day 1). Return flights will depart Sofia airport in the afternoon of the last day of the itinerary, arriving in the UK later the same afternoon. Regional departures and/or alternative carriers may be available on request. Please be aware that there are often only a limited number of seats available at the advertised price. To avoid paying flight supplements, we recommend that you book as early as possible, especially during peak times. If we are unable to secure seats at the price shown, or you have requested regional departures, we will contact you with an alternative quote. Please note that you may be asked to pay for your flights in advance of your final holiday balance. Note that if you book a package including flights with KE you will benefit from full financial protection. Land Only Notes The LAND ONLY dates and prices are for the itinerary joining in Sofia. For clients making their own flight arrangements, Sofia International Airport is the most convenient for transfers to the group hotel. Please refer to 'Joining Arrangements and Transfers' for further details. Flights SHOULD NOT be booked until you have received your booking confirmation and the departure is showing 'Guaranteed to Run' or 'Limited'. Flight Options From The US For help and advice with booking your flights, we recommend you consult our friends at Exito Travel, airfare specialists since 1994. The air team at Exito are familiar with our destinations and know the airports, best airlines and potential pitfalls. If there is ever a flight change, cancellation or air-related issue before or during your travels, it's nice to know you have someone on the Exito air team looking after you. Visit their website at: www.exitotravel.com or contact the team on: keadventure@exitotravel.com &/or via phone at: 800.655.4053 ext. 8507. Why Choose KE Adventure Travel? Why Choose KE Adventure Travel? Experience KE has 31 years experience of adventure travel worldwide. All of our holidays are accompanied by an experienced leader, some of whom have worked with KE groups for many years. Many are professional guides and instructors with an unrivalled knowledge of the areas in which they work. In many parts of the world, we recruit local guides with appropriate training and experience. In addition to having the technical skills to ensure your safety, KE expects its leaders to be active members of the group. A leader should be fun to travel with and ready to share with you their enthusiasm for adventure travel and their knowledge of the area. Alongside the group leader, there will be a local support crew, which could be just a driver, or a complete team of guides, drivers, porters, muleherders and cooks. The hard work of our support crews, along with the fascinating insight they can offer into their local culture, is integral to providing you with the very best adventure travel experience. The team of KE office staff is amongst the most experienced in the business, with the proven ability to set up and operate a worldwide programme of adventures. Every one has adventure travel at heart and joins at least one trip a year. It is this depth of experience that makes KE stand out from other adventure travel operators. When you contact KE, by phone or e-mail, or visit our office, you will find the help and advice you need, from someone who has actually done the trip and can give you the benefit of their first-hand experience.
PAGE 8 KE can guarantee the very best in trek support, excellent food, a good standard of hotel and camp accommodation, plus the back up of one of the most respected companies in the business. Client satisfaction is at the top of our agenda and almost 50% of our bookings each year come from repeat business. If you are looking for adventure then look no further than KE. RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AND AWARDS Responsible Tourism has always fitted naturally with KEs travel ethic. It is important to us that our clients are not the only beneficiaries of the travel experience, but that we share a two-way relationship with the areas that we visit. We make sure that our local staff are well treated and well paid, we respect indigenous cultures, take care to protect the environment and make the most of every opportunity to make a positive contribution wherever we travel. In addition to holding an AITO 5-star Sustainable Tourism rating, we are recipients of AITO s Achievement in Sustainable Tourism Award in recognition of the work carried out over the past 20 years, giving back to the communities and areas we visit. We have been awarded Highly Commended status in the Best Tour Operator category of the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards, and were named Best Trekking Operator on Earth by National Geographic Magazine, whose criteria included commitment to responsible tourism. We continue to travel responsibly, and more information on our policy, practice, and specific projects can be found at www.keadventure.com, and on the website of our partner charity the Juniper Trust: www.junipertrust.co.uk. KEs Mountain Code is issued to our staff, trek leaders and overseas agents, and we recommend it to our clients, too! Your Complete Financial Protection KE Adventure Travel is a fully licensed and bonded tour operator. We are a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO), bonded with the CAA (ATOL 2808) and ABTA licensed (W4341). You can book your trip with KE Adventure Travel in complete confidence that all monies you pay for a trip are fully protected. BOOKING YOUR HOLIDAY Making a Booking The easiest way to make your booking is online. You will need to pay a deposit at the time of booking. This is normally 200 but for some holidays with special permit fees or internal flights, this may be more. The amount of deposit required for an individual holiday is given on the dates and prices page of the holiday. Late bookings will require full payment. We cannot confirm any booking until we receive your fully completed booking form. Adventure Travel Insurance IMPORTANT - It is a condition of joining any of our trips that you are insured against medical and personal accident risks (to include repatriation costs, air ambulance and helicopter rescue services). We also strongly recommend that you take out holiday cancellation insurance, as all deposits paid are non-refundable. Please ensure that your insurer is aware of your KE Adventure itinerary and can agree to cover the activities being undertaken. You will then need to advise us of your policy details and complete an Insurance Declaration Form. CAMPBELL IRVINE DIRECT travel insurance is available to EU residents and will cover the majority of KE Adventure holidays. It has been designed to provide cover for activities normally excluded by other insurers such as trekking, mountain biking and climbing. Please note that certain activities may attract a higher premium. In
PAGE 9 addition Campbell Irvine Direct cannot provide cover for KE climbing trips above 6000m. Cover for these can be obtained through either the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) or Snowcard. TRAVELEX is a USA based insurer offering travel insurance, which can be used by US citizens and US residents only. KE recommends the "Travelex Select" package for our holidays. If your holiday involves using mountaineering equipment (ropes, harness or crampons), for climbing or glacial travel, you should consider the "Adventure Plus Pak" optional upgrade on the Travelex Select Plan. Please refer to the 'Description of Coverage' for a summary of the terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations of the applicable Protection Plan. This policy will also cover KE climbing trips above 6000m. We hope that this trip notes has answered most of your questions. Please feel free to contact us and speak to one of our experts.
PAGE 10 Equipment List The following checklist should help you with your packing. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum. You Must Bring The Following Items: Hiking boots Socks Trekking trousers Lightweight waterproof overtrousers Underwear Baselayer shirts T-shirts and/or casual shirts Warm / fleece jacket Waterproof jacket Gloves or mittens Sunhat or cap Sunglasses Warm Hat Daypack 30 litres Sun protection (including for lips) Water bottles x2 1 Litre Washbag and toiletries Antibacterial hand wash Small padlock (to lock the trek bag) Basic First Aid Kit including: Antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium) painkillers, plasters and blister treatment, Insect repellent (DEET), and re-hydration salts (Dioralite). Glucose tablets and multi-vitamin tablets are a good idea The Following Items Are Optional: Trekking poles Trainers to travel in Spare laces Thermal baselayer - leggings Shorts
PAGE 11 Insect repellant (DEET) Camera Travel clothes Pen-knife (note: always pack sharp objects in hold baggage) Repair kit (eg. needle, thread, duct tape) NB. A via ferrata harness will be provided locally to all clients who wish to take part in the Marble Ridge traverse. This will be provided on the day of the walk to Marble Ridge (day 2) and will need to be carried in your own daypack for that day only. It will not take up much space, and will weigh a max 1.5kgs. Please note: This document was downloaded on 13 Dec 2017, and the trip is subject to change.