Trail Trekking Trigrad
Kids Activity Guide » Children Trail Trekking venues Near Trigrad » Trail Trekking Trigrad
informationvenue Details
- Packages start from €80.00
€ Prices
From €80.00
The thrilling caves of Rhodopes
About
An excursion designed for those who love adventure and the wilderness! With the help of experienced guides, explore the depths of three of the most famous caves in the Rhodope mountains – the wild Haramiiska pit cave, with its narrow corridors and the 43-meter descent via rope to the bottom of its largest chamber; the Devil’s Throat cave, a place of legend; and Yagodina cave, with its distinctive mineral formations. Highlights
• Visit the Devil’s Throat cave and see the inspiration behind several legends that have been passed down from ancient times
• Explore Yagodina cave, famous for its mineral “pearls”
• Go spelunking in the Haramiiska cave – an adventure that includes a 43-meter descend via rope to its largest chamber Description
The area of Trigrad is one of the most breathtaking in the Rhodope mountains, with several major natural landmarks and stunning scenery. This two-day trip invites you to explore three of its emblematic caves, one of which is a popular destination for the exciting sport of spelunking.
The first day is focused on enjoying the beauty of the less-extreme caves. Both are well lit and perfectly secured, and can be walked through with ease. The Devil’s Throat cave is one of the Trigrad Gorge’s most notable features.
It is 150 years old and home to a colony of over 35000 bats. According to a local legend, Orpheus entered the Underworld in search of his beloved Eurydice through this very cave.
The devil’s Throat’s so called Rumbling Chamber is the second largest cave chamber in Bulgaria – it is large enough that the St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral can fit comfortably inside it. In this chamber is the tallest subterranean waterfall in the Balkans (60 m). The underground river goes into a syphon-tunnel, and where the water flows is yet unknown. At first glance, the river emerges from the depths of the mountain with ease, only 100 m from the entrance, but an experiment in which a large section of the river was dyed showed that it takes over 2 hours for the water to run its full course and come out through the other side. Judging by the speed of the flow and the time it took for it to reach the other side, the subterranean section of the river is 40 km long. The Devil’s Throat truly lives up to its name, and it is considered one of the most mysterious places in the world.
Yagodina cave is 250 million years old, notable for its intricate stalactites, stalagmites, stalagnates and its so called “pearls” – lime beads formed out of the minerals contained within drops of water that fall on the small rocks paving the cave floor. Its beauty and romantic atmosphere make it a popular attraction for couples, and wedding ceremonies are often performed in one of its chambers. It is said that couples that get married in this cave never separate.
From there we’ll take a drive to the Eagle Eye viewing platform located an hour and a half away from Yagodina cave. Breathtaking landscapes as far as the eye can see, a view of the Buynovsko gorge from above, the mountain Rila and Pirin in the distance, and even a glimpse of the mountains of Greece – this platform at the edge of a cliff is where you can feel what it's like to soar through the sky like an eagle.
The next day takes a sharp turn for the extreme.
The Haramiiska cave is completely wild, and the only lighting inside is the natural light that comes through the entrance and the exit.
The excitement starts at the entrance, as it can only be reached by climbing a 20-meter-tall vertical cliff, followed by a steep section that leads to the entrance itself. This section is secured with a metal rope. Signs of life from the late Chalcolithic Age have been found in the Haramiiska cave, such as campfire remains, pottery and tools. Today, models depicting the life of the pre-historic people who left these findings have been arranged just inside the naturally-lit entrance of the cave. There are several smaller chambers, and the entrance to one of them is so tight it can only be crawled through. The main attraction is the 43-meter drop down to its largest chamber. You’ll be descending via rope, with the aid of the instructors in charge of getting spelunkers safely to the other side.
Another spelunking adventure awaits in the Golubovitsa cave. Price per person
• For a group of 6 or more: 80 €
• For a group of 2-5: 100 €
• For a single person: 130 € The price includes
• Professional English-speaking tour guide
• Overnight at the Yagodina hotel on full board The price does not include
• The cave entrance fees Cave entrance fees
• Devil’s Throat cave: 2 €
• Yagodina cave: 2.60 €
• Haramiiska cave: 16 € (including the services of experienced instructors to guide you through the cave, and spelunking gear) Notes
Full length of the Haramiiska cave: 510 m. It takes 3-5 hours to traverse it.
It is only suitable for physically fit people in good health , and requires composure, bravery and a love for extreme sports. There is no artificial lighting in the cave. Spelunkers must bring their own lighting.
Spelunkers must cooperate with and trust the instructors for their own safety and the safety of the entire group.
Restrictions
- people Group Size: From 1 Up To 12
From €350.00
The Villages of the Rhodopes Hiking Tour
About
This four day program will take you through some of the most fascinating corners of Bulgaria’s Western Rhodope mountains. The Rhodopes have the greatest extent of any mountain range in the country, located in Southern Bulgaria and partially in Greece. Exploring the Rhodopes always involves taking in the beautiful landscapes and getting immersed in the local culture. The terrain is not difficult, but a couple of the hikes are a good 6-7 hours long and require decent physical condition. Highlights
• 4 days of hiking through the green pastures and forests of the Western Rhodopes
• Visit the Trigrad Gorge, Devil’s Throat and Yagodina caves, the architectural reserve of Shiroka Luka
• Trek up to the highest ridge of Rhodope Mountains – Perelik Ridge
• Homestay in local villages where we can explore the culture, traditions and cuisine of the region Itinerary Day 1
We meet-up in the morning of the first day in the town of Devin. Famous for its hot springs and mineral water pools, Devin is best appreciated on its own – visitors are advised to arrive the day before the trip and spend the night in the town. It is located in the Western Rhodopes and is reachable by bus from Plovdiv (2 hours) or from Sofia (3.5 hours). The trip begins with a 30-minute transfer to Yagodina Cave, accessible by crossing the Yagodina Gorge. After a visit to the cave, we reach the village of Yagodina on foot, which takes about an hour, and stop for lunch at a restaurant or with a local family. A 2-hour-long hike takes us to the area of Trigrad, where we will visit the famous Trigrad Gorge and, at its bottom – the Devil’s Throat Cave. Overnight at the village of Trigrad, where you may choose between several guest houses and small hotels. The total amount of walking throughout the day is 3 hours. Day 2
This day takes us through one of the most beautiful areas in the Western Rhodopes – the path from Trigrad village, through the lush meadows and forests near the Chairite Lakes, to the Perelik mountain ridge. Overnight in the rustic guest houses of the village of Mugla.A total of 6 hours of walking, +600/-500 m denivelation. Day 3
This day is dedicated to climbing the highest ridge in the Rhodope mountains – Perelik ridge. The highest summit of this mountain is the site of a military station and is inaccessible to tourists.
We will be climbing Mount Karluk, also known as Mount Orpheus - the second highest peak, 2188 m above sea level. After that we will finish our treck with a descent to the village of Gela, located 1500 meters on the other side of the mountain, where we will be staying in a hotel overnight. Approximately 6.5 hours of walking throughout the day, denivelation +700/-700 m. Day 4
The last hike is shorter and takes us through the village of Gela, a 2 and a half-hour descent to Shiroka Laka – an architectural and folklore reserve notable for its stone houses typical of the Rhodope ethnographic region, and the beautiful church complex “Assumption of Our Lady”. We will also pass by the Gela monastery along the way. From then on, we have two options – to take a bus either to Devin, with its mineral pools; or to Smolyan, the largest city in the Rhodopes, with links to Sofia and Plovdiv. End of program. A second route is available for this last day. We may visit the famous Miraculous Bridges and hike up to the Slivodolsko Padalo Waterfall – the biggest waterfall in the Rhodopes – followed by 2-hour treck to the Bachkovo Monastery and finish the day off in Plovdiv. The price includes
• The services of a qualified and experienced mountain guide
• Three overnights at hotels, guest houses or in local houses along the way Notes
This excursion is suitable for groups of 4-10 people.
In order to fit international flights into this itinerary, please look up the Raynair flights from London to Plovdiv (the second largest city in Bulgaria, and a major cultural centre). This airline provides cheap flights that are convenient for your itinerary and save you the trip from Sofia to the Rhodopes. They also give you the chance to visit Plovdiv before or after your programme.
Required equipment:
hiking boots, trekking poles, water- and windproof jacket, rain cover, rucksack (35-45 l), flashlight, sun hat, sunscreen lotion, sunglasses, water bottle (1 liter), personal first aid kit.
Restrictions
- people Group Size: From 2 Up To 10
today Check Availability
comment Latest Reviews
No Reviews Available.
directions Location
Address:
- Trigrad
Maps and directions used on our website are for guide purposes only. Please use the directions supplied with your booking confirmation when making travel arrangements.
Venue Ref: 1014884-241
