Orient Travel Ltd. is an entrepreneur travel company that is constantly looking for more and better ways to help its clients discover the beauty and the miracles of Bulgaria. One of our best-preferred proposals is the Rhodope Mountains Bicycle Tour.
We truly believe that bicycle touring as an outdoor activity is a great way to explore the hidden from regular tourists countryside and meet with the lifestyle of the rural people. These remote places uncover remarkable natural scenery through historically important and culturally rich landmarks.
What we do
We provide bicycle tours in Bulgaria, a land full of miracles and unique atmosphere. Cycling around brings joy to both eye and soul. Small picturesque villages, perched high up in the mountain, alternate with nicely arranged towns, full of historical and cultural monuments and big urban areas where the rhythm of modern life can be felt.
By participating in this tour you're doing well. Your money is aiding the local community in this underdeveloped part of Bulgaria.
Conditions
Our tours offer cycling that is easy to moderate. This brings up the question of physical form of the participants. We have no strict requirements, because our bicycle tours are on amateur basis, but still being reasonably fit makes the trips more enjoyable and safer to you. We recommend before joining our tours you spend some 40 minutes a day cycling home in order to be completely prepared to start the tour.
Safety is also an important issue. We have designed our tours in such a way that we avoid dangerous and extreme paths, and keep to quiet lanes and forest tracks, away from heavy traffic.
Our aim is to provide a quality experience at an affordable price. That means we keep costs down but we never compromise quality. We try to stray from large hotels when accommodating cyclists and have chosen small inns and family hotels that provide a warm atmosphere and make the group feel at ease.
Food is of primary importance as well. We offer three meals a day. Breakfast and dinner are in the hotels or in nice small restaurants, and warm lunch is given out in the open air, somewhere along the way.
We aim to keep the total number of cyclists per group under 15 persons, for it is easier when booking accommodation in the small hotels and inns. It is also easier for our trip guides to get to know each of you and thus make it a more enjoyable experience for everybody.
In most cases you can pair with a roommate if you are travelling alone. For cost reasons our prices are based on double/twin occupancy. However, we understand some cyclists prefer to travel on their own, so if you are single and want a roommate we will do our best to pair you with one of the same gender. If no roommate is available or you prefer a private room, a single supplement will apply.
What is included?
- All accommodation (based on double occupancy)
- Breakfast, lunches (mostly outdoor-BBQ) and dinners
- Hire of lightweight hybrid bikes for comfortable touring; rear rack, water bottle, caged pedals, handlebar bag, pump, cable lock, tire repair kit and bungee cord included
- Trip Guides to provide service and support to travellers on tour
- Emergency telephone numbers
- Transits within the tour
- Vehicle to support cyclists and bikes throughout the tour
- Daily luggage transport between lodgings
- Planned routes, detailed maps and information on points of interest and Pre-Trip Travel Planner with practical information
- Transfers to and from the tour start and end points
Not included:
- Accident insurance
- Alcoholic beverages
- Mini bars
- Airfares
- Personal expenses
- Pre-and-post hotel accommodation
- Pre-and-post tour meals
Other features and equipment include:
- Men's or women's lightweight hybrid bike
- Repair kit, tire irons, lock
- Comfortable saddle
- Bike pump
- Handlebar bag
- Water bottles
- Bike helmet
- Rear bike rack with bungee cord
Van
Each tour is supported by a specially equipped nine to 15 passenger van with roof mounted bike racks, extra parts and bikes. The van follows the route of the tour and gives assistance, provides lifts, makes minor repairs. Whether you are planning on riding a long or short route, you can hail the van as it sweeps by or meet up with it at the pre-arranged rendezvous points marked on the tour. Some cyclists never use the van while others grab a lift for a few miles before cycling again. You're welcome to use the van as much as you need, no questions asked.
Location - Duration
- Duration: 7 day(s)
- Location: Rodope mountains
Itinerary
DAY 1 - Arrival. Sofia - Assenovgrad (180km by minibus) - Chepelare
Depending on time of arrival:
a) Accommodation, dinner and overnight in a three star hotel in Sofia if the arrival is after 11:00.
b) Bus (minibus) transfer to the tour starting point - the town of Assenovgrad, close to the city of Plovdiv (two hours). On the bikes for 10km to the famous Batchkovo Monastery. A short visit to the monastery. Lunch. Continue on the bicycles to the village of Chepelare. Chepelare is a typical Bulgarian mountain village, which is famous for its skiing school traditions and with Orion - the only ski factory in Bulgaria. The village is also the birth place of Bulgaria's Olympic gold medal winner - Katerina Dafovska (biathlon - Women's 15km, in Nagano 1998)
Lap difficulty: Easy / Moderate Lap bicycling: 55km
DAY 2 - Chepelare - Pamporovo - Shiroka Laka - Devin
After breakfast, on the bikes for 44km to the town of Devin, via the famous Bulgarian Winter Ski Resort of Pamporovo - the second largest in Bulgaria, located at 1,650m above sea level in the Perelik range of the Western Rhodope. A short stop here for lunch. Then we'll ride to the village of Shiroka Luka.
Shiroka Lucka is a village well known not only throughout Bulgaria, but also abroad, for its original Rhodope-style architecture, musical traditions and history. A very interesting village to visit! The only school for National music instruments and national songs is also situated here. We stop for refreshments here before we move on to the town of Devin. Devin is popular for its mineral curative water, which is being derived from a very deep spring. The area around Devin is very beautiful and especially the Devinska River, which runs through a small hilly gorge. It's worth a visit! Dinner and overnight in a small hotel in the town.
Lap difficulty: Easy Lap bicycling: 46kmDAY 3 - Devin - Trigrad Gorge - Yagodina Village
After breakfast, on the bikes for 28km (around two hours) along the Trigrad Gorge, from Devin to the Dyavolskoto Garlo (Devil's Throat) Cave. A visit inside the cave - 20 minutes. Then for some 90 minutes, hiking from the Dyavolskoto Garlo (Devil's Throat) Cave to the Yagodina Village. Lunch at the village. After lunch continue to the Yagodina Cave, with a visit inside (around 45 min). Bach to the Yagodina village. Free time in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight in small cosy hotel at Yagodina Village.
The Trigrad Gorge is an amazing place, where the river winds its way up to Trigrad. This is the only way to Trigrad and in the spring when the river fills with water the village is sometimes completely isolated. Trigrad village was earlier known for the 700-800 sheep each family had. The people still have sheep but not as many. In Trigrad you will see a Christian Church and a Muslim Mosque built side by side. In the village you will meet with both Christian and Muslim culture and traditions.
The Dyavolsko Garlo cave - meaning The Devil's Throat - is the highest underground waterfall on the Balkan Peninsula - about 60m and a cave embraced with legends.
Yagodinska Cave - the cave is 11km long, though only three of them are open to the public. The cave is very beautiful and interesting - filled with stalactites and stalagmites. Visitors enter the cave through an artificially dug opening, while the natural entrance is 30m above. A special path through the cave gives visitors the opportunity to see how the wonderful underground world has been formed in the course of millions of years.
Lap difficulty: Moderate Lap bicycling: 28km DAY 4 - Yagodina village - Dospat
After breakfast, downhill biking from Yagodina village to the town of Dospat. Dospat town is located at the end of one of the most beautiful dams in Bulgaria. Some quality time around the Dospat Dam in the evening. Fresh fish from the dam for dinner. Overnight in a hotel on the shore of Dospat Dam.
Lap difficulty: Moderate / Difficult Lap bicycling: 35km
DAY 5 - Dospat - Velingrad
After breakfast, biking along a picturesque route close to Dospat Dam for 15km and then to the Spa Resort of Velingrad. Lunch on the way. Dinner in a restaurant on the lake Kleptuza. Overnight in a very good hotel in the town.
Together with the numerous mineral waters Velingrad takes pride in another natural phenomenon - the Kleptuza. This is the biggest Karst spring in Bulgaria with debit of 1200 litres of ice-cold water per second.
Lap difficulty: Moderate Lap bicycling: 60km
DAY 6 - Velingrad - Yundola - Bansko
After breakfast, we will ride on a special narrow-gauge line train, that passes through the highest station on the Balkan peninsula, to the Yundola area. Then on the bikes for a memorable 70 km downhill ride along one of the breath-taking routes of Bulgaria - Yundola, Razlog and Bansko, where the three major mountains (The Rhodopes, Rila and Pirin Mountains) meet. Lunch on the way. Dinner and overnight in the famous skiing village of Bansko.
Lap difficulty: Easy Lap bicycling: 70kmDAY 7 - Bansko - Sofia - departure
After breakfast, a short tour around Bansko and lunch. Bus transfer to Sofia (two and a half hours). Free time in Sofia / Transfer to the Airport for departure flight. No biking this day.
END OF TRAVEL SERVICES.
Cancellations must be in writing and are effective upon receipt in our office:
- If you cancel between three and one week you will be charged 50% of the deposit.
- If you cancel in less than one week you will forfeit your deposit. No refunds are made for meals, lodging or services paid for but not used, or other preparations you may undertake.
- In the case where you must leave a tour early, for whatever reason, you will not be eligible for any refund.
If you decide to switch to a different trip you may do so within three to six weeks of your original departure date.
No changes can be made to your booking within three weeks prior to departure time, and the cancellation policy will apply. Trips can only be switched within the same calendar year.
Refunds
Once you have received a confirmed reservation from us, we will do our best to make that trip happen. However, in the event that it becomes necessary or advisable for any reason whatsoever to alter the itinerary or arrangements, such alterations may be made. We must also reserve the right to cancel any trip at any time and for any reason if we feel the safety of travellers or the quality of the trip is believed to be compromised. Should this happen, Orient Travel Ltd. will refund all payments received to date, which will constitute full settlement and release our company from any further liability. Orient Travel Ltd. is specifically not liable for non-refundable airline tickets and other personal expenses incurred in preparation for a trip that is cancelled. If we cancel your trip, we will, if possible offer you an alternative trip. If this is not acceptable to you, we will refund all payments to date.
Children Policy
Travellers must be between 16 and 60 years of age on all trips.
Participant Guidelines
Eligibility
Travellers must be between 16 and 60 years of age on all trips.
Health Insurance
We require that you have full health insurance, including sufficient coverage for repatriation and additional hospital and medical insurance to take part in our trip. Proof of Insurance is due at the time full payment is made. Orient Travel Ltd. highly recommends that you review your health and personal insurance to meet the needs of yourself and your family in case of any loss of property, accident, injury or life while on the trip.
Preparing for your Trip
There are certain risks and dangers inherent in any form of adventure travel. Orient Travel Ltd. trips are designed with safety in mind, but you will encounter additional risks on an adventure trip than can be found at home. While our primary objective is to take the hassle out of travelling, provide you with safe routes, and provide excellent service, we also count on our trip participants to partner with us in helping to make this a great trip through preparation. We ask that you are prepared physically, that you are healthy and fit. As our travelling partners, we, and our partners, provide these trips on the understanding that you are taking a Orient Travel Ltd. trip because you appreciate the different cultures, etiquette, dining, accommodation and living standards that make travelling outside your home country so rewarding.
Good Faith
Any information provided by Orient Travel Ltd. on matters such as tour descriptions, permits, visas, clothing, baggage, vaccinations, climate, equipment, pre-and-post trip hotel and restaurant recommendations are given in good faith but without the responsibility on the part of Orient Travel Ltd. In addition, the traveller accepts all responsibility for obtaining any necessary visas and travel documents required for the trip.
Health
By sending a deposit toward your trip purchase and returning your Reservation Form to Orient Travel Ltd., you certify that you do not have any physical condition or disability that would endanger yourself or other travellers' bicycle trips. If you are affected by any condition, medical or otherwise, that might affect your and other travellers' enjoyment of the trip; you must advise us at the time of reserving your trip.
Risks
Orient Travel Ltd. trips involve an increased level of physical activity and exposure from that found at home environments. Depending on the condition of the traveller, roads, weather and terrain, the traveller can find this physical activity demanding and can involve risk of serious personal injury, including permanent disability or death from accident, illness or the actions of other persons. Risks of theft, loss of property or damage to property are additional risks as are the lack of sophisticated or accessible medical facilities available to the traveller. In addition, certain services such as local tours, lodging, guides, transportation, food service and any other activities obtained from independent suppliers are outside of the control of Orient Travel Ltd.
By signing the Reservation Form, it is understood that you realise the hazards involved in this type of activity and agree that active vacations of this nature must allow for a substantial amount of on-tour flexibility and alternatives. The trip itineraries must be taken as indication of what each traveller or group will accomplish and not as a contractual obligation on the part of Orient Travel Ltd. Changes in itinerary may be caused by border restrictions, local political conditions, sickness, flight cancellations, weather, mechanical breakdown, acts of God or other unforeseeable circumstances. Accepting this flexibility and acknowledging that delays and alterations may result in inconvenience or discomfort is a condition of participating on any Orient Travel Ltd. trip. No refunds will be given for services not utilized.
Responsibility
To participate in an active holiday, it is necessary that you agree to abide by the local laws of the country you are travelling in and the authority of the Trip Guides who represent Orient Travel Ltd. on guided tours. Signing the Reservation Form constitutes your agreement. Orient Travel Ltd. reserves the unilateral right not to accept or retain as a tour participant any person whose physical condition, health or actions in our sole judgment impedes the operation of a trip or affects the welfare, rights or enjoyment of fellow travellers. For both guided and self-guided tours, in the rare event that such a person be required to leave a tour, it will be treated as leaving a tour early per our cancellation policy. Orient Travel Ltd. obligations with respect to any funds received shall be those of a debtor and not a trustee.
Other Disclosures
Bicycle Hire
The equipment, including all accessories supplied, is provided on a hire basis. The equipment remains the property of Orient Travel Ltd. (the Owner) or its partners, and the participating traveller (the Renter) will not sell, hire out or otherwise part with possession thereof.
The Renter undertakes not to misuse the equipment and to return it with all accessories in the same condition as when received (ordinary wear and tear excepted.) The Renter agrees to use the safety helmets provided as part of equipment rental, each and every time the Renter is on the bicycle equipment. The Renter agrees to use the security equipment provided as part of equipment rental, and to lock the bicycle to an immoveable object each and every time the Renter is not on the bicycle equipment. The Renter agrees to follow the instructions of the Trip Guides in the proper use of the equipment and not to damage bicycle equipment by riding into or over potholes, rocks, trees, vehicles, other travellers or pedestrians or to throw down, stand on, bend, drop or twist equipment while in their possession. The Renter will not use the bicycle equipment while under the influence of drugs or alcohol and will immediately notify the Owner in the event of breakdown or loss of the equipment. Orient Travel Ltd. reserves the right to re-possess equipment should a cyclist be found to be using equipment in an unsafe, discourteous or damaging manner. There is no recourse for refund of tour charges.
The Owner shall be entitled to charge the Renter for any damage caused to the equipment during the period of hire. In the event of a breakdown, other than due to the Renter's misuse, the Owner will use his best endeavours to repair, replace or procure the repair of the equipment.
The Owner shall not be liable for any damage whatsoever, through breakdown or other defects in the equipment or other circumstances beyond the Owner's control. The Renter shall indemnify the owner in respect of all costs, claims, expenses and demands which he may suffer or incur and which arise directly or indirectly out of the use of the equipment during the period of hire. The Owner reserves the right to charge the Renter for partial or full settlement of any such claim.
In the event of the equipment being stolen, lost or damaged beyond repair, the Owner reserves the right to call upon the Renter to indemnify the Owner the replacement value of the equipment, being not less than €400. The Owner will not be liable to provide the Renter with another bicycle and will not be responsible for the inability of the Renter to continue with their trip, unless such a loss or damage is due to the negligence of Owner. In the event of theft, loss or damage due to the negligence on behalf of the Owner, the Owners responsibility will be restricted to supplying an alternative bicycle, of the Owners choosing, to the traveller in a timely fashion. The Owner will not be responsible to the Renter for any costs incurred due to delay, discomfort or loss of enjoyment during this period.
