This was the best walking holiday that I have been on to date. It was organised by Ramblers Holidays and took me to the mountainous national parks south of the country's capital, Sofia, ending in the city itself. I went in August 2004.
Click on the miniatures to see a larger version.
We had two excellent local leaders:
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Krasimir Ivanov* |
Varban Todorov* |
The first base was on the edge of Rila National Park:
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Rila Monastery |
Rila mountains & Govedarci |
Coming home |
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Weekend cottages |
Mother Superior |
Tsarska Bistritsa |
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Hayricks |
Ikons |
Frescoes |
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Samokov |
Borovec |
Musala |
Maljovica |
Next we stayed in the town of Bansko, between Rila and Pirin National Parks:
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Bezbog mountain hut |
Old town, Bansko |
Blagoevgrad |
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Pirin panorama |
Drying tobacco |
Rozhen monastery |
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Wine bar |
Neophyte Rilski house |
In the mountains |
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View of Mt Vihren |
After church, Bansko |
Traditional beehive |
Melnik |
The holiday ended in the capital, Sofia:
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Alexander Nevski cathedral |
Old Royal Palace |
Oborishte park |
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Nunnery of St Spas |
Bulgarian wedding |
Boyana church |
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St George's Rotunda |
Changing the guard |
Russian church |
Dragalevtsi monastery |
* Photos by Krasimir Ivanov. For more of Krasi's work click here.
For the flowers of Bulgaria click here.