Balneotherapy and snowshoeing in Bulgaria

Description du séjour

Hébergement

Programme du séjour

• jour 1 :

  France - Sofia - Sapareva Bania

  

  Flight to Bulgaria. Reception at Sofia airport by our team then transfer to the Rila massif, in the small village of Sapareva Bania located at the northern foot of the mountain. Installation for 3 nights in SPA hotel, not far from the famous "geyser", the hottest spring of continental Europe. Transfer: Private vehicle, approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. Accommodation: SPA hotel***. Meals included: Evening.  

• jour 2 :

  Sapareva Bania - Obessen Kamak (The Suspended Stone)

  

  After a short transfer, visit the House of the National Park of Rila and then snowshoeing in the immense coniferous forests and meadows of Lakatichka Rila; superb view of the alpine part of Rila, known as the Bulgarian Chamonix. Then descend to the village of Sapareva Bania by the "Suspended Stone" (Obessen Kamak) and discover the Roman remains of Germaeja. Spa treatments in the hotel. Transfer: Private vehicle, about 20 minutes. Walking time: 4 hours 30 approx. Positive drop: + 300 m. Accommodation: SPA hotel***. Meals included: Morning - Noon - Evening.  

• jour 3 :

  Sapareva Bania - Circus of the Seven Lakes - Waterfall of Skakavitsa

  

  Beautiful loop hike in the famous Circus of the Seven Lakes of Rila; slowly climbing between the frozen lakes, arriving on the Rein (fifth lake) at 2300 m, then descent through the rounded ridge to discover the fabulous waterfall of Skakavitsa, completely frozen in this season... Return by car on Sapareva Bania. Spa treatments at the hotel. Transfer: Private vehicle, approximately 55 minutes return. Walking time: 5 hours 30 approx. Positive drop: + 750 m. Accommodation: SPA hotel***. Meals included: Morning - Noon - Evening.  

• jour 4 :

  Rila Monastery - Pirin National Park - Chalet Begovitsa

  

  Morning transfer to discover the Grand Monastery of Rila with a visit to the museum, the main church and the old kitchen. Saint John of Rila was the hermit who founded the first monastery dating from the 10th century… Hiking to the cave and the tomb of Saint John of Rila. Then drive to the Pirin massif to the village of Popina Laka and climb on snowshoes to the chalet of Begovitsa (1500 m) located in the forest, in the Pirin National Park… a real gem of nature! Transfer: Private vehicle and line bus, 3 hours 30 approx. Walking time: about 3 hours. Positive drop: + 550 m. Accommodation: Cosy guarded cottage. Meals included: Morning - Noon - Evening.

• jour 5 :

  Kosia Reka - Chalet Begovitsa

  

  Discover the beautiful valley of Kozia Reka (chamois valley). We are in the heart of the wildest and least frequented part of the massif… Through the forest crests, the view to the south is fantastic… Then discover the most beautiful circuses of the Pirin… After a picnic in a cabin under the snow, return to the cottage in the late afternoon. Possibility of skiing in the surroundings of the chalet. Walking time: about 5 hours. Positive drop: + 650 m. Accommodation: Cosy guarded cottage. Meals included: Morning - Noon - Evening.

• jour 6 :

  Spano Pole - Sandansky - Melnik

  

  Arrived today on the large plateau of Pirin called «Spano Pole» (2100 m). The landscapes are of a wild splendor!! After a lunch at the small refuge of the Ladybugs, snowshoeing down to the small village below then a small bus transfer to reach the balneotherapy center of Sandansky where one will undoubtedly dive in the superb thermal mineral water pool. Spa treatments then departure for the village of Melnik, with its original dwellings, built in an extraordinary site where still reigns the atmosphere of a past era… Local wine tasting… Transfer: Private vehicle and line bus, about 50 minutes. Walking time: about 5 hours. Positive drop: + 700 m. Accommodation: Hotel***. Meals included: Morning - Noon - Evening.

• jour 7 :

  Melnik - Blagoevgrad - Sofia

  

  Start in the morning by hiking between the chimneys of fairies to the monastery of Rojene (XVII° century), very well located between the last flanks of the Pirin and the sand towers. Superb view of the border massifs of Greece and Macedonia. Then, drive to Sofia and stop on the town of Blagoevgrad to visit its old neighborhood. Arrival on Sofia in the late afternoon then free walk in the city. Transfer: Private vehicle, about 3 hours punctuated by visits. Walking time: about 2 hours. Positive drop: + 150 m. Accommodation: Morning - Noon.

• jour 8 :

  Sofia - France

  

  Morning visit (if take-off time allows) to the capital, one of the oldest in Europe... Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, St Sophia Basilica, St Nicholas Russian Church, St George’s Rotunda... Transfer to the airport then flight to France. Transfer: Private vehicle, about 30 minutes. Meals included: Morning.