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Beautiful scenery- forests, mountains,wildflower meadows. If you like getting off the beaten track you will love this.
Enjoyed the evening meals in the hotel. Our group would meet for drinks on the terrace beforehand. It was a fun and sociable week.
There were many. I've never seen so many butterflies. Finding bear tracks.
Julian is a friendly and knowledgeable leader who knows so much about the local wildlife and flowers.
Take good walking boots, and waterproofs for the showers. They are occasional but can be heavy. Saying that, we were in t-shirts most of the time.
This is a fabulous trip if you love hiking and being in nature. In the whole week we only encountered one other person on the trails, so lovely. The terrain was varied with some longer ascents and descents but our efforts were rewarded with lovely views. Although there were 14 of us in my group we were all of a similar pace so the walks were very enjoyable.
The accommodation was of a good standard and it was so lovely to eat traditional Bulgarian and local speciality dishes everyday. There was plenty and the choice of desserts every night was a real highlight.
I highly recommend this trip. Go ahead and book it. You will not regret it!
Walking in silence to search for bears and wolves. The birdsong was amazing and we were all so excited to see bear tracks for a mother and cubs and adolescent male.
Julian is a passionate and enthusiastic leader. So knowledgeable on the trails, wildlife, animals, flora and fauna of the area. We all enjoyed his stories and talks and learning more about brown bears. He ensured the group were safe on the trails and made sure we were fully prepared for each walk and the quickly changing weather.
It can start off very sunny but the weather can change quickly so layers, shorts and long trousers and good waterproofs are a must. Hiking poles are useful especially on the descents although some of my group used these all the time. If like me you enjoy black tea or English breakfast make sure to bring some teabags although the local herbal tea was a nice alternative. I was grateful for my travel kettle! The trip notes are very accurate so if you feel like you would like more time in Sofia it really is worth arranging an extra night or two or ensuring that you have booked suitable flight times. A few of my group regretted not having a later flight.
A great break in the deep south of Bulgaria near the Greek border. Seeing the old cold war border fence between USSR and Greece and hearing about its history was one of many personal highlights. Such a variety of wildlife and flowers all there to be experienced.
A tie between discovering a perfect brown bear paw print that was only hours old and hearing the choice of deserts each evening .
Julian was fantastic. Expert on Rodopi Mountain trails, its wildlife, flowers and history. Everything ran like clockwork. Doing linear walks allowed us explore so many quiet trails.
No need to bring your own snacks. Meals and picnic lunches provided by Hotel Yagodina were excellent. And if that is not enough there is a machine outside the hotel where you can purchase bars but you will need Euro coins.
I had a wonderful week in the rural wilderness of Rodopi. This was my first hiking trip and I found the walks to be very enjoyable and manageable. The pace was leisurely with lots of wildlife stops whilst still covering a good distance each day. The trip notes are very accurate, although accommodation is basic, it’s clean, comfortable and exactly what is described and had wonderful staff and great home cooked food. The guide Julian was fantastic, very passionate and a great leader and wildlife expert.
I really enjoyed learning about all the ancient myths of the area, enjoying a totally secluded and quiet wilderness and tracking brown bears whilst learning so much about them.
Julian was brilliant, an extremely knowledgeable and passionate wildlife expert, and you could tell he genuinely loved his job. A great tour leader, always very organised and the trip ran very smoothly. Julian was also very funny and sociable and was very much a member of the group. I learnt so much from him about the Brown bears, wolves and all the species living in the Rodopi as well learning about the local culture and way of life, and Bulgaria's interesting history. His stories about local myths and legends were great and kept us all entertained especially during the more challenging walking days. He made sure the group stayed together during the hikes, and was very intuitive as to when anyone in the group needed a rest.
As all the food is local produce and made at the hotel, it's very important to give lots of notice if there is any dietary requirements such as vegan, gluten free etc. This can be catered for as long as they know in advance. The town is very small and rural so no option to buy food or snacks elsewhere. We enjoyed a 3 course meal included every night, home cooked at the hotel. As a vegetarian, I ate well every day, lots of beans, eggs, cheeses and fresh fruit and veg. The hotel made a different local Bulgarian breakfast delicacy every day and always had a selection of lunch items for us to make our own packed lunch. Lovely staff at the hotel. For the hiking, I'd strongly recommend getting some hill walking practice in, as we trekked in mountain region, the trails were almost never flat! Bring blister plasters, proper breathable hiking socks and break in your hiking boots in advance! Good ankle support boots were very much appreciated as the terrain is often rocky and uneven. Some items i included in my day back which came in handy were binoculars, a sun hat, extra blister plasters, a waterproof, some snack bars and a large water bottle. A lot of my group also had hiking polls which they found very useful, especially on the days with more descents.
A very underrated trip with a real focus on wildlife, and there is lots to see. The walking is spot on for a moderate trip but there is time to stop and take photos and learn about the area and the wildlife. Trails are good and very quiet. It’s definitely a place to get away from the rest of the world but with a homely hotel with good food at the end of the day.
So many moments combined, seeing storks and eagles soaring over the mountains at the same time! Walking through meadows and stopping to watch a fox that didn't care that we were there.
Julian was excellent, we were privileged to have a wildlife expert as a leader. It felt like we were getting much more out of the week than just a walk. His passion for the area shone through and his way with people made us into a very cohesive group. Days were full but never to long, no one rushed ahead and no one felt they were holding the group up. Everything ran smoothly, even with a few adaptations, and that doesn't happen by accident.
Take binoculars, there is a lot to see. Take a sandwich box for lunch and a small knife and fork if you prefer salad to a sandwich (the regional specialities for breakfast are also great to take for lunch (this is allowed!)). You don't need to take extra food, there is plenty and it's delicious. Take waterproofs (if you do get rain it by no means detracts from the trip and you can easily dry anything that does get wet). Enjoy being in a group which enjoys walking and wildlife!
This was a holiday: good food, good weather, relaxing hotel, nice hosts , great group, well organised. An exploration, fabulous unhurried but exhilarating walks, wonderful scenery and an education. Our guide Julian seemed to know and love all the wildlife, the butterflies and birds, the geology, geography, mythology and the current social and political status of Bulgaria. An interesting , informative and stimulating trip for mind and body.
Seeing the Wall creepers and enjoying lunches with a view.
Delightful, caring, organised and knowledgeable
Explore the village of Yagodina in your free time. Take good waterproofs, if it rains it rains hard and fast.
This was an excellent walking tour with, as described, moderate walking but with time to stop and enjoy the wildlife and great views. It was very well organised and the village hotel was a good choice for walkers with good rooms, excellent home made food and attentive staff.
Watching eagles and woodpeckers while out walking.
Julian was absolutely outstanding - sensible, passionate, knowledgeable and clearly very experienced. He identified each member of the groups interests and then highlighted the relevant flora, fauna and birds as we walked. His 20+ years of experience showed and I would have no hesitation in joining another of his tours - or recommending him to others.
Go while you still can - it seems Exodus has been reducing their Bulgarian tour options recently but this is well worth the experience.
This is a very relaxing hiking trip with lots of time to explore nature at its best in the Rodopi Mts!
The deep gorges around Yagodina were so inspiring.
Nelly was the best! So passionate about these mountains and all their beauty!
This is not alpine hiking but a much easier relaxed pace to explore nature along the way.
Beautiful wildlife everywhere!
Being on the top of one of the highest mountains in Bulgaria!
Amazing, knowledgeable and very friendly and sweet!
Bring poles and ankle support shoes
Beautiful wildlife everywhere you looked, really nice hikes and beautiful home cooked food!
Being on the top of one of the highest mountains in Bulgaria!
Amazing, knowledgeable and very friendly and sweet!
Bring poles and ankle support shoes