Summer mountain botany tour - 14 days in Vitosha, Rila, Pirin and Rhodope mountains

The tour starts on 3 July

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival at Sofia Airport and transfer to our hotel in Vitosha Mountain - less that one hour, where we will stay for three nights.

Days 2 and 3

We will spend these two days in Vitosha Nature Park and “Bistrishko branishte” reserve. Walk in a territory, protected since 1934, gives an impression of well preserved nature and opportunity to see many beautiful flowers and to make a lot of pictures. Many species, typical for the sub alpine belt of the Bulgarian mountains can be seen in excellent condition. Subalpine shrubs, grasslands and typical for Vitosha “stone rivers”. Scot,s pine and spruce forests with forest glades. Picnic lunches. Altitude range: 1700 - 2100 m a.s.l.

Some species: Pinus peuce, Lilium jankae, Lilium martagon, Campanula moesiaca, Geum coccineum, Jovibarba (Sempervivum) heuffelii, Senecio pancicii, Senecio papposum, Doronicum austriacum, Dactylorhiza saccifera, Gymnadenia conopsea, Gentiana lutea, Gentiana asclepiadea, Geranium coerulatum, Trifolium pannonicum, Dianthus superbus, Silene roemerii, Cirsium appendiculatum, Cirsium heterotrichum, Angelica pancicii, Heracleum verticillatum, Verbascum longifolium ssp. pannosum, Knautia drymeia, Knautia midzorensis, Scabiosa orchroleuca, Campanula trachelum, Pinus mugo, Juniperus sibirica, Campanula alpina, Centaurea uniflora, Pinguicula balcanica, Dactylorhiza cordigera, Nigritella nigra, Bruckentalia spiculifolia, Geum montanum, Senecio carpaticus, Anemone narcissiflora, Gentiana utriculosa, Cryptogramma crispa, Pinus mugo, Viola dacica, Scleranthus neglectus, Campanula sparsa, Campanula patula ssp. abietina, Veratrum lobelianum, etc.

Day 4

Transfer to Rila Mountain - stopping at botanical reserve rich in rare plants and Balkan endemic species. Dry grasslands and shrubs. Secondary forests of Oriental Hornbeam (Carpinus orientalis) and Dawny oak (Quercus pubescens). Overnight in Borovetc mountain resort for two nights.

Some species: Jurinea stoechadifolia, Jurinea constanginea, Centaurea immanuelis-loewi, Centaurea salonitana, Centaurea salonitana ssp. rupestriformis, Veronica orchidaea, Allium albidum, Anthylis aurea, Anthylis vulneraria, Scabiosa argentea, Scabiosa triniaefolia, Hypericum rumeliacum, Digitalis lanata, Pdronichia cephalotes, Micromeria cristata, etc.

Day 5

We will spend the day in the area of Musala peak - the highest peak on the Balkan Peninsula - 2925 m a.s.l. Cabin car lift takes us to the very hearth of the mountain. Sub alpine and alpine vegetation.

Some species: Geum bulgaricum, Aquilegia aurea, Dianthus microlepis, Primula deorum, Primula farinosa, Primula minima, Soldanella pusilla, Leontodon rilaense, Jasione bulgarica, Jasione laevis ssp. orbiculata, Gentiana pyrenaica, Ranunculus crenatus, Potentilla haynaldiana, Saxifraga pedemontana, Arenaria biflora, etc.

Day 6

After the breakfast we make transfer to the town of Bansko where we will stay for three nights. On the way we are going to visit Rila Monastery - the famous culture site of Bulgaria. Walk in the area the monastery. Pine and Spruce forests with glades with beautiful flowers.
We arrive in Bansko late in the afternoon. Accommodation and walk in the town.

Day 7

Today we will visit Pirin National Park. Walk in the area of magnificent Vichren peak (2914 m alt.) with mixed coniferous forests (Pinus heldreichii, Pinus peuce, Pinus nigra, Picea abies), Pinus mugo and Juniperus sibirica scrubs, grassy and stony alpine vegetation. Pinus heldreichii tree, aged approximately 1300 years, is one of the oldest in Bulgaria.

Some other species: Pinus heldreichii, Verbascum davidoffii, Daphne oleoides, Daphne cneorum, Saxifraga luteo-viridis, Aquilegia aurea, Campanula velebitica, Campanula trychocalycina, Arenaria pirinica, Linaria genistifolia ssp. dalmatica, Ceinthe glabra ssp. pirinica, Thalictrum minus ssp. olympica, Epipactis atrorubens, Polystichum lonchitis, Erysimum drenovskii.

Depending of the weather and the walking abilities of the participants, many alpine species can be seen: Brassica jordanoffii, Saxifraga ferdinandii-coburgii, Saxifraga sprunerii, Saxifraga sempervivum, Arabis ferdinandii-coburgii, Veronica kellererii, Veronica bellidioides, Androsace villosa, Aster alpinus, Papaver degenii, Centaurea triumphetii ssp. achtarovii, Viola grisebachiana, Viola perinensis, Oxytropis urumoffii, Leontopodium alpinum, Jurinea mollis ssp. anatolica, Alyssum cuneifolium, Asperula suberosa, Galium stojanovii, Dryas octopetala, Salix reticulata, etc.

Day 8

We spend the day in the area of Banderishki Lakes - subalpine and alpine vegetation on silicate and limestone terrain.

Some species: Silene waldsteiniana, Silene lerchenfeldiana, Gymnadenia friwaldskwana, Anthemis carpatica, Onobrychis pindicola, Scrophularia laciniata, Aubrieta inttermedia, Gentianella bulgarica, Saponaria bellidioides, Dianthus petraeus, Armeria alpina, Viscaria atropurpurea, Asplenium septemtrionale, Drypteris villarii, Gymnocarpium dryopteris, Thelipteris phegopteris, etc.

Day 9

After the breakfast we make a transfer to the town of Dospat in Rhodope Mountain. We will stop on two sites on the way to see Sempervivum erythraeum, Sedum stefco, Dianthus pinifolius, Campanula lanata, etc., on the first site (Yundola Pass) and Geum rhodopaeum, Geum molle, Potentilla palustris, Astragalus centralpinus, Linum capitatum, Orchis ustulata, Pulmonaria rubra, etc., on the second one (Beglica Nature Reserve). Picnic lunch on the way. We reach the town of Dospat in the evening. Here we overnight for two nights.

Day 10

Today we will visit the area of Shiroka poljana Lake. Walk to Djinevra locality. Spruce forests, mountain meadows and mountain lakes.

Some species: Viola rhodopaea, Dianthus deltoides, Dactylorhiza baumanniana, Dactylorhiza incarnata, Campanula sparsa, Oenanthe banatica, Silene armeria, Carduus kerneri, Pastinaca hirsuta, Carex ssp., etc.

Day 11

Transfer to Pamporovo mountain resort. Walk in the area of Trigrad gorge. Impressive karsts rocky massifs. Many endemic and relict species can be observed there. Picnic lunch. Option to visit the impressive Devil's Throat cave. Overnight in Pamporovo for two nights

Some species: Abies borisii-regis, Haberlea rhodopensis, Morina persica, Sideritis scardica, Scabiosa rhodopensis, Saxifraga stribrnyi, Arenaria rhodopaea, Micromeria dalmatica, Micromeria cristata, Petkovia orphanidea, Trachelium rumelianum, Inula adschersoniana, Astragalus angustifolius, Campanula cervicaria, Hypericum montbretii, Seseli rigidum, Symphytum ottomanicum, Secale rhodopaeum , etc.

Day 12

Before the noon - walk in the area of Smoljan Lakes. A chair lift bring us to the peak Snejanka.

Some species: Menyanthes trifoliata, Utricularia vulgaris, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Alisma lanceolata, Equisetum fluviatilis, Scirpus sylvaticus, Betonica officinalis, Potamogeton natans, Carex rostrata, Glyceria fluitans, Sparganium emersum, etc.

In the afternoon - visit to the Chudnite mostove natural phenomenon. Magnificent natural stone bridges. Pine and spruce forests and forest glades.

Some species: Gentianella bulgarica, Genista rumelica, Digitalis ambigua, Digitalis viridiflora, Silene saxifraga, Verbascum abietinum, Nepeta nuda, Veronica austriaca, Gentiana cruciata, Silene asterias, Silene velenovskyi, etc.

Day 13

Transfer to Asenovgrad area with visit to Dobrostan massif - area of Martziganitsa chalet. Overnight in Asenovgrad. Mountain meadows on limestone, pastures, juniper scrub, rocky places.

Some species: Onosma rhodopaea, Onosma visiani, Marrubium frivaldskyanum, Linum uninerve, Campanula glomerata, Seseli pallasi, Lychnis coronaria, Lilium martagon, Inula ensifolia, Cirsium candelabrum, Dianthus cruentus ssp. turcicus, Aquilegia nigrescens, Alyssoides bulgarica, etc. Depending on the year and season: Epipogium aphyllum, Epipactis mycrophilla, Coralorhiza trifida, Coeloglossum viride,

Day 14

Transfer to Sofia Airport and departure. If there is enough time we will visit culture site on the way.

Group size: 4 -16 tourists + 2 leaders

Price: 1190 EUR per person

Individuals: 1-3 tourists + leader

Price: 1380 EUR per person

Single supplement: 130 EUR

Price includes: All ground transportation (a comfortable bus), all meals - full board (with packed lunches when necessary), accommodation in hotels, guides, entrance fees for all nature reserves.

The price does not include: airfares, travel insurance, hard drinks and all items for personal use.

Official language for the tour: English. German speaking guide is also available.

We can also offer you a great variety of customized tours according to your preferences.

Should you have any questions or special requirements, please do not hesitate to contact us.