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For walkers and naturalists, Bulgaria is an unexpected paradise, boasting an amazing variety of landscapes and an outstandingly rich biodiversity. The three wildest and most majestic regions of this mountainous country are protected within the Pirin, Rila and Central Balkan national parks. As well as providing a vital refuge for rare wildlife, these parks also offer some of the finest mountain walking in Bulgaria.
The 12 routes described in this guide thread their way through these parks, taking in ancient forests, shimmering glacial lakes, panoramic ridges and the two highest peaks in the country, Musala and Vihren. All great mountain walks, they have also been selected to provide the best chance of encountering the rarest plants and animals.
This title offers 2 to 3-day walks for fit and experienced mountain walkers and one full-day ascent of Mount Vihren with comprehensive background information about the wildlife to be seen.
Contents Introduction Geography Climate Biodiversity Protected Territories History Culture Cuisine Language Walking in Bulgaria Travelling to Bulgaria Entrance Formalities Money Travelling to the Mountains Accommodation Food & Water Maps Mountain Rescue About this Guidebook Further Reading Key Facts & Figures 1 The 'Central Balkan' National Park Introduction Walk 1#The 'Boatin', 'Tsarichina' & 'Kozya Stena' Reserves Walk 2#The 'Severen Dzhendem', 'Stara Reka' & 'Steneto' Reserves Walk 3#The 'Dzhendema' & 'Stara Reka' Reserves Walk 4#The 'Peeshtite Skali' & 'Sokolna' Reserves 2 The 'Rila' National Park Introduction Walk 5#The 'Rila Monastery' Nature Park & 'Rila Monastery Forest' Reserve Walk 6#Sedemte Ezera & Zeleni Rid Walk 7 The 'Central Rila' Reserve Walk 8#The 'Ibar' Reserve 3 The 'Pirin' National Park Introduction Walk 9#The Pirin Wine Trail Walk 10#The 'Yulen' Reserve Walk 11#Mount Vihren Walk 12#The 'Bayvuvi Dupki - Dzhindzhiritsa' Reserve & Koncheto
Julian Perry grew up in England, but for the last 20 years has spent most of his time in the Bulgarian mountains where he now runs a specialist eco-tourism company Balkan Trek organising walking and wildlife watching holidays. He is one of the leading authorities on the region and author of The Mountains of Bulgaria: A Walker's Companion, the first English-language guidebook to long-distance hiking trails in Bulgaria.
