Trans Rhodope Long distance biking route

The Trans Rhodope Long distance mountain biking route is mainly off-road. The route is built using dirt mountain roads, forest paths and small country roads. Over 70% of the route is traffic-free. The total lenght of the route is over 500 km.

The initiative comes from the New Thracian Gold in partnership with the foundation "House for books and adventures."

The route passes through lovely countryside, nature reserves, remote villages, fortresses, churches, rivers, lakes, and cultural heritage. The Trans Rhodope route provides both easy and difficult mountain cycling. Some parts might be a challenge to novice cyclists, but a real pleasure for experienced ones.

The route starts at the village of Trigrad and runs east through Pamporovo resort, Kardzhali lake, Studen Kladenets area, Ivaylovgrad where it ends in Madzharovo.  It is also possible to make an alternative detour which ends in Kardzhali.

The route is color marked in the terrain and each day trip has an easily found start/finish location.

The route is divided in 17 sections (day trails) from 15 to 40 km each:

Day 1: The village of Trigrad – the village of Mugla – length 30 km

Day 2: Mugla village - Pamporovo resort (Studenets hut) – length 20 km

Day 3: Pamporovo resort (Studenets hut) – the village of Momchilovtsi (information center) – length 15 km

Day 4: Momchilovtsi - Banite (guest houses Kadishevi) or in the village of Vishnevo (guest house “In Baruma”)  - length 40 km

Day 5: Banite village or Vishnevo village – the village of Lyubino (Melanya house) – length 30 km

Day 6: Lyubino village – the village of Glavatartsi (hotel Trifon Zarezan, villas Bolyarka) - length 31 km

Day 7: Glavatartsi village – the village of Letovnik (Happy Hippie hostel) - length 25 km

Day 8: village Letovnik – Kroyatsite lodge at Studen Kladenets lake - length 26 km

Day 9: Lodge Kroyatsite - Studen kladenets village (house Studen kladenets) - a length of 22 km

Day 10: Studen kladenets village - the village of Padalo (by the summer 2012 there will be a guest house) - length 20 km

Day 11: Padalo village - the village of Pelevun (the house of Todor Mitkov) - length 45 km

Day 12: village of Pelevun - Ivaylovgrad (Information center, Armira Hotel, Luxor Hotel) – length 15 km

Day 13: Ivaylovgrad – the village of Gornoseltsi (accommodation in farmhouse) – length 20 km

Day 14: village of Gornoseltsi - Madzharovo (nature conservation center of BSPB) or Gorno pole (in The Wild Farm) – length 36 km + 6 km to The Wild Farm

Alternative detour to Kardzhali

Day 13: Ivaylovgrad – the village of Borislavtsi (Trakiyska kashta - the Thracian house) - length 46 km

Day 14: Borislavtsi village - the village of Gorno Pole (The Wild Farm) – length 11 km

Day 15: the village of Gorno Pole - Rabovo village (guest house Tepavitsata) – length 30 km

Day 16: Rabovo village - village of Madrets (guest house Madrets) – length 26 km

Day 17: village Madrets - Kardzhali (Historical Museum, Plamena house, The Residence hotel) - length 23 km

These seventeen sections (day trails) are the "backbone" of the route. Each one could also be visited as separate daytrips. Besides this main route there are additional local routes which are also marked. So in each region tourists can optionally hike or ride several additional routes.

The start/finish location of each day trip in the "backbone" of the Tran Rhodope biking route will be marked with an information board. There is also an information corner with maps, brochures and more about the main route and the additional local routes.

The route will be marked in red – mainly red triangles with white, but there are also sections that are marked with tourist hiking markings white-red-white. There are also signs along the road.  

In June 2013 will be printed the map of the Trans Rhodope route, where the route will be described in details, as well as the local trails, accommodation places, the places of interest, information centers, wildlife hides, etc.

Sign for the Trans Rhodope Bike Adventure tour, organized together with the professionals from the "House for books and adventures" in September 2013!

Download the GPS tracks.