Bulgaria holidays

The mountain foothills of southern Bulgaria – close to the border with Greece – have a wonderfully wild and varied range of walking trails. The Rhodope Mountains, in particular, are alive with gushing waterfalls, limestone gorges and old growth forests where wild cats and wolves still live. Walking as part of a small group with a local guide is a great way to learn about the natural history along your route, and also to begin to understand Bulgarian culture away from the bright city lights. Villages like Yagodina provide authentic family-run accommodation as well as access to river trails and Roman roads, right from your hotel's front door. The higher you hike, the more mountains come to the fore. Opportunities to spot vultures, eagles and buzzards are bound to resonate with you if you love a walk on the wild side.

Come winter, Bulgaria’s forests, mountains and frozen lakes make snowshoeing a fun experience. Head off over the forest tracks in the Rhodope Mountains or opt for old shepherd trails through the alpine meadows and river valleys of Rila National Park. Snowshoeing is great exercise and easy to get the hang of, and with expert guides leading you on safe routes, you can relax and enjoy the scenery and the company. You’ll stay every night in a family-owned village guest house that is part of Bulgaria’s ‘green lodges’ network, an initiative that promotes accommodation with strong environmental credentials.

No car? No problem. Bulgaria is a lovely country to experience by slow travel, and going by train with your tickets and accommodation arranged for you makes that both convenient and wonderfully relaxed. Enjoy spectacular scenery as you pass through mountain ranges or along the shores of lakes, with the occasional hold-up of a herd of sheep crossing the line. Step off in tiny towns for a taste of Bulgarian culture, such as a day trip to a wood carving museum, or a soak in the local hot spring.

Trains carriages often have steep steps, and you’ll pass through areas where little English may be spoken, so our rail touring holidays are best-suited to the adventurous independent traveller. But the rewards are splendid, whether that comes from getting to know whoever is sharing your carriage, or simply relishing the views through the window.

With climate change making summer holidays an ordeal and crowds adding to the unpleasantness, the playas are played out for family holidays. Increasingly, adventurous families are looking to Eastern Europe for their fun, and you’ll find plenty of it in Bulgaria. A tailor made trip here can see you basing yourselves on a lovely farm in the Rhodope Mountains, where you can easily slip into rural rhythm and perhaps even lend a hand with the daily tasks. Otherwise, kids will love experiences like panning for gold in the river, kayaking day trips where you can moor up to see a demonstration in traditional butter making, and keeping an eye on the sky for golden eagles and vultures. The mountain climate is a lot cooler than the coast in July and August, but still lovely and warm. Add in a few nights in cities such as Sofia and Plovdiv and you’ve got all the makings of a memorable and unique family getaway.

Bulgaria has many natural mineral springs, and few things appeal more at the end of a walk than a local hotel with spa facilities waiting for you. Not only will you be able to ease any aching limbs in an indoor or outdoor bath, but you’ll also be treated to the mineral enriched water’s rejuvenating properties. It’s said that a soak in these waters will give you more zip than an early morning cup of mursalski herbal tea.

Treatments and massages are available, depending on the hotel, and you can also find saunas and steam rooms, hot tubs and pools both indoor and outdoor. If you want something a little more active, you can limber up with a yoga retreat in Bansko; there are dozens of hot springs in the vicinity. It all adds up to Bulgaria being one of Europe’s most rejuvenating countries.

Our bear watching small group tours venture into the Rhodope Mountains, where you can track brown bears with the help of expert guides who will show you how to detect signs of their presence, and explain what different behaviours mean. A typical day might see you cover average distances of 12km on foot, with a couple of evenings spent in a bear hide adding to what can be an incredibly intense and rewarding conservation experience. Data collected during your stay will be shared with the NGO Wild Rodopi, contributing to their research projects.

'Dancing’ bears were once commonplace in Eastern Europe. They were subjected to years of abuse in the name of entertainment, and Bulgaria was no exception. Since the practice was outlawed in the early 1990s, many captive bears were sold or abandoned, but the lucky ones have found their way to Belitsa Bear Sanctuary amid the forested foothills of the Rila Mountains. A visit to this excellent sanctuary can be sad, as elderly residents are still conditioned to sway on two legs. But this is not a zoo, it's a sanctuary for animals that need human help. Your visit will put funds where they're needed most.

Bulgaria’s location at the southeastern tip of Europe with a Black Sea coast has resulted in a fascinating history and blend of cultures, with Greek, Ottoman, Slavic and Persian all in the mix. Among the many highlights of walking in rural Bulgaria is stumbling across an old monastery, or being invited into a local family’s home to share a meal.

Other cultural charms include wine tasting – Bulgaria’s wine making tradition dates back some 3,000 years, and you can visit renowned wineries in the Thracian Valley in the company of experts to tour the facilities, and the vines. Exploring traditional arts and crafts is another fantastic way to experience Bulgaria’s rich cultural heritage. Across a week you can try your hand at making Troyan pottery; learn how to dance a horo, a Bulgarian folk dance; try your hand at woodcarving and painting religious icons, and discover the world of medicinal herbs on a forest walk. Not only will you come home with some unique souvenirs and a deeper understanding of Bulgarian traditions, but you’ll also be helping these ancient ways of life survive as your holiday directly supports a wide range of local artisans.