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Like many of the Balkans countries, Bulgaria was ruled under a totalitarian communist regime after WWII, and only liberated as the Berlin wall fell in ‘89. Unlike most of its neighbours, however, Bulgaria wasn’t really involved in the Yugoslav war, meaning it is a super well-preserved country in terms of its architecture, heritage sites and varied nature.
Bulgaria is really convenient to reach from other Balkan and Mediterranean countries. The capital, Sofia, has direct flights from many places in Europe, as does the main city on the east coast, Varna. If you’re on a longer trip and happy to go overland, you can reach Sofia pretty easily from Skopje in Macedonia, or reach Varna from Bucharest in Romania. Bulgaria’s situation in Southeast Europe means it’s an easy – if not large – country to set off from and explore some more off-the-beaten-path destinations that Europe has to offer. Like most of Southeast Europe, the weather gets a bit sizzling in the peak of summer, and the land-locked capital of Sofia can be quite a sweaty place to visit – but the east coast is a treat at this time if you’re a fan of swimming and the sun.
In the northwest of the country, the seven glacial Rila lakes sit amongst snow-capped mountains and forest-lined slopes. Getting to Rila National Park takes a few hours from Sofia, and the hike to see all the turquoise-sparkled lakes is usually done in just one day. If you want to visit the UNESCO heritage-listed Rila Monastery, you can stay overnight in the national park at one of the huts or homestays, which can turn out to feature some rakia (fruit brandy) and intrepid fellow travellers, if you’re lucky! In summer, you’ll be able to do the hike in little clothing without sweltering. Winter would take a little more preparation, as everything will be icy and the lakes freeze over!
The Rhodopes Mountains cover a few countries in Southeastern Europe, but the biggest area of them lands in Bulgaria. It is here you can see the Trigad Gorge, in the south of the country. There, you’ll travel up a ferociously winding and somewhat frightening road sandwiched between two steep inclines of rock that can reach up to 250m in height. You may be brave enough to reach the Devil’s Throat – a gigantic waterfall within a cave that represents the mouth of the devil, with the water rushing back down his throat. In Bulgarian folklore, this cave is said to be the entrance to the underworld.
More glacial lakes can be found in Pirin National Park, which are surrounded by peaks that are snow-capped for most of the year. This is for the more committed multi-day hiker, though, as you can manage to find trails that will see you winding your way between the wintery peaks for up to three days, covering 40 kilometres. The path can be demanding at times due to the undulating terrain, and the traditional huts you may spend the nights in as you walk can reach altitudes close to 3000 metres.
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