Hikes in Batak

This route is a stage of Section ST5 of the Sultans Trail, an international long-distance hiking trail from Vienna to Istanbul. The hiking route follows historic roads through eight countries (Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey), linking towns and villages in a traditional cultural and historic landscape. The route passes Rakitovo and Tsigov Chark before arriving at Batak.

This route is a stage of Section ST5 of the Sultans Trail, an international long-distance hiking trail from Vienna to Istanbul. The hiking route follows historic roads through eight countries (Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey), linking towns and villages in a traditional cultural and historic landscape. The route passes through the Kandere ravine and the Orpheus hut before arriving at Borino.

This route is a stage of Section ST5 of the Sultans Trail, an international long-distance hiking trail from Vienna to Istanbul. The hiking route follows historic roads through eight countries (Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey), linking towns and villages in a traditional cultural and historic landscape. The route passes Beglika and Toshkov Chark before arriving at Shiroka polyana.

This route is a stage of Section ST5 of the Sultans Trail, an international long-distance hiking trail from Vienna to Istanbul. The hiking route follows historic roads through eight countries (Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey), linking towns and villages in a traditional cultural and historic landscape. The route passes the Batak Hydroelectric Power Plant and Kamanite (1733) before arriving at the Kartela pass meadow.

The section of the Sultan’s trail going south from Sofia towards the Greek border is particularly demanding both physically and in terms of supportive infrastructure. Physically, the trail passes through the Rila Mountain range and National Park and then on to the densely forested Western Rhodopes range and, finally, the Eastern Rhodopes. Individual stages, in addition to their point-to-point demands, may also include rises and falls in excess of a 1000m. Accommodation in the mountains is structured around a series of “Mountain Huts”…essentially high-altitude albergues or hostels…whose size, facilities, quality and ability to be contacted (for bookings, etc.) vary considerably. Many small towns and villages adjacent to the route can offer B&B and other facilities but, again, what and where is similarly vague. Transport is also problematic…bus and train connections are infrequent, few and far between, even for some of the larger towns, and roads are often narrow, steep and winding. Not recommended for inexperienced hikers or any lacking confidence and planning; and not recommended for any during inclement weather or the possibility thereof.

The section of the Sultan’s trail going south from Sofia towards the Greek border is particularly demanding both physically and in terms of supportive infrastructure. Physically, the trail passes through the Rila Mountain range and National Park and then on to the densely forested Western Rhodopes range and, finally, the Eastern Rhodopes. Individual stages, in addition to their point-to-point demands, may also include rises and falls in excess of a 1000m. Accommodation in the mountains is structured around a series of “Mountain Huts”…essentially high-altitude albergues or hostels…whose size, facilities, quality and ability to be contacted (for bookings, etc.) vary considerably. Many small towns and villages adjacent to the route can offer B&B and other facilities but, again, what and where is similarly vague. Transport is also problematic…bus and train connections are infrequent, few and far between, even for some of the larger towns, and roads are often narrow, steep and winding. Not recommended for inexperienced hikers or any lacking confidence and planning; and not recommended for any during inclement weather or the possibility thereof.