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Way to RakitovoPhoto: Max Smits, Sultans Trail - a European Cultural Route
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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.
moderate
Distance 27 km
7:25 h
736 m
448 m
1,227 m
741 m
Leaving Velingrad, the trail continues through the western Rhodope Mountains, passing forests, meadows, and scattered settlements beneath the surrounding ridges. The route passes through Rakitovo before climbing toward the uplands around Tsigov Chark, overlooking the Batak Reservoir.
This mountainous region became an important forestry and hydroelectric area during the twentieth century, while the surrounding valleys and plateaus had long supported pastoral communities and seasonal grazing.
The stage ends in Batak, a town closely associated with the April Uprising of 1876 and the violent reprisals that followed during the final decades of Ottoman rule in Bulgaria.
Author’s recommendation
Set high in the Rhodope Mountains, Batak is a quiet lakeside town known for its dramatic history and its deep connection to Bulgaria’s national revival. Forested ridges, the vast Batak Reservoir, and a handful of powerful memorial sites give the town a solemn, reflective character that contrasts with the calm beauty of its mountain setting.
Landmarks:
- Batak History Museum — a compact yet moving museum that recounts the town’s turbulent 19th‑century history through personal objects, documents, and memorial exhibits.
- Balinova House — a preserved Revival‑era home showing traditional Rhodope architecture and the domestic life of Batak’s past.
- Boris Sharov Museum — a small museum dedicated to the local artist Boris Sharov, displaying his paintings and personal archive.
- Monument to Georgi Cholakov — a memorial honouring the revolutionary from Veles, standing near the Kartela pass where he fought and died.
- St. Nedelya Church — the town’s most significant site, a stone church‑ossuary preserving the memory of the 1876 Batak uprising within its solemn interior.
Difficulty
T1
moderate
Overall difficulty
moderate
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Experience
Landscape
Highest point
1,227 m
Lowest point
741 m
Best time of year
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Track types
Length
27 km
Safety information
At this stage, no specific safety precautions are required.Tips and suggestions
You may find accommodation, restaurants and refreshments in Rakitovo, Tsigov Chark and Batak.In Tsigov Chark, you will find multiple restaurants. It also offers the option of a boat ride on the lake or a boat transfer to the Batak shore.
Rakitovo:
- Pelevi Guest House
- Bor
- Rakita Lodge
- Villa Rakitovo
- Hunting Lodge Pashino Bardo
Tsigov chark:
- Family Hotel Lidia
- Family Hotel Stoyan
- Hotel Kalvachevi
- Hotel Eterno
- Eco Camping Batak
Batak
- Guest House Batak
- The Old Batak/Старият Батак
Roadbook
From Velingrad, we leave the Rila Mountains and enter the Rhodope range. The route climbs steadily into the Hayduski Hills, rising through mixed forest and open slopes toward the quiet waters of the Matnitsa Reservoir. After crossing the watershed, the trail descends into the small town of Rakitovo, set between the Rhodope foothills and the long arc of the Batak plateau. From here, the route continues westward along the shores of the expansive Batak Reservoir, where pine forests give way and the landscape widens into a high, windswept basin. The stage ends in Batak, whose Church Sveta Nedelya stands as a solemn memorial to the atrocities committed during the early 20th century, preserving the memory of the town’s turbulent past within its stone walls.
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Photo
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Historical Museum VelingradСвета Богородица
Pliocene Epoch Park
Clock Tower, Rakitovo
Museum of History
Balinova House, Batak
St.Nedelya Church, Batak
Public transport
Velingrad can be reached by both train and bus. The town lies on the BDŽ narrow‑gauge railway between Septemvri and Dobrinishte, with several daily trains stopping at Velingrad. The current schedule is published here: BDŽ narrow‑gauge timetable. In addition, frequent regional buses connect Velingrad with Pazardzhik, Plovdiv, and Sofia, with departures listed on Bulgaria’s national timetable platform: Velingrad bus timetablesBatak can be reached from Pazardzhik, which has frequent regional buses from Sofia and Plovdiv. Travellers coming from Velingrad can also reach Batak via a shorter regional (minibus)l connection.
Directions
The current schedule is published in the BDŽ narrow‑gauge timetable hereThe most recent information on departures from Velingrad to Rakitovo and Batak can be found on ecovelingrad.com here
Coordinates
DD
42.027614, 23.991397
DMS
42°01'39.4"N 23°59'29.0"E
UTM
34T 747645 4657172
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Get there by train, car, bike, or on foot!
Equipment
This stage of the Sultans Trail requires standard long-distance hiking equipment. Weather protection is essential, including rain and cold gear, depending on the season. In late spring and early summer, mosquito deterrents are strongly recommended, while during the hot season, sun protection and a sufficient water supply are essential. Reliable offline navigation tools should be carried at all times.Difficulty
T1
moderate
Overall difficulty
moderate
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Distance
27 km
Duration
7:25 h
Ascent
736 m
Descent
448 m
Highest point
1,227 m
Lowest point
741 m
Weather at the starting point
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Maps and trails
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