Escursionismo in Kardzhali

Questo percorso fa parte del Sultans Trail, un sentiero escursionistico internazionale a lunga percorrenza che va da Vienna a Istanbul. Il percorso segue strade storiche attraverso otto paesi (Austria, Slovacchia, Ungheria, Croazia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Grecia e Turchia), collegando città e villaggi in un paesaggio tradizionale dal ricco patrimonio culturale e storico. Questo tratto attraversa due paesi, la Bulgaria e la Grecia, prima di entrare in Turchia. In Bulgaria, il sentiero passa vicino al monte Vitosha, a Yarlovo, Belchin, Samokov, Govedartsi, al monte Mechit, al Monastero di Rila, al rifugio Makedoniya, a Semkovo, alla Riserva degli orsi di Belitsa, a Yakoruda, Yundola, Velingrad, Rakitovo, Batak, Orlovetz, Shiroka palyana, Borino, Yagodina, Mugla, Smolyan, Polkovnik Serafimovo, Srednogortsi, Byal Izvo, Ardino, Kitnitsa, Kardzhali, Perperikon, Madzharovo e Ivaylovgrad. In Grecia, attraversa Fylakio, Rizia e Kastanies prima di entrare in Turchia e raggiungere Edirne.

La parte orientale del Balkan Green Belt Trail (tappe 13-18) attraversa Bulgaria e Turchia. I punti salienti includono siti traci, riserve per uccelli, due parchi naturali e un meraviglioso percorso sul Mar Nero che termina a Rezovo, al confine tra Bulgaria e Turchia.

"La tappa 16 parte da Krumovgrad verso le selvagge Rodopi Orientali, attraversando le anse del fiume, riserve per uccelli e siti tracici, e si conclude con un anello intorno al sacro Monte Sakar."

"La tappa 15 lascia i Rodopi occidentali, collegando villaggi rurali ed esplorando aree remote. Raggiunge la vetta più a sud, il Pico Veykata, seguendo il confine greco lungo tutto il percorso."

Da villaggio Padartsi, attraverso Paradise view fino alla grotta Utrobata

Rough route plan for up coming solo hike from Istanbul to Vienna and back.

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.