The Bikes
You can’t enjoy a great biking trip without a really great bike. On this trip, we’ll use well-tuned, high-quality, local bikes that provide the perfect fit for your size and weight.
- Type
Private
XSmall Group
The right number of like-minded travellers to make new friends.
Private
Your dates. Your group. Our expertly-designed itinerary.
Custom
Tailored to your interests, a bespoke travel experience.
- Support
Daytime Guided
XSelf-Guided
Combines the hallmarks of any B&R itinerary (excellent hotels and beautiful routes) with the freedom of pacing each day exactly the way you like.
Daytime Guided
Throughout the day, a knowledgeable local guide provides insider access and expert tips. At night, you can explore and dine on your own.
24/7 Guided
Our B&R guides are with you throughout, anticipating needs, translating languages, providing advice and—above all—facilitating fun.
- Difficulty Level
Level 2
XLevel 1: Occasional
Biking – 40-50 km (25-30 mi.) a day over relatively flat terrain with a few small hills—all very manageable for people trying their first biking trip.
Walking – 6-10 km (4-6 mi.) a day on country lanes, footpaths and coastal or forest trails, all on relatively flat terrain, perhaps with an occasional hill.
Level 2: Recreational
Biking – 40-50 km (25-30 mi.) a day over terrain that’s relatively flat but will include inclines and the occasional climb or two.
Walking – 8-12 km (5-7 mi.) a day over relatively flat terrain, with occasional steeper climbs.
Level 3: Enthusiast
Biking – 40-50 km (25-30 mi.) a day in gently rolling countryside, with occasional longer climbs to points that are well worth the effort.
Walking – 11-15 km (7-10 mi.) a day over rolling terrain on a variety of surfaces. Most days, one or two steeper climbs to spectacular viewpoints or places of interest.
Level 4: Avid
Biking – Roughly 50 km (30 mi.) a day in consistently rolling countryside, with repeated climbs and longer options available.
Walking – 11-15 km (7-10 mi.) over terrain that varies between rolling and hilly, with a few steeper climbs.
Level 5: Expert
Biking – 50-60 km (30-45 mi.) a day over both level and tougher, hillier terrain with multiple 100 km (62 mi.) options. The routes are designed for avid cyclists and include plenty of chances to push yourself.
Walking – 11-15 km (7-10 mi.) a day over fairly hilly terrain offering lots of challenges. Routes are along high meadow paths and/or well-maintained cliffside or alpine trails, with a few steep ascents to make you feel invigorated.
Old-world enchantment
Found between the trade routes of Europe and Asia, Bulgaria has long been a crossroad of cultures—a fusion Eastern Orthodox tradition, Byzantine art, Ottoman architecture and everpresent Pagan practices. This diversity is found in its landscape, too: a patchwork of farmland, alpine peaks, curious caves and rock formations that skirt the horizon. Immerse yourself in the local culture as you travel across unspoiled terrain, indulge in the region’s cuisine and pedal between misty mountains and ancient ruins.
per person from Based on 4 ppl double occupancy
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SAMPLE ITINERARIES
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- USD
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SAMPLE ITINERARIES
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How do you want to travel?
Go Private Go Bespoke
Bulgaria Biking Private
Ready-to-Book private tours are designed to be enjoyed off-the-rack, but there is room for minor adjustments to fit the trip to your needs. If the gap is too great, then we’d be happy to tailor-make you a Bespoke trip from scratch. Simply tell us a few details about your group and select your preferred date. One of our Trip Designers will spring into action, confirming the details or exploring alternatives, over the next 48 hours.
Best Time to Visit
| January | April | July | October |
| February | May | August | November |
| March | June | September | December |
Have a custom trip designed exactly to your interests. Like a tailor making a bespoke suit, it will fit you perfectly.
Our Bespoke trip designers are a talented bunch who can craft unforgettable experiences for your specific group—and working within your needs and budget.
Get in touch with a Trip Designer to begin planning your perfect vacation.
REQUEST A QUOTEDay by Day
Follow a scenic road through magnificent meadows and century-old oak forest in the Sredna Gora mountain range. Enjoy lunch at a 19th-century Dervish monastery in the heart of old Plovdiv.
Pedal to Svezhen, a fascinating village in Sredna Gora. Lunch in an Ottoman garden before you stroll the cobblestone streets of Karlovo, while the scent of Bulgaria's surrounding Rose Valley permeates the air.
Begin today's ride from the Kuklenski monastery located deep in the forest of the Rhodope Mountains. Stop by the gorgeous village of Shiroka Laka and learn from a master about its bagpipe tradition.
Visit the Rozhen Astronomical Observatory before a picnic with views over the meadows of the Rhodopes. At a cooking class back in Gela, you'll learn how to make banitsa, a delicious Balkan specialty.
Head to the Dospat reservoir for a ride amid its diverse flora and fauna and old coniferous forest. Continue to your exquisite accommodation in the heart of Melnik, Bulgaria’s renowned wine region.
Explore the area surrounding Melnik on a bike ride through wine fields and farmlands. This afternoon, enjoy a visit of the town, nestled within in a cove of natural sand pyramids and beautifully eroded rock.
Say so long to Melnik and head back to Sofia, stopping en route at the country's famous 10thC Rila Monastery and for a quick pedal through the Rila Mountain Range.
After breakfast at the hotel, your guide and driver will pick you up and drive you to the airport in time for your onward flight. Safe travels!
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Hotels
Hotel Gela, Gela
Soak up the views from this rustic boutique hotel in the village of Gela—the most beautiful and virgin part of the Rhodope Mountains. The owner, Petjo, successfully combines local style and traditions with modern conveniences, paying attention to the smallest of details to offer excellent service.
InterContinental Sofia, Sofia
From its prime position overlooking the Narodno Sabranie Square, revel in modern luxury at the InterContinental Sofia. Polished and contemporary guestrooms come awash in pastel hues and with exceptional views over one of the most charming capital cities in Eastern Europe.
Hebros Hotel, Plovdiv
In the heart of the old town, this renaissance house was built by a wealthy merchant more than 200 years ago and later went on to serve as the official residence of Bulgaria’s former Communist leader Todor Zhivkov. The house has recently been restored to its 19th-century glory and boasts an award-winning restaurant that adheres to the Slow Food movement.
Zornitza Family Estate, Melnik
Six Tuscan Style Villas, characterized by their stonework, timber beams, red bricks and artistic design, come together to form the Zornitza Family Estate. A fireplace in each villa provides warmth on chilly evenings, while the vast terraces give way to magnificent views of the surrounding vineyards. The on-site restaurant features an impressive selection of nearly 300 wines from the region and around the world.
B&R does an amazing job of putting together events outside of the biking that are personal and very memorable. These events are what make the B&R stand out from other companies.
— Andrea Seymour WalkerA most memorable trip. B&R provided an absolute stress free experience. Fantastic, smart, amazing guides who thought outside the box to customize our activities.
— Jeanie Alhadeff
Level 2
This trip is rated as recreational. Daily distances range between 22 to 45 km (13 to 28 mi.). Bike rides can be adapted to suit the individual needs.
What’s included? Everything you need. Plus everything you’d
want. Plus a few things you never knew you wanted ‘til you got them.
In a word: everything. In ninety words? Signature B&R guides; local experts; unique, unforgettable biking and walking routes; private tours; authentic local cuisine; lessons and demonstrations; local artisanal wines; wine tastings; all victuals and libations; all the endorphins you can handle; new insight; interesting, fun and like-minded travel companions; a feeling of total freedom. In short: an extraordinary, hassle-free journey of discovery.
- All hotel accommodation
- Meals as indicated with wine
- Services of National guide(s) and support vehicles
- Detailed maps, and water bottle
- All special events and private tours
- All transportation from rendezvous to drop-off, including your airport drop-off
- Internal Flights
- All baggage transportation
- All bike equipment
- Support vehicles
Local Bikes
Sometimes your B&R trip simply isn’t long enough! Extend your stay for the best vacation possible. If you wish to spend a few days in region either before or after your official B&R trip, and need assistance making those plans, your B&R Travel Advisor can help.
Call us to create an independent travel experience that fits your needs—we can also arrange for a local guide.
Spend more time in Sofia
Bulgaria's capital Sofia has a lot to offer. Consider joining us on a bike ride throughout the city's amazing parks and green areas before your adventure begins. You can also join one of our expert local guides for a walk through the historical center to learn more about the country's history, culture and traditions. Speak with your Travel Advisor for more details.
More Trip Inspiration
Your dreams—realized.
Your expectations—exceeded.
And your mind? Totally and utterly blown.
Your expectations—exceeded.
And your mind? Totally and utterly blown.
We craft extraordinary experiences, tailor made to meet
your every need, with every stitch of every day crafted
just the way you want it. Learn more about Bespoke
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