Activities in Central Balkans
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Hiking in the Sredna Gora
The Sredna Gora (Central Range) mountains are spread over 6000 sq km from Iskâr Gorge (near Sofia) to the Tundzha Valley (south of Yambol). The highest peak is Mt Bogdan (1603m) near Koprivshtitsa.
The Mountains of Bulgaria by Julian Perry provides a detailed description of the popular two- or three-day hike from Hisar (Hisarya) to Koprivshtitsa (or vice versa).
No dedicated map of the Sredna Gora is available, but most of the mountains and hiking routes are included in the map of Stara Planina that is published by Kartografia. The map of Koprivshtitsa, published by Domino and available in the village, includes a small, but clear, map with five enticing hiking routes…
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Philip Kotev School
The Exhibition Hall of Carpets & Woodcarving, 500m northwest of the bus station, exhibits and sells examples of the famed Kotel style of carpets. The town also has several museums, the best being the History Museum, on the central square, which presents items dating from 19th-century revolutionary times, and Georgi Rakovski’s mammoth mausoleum. The Ethnographic Museum, about 200m west of the Exhibition Hall, is also worth a peek. For a more visceral connection with Bulgarian tradition, you can learn to play the gayda (Balkan bagpipe) and get tuition in other traditional music and dance at the Philip Kotev School, which sometimes holds recitals.
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Bulgarian Mountain Tours
Guided nature tours, walking, paragliding, cultural trips and rock climbing trips are offered by Richard and Deborah Adams of Bulgarian Mountain Tours, which is based in the village of Vasil Levski, a 10-minute drive southeast of Karlovo.
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A
Hiking
Numerous local operators offer hiking. For more information contact the Tourist Information Centre; the helpful staff provides special hiking maps and can link you with the right people.
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B
Caving
Numerous local operators offer caving. For more information contact the Tourist Information Centre; the helpful staff provides special hiking maps and can link you with the right people.
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Mountain Biking
Numerous local operators offer mountain biking. For more information contact the Tourist Information Centre; the helpful staff can link you with the right people.
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D
Horse Riding
Numerous local operators offer horse riding. For more information contact the Tourist Information Centre; the helpful staff can link you with the right people.
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E
Dunav Tours
Arranges private rooms and tours, and sells tickets for long-distance buses; also runs unique eight-day Danube boat cruises to Vienna.
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F
Byala Zvezda
Local NGO organising hiking, caving, canoeing, trekking and cycling trips in Rusenski Lom Nature Park.
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Retro Tours
Books air and bus tickets; can find accommodation and organise excursions to local attractions.
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H
Byala Zvezda
Local NGO organising hiking, caving, canoeing, trekking and cycling trips in Rusenski Lom Nature Park.
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