Bulgarian Cycling Tour: Bikepacking Route from Sofia via Petrohan, Belogradchik, the Danube and Shipka Pass to Plovdiv

Description

From Sofia to Plovdiv: this multi-day cycling tour across Bulgaria links big mountain passes, quiet villages, open plains and some of the country’s most striking landscapes. The bikepacking route leads from the capital over Petrohan Pass to Montana, on to the red rocks of Belogradchik, across the Danubian Plain to Kozloduy and Pleven, via Lovech and Gabrovo up to Shipka Pass, and finally through the Rose Valley to Plovdiv. A varied Bulgaria cycling adventure for riders who love culture, nature,

Tour Details

This tour includes detailed day-by-day descriptions, accommodation recommendations, points of interest, difficulty ratings, and expert tips for completing this amazing cycling adventure...

Route

This is not a polished riverside cruise. It is a proper crossing of Bulgaria, full of sharp changes: capital-city exit, Balkan pass, rock formations, river plain, industrial towns, memorial landscapes, mountain roads and a finish in one of Europe’s oldest cities. The first real shift comes early, when the road leaves Sofia’s edge and climbs towards Petrohan. Traffic gives way to forest, bends and cool mountain air. Later, the red towers of Belogradchik rise above the land like a natu...

Start Point

Sofia

End Point

Plovdiv

Country

Bulgaria

Regions

Central Serbia, Gabrovo, Lovech, Montana, Pleven, Plovdiv, Sofia-City, Stara Zagora, Vidin, Vratsa

Insights

Total Distance

675 km

Difficulty

Hard

Road Type

—

Avg. time

7 days (6-9)

Tour Itinerary

Day 1

Sofia - Montana

112 km1,416 m

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Day 2

Montana - Belogradchik

75 km872 m

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Day 3

Belogradchik - Kozloduy

109 km394 m

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Day 4

Kozloduy - Pleven

105 km723 m

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Day 5

Pleven - Gabrovo

104 km1,130 m

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Day 6

Gabrovo - Kazanlak

58 km1,159 m

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Day 7

Kazanlak - Plovdiv

111 km513 m

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Cultural & scenic highlights

Travel access

Travel to start

Requires planning

The tour start is not close to a major rail hub, airport or coach hub. Plan extra time for the final transfer, a taxi, an overnight stay or an additional ride to the route.

Travel from finish

Requires planning

The tour finish is not close to a major rail hub, airport or coach hub. Plan extra time for the transfer, a taxi, an overnight stay or an additional ride after the final stage.

The Curated List

Packing List

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