Simply Sports Tours are pleased to be able to offer a range of activity holidays in Bulgaria including Skiing, Trejkking, Birdwatching, Cycling and Horseriding

A land rich in unspoiled nature, abundant wildlife, history, fine architecture
and orthodox art, but most of all - a land, boasting some of Europe's
finest mountain sceneries! Still untouched from mass tourism and hiding
spectacular views for the traveller who seeks authentic, rural villages
with traditional architecture in a mountain background with sweeping
panoramas....Experience you have dreamed of!

Memories that last long… Opportunity not to be missed!

Situated in southeastern Europe, Bulgaria occupies the northeastern
part of the Balkan Peninsula. To the North, via the Danube River, it
borders on Romania, to the West - on Serbia and Montenegro and on
the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. To the South its neighbours
are Greece and Turkey. To the East Bulgaria touches the Black Sea,
which links it also to Russia, Ukraine, and Georgia. The Black Sea
borderline is 378 km (240 miles) long. The country's total territory is
111 000 sq. km (43 000 sq. miles).

Simply Sports Tours is pleased to be able to offer a range of activity
holidays in Bulgaria to suit your budget and needs. Please select any
of the following links for further information.

Horseback is a different way to explore the country, its nature and
culture. They are intended for those of you who want to change
the riding grounds or the short Saturday riding tour with riding in
the wild nature of South-Eastern Europe in a tempo which suits
you best. All tours require that you be used to riding and have
some experience in riding in the open fields and on an unknown
terrain. A different skill grade is necessary for the various tours.

The Horses:

First and foremost we ride the local race East Bulgarian horses
and crosses between East Bulgarians and Arabian Full blood.
The East Bulgarian breed is well known as tough, thoughtful
and wise, and in harmony with the famous strength and
power of the Arabian it gives a combination that fully satisfies
the riders and the challenges in the nature. Our horses are on
average 160 cm.

The Riding Guides:

All our riding guides are grown up in the mountains with horses
as a natural part of their daily life. Some of them have an
agricultural education with horses as a specialty – others are
autodidact.

The riding guides are always with the riders in the country and
no one is riding out on her or his own. The riding guides in the
mountain are almost as a captain of a ship; they are taking the
final decision, they decide the speed (in cooperation with you
and the rest of the group) and make the course. But the captain
is a good captain, having a satisfied crew and happy passengers
only if he's able to combine everything needed to return safely
into port in the right way. That's why the cooperation in the
country is carried out in a reasonable collaboration between all
parts involved.

TREKKING_____________________________________

Trekking: Guided Tours You want to get all the benefits and
advantages of your visit? You need the assistance of a qualified
guide who'll be able to answer all your questions? A guided tour
is for you! Rila-Pirin:

This trek is in two mountain chains with Balkan Peninsula 's
highest peaks, enormous national parks, rare vegetation and
rich animal life. The trip is made in such a way as to bring the
participants out in remote regions with beautiful and unspoiled
natural sceneries and waste landscapes. If you do not have the
time for trekking in the world's biggest mountain chains, this
tour is warmly recommended to you. Here you can enjoy elements
of physical challenge in alpine landscapes above the tree border,
as well as the cultural treasures of Bulgaria and the warm
hospitality of the local people. Trans-Balkan Trek

This trip combines trekking in the two most exciting Natural
Reserves in the Balkan Mountains : Kozyata Stena and Severen
Dzhendem, as well as a visit to Troyan Monastery. We climb
Mt. Botev - the highest peak of the Balkan Mountains
(2376 m a.s.l.) and enjoy the imposing view of the low-lying
mountain of Sredna Gora and the fertile Thracian Valley .
After descending the extremely steep southern slope of the
Balkan ("Tarzan's walkway") we visit the little town of Kalofer .
The huts in the mountains lie like pearls on a thread and there
are walking paths in between. We use these huts ("Dermenka",
"Vasil Levski" and "Rai") for 3 overnights (FB) on our Transbalkan
Trek. We have high-trained English-speaking mountain guide
all the time.

Trekking: Self Guided Tours:

You want to trek only with people you know well, to rely on your
own abilities to handle the situations and not the least to have
the freedom to choose where, when and how exactly to go?
Choose then a self guided tour is for you!Self Guided Tour:

SNOWSHOEING_______________________________ 

Snowshoeing is another way of exploring the mountains -
spectacular views, hidd

Snowshoeing is another way of exploring the mountains - s
pectacular views, hidden below the snow paths, memorable
experience of the quiet and serenity of the landscape with
virgin snowcoverage but also quite unpredictable as regards
to changing conditions (weather, waymarks availability etc.).
Snowshoeing in the Rodopi Mountains is challenging adventure.
No matter how deep the snow is this is the perfect place for
outdoor enthusiasts of all ages to face the invigorating exercise
of walking on the surface of the white array of Rodopi Mountains
through dense forests, alpine meadows and remote villages.

CYCLING____________________________________

The cycling tours of Simply Sports Tours are established to be
trips of full value - combining cycling through unspoiled nature,
along roads without heavy traffic and not the least giving you
the opportunity to get in touch with the cultural heritage of
Bulgaria. All tours have a duration of 8 days (7 nights). The
distance of the daily stages most often is between 45 and
70 km (100 km the longest one).

The tours are self-guided as regards to riding and handling
situations alone during daytime! However a guide with bus/car
is accompanying the group throughout the whole journey,
taking care of the luggage and checking few times a day
whether you follow the right direction. He will also assist
you if harsh problems occur.

It is quite possible to skip some of the stages (or parts of them)
if you do not feel like cycling! Detailed road books will be
provided when the group arrives in Bulgaria! 

Passing through some of the most spectacular parts of the
Rodopi Mountains (the Trigrad Gorge, the Devil's Throat Cave,
the Miraculous Bridges etc.) this trip gives you the opportunity
to explore the mountain without being escorted by a guide,
relying just on your own abilities to handle exciting and surprising
situations! The trail follows breath-taking views over high rocky
cliffs, dense woods, alpine meadows and not the least tiny villages
still housing the ancient spirit of times gone. Arranged
accommodation and luggage transportation during the whole
trip ensure the pleasure of unrestricted walking through the
wilderness of the native place of the mythical Orpheus!

Bulgaria's Roads

The road network of Bulgaria has been a subject of many
dynamic improvements during the last years. However the
conditions in some parts of the country are still very unsatisfactory.
The international U5 motorway links Bulgaria with Europe and
with Asia Minor. It forks at Sofia, and its southern branch proceeds
to Greece as U5N, while the second (U5S) leads to Turkey.
Motorways link Sofia with Varna ("Hemus"), and Sofia with
Plovdiv and Bourgas ("Trakia"). The Country road network
consist of first-class to third-class roads. Most of the roads
are first and second class. Problems may occur at roads under
reconstruction and local stretches of poor condition due to
lorries and agricultural vehicles using the same roads. Pedestrian
movement on the first-class roads and motorways is forbidden,
and bicycles are not allowed to use the high-speed lanes either.
Tolls-roads in the interior of the country are about to be
established in the very near future. The country roads among
the villages and the little towns are usually quite peaceful,
sometimes without any cars, often used by carts and herds
(the latter use them while going to their feeding grounds and back).
The road surface in these areas may be not very smooth at some
stages, potholes could also occur, but the most common annoyance
is small sectional patches of repavement where it was not evened
out with the old road.

Bikers can often use roadside facilities to relax - there are sites with
drinking-fountains, catering establishments, stands selling fruits,
vegetables or souvenirs, roadside motels, petrol stations with
attached shops etc. Roads in Bulgaria do not have emergency lanes,
so riding with the cars is necessary. Main roads are usually well signed,
thoough many times only in Bulgarian, so make sure to buy a map
with Bulgarian names. Thirdary roads and small villages are signed
only in Bulgarian, and sometimes not well seen. Mountain roads
commonly contain sand (left over from winter). Train tracks are not
always the smoothest to cross.

Although the drivers are reckless around each other, they pose little
hazard to cyclists. When passing, drivers usually move over when
possible. Many of them however, have a poor attitude toward the
safety of cyclists. Truckers are of a greater concern but only when
the traffic is heavy. The farming gypsies use mules and cart, which
are quite common to pass. Dogs pose no threat.

Bulgaria is known for gypsies, particularly the southern portion.
According to the locals (and even other countries) the gypsies
will rob you at any opportunity. Although it is nearly impossible to
travel Bulgaria without seeing gypsies, they should pose no risk to
your safety as long as you use common sense. Do not leave your
loaded locked bike unattended in questionable areas. Hesitate
from free camping outside of the mountains.

Do not bike in the towns when dark!

BIRDWATCHING_______________________________

The highland and steppe vegetation of Northern Bulgaria
(possibly combined with birdwatching)
Best period: May 15 - June 15
Guide: Yes, English-speaking.

Itinerary

Day 1. Arrival at Sofia Airport. Transfer and overnight in
Vitosha Mountains.

Day 2. Morning walk through the plateau area of Vitosha
Mountains. Noon transfer to Northern Bulgaria and short
stroll along the canyons of Studenets & Sadovets.
Overnight in Pleven. (Seseli degenii, Gladiolus communis,
Acanthus balcanicus, Rhinanthus rumelicus, Aquilegia aurea,
Achyllea clypeolata, Dianthus petraeus subsp. noenaus
and more…).

Day 3. Transfer to Gorna Studena and the wetlands by
Obnova. Overnight in Rousenski Lom Nature Park.(Paeonia
tenuifolia, Nepeta parfivlora, Centaurea thracica, Limonium
bulgaricum, Aster oleifolius, Marsilea qiadrifolia, Lemna gibba,
Ricciocarpus natans, Potamogeton perfoliatus and many more…).

Day 4. Walk along the canyons of Rousenski Lom River and
its tributaries. Transfer to "Kabiushka Mogila" and overnight
in Shumen. (Potentilla emili-popii, Vebascum dieckianum,
Salvia ringens subsp. macedonica, Galium heldreichii,
Caragana frutex, Stipa tirsa, Echium russicum, Astragalus
sprunerii and more…).

Day 5. Walk through the broken grounds of the Platteau of
Shumen and further to the area of "Pobitite Kamyni"
(The Stone Forest). Overnight in Varna. (Anthemis
regis-borissii, Verbascum purpureum, Lepidotrichum uechtrizianum,
Festuca vaginata, Dianthus nardiformis and many more…).

Day 6. Transfer to Cape Kaliakra, the architecture reserve of
Yailite and along the cliffs of the Maritime Dobroudzha.
Overnight in Kavarna. (Silene caliacrae, Paeonia peregrina,
Ruta graveolens, Centaurea caliacrae, Scutellaria orientalis,
Atremisia caucasica, Cephalaria uralensis, Koeleria brevis,
Scandix australis, Alyssum cailacrae, Gypsophila trichotoma
and more…).

Day 7. Transfer to the Ramsar sites of Shabla and
Dourankoulak lakes by the sea coast and their surroundings.
Long transfer to Sofia for overnight. (Nuphar lutea,
Corispermum nitidum, Convolvulus persicus, Cladum mariscus,
Centaurea arenaria, Silene thymifolia, Stachys atherocalix
and more…).

Day 8. Transfer to the airport for departure.

Birds to be seen during the journey:- Highlights expected
are:- Long-legged Buzzards, Black Storks, Short-toed Eagles,
Egyptian Vultures, Ferruginous Ducks, Rollers, Bea-eaters,
Ring Ouzels, Crag Martins, Alpine and Pallid Swifts,
Pied Wheatear, Calandra Larks, Rose-coloured Starlings,
Black-headed Buntings, Nutcrackers etc.

Extensions available: Yes, Black Sea - This is a unique
proposal, which gives you the opportunity to stay in Bulgaria
for one week more at the incredibly low price! We can offer
a great variety of means of accommodation - from home
stays (no meals) to 2, 3 and 4-star hotels (BB or HB) on the
Southern Bulgarian Black Sea Coast:Sunny BeachNessebar,
SozopolLozenetz - a peaceful small village with a beautiful
beach. Only 4-5 km from the forests of the Strandzha
Mountains where you can go walking, biking or riding horses.

Accommodation: We stay overnight in small hotels on HB
(breakfast and dinner included). All rooms are equipped with
private facilities. Ordering lunchpacks is also possible.
small towns (founded by the ancient Greeks) with picturesque
Old Quarters and a specific atmosphere. - a big modern resort
with hundreds of hotels, cafes, pubs, casinos, water-sports
facilities