Bulgaria: Realm of the Brown Bear (Small Group Tours)

Highlights

• Engage in a vital brown bear conservation project
• Join daily bear-tracking walks with a brown bear expert
• Hunker down in a hide to observe wild brown bears
• Spot other elusive mammals, birds, butterflies, reptiles and rare orchids
• Explore remote landscapes in the Rodopi Mountains
• Sample delicious traditional local cuisine

Included in Price

• Hotel Yagodina is renowned for its delicious traditional local cuisine, offering generous servings of hearty, healthy food, much of it made from home-produced or locally sourced products. Typical meals in the mountains will comprise of: Breakfast: Tea, coffee and milk, with bread, jam, honey and cheese, supplemented in Yagodina by fresh home-made yoghurt and traditional local specialities such as katmi (thick pancakes) and rodopski klin (a rice-based dish). Lunch: Picnic lunches in the mountains typically include bread, cheese, salami, salad, a chocolate bar and fruit. Many guests also like to bring an extra portion of the local speciality served at breakfast. Dinner: Will be in the hotel restaurant, and will normally include three courses comprising either a salad or vegetarian soup, followed by a main course, and a dessert of fruit, ice cream, or cake/pudding. The cuisine reflects a mixture of Bulgarian, Greek, Turkish and Slavonic influences. We sample many traditional local specialities including smilyanski fasul (a delicious bean soup) and patatnik (made with grated potatoes, onions and cheese, then seasoned with mint and other herbs). Jugs of tap water will be provided on the table with the evening meal. Bottled mineral water, soft drinks and alcohol are not included but can be purchased. There are several Bulgarian wines you may wish to try, including an excellent red Mavrud from vineyards on the northern slopes of the Rodopi Mountains. Vegetarians and vegan diets: Bulgaria produces excellent fresh vegetables and fruit, so vegetarians are usually well catered for, although in the mountains the variety may be limited to what is seasonally available. Eggs and dairy produce, especially cheese, form the staple part of the diet in the Rodopi region, and are included in most traditional meals, so vegans may find their daily menu more restricted and less varied. Gluten intolerance: Special gluten-free products are not available, so those with a wheat/gluten intolerance should, if needed, bring something to replace the local bread and pastries that make up the breakfasts and picnic lunches.
• All breakfasts, six lunches and seven dinners included
• All accommodation
• Free group arrival and departure transfers available

NOT included in price

• Travel insurance
• Visas and vaccinations
• Single Supplement

Travel Package

This is an Organised Group Tour: the itinerary has been predefined by the tour operator. The tour destinations, duration, accommodations, departure dates and the price are fix. You can join, enjoy and meet other people.

Tour Variations

Bulgaria: Rodopi Mountains (8 Days)

Hike through wildlife-rich mountains and discover the rural culture and history of Bulgaria

Next Departure: 03-May-2025
Starting at: ± USD 1,746.00

Details

Memberships and Financial Protection