BULGARIA'S HIGH PEAKS, LAKES, AND HISTORY (WAITLIST)

This AMC Adventure Travel trip is full, but there is a waitlist. To apply for the trip waitlist, please see "Additional Information" at the end of this announcement.

During a grand tour through three mountain ranges of southwest Bulgaria, we will experience breathtaking scenery, visit historic and cultural sites, and hike eight days. Highlights of the hiking includes:

• Rhodope Mountains: Trigrad Gorge, Devil's Throat Cave with underground waterfall (42m/138ft), Eagle's Eye Overlook, and Yagodina Cave.
• Pirin Mountains (UNESCO World Heritage Site): Polezhan Summit (2851m/9354ft); numerous glacier lakes, including largest, Popovo; Banderishki Lakes Cirque; Todorina Porta; Yulen Nature Reserve; Todora's Eyes Lakes; Demyanitsa River; Mt Vihren (2914m/9560ft; Bulgaria's 2nd highest & Pirin's highest); Giant Caldron; Karst areas with endangered species; and Skakavitsa Waterfall (70m/230ft).
• Rila Mountains: Seven Rila Lakes Cirque; Musala summit (2925m/9596ft; Balkans' highest), views from which include Bulgaria's six major mountain ranges.

Cultural and historical highlights include a walking tour of Sofia and of old town Plovdiv, he Monastery, Shiroka Laka, the rustic Zhrebevo village, and the Rila Monastery (UNESCO World Heritage Site).

We will stay in comfortable hotels and inns with shower or bath. The trip is rated moderate to vigorous. The hikes will all be day hikes (no backpacks), ranging from easy to strenuous. Applicants must be experienced hikers who have done multi-day hiking trips, and are capable of doing an 11-mile hike with an elevation change of +2600/-4000ft in a variety of terrain and weather at a moderate pace.

Requirements: This is a trip for experienced hikers who enjoy an active vacation. Applicants must be experienced hikers who have done multi-day hiking trips and are capable of doing an 11-mile hike with an elevation change of +2600/-4000 in a variety of terrain and weather at a moderate pace. The hikes will all be day hikes (no backpacks), ranging from easy to strenuous. We will hike for eight consecutive days, from three to seven hours per day, at a moderate pace.

Cost: The estimated cost is $2,150, which includes all land transportation, lodging, meals, and guided tours. Airfare is not included.

Leaders: Mike Darzi & Annemarie Langhan.

Additional Information: For a detailed prospectus with a full itinerary, see www.bit.ly/Bulg2019Prosp . For more information on how to apply for participation, contact Mike ( Mike.Darzi@Gmail.com ).