5 Star Spa Hotel (Kempinski) Balkan Mountains & Vihren - 2900m peak. TOUGH

We’re off to the Balkans to summit the third highest peak on the peninsula for this work-hard, play-hard weekend.

This mountain range has a lot to offer and extending over 2585km2 it is truly vast, it borders neighbouring Greece and has over 100 peaks surpassing 2000m high.

Bansko is a well developed ski resort with restaurants, bars and partying to match, but we're avoiding the crazy crowds of the ski season and conquering it's largest peak with a lovely 5 star Kempinski spa hotel to indulge in.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Two nights in a Kempinski 5 star spa mountain hotel.
• Time to enjoy the spa and pools
• Twin bedded ensuite rooms
• Hike Vihren peak - 2914m (we have 1100m of ascent)
• Visit the mystical Stob Pyramids - crafted entirely by nature
• Sunday night in another hotel in Sofia city to enjoy the nightlife and bars of the capital
• Local and English speaking guides - 1 guide per 8 hikers max
• Private transport throughout

ITINERARY

Friday

We are collected from Sofia airport and have a private transfer to Bansko - the best and most popular ski resorts in the Balkan mountains and set high at the base of Vihren mountain it's a popular location for hiking too.

Our Spa Hotel

The service at the hotel is great - they cannot do enough to help, the breakfast is lavish and the spa is fantastic, the bedrooms are more equivalent to a 4 star hotel. For independent reviews of our hotel check: LINK

Saturday

Hike: Vihren Peak (2914m)
Grading: Challenging/Tough
Ascent: 1100m
Hiking time: 7 to 9 hours

We set out early to explore the magnificent Pirin mountains - having some of the best preserved conifer woodlands in Bulgaria. The Pirin National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and is dotted with over one hundred glacial lakes. It's also the home of Europe's southernmost glaciers, Snezhnika and Banski Suhodol. Vihren Peak is the mountain’s focal point at 2,914 metres making it the third highest peak in the entire Balkan Peninsular (after Musala and Olympus).

We are hiking up to the summit, it's 1100m of ascent so requires a good level of fitness and ideally experience of mountain hiking. If you have done our Lake District or Snowdon trips and are of the same fitness now, you will be ok. Alternatively you can skip the Saturday hike and self explore or enjoy a day of indulgence at the hotel and spa.

Hiking boots with ankle protection and good winter clothing are essential, doing this 3km high peak is weather dependent.

Due to an early 7am departure we have a basic packed breakfast today

Sunday

Hike: Stob Pyramids
Grading: Beginner/Intermediate, steep in places
Hiking time: 1 to 1.5 hours

Today’s hike is a shorter one so that we can enjoy a few more hours at the Spa in the morning.

On our way to Sofia, we visit the Stob Pyramids - an artistic masterpiece of nature's creation nestled in the heart of the Balkan Mountains.

They are spectacular sandstone formations where wind and rain have sculpted towering rock formations into whimsical shapes

Recognised as a natural landmark in 1964. The pyramids are located in the Rila Mountain and offer lovely views of the area

We then transfer to Sofia. Your guides will check you in the hotel and this is where the guided trip ends. You have a free evening and there are some award winning cocktail bars in the capital - the group have been known on past trips to party well into the night

Monday

After breakfast you have some free time to explore Sofia self-guided, then take the short Metro ride to the airport for the flight home.

Trip Discussion Forum

COST & PAYMENT

£440. Click “Attend” and pay the £100 deposit by Paypal. The remainder is due by bank transfer before Sunday 30th June. We’ll email you payment details 1 week before.

Trip payments are non-refundable and non-transferable. When the trip is sold out fully paid spaces can be advertised to the same gender, for details: FAQ

START AND END TIME

Times are local time i.e. the times for Bulgaria are in Bulgarian time.

We suggest an inbound group flight below, for anyone on this flight or at the airport at this time we arrange a complimentary transfer to the accommodation at 2:30pm. If you arrive later you will need to make your own way to the accommodation (we wait for the suggested flight if delayed)

Inbound flight 13.09.2024
Ryanair 9:10am from London Stansted (STN) to Sofia (SOF) landing at 2:15pm at Terminal 2
Flight: FR1730

RETURN

The trip ends at the hotel in Sofia and you can make your own way to the airport. The cheapest way to do this is via metro (underground) and it costs about 1.60 BGN (£2), taxis are also cheap.

FOOD

Breakfast will be provided each day. As we are staying in a town with many shops and supermarkets you are free to buy your own favourite items for lunch each day. For dinner you can explore the local cuisine. The hotel offers a lavish buffet breakfast and can cater for all mainstream dietary requirements.

THE PRICE INCLUDES:

• 3 nights hotel accommodation in twin en suite rooms
• All travel for the hiking days and transfers by private minibus/ car
• Breakfast each day
• Use of the hotel pools and spa on the first two days
• Entry to the Stob Pyramids
• Compliance with the 2018 Package Travel Regulations including Financial protection
• Bulgarian qualified English speaking mountain guides

THE PRICE EXCLUDES:

• Flights
• Meals other than the above mentioned (a typical dinner can be had for approximately £8-£14 excluding drinks)
• Drinks and personal expenses
• Lunch each day
• Transport from Sofia to Sofia Airport on Monday (Metro is about £1)
• Travel insurance

INSURANCE

It is essential that you have travel insurance that covers the cost of emergency medical treatment and also the activity of hiking (up to 3000m in this case). It is also recommended that this covers illness, cancellation and curtailment. You will be required to provide a copy of this before the trip. Without it we cannot accept you onto the trip and no refund will be due in this case.

Outdooraholics cannot verify policies or what they cover so please confirm with your insurer. The guide accepting your policy is not an indication that we confirm it is valid or covers what we list, only your insurers can confirm this.

There are lots of insurers who cover hiking, for example the BMC: LINK

You will also need to ensure you have all valid documents to visit this country including a passport and Visa if you require one. Bulgaria is within the EU.

SAFETY - Your guide is a trained hike leader. Outdoor activities involve a risk of personal injury. Please bring suitable hiking footwear and hiking clothes such as warm clothes, waterproof jacket and trousers - CLOTHING TIPS

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