2020 Wilderness Travel Catalog of Adventures

NEW

JEREMY WOODHOUSE

On mountain hikes and visits to stunning medieval towns and villages, we bring you an insider’s experience of Bulgaria and Romania.

Bulgaria to Transylvania HIKING ADVENTURES IN THE OLD WORLD CULTURES OF EASTERN EUROPE

Discover two once-forbidden European lands with our beloved Trip Leader Denitza Petrova. A native of Bulgaria, she’s the perfect “insider” to introduce us to the spir- it and rich cultural tapestry of this fascinat- ing realm. We’ll hike to an ancient Thracian site in the Rhodope Mountains, explore charming Plovdiv, named a European Capital of Culture for 2019, and go brandy-tasting in romantic Veliko Tarnova, Bulgaria’s oldest town. In Romania, we hike in the spectacular Varghis Gorge, stay in the welcoming Saxon village of Viscri, and visit Sighisoara, a spectacular UNESCO-listed fortified town. The hospitality is wonderful throughout our journey, as are the local wines and delightful array of regional cuisines, delightfully flavored with Greek, Turkish, and Slavic influences. Days 1-2 Sofia, Bulgaria / Plovdiv We explore Sofia’s Old Town, visit an award-winning winery, hike in Vitosha Nature Park, and head to beautiful Plovdiv, where we find Ottoman- Baroque mansions side by side with hip cafes and lively restaurants.

Days 3-6 Rhodope Mountains / Rose Valley / Tryavna / Veliko Tarnova The legend of Orpheus was born in the Rhodope Mountains, and we’ll hike past caves and springs to Belintash, a mystical Thracian cult site (Orpheus was a Thracian). We make rose-scented soap in the Rose Valley, where roses have been cultivated for centuries, and discover historic Tryavna’s traditions in woodcarving and iconography. In Veliko Tarnova, perched above the lovely River Yarna, we explore steep cobbled lanes amid a treasury of traditional 19th century Balkan architecture. Days 7-14 Sinaia, Romania / Brasov / Sighisoara In Romania, we visit the mountain town of Sinaia, hike in the Prahova Valley, and savor magnificent Brasov, founded in the 12th century by Saxons. Horse-drawn carts bring us through the village of Corund, and we’ll be welcomed at a family-run guesthouse in the remote Saxon village of Viscri. We hike a trail up to the fortress-town of Sighisoara, and after a final hike to the highest village in Romania, depart on Day 14 via Bucharest.

HIGHLIGHTS • Explore beautiful Plovdiv, with its jewel-toned 19th century mansions • Walk the cobbled lanes of Veliko Tarnova and its ancient Samovodski market • Hike in the Rhodope and Bucegi Mountains, and to Romania’s highest village • Enjoy boutique hotels, mountain chalets, and village guesthouses DETAILS • 14-day trip begins in Sofia, Bulgaria and ends in Bucharest, Romania • 13 nights hotels and inns • All meals included except 2 dinners

DATES May 17-30, 2020 Jun 28-Jul 11 Sep 13-26

TRIP COST $5495 (11-15 members) $5995 (5-10 members) Single supplement: $560

Rila Monastery Extension: Call for pricing Danube Delta Extension: Call for pricing

TRIP LEVEL 1 2 + 3 4 5 6 A mix of moderate walks and hikes, 2-3 hours on most days

ON OUR WEBSITE FROM BRATISLAVA TO PRAGUE

Medieval towns, country walks, hikes to hilltop castles. Apr 22-May 1, Jun 10-19, Sep 9-18, 2020. From $4495.

QUESTIONS? 1.800.368.2794 OR EMAIL EUROPE@WILDERNESSTRAVEL.COM 83