Guides
Working out whether this is your kind of trip
Long-form guides to the region for travellers who have not decided where to go yet. Start here, then let us help you shape the details.
The Rhodope Mountains: Europe's Best-Kept Secret
Why Bulgaria's Rhodope Mountains are one of the last uncrowded corners of Europe, and how to see them from the Upper Arda valley.
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Where to Disconnect: A Digital Detox in the Rhodope Mountains
A digital detox holiday in Bulgaria's Rhodope Mountains, where one quiet village lets a burnt-out coder, a retired nurse or a restless creator switch…
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A Rhodope Mountain Weekend Off the Beaten Track
A quiet Rhodope weekend near Pamporovo and Smolyan: caves, a canyon and small villages a short drive from the ski resorts and Plovdiv.
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Where to Go on Holiday If You Are Not Sure: One Rhodope Village, Five Kinds of Trip
Not sure where to go on holiday? One Bulgarian mountain village, five very different travellers, and the trip that suits each of them.
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There Is More to the Upper Arda Than a Weekend Can Hold
The Upper Arda valley around Mogilitsa has more than most expect: caves, viewpoints, a fortress, a river's source and a castle-like konak.
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How to Get to the Rhodope Mountains: A Practical Guide to Mogilitsa
How to get to the Rhodope Mountains and the village of Mogilitsa: airports, the two-part drive from Sofia, and planning the mountain drive.
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The Best Time to Visit the Rhodope Mountains: A Season-by-Season Guide
The best time to visit the Rhodope Mountains, season by season, with honest trade-offs on crowds, weather and open routes around Mogilitsa.
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Off the Beaten Path Hiking in Bulgaria: The Upper Arda Valley
Off the beaten path hiking in Bulgaria means the Upper Arda near Mogilitsa: quiet forest trails, cliff viewpoints, a fortress ridge and a marble cave.
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The Caves Around Mogilitsa: A Guide for Cave-Lovers
A guide to the caves of the Rhodope Mountains around Mogilitsa: the wild Nadarska Cave, the Uhlovitsa show cave with its underground lakes, and an…
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Agushevi Konatsi: Mogilitsa's Castle in the Mountains
Agushevi Konatsi, the 19th-century Ottoman konak in Mogilitsa with no equal on the Balkans, and how it fits into a visit to the Upper Arda.
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A Three-Day Rhodope Mountains Itinerary Around Mogilitsa
A practical three-day Rhodope itinerary based in Mogilitsa: one full guided day, a realistic departure plan and the option to stay a third night.
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