Rhodope Mountains walking holiday in Bulgaria

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

This walking holiday in the Rhodope Mountains is, by its very nature, slow and sustainable, with guests walking between 5 and 24km per day. With all our tours, we encourage our guests to travel to or within Bulgaria using buses and trains. Travellers can take a public bus to and from the starting point of the tour - Plovdiv.
ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE

The Rhodopes are part of the Rila-Rhodope massif, the Balkan peninsula's oldest landmass. In the area, fifteen reserves have been established, some of which are protected by UNESCO. The mountains are well-known for having the biggest coniferous forests in the Balkans, mild relief, rich vegetation in the western regions, and an abundance of predatory birds in the eastern regions. Throughout the past few years, efforts have been made in order to protect the area’s vulture population. One of the numerous dangers that vultures and other birds in the Eastern Rhodopes encounter on a daily basis is unsecured pillars. Sadly, collisions occur when vultures and other birds are unable to see the wires in front of them. The year 2020 saw the installation of new electric pole insulation in Bulgaria's Rhodope Mountain as part of initiatives to save the Cinereous and Griffon vultures that call the area their home. We promote this goal and raise awareness of wildlife conservation by introducing sustainable tourism to the region. Our tour manager, Katya, as well as our local guide, reminds guests to always practise Leave No Trace throughout their holiday.

Many of the routes used in this tour have been either developed (or existing trails selected) in collaboration with local authorities and local communities. A number of the trails have also been way-marked and are regularly maintained; an important measure taken in order to prevent people from straying from the intended routes, therefore reducing any damage to the immediate surroundings of the trails.

We have an in-house responsible tourism expert, who shares tips and advice with our guests in trip notes, blogs and newsletters. For example, on how to practise responsible hiking with regards to the environment and wildlife, giving tips on environmental charities they can support, practising responsible wildlife watching and taking care to protect the marine environment when hiking or swimming. Before departure, guests are also encouraged to bring their own water bottles and to avoid single-use plastic during their trip.

We remind guests to always practise Leave No Trace throughout their holiday, especially as we are aware that waste management has been a point of contention for Bulgaria since joining the EU. We remind guests not to add to the problem by bringing lots of packaging with them or buying single-use plastic while they are there.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of small, locally-owned family hotels. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. Katya, our tour manager, knows all the best places to find local specialities such as patatnik potato dish, cheverme or slow cooked lamb, smilyan beans and kapama, a spicy hearty mountain stew. In addition, our daily trip notes direct guests to good local eateries.

The itinerary includes walking through villages and towns such as Yagodina, Trigrad and Shiroka Laka. Guests are encouraged to stop for refreshments and dine in the local restaurants and cafes, meaning their spending directly supports local businesses and, consequently local families. Shiroka Laka is a small village in southern Bulgaria known for its traditional Rhodope houses. The oldest homes in this area were constructed in the early eighteenth century using wood and stone, and it is now designated as an architectural and folklore reserve. It is one of the villages where the Rhodope song originated. By bring travellers to the area we promote the local culture.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY

All of our partners in Bulgaria are locally employed and play an essential role in contributing to the local economy. At home, we have a strict policy to pay all our own employees and team members a living wage and fair wage, with holiday entitlement. In the hiring process, we prioritise experience, qualifications and passion, emphasising that race, gender, sexual orientation, or nationality are not factors of consideration. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace based on skills and expertise. We also endeavour to support any guests with visible and non-visible disabilities or any special requirements, when possible.