Old sayings go that Rhodope was once a beautiful woman. So beautiful that both humans and gods fell in love with her once they had seen her. King Haemus, overtaken by jealousy, turned her into a mountain.
Today, the beauty of the Rhodopes attracts all “children of the city”, that have had enough of the crowds in the public transport, the traffic jam before THAT busy crossroad, you know which one, and mostly the fine dust particulates. The end of Summer is most suitable time to visit the mountain- it is not that hot for the beach, but hot enough for snowless adventures.
Keep in mind: this is also one of the best regions to try authentic Bulgarian cuisine. The products are mostly homemade and the recipes have been spread for ages. You could taste the traditional soup of Smilyan beans, mushroom soup, Rhodope sach, kachamak, and for a sweet finish- Rhodope pancakes called marudnitsi, served with homemade jam. You should definitely try Bulgarian yoghurt there, just to understand why the natives call it “sour milk”. And if we speak of drinks- there is nothing better than the soul soothing Mursala tea, that grows only in the region of Trigrad.
Well, did we convince you to pack your bags and go next weekend? If so…
Mountain coziness in the village of Gela
Gela is a hidden village in the South Rhodopes, close to Shiroka Laka. No matter which way you look, you will see endless forests and greenery, and small houses with hats of tiles. But don’t be fooled by this description because many extreme adventures are waiting for you!
During your stay you will ride on an off-road SUV 4x4 to Orlovo oko or Valtchi Kamak. There are situated the most breathtaking panoramic viewpoints in the Rhodopes with height above 1,500m. You will ride horses close to the Smolyan lakes. You could have a BBQ picnic in the open air, where there is no light pollution and you could clearly see the stars. Or taste local dairy products and homemade wines. During your stay you could always enjoy the SPA zone, also.
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The Wild farm in the Eastern Rhodopes
Have you watched the TV show “The Farm”? If not, let us introduce you to Betty and Nicky. They are a family with a cozy home in the Eastern Rhodopes, which is open for guests for 15 years now. The farm next to the house is suited for more than 1,000 cattle of local breeds, which live in the wild by the laws of nature during the whole year. There are also bees, rabbits, sheep, dogs and many endangered species live in this area.
Betty is a Chemistry and Biology teacher, ecologist, a certified tour guide, a great cook, master of folk dances, and a very positive person. Nicky is a zoo engineer and a farmer, dedicated to his love for animals and nature.
And what is there for you in the Wild farm? You can enjoy an unique atmosphere, great biodiversity, horse riding, Balkan cuisine, walks in the mystical region of the Rhodopes, and much more.
Betty and Nicky promise that you’ll come as a tourist, but leave as their friend: https://giftcometrue.com/products/the-wild-farm
Stay and ride horses in a Rhodopes ranch
This is an adventure for real cowboys with fire in their blood. You will stay at the Wild Rhodopes ranch, where you will be in the company of these marvelous animals- the horses. The ranch is situated in the village of Zdravets, which has an height altitude of 1,300m., and is the home of 8 horses. All of them are trained for riding for both beginners and experts. They are called Demon, Kodak, Dominique, Dario, Bobo, Coco, Kavaler, and Hamster. The dog Niya is always amongst them, too!
You will ride along one of the areas: Luka, Manastir, Chukata, others. You will come across abandoned houses made of stones, waterfalls, ghostly villages. The most attractive route is the one around Luka. It is preferred because of the beautiful sights and the surrounding forests. During the ride, you will learn interesting stories for the places you visit.
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Well, what is your Rhodopes tale going to be?