Discover the beauty of Bulgaria! Mountain hike to Mount Belmeken with snowshoes

Upcoming dates: January 17, March 7

Give (yourself) a climb that will introduce you to the world of winter adventures and is excellent for beginner winter hikers. Mount Belmeken offers a unique combination of gentle terrain, easy access, and—with every meter of elevation gained—increasingly captivating views toward the Rhodopes, the Balkan Mountains, Vitosha, and Pirin!

Program:

Belmeken Reservoir – Mt. Belmeken – Belmeken Reservoir
Meeting point at 9:00 a.m. at Belmeken Reservoir. The exact location will be sent to participants a few days before the hike. This is where your adventure begins!
A light hike awaits you along the gentle slopes of the giant Belmeken. With every meter gained, more and more views unfold toward the nearby peaks, and once you finally reach the ridge of this Rila giant, the panorama will simply amaze you! To the west you can clearly see Ravni Chal, Sivrichal, Kameniti Chal, Ibar, and of course—Musala. To the south rise the sharp slopes of Pirin, at your feet lies the frozen expanse of the reservoir, and to the north your gaze reaches all the way to Vitosha and the endless ridge of the Balkan Mountains.

After a well-deserved break for photos and a snack, you will head down back to the cars.

The experience includes:

– participation in the program (please select the number of participants from the dropdown menu)
– licensed mountain guide
– individual avalanche kit: beacon, shovel, probe
– mountain insurance for the duration of the program with coverage up to 2000 BGN

Required personal equipment:

– backpack of about 30–40 liters
– high winter or four-season boots
– gaiters
– snowshoes depending on conditions
– alpine crampons
– 2–3 pairs of spare socks
– suitable winter mountain clothing: long hiking pants, quick-drying T-shirt/top, thermal base layer (top and bottoms), fleece, rain jacket, windbreaker, down or synthetic-insulated jacket with hood, spare dry clothes
– winter hat
– summer hat
– 2 pairs of gloves
– buff or other head/neck scarf
– headlamp or flashlight
– sunglasses
– sunscreen
– personal first-aid kit as needed
– trekking poles

Elevation gain/loss: 600 m+ / 600 m–
Duration: about 6 hours

The hike is suitable for beginners with basic physical fitness. All hikes are carried out in compliance with the necessary safety measures and are led by a licensed mountain guide.