Winter Trek to Mount Botev! Two Days from Burgas and Varna!

New date: 07.02.2026 - there are available spots!

*Departure from Sofia is possible - for more information call 0898 440 480

Let's climb together the highest peak of the Balkan Mountains in winter - Botev, 2376 m!

Veliko Tarnovo - Pleven Hut - Mount Botev

Price from Burgas - 209 BGN (194.00 BGN with included mountain insurance for holders of the Eliteclub DIAMOND card)

Price from Varna - 209 BGN (194.00 BGN with included mountain insurance for holders of the Eliteclub DIAMOND card)

Price from Sofia - 209 BGN (194.00 BGN with included mountain insurance for holders of the Eliteclub DIAMOND card)

Take this excursion with a discount of up to 7% with the Eliteclub card from Info Point.
Learn more about the Eliteclub cards here: ELITECLUB

This adventure participates in the game "Every 13th excursion is on us" - you can read more here.

A hike with a total walking time of 10 - 11 hours!
Small group of 12 people + 2 mountain guides. Comfortable transfer bus + escort during the trip.

Total route length from Burgas is 900 km and 650 km from Varna.

From this excursion, you can collect the following number of stamps from the 100 National Tourist Sites: 0 stamps

Difficulty level of "winter" hikes: 9 out of 10 - The rating is subjective and based on accumulated experience during the excursion. For example: 10 is the highest difficulty level with the greatest load (like climbing Vihren Peak in winter), 1 is no hike and additional physical load.

*Subjective assessment of the difficulty level depends on many external factors, such as weather, accumulated snow, current condition, and others. Winter hikes require more serious physical preparation and appropriate equipment. Contact Info Point for more information at 0889150480.

Due to the specifics of the terrain, this adventure has a fee* for "Difficult Terrain" in the amount of: 20 BGN

*Holders of the Eliteclub diamond card are exempt from the fee.
*Holders of the Eliteclub gold card pay 50% of the fee.
*You can read more about the Cards and discounts here: CARDS

The fee is paid on-site during the event.

If you lack essential elements of tourist equipment, you may not be allowed to participate in the event:
Winter or high three-season boots
Gaiters
Trekking poles (with wide baskets)
Backpack 30-40 liters
Water and wind-resistant jacket with a hood and pants, preferably overalls
Down jacket/fleece/thin mid-layer
Thermal underwear - top and bottom
Gloves - one pair thin and one pair winter (warm and waterproof), plus a spare pair
Warm hat
Scarf or wind mask, buff
Sun hat
Sunglasses
Ski mask - for bad weather
Sunscreen
Lip balm
Headlamp
Personal first aid kit
Food
Liquids (it is recommended to have a thermos for hot liquids)
Mountain insurance policy, if personally owned

Specialized equipment required according to conditions:

• Snowshoes - we will provide snowshoes if they are expected to be used (depending on snow availability) and only then will we charge you an additional rental fee for them. Snowshoe rental (15 BGN/day) is not included in the travel price;
• Crampons - we will provide crampons if they are expected to be used (depending on conditions) and only then will we charge you an additional rental fee for them. Crampon rental (15 BGN/day) is not included in the travel price;

The mountain guide will test each participant's specialized equipment on the first day!

Route description:

Day 1

06:00 Departure from Burgas towards Varna

08:30 Departure from Varna /Antim I/ towards Apriltsi

12:30-13:30 Short stop in Veliko Tarnovo for lunch

15:30-17:00 Start of the hike to Pleven Hut

17:30 Check-in at Pleven Hut and free time

19:30-21:00 Possibility to organize dinner for a fee

Day 2

06:00-08:00 Early summit attack depending on weather conditions and assessment by mountain guides

16:00 Arrival at Pleven Hut, short break and descent to the vehicle

17:30 Departure towards Varna and Burgas

23:30 Arrival in Varna, next stop Burgas + 2 hours

The ascent can only take place under suitable weather conditions.
Possible cancellation of the trip in case of adverse weather (storm, heavy snowfall, etc.).
The times described in the program are approximate.

Description of the visited sites:

Mount Botev

In the middle of the Central Balkan Mountains, in the Kalofer section, Mount Botev rises like a huge dome. Viewed from its foot, it resembles a giant fist.
Mount Botev (2376 m) is the highest peak of the Balkan Mountains and the third highest in Bulgaria - after Musala in Rila and Vihren in Pirin. To the north, it is outlined by the majestic, fearsome, and enchanting abysses of the North Djendem. Amidst the chaos of steep ridges and sheer cliffs, dozens of streams form an unbroken chain of waterfalls and splashes.

To the south, sheer cliffs surround Mount Botev and outline the secret South Djendem. To the west and east, the peak descends to the two passes Dyuzha and Marinka. Further on, lower peaks line up like beads on a string. The Balkan, located on part of the territory of the Central Balkan Mountains.

On both slopes and the peak towards the North and South Djendem, ridges, steps, and smooth rock faces have formed.
Due to its harsh climate, Mount Botev can only be compared to Mount Musala. The average annual temperature at the peak is -6°C, and the absolute minimum is -28°C.
For centuries, Mount Botev has been uninhabited and wild. Many leaders hid from the Ottoman oppressors in its folds. In 1867, Panayot Hitov's detachment passed through the peak with a waving green flag carried by Vasil Levski.
After the Liberation, people began to come to the peak, albeit timidly, those who love the breathtaking beauty of the Balkan Mountains. Over time, meteorologists climbed, who remained to live and work amid the storms of its flat meadow. In 1942, the third in Bulgaria and the second highest mountain meteorological observatory was built.
Mount Botev occupies a central position in the Central Balkan National Park. On the slopes of the peak, there are large snowdrifts that form mountain streams and waterfalls known as the Praskalata. The largest is the Raikoto Praskalo - the highest waterfall in Bulgaria (124 m), located on the southern slopes of the peak above the hut "Rai".

The town of Apriltsi

The town is located at an altitude of 550 m at the foot of Mount Botev in the Balkan Mountains, on the banks of the Vidima River. The climate is characterized by cool summers and cold winters with a prolonged snow cover.

The population of the town is around 3000 people.

In Apriltsi, there is a municipality, post office, polyclinic, three community centers, two kindergartens, a primary school, and a vocational high school in tourism. It has shops, establishments, cafes, an equestrian base, and a pharmacy. The town has many hotels with pools and guest houses that offer excellent accommodation conditions for tourists.

In addition to tourism, crafts, pottery production, woodworking, and more are developed in the town.

The most valuable thing in Apriltsi is the magnificent and preserved nature. The immediate proximity to the mountain, the towering peaks of Botev, Maragidik, Ostrets, and the greenery of the mountain ridges make the sunny basin in the heart of the Balkan a preferred vacation spot. From Apriltsi, it is also easy to reach the Central Balkan National Park, whose border runs through the territory of the municipality. One of the nine reserves of the park - the biosphere reserve "North Djendem" is also among the attractions of the town.

The offer includes:

• Transport with a licensed bus;

• Mountain guide from the travel agency during the trip and hike;

• Tourist insurance with a liability limit of 1000 BGN for individuals up to 70 years old (individuals over 70 years are not insured);

• Overnight stay in a hut;

The offer does not include:

• Entrance fees to sites not mentioned in the program;

• Personal expenses;

• Self-accommodation - not offered for this program;

• Crampons 15 BGN;

• Snowshoes 15 BGN;

• Travel cancellation insurance (covers prepaid expenses under the organized travel contract that cannot be refunded by the Tour Operator in case of events preventing the Insured from traveling, up to the agreed limit);

• Mountain insurance - mandatory;

Additional information:
*Departure possible from - Varna, Obzor, Sveti Vlas, Sunny Beach, Nessebar, Ravda, Aheloy, Pomorie, and Sarafovo

• Required documents - valid ID card;
• Registration and payment method: 50% deposit upon registration and signing a contract for organized tourist travel; remaining payment - up to 3 days before the departure date;
• Minimum number for the trip to take place - 8 full-paying tourists;
• Notification period for cancellation by the agency due to insufficient number of registered tourists - 3 days before the departure date.
• Seating in the bus is arranged according to the order of registration;
• For your greater security, it is mandatory to take out mountain insurance!
• Note: The company reserves the right to change the price in case of changes in transportation costs /fuels/, airport, port, and other fees; changes of more than 5% in the exchange rate between the signing of the contract and the departure; unforeseen increases in prices from our partners, as well as in other objectively necessary cases. In case of fuel price increases, the company reserves the right to raise the transportation price for upcoming trips, regardless of when they were reserved and paid. Notification period in case of the above-mentioned circumstances - 7 days.

For reservations +359889150480