Rodopi Caterpillar and Zlatograd - 2 Days! From Varna and Burgas

New date: 24.10.2026 - there are available spots

"Rodopi Caterpillar" – this is what they call the train that crawls along the slopes of the Rhodopes on the route Dimitrovgrad – Haskovo – Kardzhali – the village of Podkova. And no, this is not the legendary Narrow Gauge Train that runs in another part of the mountain, but a completely ordinary diesel train with modern railcars.

Zlatograd - The Wooden Mosque - The Mask in the village of Stomanzi - The Turtles near Photinovo - Dimitrovgrad - The Stone Wedding

Price from Burgas: 105€ (98€ for holders of the Eliteclub DIAMOND card)

Price from Varna: 111€ (103€ for holders of the Eliteclub DIAMOND card)

See more about the Eliteclub Cards here: ELITECLUB

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

An escort from Info Point during the trip. A transfer bus with comfortable seats.

Total route length from Burgas 600 km

From this excursion, you can collect the following number of stamps from the 100 National Tourist Sites: 1 piece

• Difficulty level: 3 out of 10 - The rating is subjective and is based on the accumulated experience during the excursion. For example: 10 is the highest level of difficulty with the greatest load (like climbing Mount Vihren), 1 is without transition and additional physical load.

Day I

07:00 - 11:00
Departure from Burgas, pick up from Varna at 04:30;
11:00 - 13:40
Exciting journey with the Rodopi Caterpillar to the village of Podkova;
14:00 - 15:00
Visit to the Wooden Mosque;
15:30 - 17:00
A light walk to the ancient sanctuary near the village of Stomanzi - The Mask;
17:00 - 17:30
Departure for Zlatograd and check-in at the hotel;

Day II

08:30
Check-out from the hotel;
08:30 - 13:00
Opportunity to explore Old Zlatograd;
13:00 - 13:30
Departure towards the sanctuary The Turtles near the village of Photinovo;
14:00 - 15:00
Departure for the town of Kardzhali;
15:00 - 16:00
Visit to the iconic Stone Wedding;
16:30 - 19:30
Departure for Burgas and Varna + 2.5 hours;

Description of the visited sites:

Rodopi Caterpillar

"Rodopi Caterpillar" – this is what they call the train that crawls along the slopes of the Rhodopes on the route Dimitrovgrad – Haskovo – Kardzhali – the village of Podkova. And no, this is not the legendary Narrow Gauge Train that runs in another part of the mountain, but a completely ordinary diesel train with modern railcars. Its comparison to a caterpillar is not accidental! With the carriages swaying in the rhythm of the curves, the composition resembles a caterpillar that is in no hurry, moving at 40–60 km/h, in places even at just 25 km/h, and seems to enjoy every minute of the journey. And one nice detail – the panoramic railway route is covered in about 3 hours.

Ethnographic Complex Zlatograd

The Ethnographic Complex Zlatograd opened its doors in 2001 in the Old Town. Preserving its Renaissance appearance, the neighborhood is an architectural reserve. Beautiful white 150-year-old houses, round chimneys, cool porches, cobbled streets – this is the old town – and quite naturally, the Ethnographic Complex has found its place there.

There are 9 craft workshops where the characteristic crafts of the region have been restored – bagpipe making, tailoring, weaving, carting, wood carving, pottery, knife making, goldsmithing, and clog making. Visitors can not only observe the work process of the masters but also try to make something themselves.

In one of the most beautiful houses in the neighborhood is also housed the Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum. The tour usually ends at the Old Town café, where tourists enjoy attractively served spun coffee, prepared on hot sand and sweetened with Zlatograd baklava with Turkish delight.

The Turtles

The "Rock-Cult Complex The Turtles" is located near the village of Photinovo (Kirkovo Municipality). According to Prof. Ana Raduncheva, the stone shapes are the work of the civilization of the Stone Age, which inhabited the Eastern Rhodopes and created most of the megalithic sites in the mountain area.

The Mask

The pierced stone, called by the locals "Delik Kaya", is a unique rock formation near the village of Stomanzi in the Eastern Rhodopes. This ancient sanctuary is known for its three openings, through which in the autumn at noon, the sun's rays penetrate and form a single beam. The locals believe that this phenomenon has sacred power. Legends say that passing through the large opening of the stone helps women against infertility – if they pass three times through the opening, it is believed that they will conceive without problems. Additionally, passing through the opening is considered a cure for various diseases.

The offer includes:

• Transport with a licensed bus;
• Ticket for the Rodopi Caterpillar;
• Guide from the agency during the trip;
• 1 night in a 2*/3* hotel;
• Travel insurance with a limit of 1000 BGN for persons up to 70 years old (persons over 70 are not insured).

The offer does not include:

• Entrance fees to the visited sites
• Personal expenses
• Travel cancellation insurance (Covers the prepaid expenses under the organized travel contract that cannot be refunded by the Tour Operator, in case of events due to which the Insured cannot make the trip, up to the agreed limit.)
• Single accommodation in the hotel is an additional charge of 20€ /night

Additional information:

*Possibility of departure from - Stara Zagora, Obzor, and others;

• Required documents – valid ID card;
• Registration and payment method: 50% deposit upon registration and signing a contract for organized tourism; balance payment – up to 3 days before the departure date;
• Minimum number for the trip to take place – 15 full-paying tourists;
• Notification period for cancellation of the trip 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 more information +359889150480