That`s how the mornings feel like in typical Bulgarian villages.

Let`s go off the beaten track and explore the traditional Bulgarian spirit that`s most visible outside of the busy streets of the country`s big cities. Here`s our top three of secret villages in the magical Rhodope mountain:

1. Sitovo

Although the village is less than 20 miles away from Plovdiv, prepare for a bumpy ride through an unpaved dusty road. Hidden in the warm embrace of the Rhodope mountain, Sitovo may be hard to reach by both foreign and local tourists who remain unaware of its charms.

But making the extra effort is worth it: from the mysterious and ancient Sitovo inscription (the left turn after Lilkovo) to its picturesque houses with stone-made roofs. Stroll around the village`s steep streets, enter the traditional church or lose yourself in the pleasant shadows of the surrounding forest.

Sitovo village, Bulgaria | © Yoana Hristova/ 203challenges

The nights are also casting a spell of their own. Have a hearty dinner with the grannies and choose a green meadow to settle. If the skies are clear, you can spend the night stargazing, while sipping some fine Bulgarian wine.

2. Ravnogor

Located at 1340 meters above sea level, the area is famous for its breathtaking sights. From the village of Ravnogor, you can climb to the scenic Bekovi rocks. Sit on a bench and enjoy the panoramic view over the waters of the dazzling Vacha Dam and the endless green slopes of the Rhodope mountain.
When back in the village, relax with a glass of ice-cold rakia (the local brandy) and the popular regional specialty patatnik (potatoes with eggs, cheese, and spices cooked on a slow fire). The cheese fans can also visit the Ravnogor dairy farm that sells traditional white cheese, butter, and cottage cheese.

3. Orcevo

Did you know that Orcevo is the highest village in Bulgaria? Located at an altitude of almost 1500 meters, the village has a permanent population of around 190 people.
Climbing enthusiasts can head to peak Veliica (1715 m) or Kavun Tepe (1710m). Both hikers and archeology lovers can consider a visit to the ancient Thracian sanctuary in the area Babyashka chuka. Alternatively, soak up the peaceful village atmosphere by breathing some fresh air, while drinking a cup of mountain tea at the village`s central square.

We challenge you…

Step outside the popular tourist destinations and explore as many far-off villages as you can (don`t miss Kovatsevitsa and Orehovo).

Orehovo village, Bulgaria @ Maria Angelova/203 Challenges

Talk with locals, sleep at family-run guest houses (some of which use direct booking systems), and enjoy the regional delicacies. In this way, you can get a feel of the countryside`s authentic spirit.

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You don’t need a time machine to go back to the Stone Age and feel like the Flintstones. All you have to do is set off to the village of Chavdar  and the St Petka hill (Sveta Petka) above it to end up among small Neolithic houses made of mud, poles and straw, and to see how primitive people lived 7,000 years ago.

Topolnitsa Archaeological Park

When archaeologists were digging up an orchard by the River Topolnitsa, not far from Chavdar, they accidentally found a mound from the Neolithic period (a prehistoric time when people still didn’t use metal). The excavations reveal how our forefathers lived in this period. The Topolnitsa archaeological park above the village gives us a peek at five Neolithic houses.

In the museum, you will learn what life was like in the Neolithic period. Bring some wheat to grind as the primitive people did, with a device called a chromel (a mill made of two stones).

One of the houses available to spend the night for as little as 6$ per night per person

Everything is simple inside, the bed is right under the roof.

>>> Read more: How to practice aylyak in Bulgaria and be happy

Other things to do at St Petka hill

• light a candle in the beautiful temple on the top of the hill and enjoy a panoramic view of Chavdar from above (it’s especially beautiful at sunset)
• bake food in the furnace for free or grab a bite at the summer house
• have something in the restaurant if you don’t feel like cooking
• visit the children’s corner with a sensory garden, two climbing walls and a rope garden

Taking a walk in the village of Chavdar is also a must – it is one of the most beautiful in Bulgaria.

The chapel St Petka

The contemporary village of Chavdar, Bulgaria

Read more: 7 strange places to spend the night (real stories)

Useful information:

Chavdar is 70 km from Sofia and 120 km from Plovdiv. The archaeological park is open every day from 10 am to 6 pm. You have to pay BGN 2 (a little more than 1$) to get inside, and a family ticket will cost you BGN 3 (2$). You can stay for the night in three of the houses, which can accommodate 4 people per house (BGN 10/6$ per person, you need to book in advance). The beds are wooden, right under the roof, with soft hay laid on them. The conditions are primitive, but the bed sheets are clean and the experience is unforgettable. Contact details: +359 7189/ 2448.

All photos: © Maria Angelova/ 203challenges.com

>>> Discover more fun travel challenges in Bulgaria!

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The slopes of the Rhodope Mountains rise like guards in the sky protecting the houses below. Just steps away is the edge of a centuries-old evergreen forest. In the vicinity, the landscape is dotted with more than 20 chapels, with the River Persena running through. Go to its bank on the other side and look at the houses perched on the slope, as if drawn on a postcard. Just then the thought of space crosses your mind: cosmic tranquility and perfect harmony.

Orehovo village, Bulgaria | © Maria Angelova/ 203challenges

People in Orehovo are talkative and always have broad smiles on their faces. True locals, they are used to seeing people with big backpacks roaming the streets. They will greet you and fill your soul with sheer joy.

Itineraries near Orehovo:

Orehovo may be a starting point for a hike, or it may be a place to chill-out. Either is good. Ask anyone in the village and they will give you directions – the area is very well-marked.

Near Orehovo village, Bulgaria | © Maria Angelova/ 203challenges

You can hike to Kabata mountain hut (3 hours, marked with blue) or the natural stone phenomenon of the Marvelous Bridges (known as Chudnite Mostove, another 2 hours after Kabata), a favorite with locals and foreigners.

The Marvelous Bridges,, Bulgaria | © Maria Angelova/ 203challenges

There is one slightly creepy site of interest near Orehovo – Cheleveshka Cave (Human Cave), where many residents of the village were burnt during the Ottoman rule. Around 12 km from Orehovo you will find the remains of an ancient Roman road (follow the signs). Persenk mountain hut is within a 3-hour walk. Less than a kilometer from the village, below the peak of Oreshnitsa, is Duplevo Waterfall. Just 2 km from Orehovo is Skakaloto Waterfall (take the paved road to Persenk mountain hut, and after a turn take the marked trail, going steeply down).

Duplevo Waterfall, Bulgaria | © Maria Angelova/ 203challenges

Visit also the natural site of Kosten Kamak in Koilov Dol Canyon – an impressive vertical cliff with an imposing 30-meter high waterfall.

We challenge you to…

…try the famous specialty from the Rhodope Mountains – patatnik (potatoes with eggs, cheese and spices cooked over a slow fire).

Landscape from the Rhodope Mountains, Bulgaria | © Maria Angelova/ 203challenges

Useful information:

You can get to the village of Orehovo by car following a paved road through Plovdiv, Asenovgrad and Hvoyna. The village is 60 km from Plovdiv and 54 km from Smolyan (where you can visit the amazing Canyon of Waterfalls). Orehovo offers more than 100 wonderful guesthouses with nice hosts.

Discover more stunning and unusual places in Bulgaria.

The post Closer to space: The Bulgarian mountain village of Orehovo appeared first on 203Challenges.

It’s as if time in the Bulgarian village of Kovachevitsa stopped more than a century ago.

The village keeps the spirit of the olden days, when its cobbled streets were filled with energy and life. Stone houses several floors high hang over the narrow streets, their distinctive roofs made of flat stones. Inside, the houses have a fireplace, pantries and furnaces, which are still used for their intended purpose. The best part is that the guesthouses in Kovachevitsa keep this same olden-day atmosphere and accept guests throughout the whole year.

Kovachevitsa (Ковачевица) is an authentic historical and architectural reserve recognized as a cultural monument by UNESCO in 1977. Tourists from all over the world come here to immerse themselves for at least a night in the beauty of the colorful kitenik (a traditional wool rug or blanket) and hand-woven rugs. They say that once you wake up in Kovachevitsa and hear the chime of the church bell, your heart remains forever bewitched.

Kovachevitsa village, Bulgaria | © Maria Angelova/ 203challenges

What you will see

Check out the renovated antique school of Yordje Dimitrov, peer into the church of St Nicholas (Sveti Nikola), or simply roam aimlessly through the small, enchanting streets. Try the trail marked with yellow and white from Kovachevitsa through the Kanina River canyon (the Bloody River) to the nearby village of Osikovo (Осиково) and see Siniya Vir (the Blue Pool), a pool with blue-green clear water which is only an hour away by foot.

The White House

The cozy hotel complex of Byalata Kashta (the White House) is built in the style of the local architecture, with spacious rooms and an incredible view from the meadow in front of the house. Try the traditional culinary specialties in the tavern. All food prepared in the complex uses products from the region. Evenings spent in front of the fireplace in the cozy tavern will stay deep in your heart forever.

Contact details: www.bialatakushta.com, bialata_kushta@abv.bg,+359 899 886 342.

What else:

Visit also the historical museum in Gotse Delchev as well as the picturesque villages of Leshten, Dolen, Ribnovo and Delchevo, which are in the region. If you are dreaming of unwinding at a spa, only 15 km from Kovachevitsa is the village of Ognyanovo, famous for its hot healing mineral springs.

Kovachevitsa village, Bulgaria | © Maria Angelova/ 203challenges

Useful information:

Kovachevitsa is in the southwestern part of the Rhodope Mountains, 24 km from the town of Gotse Delchev, 230 km from Sofia and 140 km from Plovdiv. Trains and buses to the village do not run. Rent a car to be independent and explore more of the region.

The post The Bulgarian village Kovachevitsa where time stopped appeared first on 203Challenges.

You won’t meet lovers of sand beaches in the Bulgarian seaside village of Tyulenovo (Тюленово), simply because there is no sand in the area. Along the entire coastline there are only majestic cliffs, plunging 20-30 m (65-100 ft), with curious folds, pinnacles and hollows shaped by the crashing waves. Below them lie many underwater caves, while the remains of ships that have wrecked against the dangerous coast lie scattered across the sea bed. Relics from ancient civilizations have been found in rock niches throughout the years – maybe many more still remain undiscovered.

Tyulenovo, Bulgaria | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

What you will find in Tyulenovo

Lovers of diving and rock climbing, fans of wild sea beaches, explorers of ancient cultures and nature photographers are drawn to this place. Some pitch their tents right on the rocks, despite the strong wind, while others stay in family hotels and guest houses. But in Tyulenovo, everyone is searching for that extraordinary one thing that keeps popping up in your mind months after your visit.

Tyulenovo, Bulgaria | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

The seals of Tyulenovo

Although its name translates from Bulgarian as “the village of seals,” there are no longer any seals in Tyulenovo. They disappeared years ago, probably in the 1970s, although a lack of exact data makes it impossible to know for sure. Almost as blurry is the story of how they came to be in the village in the first place. Many put the seals’ presence down to Maria, a Romanian queen who loved to spend her holidays at her summer residence in the nearby town of Balchik (the present-day Castle of Balchik, open to visitors). In the 1930s she raised a pair of seals, then decided one day to let them free. The seals settled near Tyulenovo, which was at the time named Kalach Kyoy. The village was renamed Tyulenovo (“of the seals”) in 1942 because of those seals.

Even if you can’t dive, even if you can’t climb a rock, even if you don’t find a single cave once inhabited by the Thracians, it’s enough to wake up before sunrise, sit by the rock bridge and watch the sun shimmering off the waves.

Tyulenovo, Bulgaria | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

We challenge you to…

…get up before sunrise and welcome the sun on the rocky coast – an unforgettable experience!

Useful information:

The village of Tyulenovo is 80 km from Varna. You can take a bus from Sofia and Varna to Shabla, then a bus from Shabla to Tyulenovo. However, that bus runs only twice a week, so it’s faster to hitchhike or rent a car.

A map of the best vantage point in Tyulenovo:

Pin it to your travel board:

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