Vitosha
Vitosha is right above the capital of Bulgaria - Sofia. It is the most visited mountain in the country. It is also the place where the hiking tourism in Bulgaria has started. Its highest peak is Cherni Vruh (2290 m.) - forth highest in Bulgaria. The mountain can be divided into 4 main ridges - Northern, Eastern, South-Western and North-Western. They all pile together into Cherni Vruh peak. Vitosha is the firts national parok in Bulgaria. There are more than 100 accomodation places offering 6000 beds scatered around the mountain. Most of the facilities are located on the northern slopes of the mountain. There are tow main tourist centres - Zlatni Mostove and Aleko:
Aleko is at about 1800 m. above sea level in the eastern part of the mountain and is one of Bulgaria's biggest ski - centres. Marked hiking routes start from Aleko to Zlatnite Mostove (2-3 h.), passing through the Platoto, Bor Chalet, Tintyava Chalet, Momina Skala Chalet, then to Academic Youth Base (1.30-2 h.), to the village of Bistritsa (1.30-2 h.), to Simeonovo Quarter (1.30-2 h.), to Dragalevtsi Quarter (1.30-2 h.), to Prespa Chalet -30 min. There is a road to Aleko (16 km.) starting from Dragalevtsi Quarter, there is also Bai Krustyo-Goli Vruh chair-lift, whose first station is above Dragalevtsi. Hikers can get to Aleko and by the modern cabin-lift Simeonovo, starting in Simeonovo Quarter. If you are interested in real estates and want to buy cheap bulgarian property the villages nearby offer plenty of property.
Zlatnite Mostove is another popular tourist centre thatis located at 1400 m. above sea level in the Vladaya sub-part of the Northern Range of Vitosha. A famous phenomenon can be seen here - the Moreni. Zlatnite Mostove is also a starting point to Cherni Vruh peak - about 3 hours. The route passes by one of the oldest and most beautiful chalets in Vitosha - Koumata Chalet (1 h.) and Konyarnika Ski-Centre, which is at 15-20 min walk above the chalet. There are marked hiking routes in other directions as well : the chalets Planinarska Pessen, Borova Gora and Boeritsa (1 h.); the chalets Edelweis and Zvezditsa (1 h.), Ostritsa Chalet (1 h.) and Selimitsa Chalet another 1 hour, Bor Chalet (45 min), the chalets Septemvri (25 min), Momina Skala (30 min), Rodina (35 min) and Tintyava (45 min), the chalets Sredets (40 min). Esperanto (45 min), Kamen Del (1 h.), Planinets (45 min), Kikish Shelter (1.15 h.), Belite Brezi Chalet (15 min) and Sofia quarter Knyazhevo (1.30 h.), quarter Vladaya (1 h.), the Kopitoto Area with the TV tower (1 h.). All routes are marked.
Another, smaller, tourist centre is established in the area of Kopitoto (1350 m .) in the Knyazhevo part of the Northern Range with a TV tower, newly built hotel-restaurant, shops, catering establishments, etc. Hikers can get there for some 2 hours walk from Knyazhevo and for a 1.30 hours walk from Boyana. Marked routes start from here to : Zlatnite Mostove (1 h.), Planinets Chalet (40 min), Momina Skala Chalet (45 min), Esperanto Chalet (40 min), etc. A small tourist centre is formed around Selimitsa Chalet (1300 m.), in the north-western range of the mountain. It takes a 15 minutes walk from there to reach the Saint Nikola Kladnitsa Monastery. Marked routes lead to Ostritsa Chalet (1 h.), Edelweiss Chalet (1.30 h.), Selichitsa peak (1.30 h.), Cherni Vruh peak (2.5-3 h.), the village of Chuipetliovo (2.5-3 h.). All chalets in Vitosha (about 15) offer tasty dishes from the Bulgarian cuisine. The marked tracks are typically broad alleys, very good for mountain biking.
Zlatnite Mostove is another popular tourist centre thatis located at 1400 m. above sea level in the Vladaya sub-part of the Northern Range of Vitosha. A famous phenomenon can be seen here - the Moreni. Zlatnite Mostove is also a starting point to Cherni Vruh peak - about 3 hours. The route passes by one of the oldest and most beautiful chalets in Vitosha - Koumata Chalet (1 h.) and Konyarnika Ski-Centre, which is at 15-20 min walk above the chalet. There are marked hiking routes in other directions as well : the chalets Planinarska Pessen, Borova Gora and Boeritsa (1 h.); the chalets Edelweis and Zvezditsa (1 h.), Ostritsa Chalet (1 h.) and Selimitsa Chalet another 1 hour, Bor Chalet (45 min), the chalets Septemvri (25 min), Momina Skala (30 min), Rodina (35 min) and Tintyava (45 min), the chalets Sredets (40 min). Esperanto (45 min), Kamen Del (1 h.), Planinets (45 min), Kikish Shelter (1.15 h.), Belite Brezi Chalet (15 min) and Sofia quarter Knyazhevo (1.30 h.), quarter Vladaya (1 h.), the Kopitoto Area with the TV tower (1 h.). All routes are marked.
Another, smaller, tourist centre is established in the area of Kopitoto (1350 m .) in the Knyazhevo part of the Northern Range with a TV tower, newly built hotel-restaurant, shops, catering establishments, etc. Hikers can get there for some 2 hours walk from Knyazhevo and for a 1.30 hours walk from Boyana. Marked routes start from here to : Zlatnite Mostove (1 h.), Planinets Chalet (40 min), Momina Skala Chalet (45 min), Esperanto Chalet (40 min), etc. A small tourist centre is formed around Selimitsa Chalet (1300 m.), in the north-western range of the mountain. It takes a 15 minutes walk from there to reach the Saint Nikola Kladnitsa Monastery. Marked routes lead to Ostritsa Chalet (1 h.), Edelweiss Chalet (1.30 h.), Selichitsa peak (1.30 h.), Cherni Vruh peak (2.5-3 h.), the village of Chuipetliovo (2.5-3 h.). All chalets in Vitosha (about 15) offer tasty dishes from the Bulgarian cuisine. The marked tracks are typically broad alleys, very good for mountain biking.
