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BOTANIC HOLIDAYS IN BULGARIA
ORCHIDS OF THE RODOPI (RHODOPE) MOUNTAINS

Holiday Profile

Holiday Highlights

  • Find and photograph some of the rarest and most beautiful species of orchid in Bulgaria.
  • Discover more about the Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains' amazing diversity of endemic and relict plants.
  • Observe a great variety of other fascinating wildlife including moths, dragonflies, orthoptera and birds.
  • Enjoy some of Bulgaria’s most beautiful and unspoilt mountain landscapes.
  • Visit the Bachkovo Monastery, one of the most atmospheric monasteries in Bulgaria.
  • Sample delicious traditional local Bulgarian cuisine.

Encircled by the rivers Mesta and Maritsa, the Rhodope (Rodopi) Mountains are the most extensive mountain range in Bulgaria, covering a vast area in the southern part of the country, and rolling on across the border into Greece. Until recently, one of the least-known and least-visited corners of Europe, the Rhodope (Rodopi) Mountains are a paradise for lovers of nature, the region's biodiversity internationally recognised as amongst the most varied and valuable in Europe.

Due to its geographical location, geology, complex climate, great variety of habitats, and the extensive range of habitats, the Rhodope (Rodopi) Mountains boast an amazingly rich flora. With some 2400 species of vascular plant, about 65% of the Bulgarian flora, it has more species than any other mountain range in the country, and is one of the richest regions in Europe in terms of its flora.

Escaping the effects of glaciation during the last Ice Age, the Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains where left isolated like an island and thus became an important centre of speciation. With over 80 species and subspecies of Bulgarian endemic plants, the Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains rank second among all the Bulgarian mountain ranges in terms of the number of endemic species and subspecies of plants. Furthermore, because the Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains escaped the impact of glaciation these mountains remained a last safe haven where several 'relict' species from older geological epochs managed to survive.

Some of the most beautiful, fascinating and yet frustratingly elusive plants are of course the orchids (Orchidaceae). Boasting more than 60 species of orchid out of the 70 or so species of orchid found in Bulgaria, the Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains are a paradise for orchid lovers. This unique private guided holiday is offered to individuals, couples or small groups, and allows for an exploration of some of the most beautiful and unspoilt parts of the Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains, as we go in search of some of Bulgaria's rare and elusive orchid species.

Balkan Trek is at the forefront of responsible tourism in Bulgaria, and recognised as one of Bulgaria's leading mountain adventure and eco-tourism operators. We are specialists in small group walking holidays, trekking holidays, snowshoeing treks, cultural tours, monastery tours, village holidays, wildlife holidays, natural history trips, birdwatching holidays, butterfly holidays, botanic tours and photography holidays. We operate trips in Bulgaria's Rhodope (Rodopi) Mountains, Rila Mountains, Pirin Mountains, Stara Planina (Balkan Mountains), Strandzha Mountains, Sredna Gora Mountains, Vitosha Mountains, as well as at the Black Sea.