Backcountry BG
Backcountry adventure Week. Alpine trails and singletrack perfection.
Our all out package, the best trails and the best way to travel in the mountains. Uplift is taken care of through a mixture of gondolas and chairlifts to get us high as possible. We also use our van and a few 4x4 shuttles throughout the week, to really cut down on climbing time and to help us access the most remote trails in the alpine.
We will cross the Pirin mountains and traverse the Rila ridges. We can go all day without seeing another soul and shred an untouched paradise in peace. Adventures don't get much better.
Don't worry it's still a holiday and we have factored in plenty of time for R&R, some chill riding, bars, restaurants and pools.
We stay outside our mountain base for 2 nights, allowing us to ride two epic long descents in and out the valley at each end of week.
Overview
6 MEGA days riding
Free time activities including hot springs down time
75% uplift
3000-4000m descending daily
Ideal for ultimate adventure
Good level fitness required
Our home trails. Uplifted and almost endless descending.
Alpine day from this week. Including a 2000m descent!
Backcountry BG
7 Nights
July, August, September
6 days guiding
16000m descending, 4000m climbing
All lift tickets and 4x4 shuttle included
Optional E-bike, 5* Spa or Gondola day included
Airport Transfers
Breakfasts
First and last meal
Mid Week BBQ/Lunch
Unlimited house beers, wines and soft drinks
£795 Per Person
Trails
This week includes a mixture of natural and purpose built trails. Be prepared for a wide variety of terrain and very long descents. Expect all conditions: rocks, roots, loam, jumps, berms, drops, speed and tech. Riding in the alpine means we there will be exposure and altitude. Some trails are very much off-piste and anticipation of hidden bumps, branches and boulders will be beneficial. Be aware when travelling through the mountains on bikes, there will be sections not designed for Bikes, it might be required to dismount or ride through awkward sections.
Skill level: Advanced/Expert. Although we have a number of difficult trails, all committed features are avoidable and easy options are available. The characteristics of these trails change drastically with speed, allowing confident riders of varying abilities to enjoy them. We would recommend being comfortable riding minimum UK red trails and above. We would also recommend some experience riding in the mountains or a high skill and fitness level, to really get the most out of this week.
Fitness level: Moderate to high level of bike fitness. This week includes around 300-500m daily climbing. The most we will climb in one day is around 950m. Most trails are considerably longer than UK trail centres and so strength and endurance is required. This is full package, so we will use 4x4s and chairlifts wherever possible, but a few short hike a bike sections will be required.
Summers here can quite intense so be aware of your own body and limitations.
Although you dont need to be a racer or have any aspirations to be, a decent level of bike skills and fitness is definitely required to get the most out of this week.
This trip runs Saturday to Saturday. Included in the price is Sofia airport, arrival any time. Transfer from Thessaloniki and Plovdiv also possible, may incur an extra charge.
After a 1 hour transfer we spend the first night in Blageovgrad, a small city nestled in the foothills of Rila Mountain. We spend the first morning shuttling a few of the best enduro trails in Bulgaria, before a hearty lunch and a gondola ride takes us up to 2200m. This first taste of the mountains do not disappoint. A short pedal above the Paraganlitsa nature reserve provides stunning views of the Rila mountains, and also the mighty marble ridges of the Pirin. From here we begin our epic descent into the Razlozhka valley, and to our mountain base for the next few days. After descending over 1200m of loamy singletrack and tech, we spend a chilled evening with a beer on the terrace.
We spend the next day riding the local Enduro trails, the van provides the majority of the uplift with some pedaling required to reach trail heads. There is a trail here for everyone. With forests similar to B.C. there is some epic riding on offer. Apart from the huge descents we also enjoy some fun playful trails in the lower section of the mountain, stopping for a beer (or two) and enjoying the scenery.
Day 3 and a short transfer takes us to the Rila Mountains. Total climbing for the day is around 950m, mainly pedaling, with a few short hike-a-bike sections (broken up by food and drinks at amazing mountain huts). We are rewarded with some of the purest trails you will ever ride. Big mountain chunk is followed by almost endless loam and single track. We traverse a long ridge and finish with an amazing descent finishing at a bear sanctuary. A beautiful area. Hot springs often follow.
Day 4 and we have a few options. For those wishing for a rest, a 5* Mineral Spa beckons. In the middle ground we have the option of an Ebike day, a few thousand metres descending on hard to access off piste trails. Alternatively we can stick to the lifts, using gondolas and chairlifts to get some laps in of some sweet enduro trails.
Day 5 takes us back up to the alpine. Or neighboring town has a funky old chairlift that accesses a few lower enduro trails that are steep, loose and barely touched. The lift then drops us off at a mountain hut (at almost 2500m) for a big feed and then a massive afternoon of descending.
Day 6 we head to the Rhodope mountains for some huge laps that you can cruise, race or shred to your hearts content. We head out from Bansko for just under an hour in the van, and drop into an epic trail crossing the Alabak ridge, to our final destination. The terrain is massively different to the previous trails, but still expect multiple 1000m descents, super long trails and beautiful scenery. We spend our final night in Velingrad, the spa capital of the Balkans. Traditional restaurant and drinks cap off an epic week.
Our final transfer is around 1 hr 30, departing Sofia on the Saturday.
5 nights in our Mountain Base
2 nights in local guesthouses
Price shown based on sharing a room
Single supplement possible
Please contact for other options, groups have option for separate private annex or alpine chalet
One of the oldest buildings in town with easy access to local restaurants and entertainment. Huge outdoor courtyard and mountain views. Fresh, clean mountain spring water at our door
All the accommodation has secure bike storage, Wifi and a small kitchen available. We also keep on hand bike tools and proper cleaning kit so we can keep everything rolling smoothly.
-
Sure, there is plenty here to keep any non-riders entertained. Drop us a message for more details and prices.
-
All major airlines include a bike bag/box for an additional fee of around £60 (Ryanair)
-
Yes. Due to the nature of modern bikes, most components are not interchangeable. We try to keep in as much kit as possible to keep you moving one way or another but personal kit is highly recommended. Think: pads, derailleurs, mech hangers, spokes etc..
-
Yes please!
We can also organise fantastic vegan/vegetarian food.
-
There is a huge amount to do here, attracting tourists all year round. Traditional restaurants and bars are a must. We also have natural hot springs, luxurious spas, outdoor pools and museums.
Need a day away from the bike? Book yourself onto an ATV tour or an all day session at a winery. There is plenty of relaxation and mischief to be had.
-
Bulgarian Leva. Its pegged to the euro so you wont get ripped off getting some cash before you leave. We reccomend a travel card (Revolut, Monzo, etc) and just grabbing some carh here (We will tell you where).
-
Usually hot and dry during the summer. We have months of predictable and stable weather. Obviously these are big mountains and the weather can turn but this is usually in the form of very brief rainstorms. Expect 25-35 degrees C.
During Summer it is rarely super humid, expect dry heat and cooler nights.
-
Yes!
On top of normal travel insurance we recommend additional mountain sports insurance. This is one of the ones we use:
https://www.alpenverein.at/britannia/membership/Membership.php
-
Not at all. Traditional food is full of familiar veggies, meats and fish. There are some more out there dishes too for the adventurous types. Bansko has plenty of westernised restaurants providing a proper global spread. We are also super close to Turkey and Greece so kebabs and Gyros are top notch.
Mountain huts have limited variety but will always have soups, salads, omelets, cheeses and meats.
-
A number of reasons:
1) Not many people come here yet. This is the up and coming destination. Get in while its cheap and the dirt is fresh.
2) Bulgaria use the Cyrillic alphabet so you probably wont find much local content.
3) Nobody wants to give away the really good locations..
