Aleko Chalet

Aleko Chalet is the oldest and most visited hut of Vitosha mountain. It is a starting point for climbing of the highest peak of Vitosha - Cherni vrah /Black peak/ and in winter is a convenient point for the lovers of ski sports. It was built in 1932 in the area Maslovitsa below the Small rezen Mt. at an 1810 meters altitude
The chalet is a massive three-storey building with a capacity of 105 beds, distributed in rooms 3, 4, 6 and 8 beds. The WC and wash basins are one of a floor and the bathroom common to whole the building. The hut has an electricity, water and central heating. There are a restaurant, cafe and shop for sports and travel goods. In the ground floor is the ski wardrobe. In the area of the chalet there are four ski trails and several tracks of varying difficulty. There is a big parking lot, which is reached by paved road from the capital district Dragalevtsi.
To Aleko chalet can be reached by the following lifts Dragalevtsi - Bai Krastio - Naked Peak - 0.35 hours and 0.20 hours more there walking or cabin ropeway Simeonovo - Aleko chalet - 0.27 hours.

In addition there are hiking trails of neighborhood Dragalevtsi / far by bus № 64, 66, 93 and 98 with an initial stop Hladilnika / - 3.20 hours; of neighborhood Simeonovo / far by bus № 67 and № 98 Hladilnika / - 3.00 hours; village of Bistrica / far by bus № 68, 69 and 70 sq. Durvenitsa and № 98 Hladilnika / - 3.00 hours.
The chalet is a starting point for the following sites:
Mecha polyana - 0.10 hours
Site Pogledets - 0.40 hours
Training base "Academic" (via Mecha Polyana) - 2.00 hours
Prespa Chalet - 0.30 hours
hut Tintyava - 1.30 hours / during the plateau /
Black Peak - 1.30 hours
Aleko chalet is managed by STD "Motel" - Sofia.
Prices per night are:
bed for one night, according to the category of room:
• Adults – 5,5-6 EUR
• Children under 12 years – 4,5 euro
• Apartment (total cost) - 30 - 40 €
• Resort fee - 1lv. = 0.5 €
For reservation: +359 2 967 11 13, +359 2 967 11 41

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Boyana waterfall and Golden Bridges

There is hardly any mountaineer from Sofia, who has not visited this beautiful and popular spot in the Vitosha mountain, so this article is for those who have not yet touched by the magic of the Boyana waterfall.
It is on Boyana River, about 5 km from the center of Boyana quarter. With its fall of 15 m this is the largest waterfall in the Vitosha mountain. In clear weather during the spring it can be seen from the city center of Sofia.
There are several relatively easy trails to it. As they pass each week hundreds of tourists, nature lovers, children, pregnant women.
The waterfall is most easily accessible from the Kopitoto, whither is asphalt road. Depending on the pace and nature the walk takes about an hour - hour and a half, as most of the path is flat. More difficult is just the last section, which leads to the waterfall - a bumpy, rocky terrain that is steep descend to the waterfall above. You can go on the path, against the Television tower, or path, leaving the right of the hotel complex. Both places are going through a thick forest. Follow signs as some areas have forks. Another way to reach the waterfall is a walk in the valley of the river from Boyana and it is longer but more gentle. The distance that is passed is between 4.5 and 5 km on the north slope of Vitosha mountain. A waterfall is reached for a little over an hour and a half, with passes and along the lake and a cascade of small waterfalls.
Boyana waterfall is a popular site for ice climbing among the Sofia climbers. Usually it freezes on two ice tongues. The left is easier and right offer climbing above the average difficulty. There are 8 routes. Between the tongues can be practiced dry-tooling on the overhang and climbing ice pendants.

From here you can easily reach to another popular site of Vitosha mountain - Golden Bridges. The stone river is located in the northwest slopes of the mountain at an altitude of 1350 - 1500 m. The river is not formed by glacial processes, but by weathering and denudation of Vitosha monocytes. Thus the enormous stone blocks are filled Vladaiska river, which is deeply into them.

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Erma River Gorge

Seeing it for first time the famous Bulgarian writer and founder of the organized tourist movement in Bulgaria Aleko Konstantinov asks "What? Switzerland?". In the following decades, however Trun Gorge remains hidden from the eyes of Bulgarian tourists as falls within the border zone. In recent years, the access to the natural phenomena is free.
The imposing gorge of Erma River is located 5 km /3.1 miles/ south of the town of Trun. An asphalt road leads to it, but many tourists prefer to leave their cars in the city and make the one-hour hikes among the wonderful nature of Znepolska valley. The length of the gorge is about 100 m /328 ft/ and the width at the narrowest part - about 5 m /16 ft/. On both sides rise sheer walls of stone peaks Zhilav (south) and the Church (north). The hight of the rocks is about 150-200 m /492-656 ft/. In the last two years local mountaineers organize traditional alpiniada of Trun Gorge, a dozen routes equipped with different difficulty.

Вижте по-голяма карта
A wooden bridge was built near the natural phenomenon, from which can best be seen the beauty of the river, glide between the rocks. From the south end of the gorge leading back to Trun eco-trail, which has a length of 13 km /8 miles/ and can be passed for 8 hours. Starting point for eco-trail is the village of Bankya, near which is located Yablanishko Gorge. The path is a series of equal sections, steep ascent and descent, bridges and ladders.
Erma river springs in southeast Serbia. Despite its small length (74 km, 46 miles) remarkable is that it crosses the Serbian-Bulgarian border twice.

The river spring is in thinly populated area Kraishte. It is leaking from Vlasina lake, after it goes northwest on the eastern slopes of the mountain Gramada, crossing the village Klisura then enters Znepole region, border region of Bulgaria. This is where the river crosses the border for the first time, to the point Strezimirovtsi. Continue in the Bulgarian part of Znepolska valley, bypassing east Ruy Mountain, Erma, this is known as Trun River. It takes close to the villages Glavanovtsi and Turokovtsi, which makes turning north through Trun. After the city, the river gorge pass through Trun. Further, Erma reaches its greatest freshet near Yablanitsa just before it comes back in Serbia, after a distance of 26 km./16 miles/ was leaking in Bulgaria. The river crosses the border for the second time in the villages of Bankya (Bulgaria) and Petachintsi (Serbia). Erma thus continue to run north, passing the village Iskrovtsi and spa center Zvonachka Bath. Continuing a comb between the mountains and Wallachia, it goes near the villages of Trun - Odorovtse and power and monasteries St. Jovan, St. Nikolai and St. Mary before comes in Nishava, southeast of Pirot, after passing a total of 48 km /30 miles/ on the territory of Serbia. In this last part, Erma runs in the coal region Sukovo, and is called Sukovska River.
The only place for accommodation in the region of Trun Gorge is Erma Hut.
Hill in the area of the gorge provides great opportunities for tents.

Transportation
Road:
Trun is located at:
74 km, 46 miles of Sofia
522 km, 324 miles of Varna
478 km, 297 miles from Burgas
222 km, 138 miles from Plovdiv
300 km, 186 miles of Veliko Tarnovo
390 km from Rouse
235 km, 146 miles of Vidin

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From Bov to Zasele – over the footsteps of grandfather Vazov

North of Sofia, about an hour and a half by car or train, has a pretty Balkan village in which the Bulgarian literature patriarch Ivan Vazov often loved to go. Inspired by an unusually beautiful views, open to him, he wrote one of his masterpieces - The story "Grandpa Yotso seen”.

Вижте по-голяма карта
Actually, two neighboring villages pride in the name of Ivan Vazov - Bov and Zasele, settled on a tourist trail. Today it bears his name - "eco-trail Vazova” and zealously guard the memory of her rambling on literary classic. It is eco-trail, as it passes through the protected areas with specific flora and fauna. It is a cultural and historical journey, presenting today's tourists to the natural beauty and scenery, a captive Bulgarian poet. Redolent wind up in the beech forest, cross the river with easy fabulous dressed in green moss stones and opened eyes to the wonderful view to the West Balkan Mountains and Iskar Gorge.
The path passes through the famous waterfall "Skaklya” - a heavenly place of great Bulgarian nature, subdued hundred hearts. "Skaklya" is the fourth largest waterfall in the country with its picturesque beauty is an attractive place for tourists and for nature lovers. It is a cascade the first step of which is 85 meters high, the second - 20 meters, followed by several lower. Its total height is approximately 120 meters. During the winter it freezes and turns into one of the favorite places for ice climbing in Bulgaria.

How to get here
The start point to Vazova eco-trail is going through the picturesque Iskar gorge inspired with its wonderful beauty not one artist. On it you get to Bov rail-station, where there are markings. If you drive, do not enter the village (at right in the bridge over the river Iskar), but still a little up the main road. There is a large plate and parking so you not to be confused. The path climbs gently to about an hour and a half or two, as offers to the tourists few places for recreation.

Where to accommodate?
At the very beginning of its next to the waterfall is located Villa Skaklya. It is a comfortable family house with separate rooms and has a kitchen and dining room.
You can stay in the complex Bojilov - family travel site with original tavern, and rooms for accommodation, built by the heirs of one of the first inhabitants of the village Zasele in the highest part.

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