The dates of your guided tour don't work for us. Can we do this trip as self guided, or can you recommend another self guided 6-10 day tour ex Sofia starting early september?

At the moment, we do not offer a self-guided option for this tour. We can offer you the departure on 13 September or 4 October. Please note that this departure is not yet guaranteed, as a minimum of 4 participants is required for the tour to operate. If the group consists of only 2–3 participants, the tour can still be confirmed with a small-group supplement of EUR 150 per person.

Is the tour partially guided or self-guided? What is the quality of the e-bikes provided?

The tour is guided and we do have E-bike. The price for an E-bike is 190 EUR.

Could you please provide more details on the itinerary, inclusions, and the types of accommodations offered? Additionally, could you provide information on the types of bicycles available for this tour?

On this tour we use family run hotels, rooms with private facilities and only one night in a guest house in two rooms sharing one bathroom.

Can I bring my own bike (probably an e-bike)? And how would it affect the cost? I will be cycling in the area, so it would make sense.

The price of the tour is EXCL bike rental so you are welcome to bring your own bike

Is this a self guided trip or a group led by a guide ? If so, what is the group size? And what is the average mileage per day?

The tour is guided and please see the distance per day in the itinerary.

Are ebikes available to rent?

Should you decide to add an e-bike rental to your booking, consider checking out our catalogue.

What are the maximum number of people that you have in one group?

The minimum size is 4 and the maximum is 12 people.

Do you plan to have this tour available between mid June and Mid July 2026?

The dates available will be 21 June and 12 July 2025.

Please give names and or pictures of accommodation

This is the sample of the hotel list: Day 1 Family Hotel "Zdravets" Day 2 Hotel Zornica Day 3 Hotel Tihiat Kyt Day 4 Hotel Balkan Day 5 Hotel Stranopriemnicata Day 6 Hotel Perun

Is there ant self guided option about your tour?

Unfortunately, we can offer the tour only as guided. The reason is because of the baggage transfers.

Balkan Cycling (Bulgaria)

6 days

•

Start and end in Sofia

4.0 (2 reviews)

View all
Everything was perfectly organized, and the schedule allowed us to see and do so much without ever feeling rushed.
Virgil•traveled in October5.0
View all

No departure dates available

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Plan your adventure:

Gold Operator: Penguin Travel
Bicycle: Pedal through scenic landscapes on two wheels
Group Tour: Join a group and forge lifelong friendships
Partially Guided: Independent travel, featuring selected guided excursions
Medium Intensity: Travelers should be comfortable with somewhat-demanding activities
Guided in English
Group Size 3 - 8
All Ages Welcome

Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

Intro
Introduction
Day 1
Sofia to Ribaritsa
Sofia to Ribaritsa
Meals
Dinner
Included Activities
- Cycling from Golyam Izvor to Teteven (optional detour to Glozhene monastery)
- Explore Teteven town
- Visit local historical museum in Teteven
- Visit church in Teteven
- Cycling from Teteven to Ribaritsa village
Optional Activities
- Detour to Glozhene monastery
- Short bike and hike tour on nearby eco-trail in Teteven area
Landmarks
Glozhene Monastery
Teteven
Day 2
Ribaritsa to Apriltsi
Ribaritsa to Apriltsi
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cycling from Ribaritsa to Bogoi pass
- Cycling descent to Troyan
- Pass through Shipkovo village
- Visit The Pottery and Craft Exhibition "Oreshaka" in Troyan
- Visit Troyan monastery
- Cycling from Troyan to Apriltsi
Optional Activities
- Swimming in mineral water pools in Shipkovo village
Landmarks
Bogoi Pass
Shipkovo
Troyan Monastery
Day 3
Apriltsi to Gabrovo
Apriltsi to Gabrovo
Meals
Breakfast
Included Activities
- Cycling through Ostrets district foothills
- Visit Batoshevo Monastery
- Cycling toward Gabrovo
- Explore Etar Architectural-Ethnographic Complex (open-air museum)
Optional Activities
- Additional 6km cycling detour to Sokolski Monastery (alternative to Etar Architectural-Ethnographic Complex)
Landmarks
Batoshevo Monastery
Etar Architectural-Ethnographic Complex
Sokolski Monastery
Day 4
Gabrovo to Bozhentsi
Gabrovo to Bozhentsi
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cycling from Gabrovo to Tryavna
- Explore Tryavna old town
- Cycling from Tryavna to Bozhentsi
- Explore Bozhentsi village
Landmarks
Tryavna
Bozhentsi
Day 5
Bozhentsi to Elena
Bozhentsi to Elena
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Transfer to Dryanovo Monastery
- Explore Dryanovo Monastery
- Visit cave near Dryanovo Monastery
- Cycling from Yalovo village east through countryside
- Cycling past Iovkovtsi dam
- Cycling to Elena
Optional Activities
- Optional detour to Rayuvtsi village for open-air sculpture exhibition
Landmarks
Dryanovo Monastery
Iovkovtsi Dam
Rayuvtsi
Day 6
Elena to Sofia
Elena to Sofia
Meals
Breakfast
Included Activities
- Cycling from Elena to Arbanasi Architectural Reserve
- Explore Arbanasi Architectural Reserve
- Cycling from Arbanasi to Veliko Tarnovo
- Sightseeing tour in Veliko Tarnovo
Landmarks
Arbanasi Architectural Reserve
Veliko Tarnovo

Landmarks
Glozhene Monastery
Teteven

Landmarks
Bogoi Pass
Shipkovo
Troyan Monastery

Landmarks
Batoshevo Monastery
Etar Architectural-Ethnographic Complex
Sokolski Monastery

Landmarks
Tryavna
Bozhentsi

Landmarks
Dryanovo Monastery
Iovkovtsi Dam
Rayuvtsi

Landmarks
Arbanasi Architectural Reserve
Veliko Tarnovo

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What's Not Included

Flights
Insurance
Additional Services

Operated by

Penguin Travel

Gold Operator

Rating: 4.4 (526 reviews)
Response time: within 2 days
Response rate: 96%
Cancellation policy: Learn more

Traveler Reviews

4.0

Overall rating based on 2 Reviews

Itinerary
4.5
Transport
4.0
Guide
4.5
Accommodation
4.0
Food
4.5
Tour Operator
4.4

Virgil5.0•October 2025
Unforgettable Trip with an Amazing Guide – Stoyan! I had an incredible experience on this trip! Everything was...
Unforgettable Trip with an Amazing Guide – Stoyan! I had an incredible experience on this trip! Everything was perfectly organized, and the schedule allowed us to see and do so much without ever feeling rushed. What truly made the tour special was our guide, Stoyan. He was knowledgeable, professional, and incredibly friendly. Stoyan shared so much interesting history and local insight, and he made everyone feel welcome and engaged throughout the journey. Thanks to him, the trip was not only fun but also meaningful. I highly recommend this tour—and especially Stoyan—to anyone looking for a fantastic travel experience!Show more
Traveled in August 2025
Jotinder3.0•September 2024
I had mixed views on this tour. The tour guide was very good, approachable and helped whereever possible but what...
I had mixed views on this tour. The tour guide was very good, approachable and helped whereever possible but what was really disappointing for me was the bikes. They were sub standard. The gears slipped, the wheels werent balanced and the brakes were faulty. Even after they went for a service they still werent good enough. This spoilt the overall experience for me. Please invest in some good quality bikes for future.Show more
Traveled in September 2024

What our customers ask about this tour

The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.

All questions

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Try a different search term or ask a question to this adventure's experts

R
Ross
Asked on July 7th, 2026
The dates of your guided tour don't work for us. Can we do this trip as self guided, or can you recommend another self guided 6-10 day tour ex Sofia starting early september?
Tour Details
- Penguin TravelOperator•Written July 2026
  At the moment, we do not offer a self-guided option for this tour.
  
  We can offer you the departure on 13 September or 4 October. Please note that this departure is not yet guaranteed, as a minimum of 4 participants is required for the tour to operate.
  
  If the group consists of only 2–3 participants, the tour can still be confirmed with a small-group supplement of EUR 150 per person.
J
Janice
Asked on March 17th, 2026
Is the tour partially guided or self-guided? What is the quality of the e-bikes provided?
Tour Details
Transport
- Penguin TravelOperator•Written March 2026
  The tour is guided and we do have E-bike. The price for an E-bike is 190 EUR.
O
Olga
Asked on March 1st, 2026
Could you please provide more details on the itinerary, inclusions, and the types of accommodations offered? Additionally, could you provide information on the types of bicycles available for this tour?
Accommodation
Tour Details
Transport
- Penguin TravelOperator•Written March 2026
  On this tour we use family run hotels, rooms with private facilities and only one night in a guest house in two rooms sharing one bathroom.
T
Tiffany
Asked on February 21st, 2026
Can I bring my own bike (probably an e-bike)? And how would it affect the cost? I will be cycling in the area, so it would make sense.
Price / Availability
Tour Details
- Penguin TravelOperator•Written February 2026
  The price of the tour is EXCL bike rental so you are welcome to bring your own bike
K
Kathy
Asked on February 16th, 2026
Is this a self guided trip or a group led by a guide ? If so, what is the group size? And what is the average mileage per day?
Group size
Tour Details
- Penguin TravelOperator•Written February 2026
  The tour is guided and please see the distance per day in the itinerary.
K
Kathy
Asked on January 22nd, 2026
Are ebikes available to rent?
Tour Details
- Penguin TravelOperator•Written January 2026
  Should you decide to add an e-bike rental to your booking, consider checking out our catalogue.
J
Jacqueline
Asked on November 30th, 2025
What are the maximum number of people that you have in one group?
Group size
- Penguin TravelOperator•Written December 2025
  The minimum size is 4 and the maximum is 12 people.
T
Taylor
Asked on September 30th, 2025
Do you plan to have this tour available between mid June and Mid July 2026?
Price / Availability
Tour Details
- Penguin TravelOperator•Written October 2025
  The dates available will be 21 June and 12 July 2025.
J
Jan
Asked on July 2nd, 2025
Please give names and or pictures of accommodation
Accommodation
- Penguin TravelOperator•Written July 2025
  This is the sample of the hotel list:
  
  Day 1 Family Hotel "Zdravets"
  Day 2 Hotel Zornica
  Day 3 Hotel Tihiat Kyt
  Day 4 Hotel Balkan
  Day 5 Hotel Stranopriemnicata
  Day 6 Hotel Perun
C
Clare
Asked on May 16th, 2025
Is there ant self guided option about your tour?
Tour Details
- Penguin TravelOperator•Written May 2025
  Unfortunately, we can offer the tour only as guided. The reason is because of the baggage transfers.

Trip essentials

Good to know

Tour ID: 87144

The practical details for your trip across Bulgaria: money, plugs and flexible ways to pay, all in one place.

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Deposit only
Book now with just a 30% deposit. The remaining balance is due 60 days before departure.
лв. - Bulgarian Lev
You’ll encounter Bulgarian Lev in Bulgaria.
Plug types C, F
You’ll need an adapter for these sockets in Bulgaria.

Currency
лв.
Bulgarian Lev
Bulgaria
Plugs & adapters
As a traveler from USA, Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa you will need an adaptor for types C, F.
- Type C
  Used in Bulgaria
- Type F
  Used in Bulgaria
Visa
Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality and how long you stay. We can’t process visas for you, but here’s a quick indication for this trip.
This is only an indication. Visa rules depend on your passport, trip length and purpose. Always confirm with the official embassy or consulate before you travel.
Payment information
Pay now
A 30% deposit
Balance due
60 days before departure
Currency
USD
Booking fee
None
Book now with just a 30% deposit and pay the rest later. The remaining balance is due 60 days before departure, charged automatically to your card. Everything is charged in USD, and TourRadar never adds a booking fee. Any trip departing before December 10th, 2026 will need to be paid in full at checkout.
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TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
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Insurance
Our travel protection from our award-winning partner, XCover, means you and your travel companions can book with peace of mind knowing there’s protection available in case your trip doesn’t go to plan. At checkout you will be able to select between different options in case you or the tour are eligible for insurance. In case no option is available, you are always able to purchase travel insurance outside of TourRadar.
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Accessibility
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Plan your adventure:

Balkan Cycling (Bulgaria)

No departure dates available

Itinerary

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

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What's Included

What's Not Included

Traveler Reviews

What our customers ask about this tour

Deposit only

лв. - Bulgarian Lev

Plug types C, F

Currency

Plugs & adapters

Visa

Payment information

Accepted for Penguin Travel tours

Best price guarantee

How it works

Your quote needs

What doesn’t count

Cancellation Policy

Insurance

Accessibility

People also viewed

No departure dates available

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