Rodopi Mountains

 The Rodopi (Rhodope to the Greeks) Mountains run for some 240km along the Greek-Bulgarian border, a bit under 20% actually within Greece. With their highest point at 2,191m, they are proper mountains, and Bulgaria?s largest-spreading range. The range is typified by high ridges and deep valleys, the west generally being higher.

The Rodopi have substantial areas of karst landscape in the west, with typical, dramatic features including gorges, cliffs, spires, natural arches and other strange formations and major cave complexes. It accordingly has few lakes - but plenty of rivers. A feature is the areas of meadow on the hilltops, above their steep forested flanks, oak at the lower levels and beech, birch, fir and pine higher up. That said, their landscape makes for pleasant walking, not of Dolomitic or indeed Pirin or Rila height, difficulty or grandeur, suitable for the nature lover rather than the thrill-seeker.

Expect to encounter a very diverse wildlife, from bears and wolves to a very extensile bird population the mountains are twitchers' paradise, including 36 recorded species of raptor.

The area is rich in history and culture, going back as far as Thracian times. The area was part of successive empires, including a long period on the border between the Bulgarian and Byzantine empires, resulting in a plethora of castles. The area was subsequently part of the Ottoman Empire. It became partly Greek after the Second Balkan War and the First World War. This has resulted in a wide selection of races and creeds, Bulgarians, Greeks, Turks; Orthodox and Muslim. There are fine monasteries, churches and mosques, as well as lovely and still remarkably unchanged villages and farming landscape.

The region's mild climate makes it attractive for summer walking.

Well-known walks/areas include:

• A 5+day traverse of the Chenatilsa massif, much of it on the course of a Roman road.
• The Bainovsko Gorge, near Yagodina, which you can either walk into or above.
• The Chairska Gorge, near Yagodina,.
• The Trigrad Plateau and Gorge near Trigrad.
• Mt Durdaga, also near Yagodina: you can walk around this mountain (-or up it).  
• The Sveti Ilia ridge, also near Yagodina.

As can be seen from the above list, Yagodina makes an excellent base for several fine days of walking.

Have a look at the dreaded TripAdvisor . You should get good, current views on this area.

This page is at an early stage of development. Please help us by recommending your best walks/making suggestions and sending photos! Thank you!