Introduction: On this incredible biking adventure you will be immersed into the heart of the gorgeous Rodopi Mountains, which provide excellent conditions for mountain biking. Plenty of off-road tracks are waiting to be discovered amidst the greenery of the land of the mythical musician and singer Orpheus who entranced people, animals and plants with his magical music. On this tour you will be able to cycle on different terrains, dirt, macadam, and isolated asphalt roads and paths. Also you will be riding through forests, along deep gorges, on ridges and hillsides. Remote tiny villages with unique architecture and natural phenomena will add even more flavour to the tour. As well as, meet hospitable people, and experience local traditions and customs. The Rodopi Mountains with the highest peak Goliam Perelik at 2191 m a.s.l, are the southernmost mountains in Bulgaria. The mountains border with Greece and are known to be the widest massif in Bulgaria. Geologically they are the oldest land on the Balkans. This area is abundant with coniferous woods. The landscape is soft and oval. It also consists of rolling hills, high ridges and deep river valleys snaking alongside river basins. This massif is home to 70% of the world’s minerals, as well as 600 caves. A wide variety of plant and animal species can be found only here in Europe. The climate is mild and pleasant throughout the year with more than 275 sunny days. The summer temperatures are never too high, and the winter ones never to low. Special highlights:

Rodopi Mountains with their highest peak Golyam Perelik (2191m a.s.l.) are the oldest mountains on the Balkan Peninsula. Plovdiv (160 m a.s.l.) ranks as the second Bulgarian city in population and size. The old town of Plovdiv is one of the oldest European towns contemporary to Troy and Mikena. Bachkovo Monastery is the second largest Bulgarian monastery. Chepelare (1100 m a.s.l.) is a ski resort that has Bulgaria's only ski and snowboard equipment factory. The Wonderful Bridges (1450 m a.s.l.) are 2 unique rock formation (about 40 m high) covering an area of 40,3 hectares. Pamporovo (1650 m a.s.l.) is a modern ski resort in the heart of the Rodopi Mountains. Shiroka Luka (1060 m a.s.l.) Numerous houses preserving the typical Rodopean architecture, speech, songs and customs of local people have given the village the status of an architectural, ethnographic and folklore reserve. Gela village (1500 m a.s.l.) is one of the most ancient settlements in the Rodopi Mountains, being more than 3300 years old. Gela is believed to be the birth place of the legendary musician Orpheus. Chairski lakes (1600 m a.s.l.) are formed by land sliding. They are declared protected area due to the presence of some rare plants, growing within the peat there. The Devil's Throat Cave has its name from the fact that if you let something flow in the cave river it never comes out

again. There is a cave waterfall - one of the highest underground waterfalls in Europe, 42 m high. Trigrad (1250 m a.s.l.) is a small village in the central part of the Rodopi Mountains, neighbouring to Trigrad Gorge, famous for its 250 m high cliffs Yagodina Cave is among the longest caves in Bulgaria (more than 10 000 m mapped so far), considered to be one of the most beautiful in Europe with its outstanding stalactites, stalagmites, columns, ponds and cave pearls in them. Itinerary Day 1. Arrival at Sofia or Plovdiv Airport and transfer to Plovdiv for overnight (2 hours from Sofia). /dinner/ Day 2. The morning starts with a transfer deep into the mountains few kilometers after Studenets vacation area. The starting point is around 35 km south of Plovdiv, located at 1390 m a.s.l. The route begins on a dirt road, slightly downhill. It goes into the shades of a lush mixed forest. An uphill ride follows and then another descent, until you arrive at a remote and quiet village – Dobralak. From here you’ll encounter an isolated asphalt road until the end of the cycling stage for the day. For the next 8-10 km, on the right, you’ll be able to enjoy beautiful panoramic views over the green Rodopi Mountains. Next there is a climb into the village of Iavrovo, and after another 11 km,

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only downhill cycling until we come to the last stop of the day at 375 m a.s.l. Cycling finishes at King Assen’s fortress built in the 11th-12th centuries. King Assen was one of the most magnificent kings from the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. After visiting the fortress we go to the Bachkovo Monastery by car. Afterwards we will proceed to the overnight destination in the village of Brestnik at the foots of Rodopi Mountains. Cycling specifics: Distance: 41,2 km (25,6 miles); uphill cycling: 500 m (1,640 ft); downhill cycling: 1000 m (3,280 ft); cycling time: 4 hrs /breakfast, dinner/ Day 3. You begin again on the support vehicle travelling 29 km south of Plovdiv. The starting point is where the asphalt road ends few kilometres before Lilkovo village (at 900 m a.s.l.). After some gentle uphill biking you arrive at the beginning of the hamlet of Plochnik. At this point the terrain changes to dirt road and leads directly to Lilkovo. Next you ascend until you arrive at an open space - the Hadzhiitsa countryside. Further up you ascend to the Popova Rock countryside where you can stop for lunch. At the top of a rise is Persenk hut (1750 m a.s.l) where you can have a coffee break. Then you begin a downhill ride towards Orehovo village. Once you reach the village of Orehovo you bike downstream alongside the Oreshitsa River. The route follows the river until we finish at the village of Hvoina (at 700 m a.s.l.). From here you’ll be collected by the driver and taken to the town of Chepelare (21 km transfer). Chepelare is Bulgaria’s highest town and is situated at a height of 1150 m.a.s.l. Cycling specifics: Distance: 44,2 km (27,5 miles); uphill cycling: 900 m (2,952 ft); downhill cycling: 1250 m (4,101 ft); cycling time: 6 hrs /breakfast, dinner/ Day 4. In the morning there will be a transfer to the Skalni Mostove hut (at a height of 1580 m a.s.l.). On the way to our starting point we pass through the Chudnite Mostove hut, where you’ll be able to see the unique natural phenomenon known as The Wonderful Bridges. The Wonderful Bridges are two 43 m high rock bridges that you are able to walk under along the river. After the Skalni Mostove hut the dirt road goes uphill for 6 km through a lush and dense coniferous forest. Then you reach and bike along the ridge, getting to Gluhite Kamani (The Deaf Stones) and further up to the highest point of the day at 1910 m a.s.l. As you continue further you arrive at meadows and are able to see some superb view over the mountains. You can stop for a short break at the Izgrev hut on the way before continuing downhill on a dirt road, through the forest towards the

picturesque Zornitsa village. Cycling down to Zornitsa and its 3 remote neighbourhoods is a real pleasure. At about 1700 m a.s l. you will be enjoying some fantastic panoramic vistas over the Southern Rodopi. Few kilometres after Zornitsa you arrive at the main road Plovdiv-Smolyan (1100 m a.s.l.). There you will be collected by the driver who will take you to accommodation in the town of Smolyan (37 km transfer). Smolyan is the largest town in the Central Rodopi Mountains, and is situated in one of its most scenic areas. Cycling specifics: Distance: 29 km (18 miles); uphill cycling: 350 m (1,148 ft); downhill cycling: 800 m (2,624 ft); cycling time: 5 hrs /breakfast, dinner/ Day 5. Having visited the beautiful Smolyan Lakes we continue about 15 km uphill to the starting point of the day - few kilometres away from the highest peak of the mountains – Goliam Perelik peak (2191 m a.s.l.) – a place where the asphalt road ends at 1970 m a.s.l. In the beginning you cycle back downhill on the asphalt until you reach the main road Smolyan – Stoykite. On the way you’ll be surrounded by awesome panoramas. Then the dirt track weaves through a dense forest. After a short while you arrive at the Studenets hut and the famous Pamporovo ski resort. Then the terrain changes as we join an isolated asphalt road. To reach the highest point for the day you bike uphill for about 6 km until you arrive at the Mechi Peak area at 1850 m a.s.l. From this point on you will be able to experience breath-taking mountain landscapes. It is also from here that the dirt track goes mostly downhill, following the mountain ridge. Later on you pass through the village of Kukuvitsa. Once again you will descend for about 6 km until you arrive at the village of Shiroka Laka, where we stay overnight. At 1060 m a.s.l high in the mountains, the village of Shiroka Laka is an architectural reserve with many houses from the Bulgarian revival period. The village is also an ethnographical reserve of Bulgarian folklore and culture. Cycling specifics: Distance: 32 km (19,9 miles); uphill cycling: 300 m (984 ft); downhill cycling: 950 m (3,116 ft); cycling time: 4 hrs /breakfast, dinner/ Day 6. We will begin with a 6 km transfer to the village of Gela. The village is thought to be the birthplace of the legendary musician Orpheus. From here we start biking uphill at 1550 m a.s.l. Further up we’ll pass the Lednitsata hut. The road will take us almost to the top of the ridge where we bike at the highest altitude of the day (1845 m a.s.l.) The track is smooth, even, and surrounded

by some magnificent sweeping panoramic views. The road then descends to Kasaka hamlet and the village of Mougla. The next natural landmarks are the serene Chairski Lakes. They are home to some rare plant species. After 12 km of downhill cycling along Livadnitsa River you’ll meet the driver and finish the day at 1040 m a.s.l. The drive will take us through the marvellous Trigrad Gorge with its 250 m high cliffs. A few kilometres further on we will stop to visit The Devil’s Throat Cave with its underground waterfall. This amazing spectacle is actually one of the highest underground waterfalls in Europe. Finally, we travel for another 2 km to our accommodation in the village of Trigrad. Cycling specifics: Distance: 37 km (23 miles); uphill cycling: 600 m (1,968 ft); downhill cycling: 850 m (2,788 ft); cycling time: 6 hrs /breakfast, dinner/ Day 7. Before lunch you will ride a circuit route. First you start from the hotel in Trigrad (1280 m a.s.l) to reach the village of Vodni Pad at 1350 m a.s.l. and finally to come back to the hotel in Trigrad. The village of Vodni Pad is situated near the Greek border; you may see the border fence 200 m away from the village centre. The track to the village climbs for the first stage up to 1600 m a.s.l, and then descends amidst meadows and green forests. From Vodni Pad to Trigrad the track descends slightly following the route of the Trigrad River. You arrive at the hotel then and cycle uphill for a while until you continue with only downhill biking to Yagodina Cave. After a cave tour you will be taken by the supporting vehicle towards Plovdiv. The trip is around 90 km and on your way you will see superb views over the Vacha and Krichim Dams. Cycling specifics: Distance: 28,2 km (17,5 miles); uphill cycling: 350 m (1,148 ft); downhill cycling: 600 m (1,968 ft); cycling time: 4 hrs /breakfast, dinner/ Day 8. After breakfast you will have transfer to Sofia or Plovdiv Airport for departure (transfer time: 20 min to Plovdiv Airport or 2 hrs to Sofia Airport) /breakfast/ Accommodation: We stay in family-run hotels (days 3, 5 & 6) with private facilities and in guesthouses with en-suite facilities (the rest days; shared facilities only on day 4) on HB (breakfast & dinner included). Ordering lunchpacks is available in each of the hotels if

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necessary for the day tours (at the amount of 5-6 Euro). Luggage transportation: Luggage is taken care of throughout the whole trip. A small rucksack for carrying personal items during the day is necessary. There will be 1 guide with you throughout the tour who will leave you at the starting point every day (you'll be given a map and itinerary notes for every day) and will meet you at the end of the cycling day. Tour type: IT + / GT Difficulty grade: B (days 2, 4, 5 & 7) / C (days 3 & 6) Best period: May – September Weather: Temperatures expected for this period are between + 15 and +30oC. Sometimes noontime could be a little exhausting for cycling on open territories. Rainfalls or short but heavy showers are possible, being a bit prolonged during spring and late autumn. Equipment and clothing: Equipped mountain bikes and saddlebags (upon request) are provided by the company. We don’t provide helmets for hygienic reasons. No special equipment needed for this tour (for list with recommended items see “General”). Bicycles: For our mountain biking tour we provide quality, light and well-geared " SPRINT - Apolon " mountain bikes with the following characteristics: - frame 26"x 19"( 21") Alloy 6061 - gear set – 21 gears SHIMANO TX30/RS31 - V-brakes - front anti-shock - rims - double wall HDP - rear lights ( some of the bikes have front lights as well) - fork: ZOOM CH-381/60 mm travel The price includes: equipped mountain bike (without helmet!), guide/driver with a supporting vehicle, map, roadbook, transfer from/to the airport, accommodation and boarding as mentioned above, VAT and all local taxes. The price does not include: tips, entrance fees, alcohol drinks, cigarettes and other personal expenses GENERAL ============================ TOUR TYPES & GRADES We provide different varieties of tours as regards to their types and difficulty grades! Whether you will choose individual and group tours with a guide or combined tours with a guide for some part of the trip depends on you. We emphasize on using local experienced guides with knowledge of the local language, culture, history, art, etc. The tours are conducted in the English language. Guides in other languages are available upon request. Tour types Our tours are divided in different tour types, regardless of being guided or not or

if someone travels alone or in a group. We have prepared your vacation so that you can concentrate on new impressions and experiences, awaiting you all the time. Here is a description of the various tours: IT+: Individual tours with a guide The same as the Individual tours, with the only difference that there is a local guide provided for some of the days. During the days with a local guide most probably you will be together with other tourists. GT: Group tours There is a guide accompanying you throughout the whole trip, meeting you at the airport upon arrival and leaving you at the airport again for departure. We use well-trained and experienced local people with good knowledge of English. The group size is normally 6-12 people, if not specially mentioned. -------------------------------------------------- Difficulty grades To prepare yourself for the best of your vacation we recommend that you start planning it in an advance. Good physical condition is required. In order to achieve it we advise you to start walking, jogging or cycling everyday. Swimming a couple of times a week is also highly recommended. You do not need much to get yourself in shape. And don't forget that the most important tip for an unforgettable active holiday is to choose a trip which corresponds to your physical condition! B: Moderate 3,5-5 hours of cycling per day on average over hilly or flat terrain with only several steep parts (climbing max. 12 %) which can be skipped if it’s a guided tour with a supporting vehicle. All people used to cycling should be able to make this trip. However 30-50 km cycling per day is recommended for some time before the start of the tour. C: Difficult 4, 5 – 5, 5 hours of cycling per day on average. At some steep (but short) parts you may need to push your bike. These are usually mountain biking tours along dirty roads and mountain paths. Bikers should be well prepared to face trails with climbs and bumpy parts from time to time. Some physical preparations are essential before booking a tour with this grade. ============================== Extensions: Yes, Black Sea This is a unique proposal, which gives you the opportunity to stay in Bulgaria for one week more at the incredibly low price! We can offer a great variety of means of accommodation - from home stays (no meals) to 2, 3 and 4-star hotels (BB or HB) on the Southern Bulgarian Black Sea Coast: - Sunny Beach - a big modern resort with hundreds of hotels, cafes, pubs, casinos, water-sports facilities etc. - Nessebar, Sozopol - small towns (founded by the ancient Greeks) with picturesque Old Quarters and a specific atmosphere. - Lozenets -a peaceful small village with a beautiful beach. Only 4-5 km from the forests of the Strandzha Mountains where you can go walking, biking or riding horses. =============================== Equipment and clothing: Recommended items: good quality padded cycling shorts (baggy style); cycling helmet; cycling shoes; fleece headband; fingerless biking gloves; lightweight windproof biking jacket; waterproof trousers; fleece

windstopper jacket; sunglasses with UV protection; sunscreen lotion and lip balm. =============================== Money and personal expenses You will need some extra money to cover meals, drinks and extra trips not included in the tour price. Additional money for souvenirs and personal things could also be spent. That is why it is always necessary to have Bulgarian money in cash. The payments in Bulgaria are usually made in "LEV" (BGN), which is the official currency. The exchange rate with EU and USD is quite changing sometimes, but approximately it is: BGN:EU - 2:1; BGN:USD - 1,7-1. Credit Cards could be used primarily in some supermarkets and restaurants in the biggest cities as well as in the petrol stations. Usually it is marked on their front doors if Credit Cards are accepted. ATMs ("bankomates") are more frequent (again in the biggest towns only!). Traveler's cheques take quite a lot of time to handle and not each bank deals with them (in many cases it takes even few days since their deposition in the bank!) - thus they are not recommended! Here are some examples of comparative costs in Bulgaria (NB: prices in mid-range restaurants!): - Coffee – 0,3 Euro - Tea – 0,3 Euro - Beer (0,5 l) – 0,5-1 Euro - Soft drink (0,5 l) - 0,4-0,5 Euro - Bottle of water (0,5 l) - 0,3-0,4 Euro - Bottle of mark red wine (0,75 l) - 5-10 Euro - Three-course lunch - 4-7 Euro - Lunch pack - 2-3 Euro =========================== Cell phone coverage Currently the whole territory of Bulgaria is covered with a mobile connection. However the trekking & cycling tours are done in mountainous areas where the signal could be weak or even lacking from time to time. In such a situation you just need to change your location a bit in order to find available network. =========================== Electricity In Bulgaria two-pin sockets are normal. Voltage is 220 watts. If you come from the U.S. or UK you need to purchase an adapter, which is available only in Bulgarian cities and biggest winter and sea resorts. =========================== Brief about Bulgaria Territory - 110 912 sq. km. Population - 7 538 000 (2003) (83,9 % ethnic Bulgarians; 9,4% Turks; 4,7% Roma; rest – smaller minorities Russians, Armenians, Vlachs, Jews, Karakachans etc.) Relligion – 82,6% Orthodox, 12,2% Islam, 0,7% Protestant, 0,5% Catholics, 4,1% Others. Capital city - Sofia (1 377 531 people in 2006) Bigest towns - Plovdiv, Varna, Bourgas, Rouse, Stara Zagora, Veliko Tarnovo, Pleven Mountains - 37 (biggest - Balkan Mountain: length - ~ 550 km.; width - ~

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30-60 km.); (highest - Rila Mountain - peak Musala - 2 925 m.a.s.l.) Boundaries - North - Romania; East - Black Sea (coastline 378 km.); West - Serbia, Macedonia; South - Greece, Turkey; Distribution of the lands - 0 - 400 m.a.s.l. - 59,8 %; 400 - 1000 m.a.s.l. - 27,6 %; 1000 - 2000 m.a.s.l. - 11,9 %; over 2000 m.a.s.l. - 0,7 % Protected areas - 3 national parks, 10 nature parks, 55 reserves, 35 managed reserves, over 350 protected areas and 500 natural monuments =========================== Weather Mean year temperature - + 10,5 °C (Abs. Min. - -38,3 °C ; Abs. Max. - + 45,2 °C) Mean rainfall per year - 416 - 650 mm. in the lowlands; 650 - 1193 mm. in the highlands Rainy days per month – May – 7; June – 8; July – 6; August – 3; September – 6; (number may be higher in the mountains) Mean daily/night temperatures (up to 1000 m a.s.l.) - May – 22/12 °C; June – 26/16 °C; July – 28/17 °C; August – 26/15 °C; September – 23/13 °C;