There are 16 mountains in Bulgaria, occupying 1/3 of the country’s territory. Each of them is different from the rest, having its own charm and spell. The longest mountain chain at the Balkans – Stara Planina or also called the Balkan spreads through Bulgaria giving the name of the southeast European peninsular. The highest mountain at the Balkan peninsular – Rila reaches an altitude of 2925 meters above the sea level. The mountains in Bulgaria offer wonderful conditions for winter and summoer tourism – walks, mountaineering, relaxation , winter sports, eco tourism etc. A huge advantage is the comparatively low level of urbanization, unlike the mountains in Central and Western Europe.
There are about 60 resorts, some of them the very popular ski centers – Borovets, Pamporovo, Vitosha and Bansko. Unlike most of the tourist destinations in Europe, the mountains in Bulgaria are preserved from excessive penetration of technology. They will offer you perfect conditions for tourism, sport and entertainment, giving you the opportunity to find total seclusion or get in touch with the nature and the local culture. There are many caves, hiding ancient secrets, waterfalls and bizarre natural sculptures. The steep slopes are followed by deep precipices and picturesque river valleys. There are over 400 natural lakes as well as many pure rivers. There is a huge variety of plants and animals in the mountains of Bulgaria. Up to 80% of their territory is covered with forests. Therefore the mountains in Bulgaria are said to be one of the best hunting tourism destinations. The traditions and the folk customs are best preserved here; the people are cordial and friendly. Everyone who decided to explore the mountains in Bulgaria got captured by their beauty and majesty.