BELGRADE - SOFIA Bike Tour

Belgrade - Sofia 700 kms, here we go !

A fabulous cycle touring route, mostly on flat tarmac roads...

... and sometimes on dirt roads with a little altimetry, in Bulgaria, to spice it up !

The first half of our cycle route takes EuroVelo 6 along the majestic Danube River, which flows east from Serbia and marks the border with Romania.

The Danube is a peaceful river that does not necessarily go straight...

... and sometimes makes its way to the bottom of deep valleys dominated by imposing rocky cliffs.

The second half of our cycle route is on small secondary roads in the northwestern part of Bulgaria, but still sometimes along rivers, such as the Iscar river which descends from the Balkan mountains to Sofia, and even crosses the Bulgarian capital.

In Bulgaria, the relief and landscapes change, revealing atypical geological formations, such as these rocky dolmens in the Izvos region...

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... or those multiform rocks that border the Botunya River in Sopovo...

... or the Lakatnik cliffs near the Bov waterfall.

Sometimes they are real natural fortresses that protect a city, like in Belogradchik.

Then come the mountains, the real ones : the Balkans of Vratsa !

The penultimate stage of our cycle route crosses the Balkans of Vratsa from east to west, with a long ascent on a relatively gentle slope (+960m of altimetry in 22.1km, i.e. 4.3%)...

... before a long and pleasant descent in large loops towards Milanovo !

Our cycling route also passes through pretty little towns, such as Pančevo, a few kilometers after leaving Belgrade...

... or Grocka, a little further...

... or Zajecar, last night in Serbia and last city before entering Bulgaria.

Pretty Orthodox churches line our cycle route, as in Dobra (Serbia).

The rural habitat along our cycle route retains all its character, even in the greatest simplicity, as in Mala Vrbica (Serbia)...

... or in Negotin, where the 4th stage of our cycle route ends.

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What about the medieval castles and fortresses that stand on the banks of the Danube ? Vestiges of centuries-old history, sometimes perfectly preserved, such as the fortress of Belgrade...

... or Ram's castle...

... or the fortress of Veliko Gradište...

... or the very photogenic fortress of Golubac, where the 2nd stage of our cycle route ends.

And sometimes, even when there isn't much left, it overflows with charm, as in Donji Milanovac.

Summary

BELGRADE - SOFIA 11 days, 10 nights

Belgrade ↠ Kovin ↠ Golubac ↠ Tekija ↠ Negotin ↠ Zajecar

↠ Belogradchik ↠ Glavatsi ↠ Opletnya ↠ Sofia

700 km by bike in 9 days, 78 km on average per day, requires a minimum of physical preparation beforehand, but it is still cycling tourism, everyone at their own pace, with as many stops as the landscapes or shortness of breath deserve ! Quality dinners and accommodation are perfect to compensate for the efforts made on the bike...
The first 4 stages follow the course of the Danube by EuroVélo 6, in the middle of the countryside. The rest takes place on secondary roads with little traffic : after a transition stage in Serbia, the relief will gradually rise in Bulgaria, until the exceptional crossing of the Balkans of Vratsa. The last stage winds along the Iscar river at the bottom of a valley dominated by pretty cliffs, before the triumphant arrival in Sofia !
This cycle route is very complete, between capitals, small towns and above all open countryside, with 50% along the Danube and 50% for the crossing of the Balkans... Return to form guaranteed, with lots of images in mind !

HIGHLIGHTS

* The beauty of the cycling route along the Danube in Serbia, in a wild and peaceful nature, between wide plains and deep valleys
* The crossing of small towns and villages, in contact with quiet and welcoming natives
* The magnificent castles, fortresses, monasteries and Orthodox churches along the cycling route
* The discovery of the Balkans with its geological formations and its mountains which, on their own, are worth the trip
* The two national capitals, rich in history, monuments and architecture: Belgrade (with a night boat cruise on the Danube offered) and Sofia
* The gastronomy in the two countries, which really deserves to be known

Forget the stress of everyday life, take a little break to spend a few days in fabulous landscapes !

Route Map

D0 Arrival in Belgrade Serbia

D1 Belgrade - Kovin (70 km) "

D2 Kovin - Golubac (80 km) "

D3 Golubac - Tekija (96 km) "

D4 Tekija - Negotin (100 km) "

D5 Negotin - Zajecar (69 km) "

D6 Zajecar - Belogradchik (59 km) Bulgaria

D7 Belogradchik - Glavatsi (95 km) "

D8 Glavatsi - Opletnya (64 km) "

D9 Opletnya - Sofia (77 km) "

D10 Leaving Sofia "

THE BIKE GUIDE : Yes or No ?

* The bike guide is responsible for leading and managing the group throughout the different stages of the Bike Tour. He/she speaks several languages, including English.

* He/she is your first interlocutor for all subjects related to cycling (itinerary monitoring, small repairs,...).

* He/she carries the first aid kit and, if necessary, activates external services (insurance, mechanical repair, rescue,...).

* Always with the group, he/she regulates cadence so that everyone arrives at the end of the stage. But each one is free to ride with the group or solo, to meet the group later in the day or in the evening at the hotel.

* He/she facilitates check-in and check-out in hotels, restaurant orders, border crossing procedures, access to tourist sites.

BUT... If you prefer adventure alone or with your friends, already know how to regulate your pace to complete the stages in time (preferably before dark), and speak at least fluent English, you can do this cycle route without a bike guide. You will receive detailed itineraries before leaving, with recommended stops (landscapes, site visits, etc.) and will self-guide with your mobile phone or tablet, as long as you have a good internet connection on the move.

Dream Sports Adventure will provide the same advanced logistics (bike rental, reservation of hotels and activities included, etc.), and a hotline to resolve any unforeseen events.

THE RENTAL BIKE, with accessories and adapted to your route

Our rental bike package includes :

* Touring Bike adapted to your route (KTM 24 Speed, RAYMON

Touring 5.0,...) with rear rack to attach panniers

* 40L Rear Panniers (2 x 20L Panniers)

* Helmet

* Bike Lock

* Repair Kit, Spare Tubes, Pump & Tools

* Take the bike in Belgrade and leave the bike in Sofia

OBS. : If you intend to bring your own bike, please let us know and Dream Sports Adventure will compensate you for the value of the bike rental, noting however that the transport (air, trail,...) of your bike requires special packaging and can easily cost more.

Accomodation

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Comfortable single, double, twin suites with breakfast included and personalized customer service

Charming Hotels, Spas and Resorts in quiet and lovely areas, preferably surrounded by nature

Cycling Stages

Day after day, discover each stage of the Belgrade - Sofia Bike Tour, through the lovely landscapes of the Danube valleys and the Balkans, the small cities crossed,... And think no more : sign up for this wonderful experience !!

Local Gastronomy

6 days in Serbia and 5 days in Bulgaria:

Enough time to discover two different gastronomies, one of the rewards for all the efforts made by bike !

Punjene paprike (Serbia)

Peppers stuffed with the same preparation as the sarmas. It's different but just as good...

Ćevapčići (Serbia)

Coming from Bosnia and inherited from the Ottomans, Ćevapčići are small cylinders of minced meat embellished with spices found in the countries of former Yugoslavia.

Gibanica (Serbia)

A kind of burek made with cottage cheese, vegetables like spinach, apple pie or even meat. There is also a sweet version, with seasonal fruits such as cherries or apples… Also eaten for breakfast, it is therefore a dish that is both popular and ubiquitous.

Pljeskavica (Serbia)

The very popular Serbian hamburger ! Similar to that of Croatia, but without cheese. Serbs like to eat it between two pieces of bread, somum, which is the local pita. With ketchup, mayonnaise, possibly vegetables, fries, tomato, cucumber, cabbage or peppers if possible spicy, according to individual tastes.

Ajvar (Serbia)

Salad made with roasted peppers and eggplant, chopped, mixed and fried in oil. Served with oil and garlic according to your taste.

Burek (Serbia)

Specialty inherited from the Ottoman occupation and coming from the Turkish börek. Thin dough (called filo or yufka) filled with cheese (feta or kajmak), potatoes, vegetables or minced meat in general. Cooked in a pan or in the oven, the bureks can also be sprinkled with sesame seeds.

Proja (Serbia)

Corn flour bread

Banica (Serbia)

Filled bread eaten with a pumpkin stuffing or with spinach and cheese.

Mantije (Serbia)

Delicious puff pastry bites filled with minced meat, registered since 2012 in the National Register of Intangible Heritage of the Republic of Serbia.

Posnesarmice (Serbia)

Grape or cabbage leaves stuffed with rice and seared onions, with peppers, tomatoes and parsley.

Punjeni smudj na golubacki nacin (Serbia)

Pike perch stuffed with Golubac. The pike perch, the king of the Danube, and Golubac, a fortress on the Danube, have united their qualities and the century-old tradition of rich cuisine. With fish : white wine of course, but dry this time !

Dimljena vesalica (Serbia)

Smoked rack of pork, boneless, cut lengthwise and grilled, served with a good Serbian salad... and a good red wine !

Kapama od jagnjeceg mesa (Serbia)

Pan-seared pieces of lamb with onions, leeks and spinach. Then, it all simmers in a saucepan or baked in the oven. Plain yogurt goes very well with this dish.

Srpski djuvec (Serbia)

Prepared with tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, rice, paprikas, pork cut into small pieces and seared with onions. Then all baked in the oven. Spicy and very tasty.

Pasulj prebranac (Serbia)

White bean gratin topped with paprika powder, garlic cloves and onions. Vegetarian dish nicknamed “Serbian cassoulet”.

Podvarak (Serbia)

Cabbage cut into pieces and simmered with onions, topped with fat and often bacon, before baking everything in the oven. Served with roast turkey or pork. Unmissable festive dish in winter.

Svadbarski kupus (Serbia)

The “wedding cabbage” is cooked in an earthenware pot for several hours. It is made with cabbage, lamb, beef, fresh or cured pork, with lots of onions and spices (pepper, salt, bay leaves). Particularly tasty dish that goes well with red wine.

Baklava (Serbia)

Oriental pastry inherited from the Ottoman invasions, of which the Serbs slightly modified the Turkish recipe to make it a little drier. It can be eaten with cream and pistachio in small pieces, for example.

Suva pita sa orasima (Serbia)

Precooked puff pastry stuffed with very fine ground walnuts.

Strudla sa jabukama, visnjama ou makom (Serbia)

Apple, cherry or poppy strudel prepared with flour, oil, egg, vanilla sugar, raisins, yeast.

Tursija (Serbia) or Turshia (Bulgaria)

Classic winter dish of vegetables (peppers, cauliflower, carrots, cabbage, green tomatoes, cucumbers) cut into pieces and marinated in vinegar, brine and sugar, with added herbs and aromatics (pepper black, dill, parsley, celery, bay leaf, onions and garlic). Crisp, tangy flavor and wonderfully crunchy texture. As a starter or accompaniment to meat dishes.

Shopska Salata (Serbia/Bulgaria)

Simple salad with cucumber, tomato, peppers, onions, sprinkled salty white sirene cheese. In Bulgaria, it is a popular appetizer elevated to the rank of national dish, whose ingredients echo the white, green and red of the Bulgarian flag. Traditionally eaten by newlyweds as the first meal together after the wedding ceremony. Goes well with Rakia.

Musaka (Serbia/Bulgaria)

Popular dish consisting of layers of potatoes, ground pork, eggs, onion and spices, similar to Greek moussaka, but eggplant is replaced by potato. In Bulgaria, it is traditionally served with tangy yogurt poured on top. Bulgarian men joke that they will only marry a woman who cooks musaka perfectly.

Sarma (Serbia) or Sarmi (Bulgaria)

A popular winter dish, traditionally served on Christmas Eve, made with vine leaves (as a starter) or cabbage (as a main dish) stuffed with rice, meat and spices, sometimes with vegetables (onions, carrots), reminiscent of Greek dolmades and other similar dishes popular in the Balkans and the Middle East.

Bulgarian yogurt

Stirred, very creamy, tasty, with the particularity of containing an interesting bacterium, the famous "lactobacillus bulgaricus" which destroys toxins and bad bacteria in our digestive system and contributes to the development of "friendly" bacteria in our intestines.

Prices

Prices 2022-23

PRICE PER PERSON

With a non electric rental bike and accommodation in a double or twin room

With a non electric rental bike and accommodation in a single room

Supplement for an e-bike (Electrically Assisted Bicycle)

If you intend to bring your own bike, please let us know and Dream Sports Adventure will compensate you for the value of the bike rental, noting however that the transport (air, trail,...) of your bike requires special packaging and can easily cost more.

$ 2.935

$ 3.267

* Fixed prices established in $ (USD)

** Payment by bank transfer directly to our account (amount converted into your local currency at the daily exchange rate)

The invoice for your purchase will be sent to you by e-mail after your payment.

Included

Accomodation in hotel with breakfast (10 nights)
Rental bike with accessories from Belgrade to Sofia (9 days)
Night boat cruise on Danube river in Belgrade on the 1st evening
Dinner in Sofia on the last evening
Permanent bike guide and coordinator

Not Included

Transport to Belgrade and from Sofia
Drinks, lunches and dinners
Entrance fees to tourist sites
Eventual mechanical repair during the tour
Local taxis & Personal expenses
Private Travel insurance

CANCELLATION POLICY

Rescheduling or Cancellation by Dream Sports Adventure

Dream Sports Adventure reserves the right to cancel the package in case of insufficient registration, force majeure or any other valid reason, and in such circumstances will propose to reschedule according to availabilities or to fully refund the packages already purchased, without however giving entitlement to compensation.

Rescheduling or Cancellation by Customer

Rescheduling (according to availability) :

- Free of charge up to 45 days before the start of your package

- With 25% increase less than 45 days before the start of your package

Cancellation :

- Refund of 50% up to 45 days before the start of your package

- No refund less than 45 days before the start of your package