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Hiking Trails Over 20 km in Bulgaria

55 routes in Bulgaria qualify, ranked below by how much walkers rate them. They average 59.9 km and 1,540 m (5,052 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 559 km.

That is 31 percent of the 177 routes we map in Bulgaria. They run noticeably longer than average for the area, 59.9 km against 24.8 km, so budget more daylight than a typical outing here. The climbing is steeper too: 1,540 m (5,052 ft) on average versus 738 m (2,421 ft) across the wider area.

Full-day and multi-day routes for walkers who want the distance to be the point. These lean toward the demanding end, so plan for a full day and check the forecast before you commit.

Trails

връх Зъбът от Кукленското езеро
Expert

Dobrinishte - Melnik

Pirin National Park · Blagoevgrad

Distance
46.7 km
/ 29.0 mi
Elevation gain
2,111 m
Typical duration
13 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Primary school in the village of Budinarci, Maleševija, Macedonia
Expert

Sammiana I4

Blagoevgrad · Bulgaria

Distance
204 km
/ 127 mi
Elevation gain
6,056 m
Typical duration
57 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
The mosque in the Village of Cherna Mesta, Bulgaria.
Hard

ST510 Yakoruda - Yundola

Blagoevgrad · Bulgaria

Distance
23.4 km
/ 14.6 mi
Elevation gain
891 m
Typical duration
6 hr 28 min
  • Mountain
Hard

Dupnitsa - Ivan Vazov hut

National Park Rila · Kyustendil

Distance
23.4 km
/ 14.5 mi
Elevation gain
515 m
Typical duration
5 hr 54 min
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Camino Bulgaria

Burgas · Bulgaria

Distance
80.8 km
/ 50.2 mi
Elevation gain
1,778 m
Typical duration
21 hr
  • Pilgrimage route
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Hard

ST426 Slivnitsa - Bankya

Sofia-City · Bulgaria

Distance
26.1 km
/ 16.2 mi
Elevation gain
573 m
Typical duration
6 hr 37 min
  • Long-distance path
Hard

ST503a Yarlovo - Belchin

Kyustendil · Bulgaria

Distance
29.1 km
/ 18.1 mi
Elevation gain
639 m
Typical duration
7 hr 26 min
  • Long-distance path
Hard

ST505 Samokov - Mechit hut

Sofia · Bulgaria

Distance
20.3 km
/ 12.6 mi
Elevation gain
447 m
Typical duration
5 hr 4 min
  • Long-distance path
Hard

ST512 Velingrad - Batak

Pazardzhik · Bulgaria

Distance
27.1 km
/ 16.9 mi
Elevation gain
597 m
Typical duration
6 hr 55 min
  • Long-distance path
Hard

ST517 Yagodina - Mugla

Smolyan · Bulgaria

Distance
21.7 km
/ 13.5 mi
Elevation gain
478 m
Typical duration
5 hr 27 min
  • Long-distance path
Hard

ST518a Mugla - Smolyan

Smolyan · Bulgaria

Distance
25.3 km
/ 15.7 mi
Elevation gain
557 m
Typical duration
6 hr 25 min
  • Long-distance path
Hard

ST523 Shadeetsa - Ardino

Kardzhali · Bulgaria

Distance
24.6 km
/ 15.3 mi
Elevation gain
542 m
Typical duration
6 hr 14 min
  • Long-distance path
Hard

ST524 Ardino - Kitnitsa

Kardzhali · Bulgaria

Distance
29.3 km
/ 18.2 mi
Elevation gain
645 m
Typical duration
7 hr 30 min
  • Long-distance path
Hard

ST525 Kitnitsa - Kardzhali

Kardzhali · Bulgaria

Distance
25.0 km
/ 15.5 mi
Elevation gain
550 m
Typical duration
6 hr 20 min
  • Long-distance path
Hard

ST526 Kardzhali - Madrets

Kardzhali · Bulgaria

Distance
22.3 km
/ 13.9 mi
Elevation gain
491 m
Typical duration
5 hr 36 min
  • Long-distance path
Hard

ST527 Madrets - Rabovo

Haskovo · Bulgaria

Distance
21.8 km
/ 13.5 mi
Elevation gain
479 m
Typical duration
5 hr 28 min
  • Long-distance path
Hard

ST528 Rabovo - Madzharovo

Haskovo · Bulgaria

Distance
20.9 km
/ 13.0 mi
Elevation gain
460 m
Typical duration
5 hr 13 min
  • Long-distance path
Hard

ST704 Novi Han - Paunovo

Sofia · Bulgaria

Distance
23.0 km
/ 14.3 mi
Elevation gain
507 m
Typical duration
5 hr 48 min
  • Long-distance path
Hard

ST707 Momin Prohod - Vetren

Pazardzhik · Bulgaria

Distance
24.2 km
/ 15.0 mi
Elevation gain
532 m
Typical duration
6 hr 6 min
  • Long-distance path
Hard

ST709 Septemvri - Pazardzhik

Pazardzhik · Bulgaria

Distance
20.6 km
/ 12.8 mi
Elevation gain
453 m
Typical duration
5 hr 8 min
  • Long-distance path
Hard

ST712 Plovdiv - Asenovgrad

Plovdiv · Bulgaria

Distance
24.4 km
/ 15.2 mi
Elevation gain
538 m
Typical duration
6 hr 11 min
  • Long-distance path
Hard

ST714 Cherven - Bryagovo

Plovdiv · Bulgaria

Distance
29.8 km
/ 18.5 mi
Elevation gain
655 m
Typical duration
7 hr 38 min
  • Long-distance path
Hard

ST718 Dinevo - Harmanli

Haskovo · Bulgaria

Distance
23.0 km
/ 14.3 mi
Elevation gain
505 m
Typical duration
5 hr 47 min
  • Long-distance path
Hard

ST719 Harmanli - Lyubimets

Haskovo · Bulgaria

Distance
22.7 km
/ 14.1 mi
Elevation gain
499 m
Typical duration
5 hr 42 min
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Sammiana I6

Kyustendil · Bulgaria

Distance
134 km
/ 83.0 mi
Elevation gain
2,938 m
Typical duration
35 hr
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
European long distance path E4 - part BulgariaBlagoevgrad236 km8,958 m69 hrExpertJuly to September
European long distance path E8 - part BulgariaBlagoevgrad426 km5,982 m110 hrExpertJuly to September
Dobrinishte - MelnikPirin National Park46.7 km2,111 m13 hrExpertJuly to September
Разлог - х. Яворов - х. ЛагераPirin National Park27.9 km1,877 m9 hrExpertJuly to September
Банско - х. Яне СанданскиPirin National Park23.7 km1,613 m7 hr 38 minHardJuly to September
x. Синаница - х. ПиринPirin National Park24.8 km1,551 m7 hr 47 minExpertJuly to September
Sammiana I4Blagoevgrad204 km6,056 m57 hrExpertJune to October
ST507 Rila Monastery - Makadoniya hutBlagoevgrad22.9 km382 m5 hr 36 minHardJune to October
ST510 Yakoruda - YundolaBlagoevgrad23.4 km891 m6 hr 28 minHardJune to October
х. Семково - Вапски езера - Долината на Карааланица - СемковоNational Park Rila22.2 km1,113 m6 hr 30 minHardJuly to September

If you only have time for one, start with European long distance path E8 - part Bulgaria, European long distance path E4 - part Bulgaria, Dobrinishte - Melnik. Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.

Frequently asked questions

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