Vratsa Karst and Caves
Explore the best of Vratsa Karst Nature Park in one day. Climb up on wooden ladders and steps in the pristine valley full of small waterfalls and cascades, enjoy a picnic lunch at the top and descend on a nice beech forest path with great panoramic views.
This walking route is moderately arduous, with individual brief paths featuring steep inclines; adventurous parts occur (wooden bridges, narrow stages in the cave etc.) and need more attention. Please bring along comfortable hiking boots. Sandals and flip-flops are not accepted. Rain jacket might be useful in summer as heavy showers sometimes occur in the afternoons. The floor inside the cave is very slippery and the temperature is about +8C.
What’s included: Transfer from Sofia to the trailhead in Vratsa Mountains, then to the Ledenika Cave and back to Sofia; English-speaking guide
What’s not included: Food and beverages, personal expenses, gratuities.
What do I need to bring?
Comfortable hiking shoes. Warm clothes (at least one jacket even in the summertime). Drinks, food.
Meeting point: the parking lot behind the majestic Alexander Nevski Cathedral in central Sofia.
Drop off: Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Duration 8 h / Physical difficulty level Moderate
Total transfer time: 4 hrs
Walking time: 4-5 hrs (hiking time only/moderately arduous)
Best period: April to October
An early transfer will take you to Zgorigrad village passing by the rock phenomenon Vratsata and further to the beginning of the beautiful and thrilling eco-trail of Borov Kamak waterfall (50m high). Climb up on wooden ladders and steps in the pristine valley full of small waterfalls and cascades, enjoy a picnic lunch at the top and descend on a nice beech forest path with great panoramic views to Zgorigrad village and Vratsa Mountains. On the way up to the waterfall you will cross the river on wooden bridges just above the rapids, climb up rocky steep sections on massive wooden ladders and enjoy great views of Borov kamak waterfall from below and then on top of it.
After the hike you will be transferred to the sinister cave Ledenika where mother nature has made a masterpiece of an enchanting underground world. It is 320m long and its name comes from the icy stalagmites formed at the entrance in winter time and early spring. With its stunning cave formations Ledenika is one of the most beautiful show caves in Bulgaria and a habitat of the endemic beetle Fagomycetes ledenicus or “the light hater”.
