Extreme routes
Caves are one of nature’s centuries-old secrets.The Yagodina Cave is located in the, magnificent Buinovo Gorge, on the right slope of the Buinovska River. It is the longest Rhodopean cave. The total length is 10.5 km, including a collection of galleries located at different levels. The cave is over 275,000 years old. Only one part of the Yagodina Cave is well-maintained and is visited daily by hundreds of tourists. The remaining unlit part is covered by two extreme routes which are also offered for visit.
The two routes have different difficulty of overcoming: The first route is a little more difficult and with more interrogations than the second, but practically so far consider that it is preferred, because it is offering more emotions. On the other hand, the second route is with more cave creatures that fascinate with their beauty. You choose! Contact and more information: +359 888 519 981 – Todor Todorov
First extreme route “Orpheus”
The total length of the route is 5 km and takes about 6 hours. The beginning of this route starts from the natural entrance of the cave – a former cave dwelling, which after archeological excavations has become a natural museum. After viewing the museum, we stroll through a low gallery that is separated from the Entrance with a metal grate door. Here, on the right and on the ceiling, small, insect-eating bats can be seen hanging upside down. The branch, which consists of three galleries, is followed by a brief briefing and a story about the tragedy that unfolded with the people of the region in the fall of Bulgaria under Turkish slavery.
The real first part of the extreme route begins, it involves overcoming various obstacles such as declasses, sinter ponds, descents and ascents, until it reaches the most serious one – a 30-meter gap. It is overcome by the rappel method with rope and alpine equipment and with the help of three specially trained guides who give instructions for safe descent. After so much excitement, you can back up with a glass of herbal tea. We recommend that you carry one sandwich, because here you have the opportunity to eat and rest until all the people in the group descend, you can even model different clay figures.
After stock picking, the second part of the route begins, which includes viewing galleries with many karst formations: tiger or leopard skin, facets, stalactites, stalagmites, stalactones, cave pearls, sinter ponds, calcite crusts, our “stone owl”, “the dog”, “crocodile” and “our zoo of compds” ; you can also see the “cave milk”. You can shoot all these beautiful cave formations. This part is 3.5 km long, after which we exit.
Attention!
- Every lover of beauty and intense sensations should be appropriately dressed for low temperature (6°C – 10°C) and for staining with clay.
- Shoes should be suitable for such conditions and be comfortable.
- Everyone has their own lighting – floodlights, lanterns, headlamps.
- It is forbidden to smoke and drink alcohol in the cave!
- It is forbidden to touch, break or steal any karst formations!
- You can bring food and water.
- The fee for one person is 30 BGN.
- In order to follow this route, you need to submit a request 7-10 days before your desired day and it is confirmed 3 days before the visitation. This route is available at any time of the year.
- The group that wants to take this route must be between 10-15 people. For groups of less than 10 people, you must pay for group of 10.
- We, the organizers, are committed to providing you with a safe and emotionally charged experience that you will never forget!
Second extreme route “Evridika”
This route covers part of the third and second floors as well as part of the well-maintained route. Its total length is 4 km and takes about 4 hours. The route starts from the artificial entrance. From the entrance there is cool and humid air. The first hall to visit is the “Straw Stalactites Hall’’. Here you will hear about the process of their formation. From this hall goes to the “New Year’s Eve hall”, where the local speleologists celebrate the New Year. In this hall you can see formations resembling “Santa and the dwarves”. The route continues along “hanging stalactone” and “elephant ears” (draperies). We pass through the “Big Block”, the Orbital Hall and the “Branch”, where the unlit part of the route begins. In this section you can see the “cave milk”, “our zoo from the compodes” and the “Phosphorus Hall”, which is incredibly beautiful (it can be reached with a crawl), the “crocodile”, the hall with snow-white formations (dreams come true sometimes) and a “Cave pearl hall”. You can also see anomalous stalactites, different stalagmites and stalactones, huge blockage, tiger skin, sinter ponds and calcite crusts. In the camp hall you will learn the history of exploring the cave. The foundations of the crevice are examined and a 10 m climb is reached, with the help of two guides and a rope you ascend it. The next more extreme experience is the ascent of the fireplace.
From here on, the route continues through the “hall with the candy-snowflakes”, sinter ponds, crystal creek, and the “Roman road” and again leads to the tourist path that leads us to the exit. You can capture this experience with a camera.
Attention!
- Every lover of beauty and intense sensations should be appropriately dressed for low temperature (6°C – 10°C) and for staining with clay.
- Shoes should be suitable for such conditions and be comfortable.
- Everyone has their own lighting – floodlights, lanterns, headlamps.
- It is forbidden to smoke and drink alcohol in the cave!
- It is forbidden to touch, break or steal any karst formations!
- You can bring food and water.
- The fee for one person is 30 BGN.
- In order to follow this route, you need to submit a request 7-10 days before your desired day and it is confirmed 3 days before the visitation. This route is available at any time of the year.
- The group that wants to take this route must be between 10-15 people. For groups of less than 10 people, you must pay for group of 10.
- We, the organizers, are committed to providing you with a safe and emotionally charged experience that you will never forget!
Trekking routes
First route: the Village of Yagodina – Mount St. Iliya
Option 1:
Starting point of the route – the center of Yagodina village, east direction.
Duration of the route – about 2:30 hours in one direction.
Route marking – marked in blue.
Option 2:
Starting point of the route – the center of the Yagodina village, direction north.
Duration of the route – about 1:30 hours in one direction.
Route marking – marked in blue.
Second route: Teshel hut – Orpheus hut
Starting point of the route – Teshel hut, direction north.
Duration of the route – about 3:00 hours in one direction.
Route marking – marked in blue.
Third route – Teshel hut – peak St. Iliya – village of Yagodina
Starting point of the route – Teshel hut, direction southwest.
Duration of the route – about 5:00 hours in one direction.
Route marking – marked in red.
Fourth Route: Yagodina Cave – Yagodina Village – Trigrad
Starting point of the route – Yagodina Cave, direction north-east.
Duration of the route – about 3:30 hours in one direction.
Route marking – marked in blue and red.
Fifth route: Hut “Trigradski skali” – Teshel hut
Starting point of the route – Hut “Trigradski skali”, direction north.
Duration of the route – about 5:00 hours in one direction.
Route marking – marked in red.
Sixth route: Southern Rhodopean eco trail
Starting point of the route – Yagodina Cave, direction north.
Duration of the route – about 2:30 hours in one direction.
Route marking – marked in red.
Seventh Route: Devil’s Bridge – Orpheus Hut
Starting point of the route – Devil’s Bridge, direction west.
Duration of the route – about 4:00 hours in one direction.
Route marking – marked in red.
Eighth route: Borino village – locality “Kemerov most”
Starting point of the route – Borino village, direction north.
Duration of the route – about 4:00 hours in one direction.
Route marking – marked in red.
Ninth route: Chala village – Videnitsa peak – Buinovo village – Kozhari village – locality “Portata” – locality “Bashish” – Yagodina village
Starting point of the route – village Chala, south-west direction.
Route length – one way:
Chala village – Videnitsa peak –1: 20 hours
Videnitsa Peak – Buinovo Village – 2:40 hours
Buinovo village – Kozhari village – 0:50 hours
Kozhari village – locality “Portata” – 0:30 hours
locality “Portata” – locality “Bashish” – 0:40 hours
locality “Bashish” – Yagodina village – 3:30 hours
Route marking – marked in red.
Tenth route: Devin – locality “Kaleto” – locality “Kemerov most” – Orpheus hut – wildlife sanctuary “Kastrakli” – Teshel hut
Starting point of the route – locality “Kaleto”, direction north
Route length – one way:
Devin – locality “Kaleto” -1.20 hours
Locality “Kaleto” – locality “Kemerov most” – 2.30 hours
Locality “Kemerov most” – Orpheus hut -2.30 hours
Orpheus hut – Teshel village – 1.30 hours
Route marking – marked in red.
Заслон
Заслон „Свети Илия“ е построен през 2017 г. със средства от местното туристическо дружество „Родопея“ – с. Ягодина. Заслона е изграден в седловината на връх „Свети Илия“ като дървена постройка с цел подслоняване на туристи. Той предлага следните условия: печка на дърва, на която може да си приготвите храна, пейки и маси, на които може да се нахраните и най-вече то е място за отдих и почивка.
