Simeonovo - Dragalevtzi 2025

We've hiked the easy trail from Dragalevski Monastery to Simeonovo lakes many times, yesterday however we decided to drive to Simeonovo, leave the car there and walk the trail to Dragalevski monastery and back. 

The start from Simeonovo added some 3 km total to the hike and a good cardio exercise at the beginning of the trail, where the hiker has to cover a significant elevation gain. The pay off - we had our lunch at the picnic area near the monastery, which was nice and quite comfortable.

As we get usually Fridays off,  when we can and the forecasts are favourable, we prefer to hike on Fridays, especially along well frequented trails, like the low altitude circuit of Vitosha.

Yesterday was no exception - the trail was quiet and empty, with a fellow hiker here and there and without the weekend crowd. Unlike the previous week, the weather was sunny, but with clouds and chilly winds, so we had our sweaters on most of the time.

One of Simeonovo lakes - there are several of these, forming a cascade along the river

Hike info:

Date: 09 May 2025

Destination: Dragalevski Monastery

Mountain: Vitosha

Total length: 13 km

Elevation gain: 310 m

Total duration (plus picnic and rests): 4 hours

Average difficulty: 3 / 10

The beech forests on Vitosha are simply marvelous in May, when they are just covered in fresh greenery.

The Aleko waterfalls - the highest point of the trail, literally but also figuratively

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

Husband: boxers, Burda blous, Burda cargo pants

I: lingerie, Central Park cardigan

The picnic area near Dragalevski monastery, where we had our well deserved delicious lunch. A wood nuthatch flew casually on the neighboring table during our picnic :)

After the lunch break, we took a short walk around the grounds of the monastery

And the Aleko waterfalls again, on the way back, this time from the other side

Pchelina 2025

As has been our tradition for some years now, after Rudina mountain, we climbed in the car and drove to the village of Potzurnentzi, at the outskirts of which are situated the beautiful grounds of Pchelina dam.

The drive from Sofia to the village of Sirishtnik is fairly long, the hike on Rudina mountain short, so it really makes more sense to combine both of these places in one day, with the distance between the two taking less than half an hour by car.

As it was Saturday and a sunny and warm May day, the place was unfortunately packed with people, including some, who had the audacity to drive along the dirt tracks right up to the foot of the chapel. I really don't know what the solution to nature preservation is - over-regulation is a bad idea and not all pieces of nature can be turned into national parks, so most of the times it is up to the consciousness of the people themselves and their desire to care and protect the beauty around us, not only to exploit and consume it. 90% of the people actually understand that, but those 10% ...

We walked up to the high rocks above the dam and then gradually down towards the lake, where we found a quiet spot, drank our cold beers and enjoyed the views and the birds.

Hike info:

Date: 03 May 2025

Destination: Pchelina

Mountain region: Kraishte

Total length: 8 km

Elevation gain: 160 m

Total duration (plus rests): 3 hours

Average difficulty:  2.5 / 10

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

 

I: lingerie, Burda blouse, Knipmode flared joggings, (Houndstooth Hoodie in the backpack)

Husband: men's boxers, Burda cargo pants, Burda blouse, (Burda hoodie in the backpack)

After probably an hour at the dam, we decided to do a little reconnoitering and explored the grounds under the high rocks, where we found a perfect place for our picnic next time we come here :)

On our way back we took a detour, away from the dusty road - a bit longer walking, but totally worth it

Pchelina 2024

After the leisurely hike on Rudina, husband and I got into the car and drove to the nearby (about 30 min by car) village of Potzurnentzi for our almost annual visit to Pchelina. As I've written here repeatedly, this is one of my most favourite places not too far from Sofia and I absolutely adore staying on the rocks and looking at the calm waters of the lake down.

We do this combined double hike almost every time we drive in this direction, but we had never done it so late in the year. The days in November are definitely shorter and with the winter time, at 15:30 in the afternoon the sun was already low on the horizon.

The place was empty, with only sporadic distant dog barking and bird quacking disturbing the stillness.

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

Husband: men's boxers, Burda Cargo Pants, Burda longsleeve, Hound's Tooth Hoodie

I:  lingerie, Sinclair longsleeve, Hound's Tooth Hoodie

We sat on the rocks, had our small snacks of cheese pie and cold beer and enjoyed the scenery. 

Hike info:

Date: 08 November 2024

Destination: Pchelina

Mountain region: Kraishte

Total length: 7.5 km

Elevation gain: 160 m

Total duration (plus rests): about 2 and a half hours

Average difficulty:  2 / 10

The sun was getting quickly lower and at some point the dozens of ducks started gathering and moving in the other direction of the lake - it was magical!

We stayed almost till sunset, it was so pleasant and relaxing! Next year we plan to take the tent and spend the night at the lake, but in the warmer part of the year.