Konyarnika 2026

For this Saturday we chose a very nice and fairly easy trail from Zlatnite mostove (again) to hut Kumata and from there to peak Konyarnika and back to Zlatnite along an alternative trail.

The day was gorgeous and the mountain was full of tourists.

Hike info:

Date: 20 June 2026

Destination: peak Konyarnika (1782 m)

Mountain: Vitosha

Total length: 10 km

Elevation gain: 400 m

Total duration: 3 hours and a half

Average difficulty: 3 / 10

 

I:  lingerie, Burda raglan blouse, Sabrina Slims II

Husband: men's boxershorts, Burda cargo pants, Burda T-shirt, Burda hoodie

Hut Kumata

Konyarnika - one of my beloved places on Vitosha. We decided to have our picnic here, on the peak, enjoying the view to the green meadows and higher peaks ahead.

Peak Cherni vruh in the center of the picture, far in the distance

On peak Konyarnika. It was a bit windy on the very peak, so we found a sheltered place by a few big rocks

Mountain Lilly

After our picnic I sat for a few minutes high on a rock, enjoying the view in silence. Lately we are trying to integrate some "slow hiking" - kibichene :), into our routine, making the most of our picnics, absorbing the scenery and the beauty around.

After an hour of enjoying the food and views, we took the alternative trail from Konyarnika to Zlatnite, passing by Zvezditza and Edelweiss huts.

How much more zen can you get :)

And back to Zlatnite. It was a perfect little hike.

Planinitza 2026

Today we returned from a hike on Vitosha, but I still haven't published the photos from our last week's hike to peak Tumba on Cherna gora mountain.

We started from the village of Planinitza and walked to the peak and back along the same route. The trail is fairly easy, with a lot of climbing and descending between hills along dirt tracks. 

Everything was green and the meadows were packed with summer flowers, butterflies, beetles and all other kinds of flying and crawling creatures.

Hike info:

Date: 13 June 2026

Destination: peak Tumba (1129 m)

Mountain: Cherna Gora

Total length: 14 km

Elevation gain: 230 m

Total duration (plus picnic): 4 hours and a half

Average difficulty: 4 / 10

The track passes by the oats fields of the village of Planinitza - the green sea of crops was really impressive

We saw plenty of wild strawberry plants, but only a single patch with ripe strawberries, and of course - we had a handful.

Finally on the peak. We met absolutely no one along the trail to the peak and back, which was surprising, given that it was a Saturday

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

I:  lingerie, Burda blouse, Burda color jeans

Husband: men's boxershorts, Burda cargo pants, Burda T-shirt, Burda hoodie in the backpack

We had our picnic on a nice spot, overlooking the mountains across, with a patch of fragrant wild thyme at our side. Tortillas with cold beer and homemade muffins with coffee - nothing beats a well deserved picnic with a view :)

There is a new information board at the entrance of the village, which indicates trails, missing on the map of the Bulgarian mountains we use on our phones. We might give it a go and try them next time we visit here.

Ushite Peak, Vitosha 2026

 This is our second hike to peak Ushite on Vitosha and it is now in my list of favourite trails. The track starts from Zlatnite mostove - a major hub on Vitosha with trails in all directions, plenty of lodges and a few parking lots. As is our habit, when the weather permits it, we chose a Friday for our hike, as the access to the mountain by car is much easier on work days and the crowds are thinner, which is very noticeable in the summer.

The day was the first after a sequence of rainy days with thunderstorms and the heatwave had not hit yet, so it was pleasantly chill and a bit cloudy. 

The forests in May and June are at their best, IMHO, lush and green, and the rivers are at their fullest. 

Hike info:

Date: 05 June 2026

Destination: peak Ushite (1906 m) along circular trail

Mountain: Vitosha

Total length: 11.6 km

Elevation gain: 516 m

Total duration (plus picnic and rests): 4 and a half hours

Average difficulty: 4 / 10

Once we got to the plateau, we were in the realm of clouds, which breezed by and through us most of the time we spent there. Peak Ushite in the distance at the center of the picture:

The trail to the peak on our maps passed through large boulders and low shrubs. It was a struggle to climb up, it was not marked and we had to free-style it most of the time.

On the peak, which is a pile of enormous boulders without a name plaque - I suppose they will provide it soon, as these are appearing lately on most of the hitherto unmarked peaks on Vitosha.

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

Husband: boxers, Cargo pants, Burda hoodie, Burda T-shirt

I: lingerie, Burda color jeans, Burda raglan blouse

A view to plateau with Cherni Vruh in the distance

Peak Kamen Del across the track - the popular cousin of peak Ushite 

We found a sheltered spot on a couple of rocks, with a glorious view to the plateau, and spent a delightful hour, eating our tortillas and homemade muffins and drinking in the cold beer and the views.

From our lunch place we noticed an alternative trail, much easier and clearly discernible. We'll know for next time, as climbing up boulders is not my favourite pastime (my husband seems to love it, for some inexplicable reason :)  )

And back to Zlatnite along an alternative trail. We passed by Momina skala meadow again and I picked some more fresh nettles and dock leaves. My freezer is getting filled up with the green goodies, while I can still find them young and delicate.