From Aleko to Cherni vruh to Zlatnite, 2026

Yesterday we did a new for us hike, that involved driving by our car and riding on three different buses, so that we could start the hike from one point in the mountain and end it on the other side of the mountain. We've done every part of the hike many times, returning to the starting point, combining the two was the trick.

The idea for this hike had been brewing in my mind for a long time, but the logistics of the transportation stopped me from getting anywhere with it. I use Gemini (and other AI models) a lot, so I asked it to make me a plan for the optimal transportation. I checked its suggestions with the available bus schedules and Google street maps and it turned out doable and tolerable, so we decided to do it.

We drove to the foot of Dragalevtzi, left the car there (the only tricky part - to find a free parking spot, we lucked out). Then we took the bus to Aleko and started on our adventure towards Cherni vruh along the so called King's road.

The first part of our hike was a repetition of the start of the hike we had with Vali exactly a month ago. Unlike then, however, and despite the clear skies, the weather on the peak was cold and the wind was strong and freezing.

Hike info:

Date: 26 July 2026

Destination: Cherni Vruh (2290 m)

Mountain: Vitosha

Total length: 16 km

Elevation gain: 500 m  - Elevation lost: 910 m

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

Average difficulty: 4.5 / 10 

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

Husband: boxers, Burda cargo pants, Burda hoodie

I: lingerie, Burda raglan blouse, Burda color jeans

We found some shelter among the rocks on the western part of the peak, where we enjoyed our tortillas, beers and home-made muffins, but we didn't linger long. My lips were getting blue, fingers losing sensitivity and in the end I was starting to tremble - it was time to move.

We took the trail down to Samara Shelter and decided to make a detour and climb peak Samara - one of the "Vitosha's dozen" - peaks above 2000 m, which we climbed a couple of years ago for the first time.

Once we got on peak Samara, we realized what a big mistake we had made with our lunch place - only a few hundred meters lower than Cherni vruh, the temperatures were tolerable, the wind much milder and the peak would have been a perfect lunch stop - next time we'll know!

The view from Samara towards the Pernik valley.

The trail through the plateau is one my favourites and the main reason I wanted this hike so much - the vastness of the almost level ground, surrounded by high peaks on all sides is really impressive.

The trail lead us to Konyarnika - another of my favourite spots on Vitosha, which we hiked at the end of June.

And back to Zlatnite mostove. Here we took another bus to the Ring road, and from there a third bus back to our car. Although the logistics sounds complicated, on weekends the buses to Vitosha are quite regular and the trip was surprisingly comfortable and smooth - I even managed to read a few chapters on my Kindle while riding the bus, so win win. We'll definitely plan a similar hike or repeat this one some time in the future.

Tihia Kut - Vladaya - Zlatnite Mostove 2026

After the three days journey in the Rhodope mountains, we decided to take it easy and chose a fairly short circuit trail near home. We "designed" the trail for us a couple of years ago and since then it is gradually becoming one of our staples.

The trail starts from Tihia Kut (the Quiet place), a motel and restaurant facility on the road from Boyana to Zlatnite mostove.

It gradually goes a bit down to the outskirts of the village of Vladaya and from then on ascends along the Vladaya river to Zlatnite mostove.

Hike info:

Date: 10 July 2026

Destination: Zlatnite Mostove

Mountain: Vitosha

Total length: 11 km

Elevation gain: 490 m

Total duration (plus picnic and rests): 4 hours

Average difficulty: 3 / 10

This is definitely the most picturesque part of the trail, with the swift mountain river, running along the big moss covered stones through all the luscious greenery. 

Summer in Bulgaria so far is fairly moderately warm and wet, so the mountain is still quite green and full of blooming flowers. The day was actually quite chill, with temperatures in the forest in the range of 17-19C.

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

Husband: boxers, Burda cargo pants, Burda T-shirt

I: lingerie, Burda blouse, Burda colored jeans 6534

We passed by Zlatnite mostove, without stopping, and immediately took the alternative trail down to Kniazhevo.

Our picnic place, where we enjoyed the obligatory tortillas and cold beers, with some tasty home-made muffins and coffee for dessert. A table for two, please :)

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.

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.