When the temperature in Sofia mercilessly approaches 40°C, the air becomes heavy as lead and the streets get deserted, people begin to seek coolness in the mountains. Just about an hour's drive away, northwest of the capital city, the slopes of the Balkan Mountain in the area of the town of Svoge become a cool refuge. Many prefer to visit this wonderful place by train. The railway line winds through the Iskar Gorge, revealing amazing views of the meanders of the Iskar River and the villages perched on its banks. This wild, rugged terrain offers not just coolness, but a variety of experiences, we learn from Krasimir Petkov, chairman of the “Iskar Gorge” tourist association:

"There are routes in the area, such as the well-known Vazov’s Trail. It starts from the village of Gara Bov and leads to the village of Zasele. The route follows the footsteps of writer Ivan Vazov, who once worked in this very area. The trail passes under the picturesque Raysko Praskalo waterfall - one of the highest in Bulgaria. The walk to Zasele takes about an hour and is extremely pleasant. The rocks above the trail offer impressive views of the Iskar Gorge. Another option for a walk is the recently created ‘Trite Bora’ trail, which also starts from Svoge. It is easy, but offers beautiful views of the city and is a great choice for a leisurely hike. If you want something different, you can take a route above the village of Zhelen. There is one of the largest landslides on the Balkan Peninsula with huge river stones on top of each other. At the top of the trail there is a gazebo with a view of the city."

The karst area is riddled with caves and deep ravines, which offer high adrenaline. The most popular is the rock labyrinth above the village of Lakatnik - sheer limestone walls, in places over 100 meters high, from which the meanders of Iskar are visible as if in the palm of your hand. The cave "Temnata dupka" is situated at their foot. Here the temperature is 15°C lower than outside. In summer the area is ideal for climbing or meditation.

"There is a trail to Grohoten peak, which is emblematic of Svoge,” Krasimir Petkov tells us. “The trail is marked and there is a shelter at the top. There is also a great view from the rocks. Grohoten peak itself is approximately 1100 meters above sea level. The shelter is located at about 900 meters above sea level, with the elevation gain along the route being about 500–600 meters. This is a pleasant walk through the forest, which lasts about two hours. It is especially suitable on hot summer days, when temperatures exceed 40°C, as the trail offers coolness and beautiful nature."

The forest roads in the area of the village of Leskov Dol are the perfect routes for mountain bikers and enduro motorcyclists. The descents through the beech forests are filled with shady bends and guarantee high adrenaline. And at the "bottom" of the gorge, carved out by the Iskar River, you can cool off with kayaking. The water route connects the villages of Tserovo and Lakatnik and is suitable for beginners.

In the height of summer, the tourist influx to the region of Svoge is big, Krasimir Petkov says and adds:

"For a person who wants to hike in the mountains, there are great opportunities. In all directions... For example, to Mount Tseria, which is 1234 meters above Svoge or from the village of Thompson up the mountain. But you can also do two-day hikes. There are places to stay, guest houses. One can organize a very pleasant vacation in the mountains. Our region is large, the interest is great and that's why many people visit us," Krasimir Petkov says in conclusion.

Read also:

• Happiness with a taste of wine amidst the Ritlite cliffs in the Iskar Gorge

• Near Gara Bov- splendour in the embrace of the Balkan Mountains

• Captivating views in Vrachanski Balkan

Author: Veneta Nikolova

Publication in English: Alexander Markov

Photos: Veneta Nikolova