The starting and finishing point of the route is the Imperial Eagle Information Centre in Topolovgrad. It can also be started and finished in the village of Oreshnik, the village of Mramor or Ustrem Monastery – all three places have accommodation options.
After leaving Topolovgrad, the route follows road 559, which after 4 km passes through the village of Oreshnik. After another 2 km, you pass through the village of Mramor. At 11 km from the start at the Information Centre is the turn-off for the “Holy Trinity” Monastery, where you should turn right. This is followed by about 2 km of descent to the monastery.
The monastery is active and also offers rooms for overnight stays. It is surrounded by pleasant meadows with large trees providing shade for rest and picnics. Right next to the monastery is Bozhura Restaurant, where you can have lunch. Above the monastery is Karakolyova Cave, which can only be reached on foot.
After the monastery, the route returns to road 559, turns right and descends for about 7 km until reaching the junction with road 761, where you turn left in a northerly direction.
Before reaching the bridge over the Tundzha River, towards the village of Srem, leave the asphalt road to the left. About 400 m before the bridge over the Tundzha River, turn left onto the dirt road, heading northwest towards the village of Kapitan Petko Voyvoda. The dirt section of the road is about 6 km long. It climbs from 20 to 220 metres, after which it descends to the centre of the village. Pass through the village, continue straight north, turn near two small reservoirs. After the second reservoir, the road turns left and southwest towards the village of Oreshnik. Pass through Oreshnik, continue back along the road towards Topolovgrad and after 4 km finish in Topolovgrad.
Accents
A one-day route suitable for high-clearance mountain bikes. Mixed surface – 10% on dirt roads and 90% on asphalt roads. The terrain is more open and less shaded, therefore the route is not suitable for June, July and August, but during the rest of the year it can be used almost year-round.
Bring your own water. During the route, you can get water in the villages of Oreshnik, Mramor, Srem and Kapitan Petko Voyvoda.
The asphalt road is part of the national road network. There is no bicycle lane. Heavy goods vehicles rarely pass. On the asphalt road, wear a reflective vest.
