Winter ascent of Botev peak
A two-day winter ascent of Botev Peak (2,376 m), the highest summit of the Balkan Mountains, with a night at Botev shelter just below the top.
On the first day we climb past Kupata to the main Balkan ridge and spend the night in the warm shelter below the summit. Next morning the top is less than an hour away – we set off well rested and, weather permitting, watch the sun rise over the Balkan. We come down the winter route with its fixed safety rope and past Pleven hut.
This program is not for beginners: it calls for excellent fitness and previous experience in winter conditions with crampons.
Tour Highlights
- Botev Peak (2,376 m), the highest point of the Balkan Mountains and the third-highest range summit in Bulgaria
What's included
Included
- Complete organization and coordination of the program
- Licensed guide
- Transportation during the program
- Travel insurance with limit - 500 euro. The insurance is concluded with the insurance company Euroins
- Accommodation in hut
Not included
- Food
- Personal expenses
Tour Itinerary
We drive from Sofia to Apriltsi and the car park at the Vidima hydro plant. After packing our rucksacks and a short briefing, we head up through beech forest. Our route climbs past Kupata – a long, steady ascent that gradually leaves the forest below us. When the snow calls for it, we put on crampons.
We come out onto the main Balkan ridge at Mlechen Chal (2,255 m). The snowy ridge opens up ahead, with the dome of Botev rising to the east. We drop down to Botev shelter and check in. The evening is for a hot dinner, good company and getting ready for the summit next morning.
Botev shelter is a single-storey stone building at about 2,050 m. It sits in the Polyankata area on the main Balkan ridge, at the western foot of Botev Peak, about 45 minutes’ walk from the summit. The shelter is a stop on the European long-distance path E3 (Kom – Emine) and lies inside Central Balkan National Park. It is open all year with a resident host. Valentin Angelov – Valyo to everyone – has looked after the shelter for nearly 20 years. In 2026 he was nominated in the “Hut of the Year” campaign as an outstanding hut keeper. Hikers and mountain rescuers know him for his warm welcome and good cooking, and for the help he gives people in trouble on the ridge. Guests sleep in three dormitories with 35 beds in total (7, 8 and 20), with bedding provided. The building has central heating, its own power supply, an indoor bathroom and outdoor toilets. Meals are served in a cosy, traditional-style dining room and are cooked on advance request. We recommend bringing a sleeping-bag liner, slippers and a headtorch.
We start early. Weather permitting, we set off by headtorch to catch the sunrise from the top. We leave spare kit at the shelter and follow the ridge to Botev with light packs. At 2,376 m we stand on the highest point of the Balkan Mountains – time for photos and views as far as the eye can see.
Back at the shelter we collect our bags and retrace the ridge to Mlechen Chal. Here the descent along the winter waymarks begins – the technical part of the day. Wearing crampons, we climb down carefully alongside the fixed safety rope, then enter the forest and follow the old ski run to Pleven hut. After a break with hot tea, it's about an hour down through beech forest to the car park and the drive back to Sofia.
Important:
Winter trekking equipment
Shoes
High shoes with hard sole and membrane
Spare socks
Lighting
Headlamp - An absolute must-have accessory for every mountaineer. It may be necessary for the group to start a trek very early or finish the trek in the dark (force majeure). In these situations, each participant must have a headlamp. We recommend going with a proven brand like Petzl or BlackDiamond
Spare batteries
Backpack
About 40 liters backpack - Quite enough for one or two day hikes. Please come to treks with a backpack suitable for trekking. Very often, each participant needs to attach snowshoes to their backpack, and this cannot happen with urban backpacks
Backpack cover - in case of rain or snowfall
Clothing top
Тhermal base layer
Fleece
A down jacket or other jacket with synthetic insulation
Wind and water proof jacket
Hat
Gloves - 3 pairs of gloves, one thin, one medium thick and one for very bad conditions
Buff
Clothing bottom
Тhermal bottom base layer
Winter pants
Gaiters
Sun protection
Sunglasses
Sun cream with high protection
Water and food
Water (1.5 liters)
Food for the trek
Money and documents
Money
ID or passport
Other
First aid kit
Trekking poles with winter feathers
Cancellation Policy:
Чл. 89. (Изм. – ДВ, бр. 37 от 2018 г., в сила от 01.07.2018 г.) (1) Пътуващият има право да прекрати договора за туристически пакет по всяко време преди започването на изпълнението на туристическия пакет. The tourist owes a penalty as follows: