Before visiting the park

How to get there

By air
The closest airport is Sofia international airport, which is 2.5 hours drive from the park.

By bus
On the northern side take a bus from Sofia to Teteven (connecting to Ribarica, Divchevoto or Cherni Vit); to Trojan (connecting to Chiflika, Beklemeto, Cherni Osam); or to Aprilci (connecting Vidima, Ostretc)
On the southern side take a bus or train to Karlovo, Gabarevo, Tuzha, Kalofer, Klisura, Karnare, Rozino, Pirdop.
One can also start from a central point - Trojan Pass which is accessible almost all the year round from Trojan or Karnare.

By train
In the south take a train to Karlovo, Gabarevo, Tazha, Kalofer, Klisura, Karnare, Rozino, Pirdop. Sofia – Burgas; Sofia - Varna via Karlovo.

By car
Road: Sofia – Kazanlak, Sofia – Varna
The road network around the park is well developed and fit for cars. Only 37.4 km of the national road network lies within the park. Asphalt-paved roads can usually be used during winter period.

Entrance/access points
The main entry and exit points for tourists – named after the nearby main settlements - are as follows: Karlovo, Rozino, Kalofer, Apriltsi (Vidima and Ostrets), Cherni Osam, Troyan, Ribaritsa, Sopot, village of Tazha and Anton, Klisura, Gabarevo, Lagat, Cherni Vit, villages of Chiflik, Hristo Danovo, Karnare

Visitor Centre

There are 5 information centres around the national park. Two of them operate especially as ecological education centres. They implement nature focused programs such as green schools, outdoors classes, eco-games, eco-competitions, the other three also offer tourist information.

Education facilities

• green schools for children and their parents
• specialized routes for botany and nature interpretation.

Park Facilities

The park has a well developed system of places for short rests, camping and bonfires, as well as many panoramic sites to help hikers enjoy their stay. The surrounding villages and towns offer a large number of small hotels, restaurants, and shops for the visitor. These provide opportunities for accommodation, meals and the purchase of souvenirs, as well as for hiring guides and renting horses and bikes.
Presently there are 20 mountain huts, and four tourists’ shelters – small buildings with plank-beds. The prices vary between 3 and 10 BGL(lev)(1BGL – 50 Euro Cents) per night. 18 of the huts are owned and managed by tourist societies, and several are leased.
You can find fireplaces with short-term rest facilities (fireplaces, alcoves, benches, water fountains etc., waste bins where necessary):
Along the trail Lagat – Mazalat chalet
Near Mazalat chalet;
Near Tazha chalet.
Near Mazaneto locality (the end of the road)
Near Vartyazhkata locality (winter trail to Pleven chalet)
Near Pleven chalet
Near Bunara locality (monument of Tsanko Dyustabanov)
Near the water fountain of T. Minkov (locality Studenia ulei)
In the Dvata Buka locality
In the Paradzhika locality
In Haidushka Pesen chalet
In the Chernia Bor locality
In the Sladkata voda locality
In the Dzhendem Dere locality (near the road fork)

Trails in the park
The park management has identified special routes for:

• specialized botany and nature interpretation
• mountain biking 
• horseback riding 
• cultural and historic treks
• winter ski and snowshoes trails

There are 470 km of hiking paths throughout the park. There is also the international trekking route E-3 that passes along the central ridge of the park. This route has one end at the Atlantic Ocean and the other at the Black Sea.
9 marked tourist routes start at the southern gateways, and another 16 marked hiking routes start in the northern side of the park.

The newest trails in the park

• Beklemeto trail for disabled people
• Babsko pruskalo interpretative trail
• Beklemeto interpretative trail
• Byala reka eco-trail
• Vidimsko pruskalo eco-trail 
• Vodnite dupki interpretative trail

Rescue service
The Bulgarian Mountain Rescue Service is the organization responsible for the rescue activities in all mountains in Bulgaria. Their web site is www.pss.bg  (only Bulgarian).The national phones are:  1470 (from mobile) and +359 2 963 2000 (ordinary phone) and of course everyone can dial 112 for emergency only in the whole country.

Services for disabled
Beklemeto trail for disabled people – the only in the park.

Overnight stays in the park

The hut Marinka, Botev, Orlovo Gnezdo
Chalets owned or managed by the Bulgarian Tourist Union

1. Momina Polyana – Vezhen Tourist Society – Teteven
2. Vezhen – Vezhen Tourist Society – Teteven
3. Benkovski– Vezhen Tourist Society – Teteven
4. Echo– Akademik Ruse
5. Kozya Stena– Akademik Ruse
6. Planinski Izvori– Paskal Tourist Society – Pirdop /not operational/
7. Haidushka Pesen– Balkanska Zvezda Tourist Society – village of Chiflik, Troyan area
8. Dermenka - Stratesh Tourist Society – Lovech
9. Dobrila – Ivan Vazov Tourist Society – Sopot
10. Ambaritsa– Ambaritsa Tourist Society – Troyan
11. Hubavets– Vasil Levski Tourist Society – Karlovo 
12. Balkan Roses – Vasil Levski Tourist Society – Karlovo
13. Pleven – Kailashka Dolina Tourist Society – Pleven
14. Vasil Levski– Vasil Levski Tourist Society – Karlovo
15. Ravnets– Vasil Levski Tourist Society – Karlovo
16. Rai- Haidut Tourist Society – Kalofer 
17. Tazha– Rositsa Tourist Society – Sevlievo
18. Mazalat – Rositsa Tourist Society – Sevlievo 
19. Sokolna – Sokolna Tourist Society – village of Gabarevo
20. Rusalka – Tazha Tourist Society – village of Tazha  

Buildings owned by other organizations offering tourist accommodation:
Kordela Forest Home - Vitales Ltd., – Teteven
Komitski valog Resort Facility - Vitales Ltd., – Teteven
Nezabravka chalet - Sopot Military Machines Plant

Camping Grounds:
bivouac Byala Reka; near Mazalat chalet, Tazha chalet, Pleven chalet, Rai chalet

Rules

When in the Park, please keep in mind:

• “Take only photographs leave only footprints.” Wilderness has the right to remain untouched. To be curious about the environment is normal, but in order to preserve what you see, it is important to refrain from interfering with natural processes.
• We are guests. Follow park rules, and refer to our signs, leaflets and park staff as necessary.
• The national park is home to wild animals. Hunting and disturbing wildlife are not permitted.
• Cutting trees and breaking branches are prohibited. 
• Flowers should not be picked since there are rare and endangered species among them.
• “Carry In – Carry Out”. Let’s not leave behind any litter. 
• Mountains can be dangerous. To be safe, stick to marked tourist paths and obey the park regulations.
• Berries and mushrooms can be picked in designated areas, in reasonable quantities, and without causing damages.
• Fires are only allowed at designated areas. 
• Fishing is not allowed.
• When driving, use only the roads and parking lots indicated.
• Collecting fossils and destroying rock formations are prohibited.