Sredna Gora Mountain

      Sredna Gora Mountain is the one parallel to Balkans. Very little information for it is available here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sredna_Gora

https://www.britannica.com/place/Sredna-Mountains

      It is not so high and not so long comparing with Balkan, the next photo shows a typical view of it.

      For more detail description in my further description I part it in two sectors: I. D and I. E .

      So, In the next two items I will show appropriate roads to cross it on bicyclists planning to cross the country in the direction north - south, or back it will be useful.

Sector I. D

The routes in the sector I. D  are as follows:

      18.  From Zlatitsa to Panagyuriste to Pazardzhik (road 37);

      19.  From Zlatitsa to Koprivstitsa to Strelcha to Pazardzhik;

      20.  From Karnare to Karlovo to Plovdiv (road 64).

18.  From Zlatitsa to Panagyuriste to Pazardzhik (road 37)

The route is:

      From Zlatitsa to the Mountain Resort "Panagyurski Kolonii" to Panagyuriste to Popintsi to Levski to Saraya to Pazardzhik (road 37).

      To describe all the opportunities concerning this route, as well as for more detail description I will split the route in 2 sectors:

Sector I. D - 18. a

      From Zlatitsa to the Mountain Resort "Panagyurski Kolonii" to Panagyuriste,

and

Sector I. D - 18. b

      From Panagyuriste to Popintsi to Levski to Saraya to Pazardzhik,

where more opportunities are available:

Route a

      From Panagyurisre to Popintsi to Levski Saraya to Pazardzhik;

Route b

      From Panagyurisre to Strelcha to Chernogorovo to Pazardzhik;

Route c

      From Panagyurisre to Popintsi to Chernogorovo to Pazardzhik;

      The entire area is really very nice one to explore. More climbing is available north after Panaguyriste - toward Panagyurski Kolonii.

Some Information for Zlatitsa can be seen here:

 http://www.visitbulgaria.net/en/zlatitsa/zlatitsa.html

      The road from Zlatitsa and Panagyuriste crosses the higher part of Sredna Gora Mountain.

      At the top of the pass there is a little local resort: "Panagyurski Kolonii", with both food and water. I am not sure if overnight accommodation is possible there.

      A little further you can see remains of leaved copper mine and the picture is like a moon area.

   There is minimal traffic between Zlatitsa and Panagyuriste, the pedaling here is save and bring a big pleasure.

Sector I. D - 18. a

Eleven years later we explored the same area again in the late July '23.

Starting from Zlatitsa there are 7 - 8 kilometers pedalling down the hill.

      Panaguyriste is connected with the history of Bulgaria. Information about the area can be seen here:

https://bulgariatravel.org/town-of-panagyurishte/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panagyurishte

      Overnight accommodation is possible in the town. Several photos:

Sector I. D - 18. b

     From Panagyuriste to Pazardzhik here I will give three opportunities:

Route a (road 37):

      From Panagyuriste to Bata to Popintsi to Levski to Gelemengvo to Pazardzhik,

Route b:

(unnamed road)

      From Panagyuriste to Bata to Popintsi to Svoboda (unnamed road)  to Tsar Asen to Rosen to Chernogorovo to Pazardzhik,

Route c: (roads 801 & 8003)

      From Panagyuriste to Strelcha to Dulevo to Smilets to Blatnitsa to Ovchepoltsi to Chernogorovo to Pazardzhik.

      I have pedalled all these routes many times in the two directions, and I really can not say which one is the best. My choose would be not route c, the traffic on it is more intensive, although it is not dangerous.

Route a

      From Panagyuriste to Bata to Popintsi to Levski to Gelemenovo to Pazardshik (road 37).

      Road segment between Panaguyriste and Pazardzhik

Sector I. D - 18. b - 1

     A nice opportunity nearby this route is Banya and the best swimming pool of thermal water there. I love to visit this place at least one time a year.

      I can not recommend the hotel next to the swimming pool, but if you need an overnight accommodation, in Banya center there is a better placer for it, as well as not bad restaurant.

Route b

      To avoid the traffic between Panagyuriste and Pazardzhik, you can use the next route:

From Panagyuriste to Popintsi to Svoboda to Tsar Asen to Rosen to Chernogorovo to Pazardzhik.

The only thing I can say is that the entire area is more than beautiful for exploring, needless to say there is not

any traffic. Next pics are taken between Tsar Asen and Popintsi showing the area in August and November.

Route c

      From Panagyuriste to Strelcha to Dulevo to Smilets to Blatnitsa to Ovchepoltsi to Chernogorovo to Pazardzhik.

The next three photos are the area between Panagyuriste and Strelcha

19.  From Zlatitsa to Koprivstitsa to Pazardzhik

      Another really good route for pedaling in this region. If you have a time it is worth to elongate a little your route and visit Koprivstitsa.

      For more detail description I will split the route in 2 sectors:

Sector I. D - 19. a:

From Zlatitsa to Anton to Koprivstitsa

and

Sector I. D - 19. b:

From Koprivstitsa to Strelcha to Pazardzhik

Sector I. D - 19. a

      Zlatitsa is a little city, food, coffee, overnight accommodations is available in it.

      Food, coffee, overnight accommodations is available in Zlatitsa. This little town can be regarded as a base to cross Balkan along Zlatishki Pass. Some Information for Zlatitsa can be seen here:

http://www.visitbulgaria.net/en/zlatitsa/zlatitsa.html

Photos from Zlatitsa.

      Leaving Zlatitsa (east from it) you will see a little work shop for tire replacement too - if you need some technical assistance or tube sealing it is the place.

A little restaurant is available along the road here.

      Here is even a velo lane between Pirdop and Zlatitsa, between them is an huge factory for electrolyte cupper.

      The next little town is Pirdop. Information for it can be seen here:

https://www.visitbulgaria.net/en/pirdop/pirdop.html

      Several photos from Pirdop

      Pedaling east from Pirdop,  you climb what is referred to as "Koznitsa" Hill. Just before the end of this climb, you have to turn right toward Koprivstitsa. The road is well signed.

      The traffic here is not bad, and the road is wide as well. Climbing up toward Koznitsa, just next to Anton there is a nice restaurant and Motel (next map shows it).

Sector I. D - 19. a - 1

The next 3 pics are the off road I pointed on the map above.

A lot of information about it can be seen here:

https://www.visitbulgaria.net/en/koprivshtitsa/koprivshtitsa.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koprivshtitsa

Next several photos were taken from Koprivstitsa.

Sector I. D - 19. b

      The steepest road segment here is between Koprivstitsa and Strelcha, which really is a little hard for climbing from Strelcha toward Koprivstitsa. But . . . the view in each direction there is quite impressive - it is obvious from the next several photos.

The next photo is the view from the highest point down toward Strelcha.

      Another small spa resort is in the next little town Strelcha. Overnight accommodation in it is not a problem (except weekends), it is worth spending an afternoon near swimming pool of thermal water:

http://www.bulgaria-guide.com/guide/Strelcha/207426/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strelcha     

http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/SC/pazardjik/strelcha/strelcha

Several photos from this beautiful spot.

I thing August it it busy too.

The hotel restaurant is very nice, I do recommend it.

      The last beautiful road segment without any traffic is segment between Strelcha and Pazardzhik. As a rule, each early spring  (the end of March or beginning of

April) my first bike tour is to Strelcha and back.

      More detail road profile: from (Panagyuriste to) Strelcha to Pazardzhik.

The countryside from Dulevo to Ovchepotsi and Chernogorovo.

 .

In the end, Thracian Field just between Chernogorovo and Pazardzhik. The pictures above are in the beginning of May, down - beginning of August.

      Everywhere in the city there are a lot of labels which will lead you to the hotel, you easy will recognize the place seeing the red bicycle lane in front of it.

      According to me it would be nice to stay and relax here for a night, because:

              - It is very easy to find out this spot ;

-                - The place can be recognized easily by the new red bicycle lane just in front of it – the right side of the street going to North (the photos below);

-               - The place is clean, rooms are supplied by R-conditions, which is important in this town, where summer temperatures often are more than 40 deg C;

            - Opinions of the hotel guests concerning this place are very nice (bicyclists toured with me in BG – some of them are on the photo below – cooling with a glass of beer in the hotel restaurant - garden);

-                - The hotel restaurant offer nice dishes, the staff speak almost fluent English;

             - Wi Fi;

-                - There is an easy access to a free room for bicycle and pannier storage.

20.  From Karnare to Karlovo (Kalofer) to Plovdiv

(and Pazardzhik)

      This route is for bicyclists intending to cross Bulgaria from north to south or back via Troyanski Pass. Roads in this sector are in very nice condition, I think it is not dangerous to be pedaled, although road 64 is busy. I would suggest the following routes:

Route a:

      From Karnare (road 6) to Iganovo to Anevo to Sopot to Karlovo to Banya (road 64) to Pesnopoi to Ivan Vazovo to Gorna Mahala to dolna Mahala to Chernozem to Graf Ignatievo to Trud to Plovdiv.

      Because of the high volume of traffic in the road segment between Karlovo and Plovdiv, I would not recommend so much pedaling this road. Over more, the traffic can be avoided to a big extent, if you decide to pedal route b including Hisarya.

Route b:

      From Karnare (road 6) to Iganovo to Anevo to Sopot to Karlovo to Banya (road 64) to Mihiltsi to Hisarya (road 642) to Dunavlii to Kaloyanovo to Graf Ignatievo toTrud to Plovdiv.

       As an addition I would suggest one more very nice opportunity to reach Pazardzhik from Husarya. This route is very easy and pleasant for exploring in the both directions.

Route c:

      From Hisarya (road 642) to Staro Zhelezare (road 6061) Panicheri to Starosel to Ktasnovo to Belovitsa to Lyuben (road 606) to Praviste to Saedinenie (road 6062) to Pistigovo (toad 3703) to dobrovnotsa to Pazardzhik.

Sector I. D - 20 a

      For more detail description I will increase the scale a little and part the sector in two, and after Karlovo I will show two possible routes.

      I will start my description with Karnare: there is a restaurant in it, in the village you can supply with food and water. Overnight accommodation is available in it as well, on a pole you can see a sign "Hostel".

      So, if you are coming from south intending to climb Troyanski Pass in the Balkan Mountains, buy a provision and water in Karnare, have in mind that up the mountain there is not a water from this side. The first spring of fresh water is high in the mountain - 20 kilometers after Karnare.

      The next several photos are the countryside from Karnare toward Sopot and Karlovo.

There are little restaurants along the road; in Anevo an overnight accommodation is available,

the place is labelled near the road.

    The next two towns Sopot and Karlovo are placed close each other, overnight accommodation is not problem there.

      A chair type lift is available in Sopot - a sign toward it can be seen just after enter in Sopot (the second photo below). The view from the upper lift station is remarkable.

      If you like paragliding – it is the place to exercise it – you can fly attending by an instructor. Unfortunately their Home page has not an English language version. Information about Sopot is available here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sopot,_Plovdiv_Province

http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/SC/plovdiv/sopot/sopot

      Comparing with Sopot, Karlovo is a bigger city. Information about Karlovo is available here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karlovo     

http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/SC/plovdiv/karlovo/karlovo

Several photos from Karlovo.

Toward Plovdiv

Route a

      It is the main road 64 from Karlovo to Plovdiv. I do not think this road is dangerous, but it is busy, the pedalling along it is not a pleasure at all, my suggestion is to avoid it.

      The next spot I pointed on the map is Banya; it is a little spa resort, with overnight accommodations and a thermally warmed swimming pool. Unfortunately I have not photos from this little resort. Some information for Banya:

https://bulgariatravel.org/en/banya-

karlovo-mineral-baths/

http://www.guide-

bulgaria.com/SC/plovdiv/karlovo/banya

      The next photos illustrate the area from Karlovo toward Banya.

Route b

      To avoid the traffic along road 64, my suggestion is from Karlovo to pedal toward Dabene and Voynyagovo.

      No any traffic here, the pedaling is very pleasant in this easy area, there are a lot very nice places to camp in the wilderness.

      The next photos illustrate this area and my camping place next to a river between Dabene and Voynyagovo.

Sector I. D - 20. a

      In the end, several words concerning the distance from Banya to Kalofer in case you travel road 641 from Banya to Kalofer - that is all for this sector.

      It is beautiful countryside. Several photos  illustrating this area.

(the first one is near Tundzha River I camped there several times).

The last 4 - 5 kilometers climbing is harder.

The road surrounds this little town, overnight accommodation is available in it. Information about Kalofer is available here:         http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/SC/plovdiv/karlovo/kalofer

The view toward Balkan here is quite impressive - here is the higher part of the mountains.

Sector I. D - 20 b

Route a

(road 64)

From Banya to Pesmopoi to Ivan Vazovo to Gorna Mahala to Dolna Mahala to Chernozem to Graf Igbatievo to Trud to Plovdiv

      The road segment from Banya to Plovdiv is easy for pedaling, although it is not very pleasant because of the traffic. Food shops and water are available in all the villages along the road.

      The next several photos illustrate the route, photos are from Plovdiv toward Banya.

Route b

As it can be seen from the road profile chert, there are 3 - 4 kilometers climbing just after leave road 64 and head toward Mihiltsi (road 642)

      You can find hotels or guest houses of different qualities, according to your wish.

      A lot of information for Hisarya can be seen here:

https://bulgariatravel.org/en/hisarya/

      And several words about Plovdiv in the end: Plovdiv is a popular tourist destination in Bulgaria, so, never mind the intensive traffic in the town, many times I have seen bicyclists visiting it.

      In Internet there is a lot of information concerning Plovdiv, so I will not write here about it.

      Detail information for Plovdiv can be seen here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plovdiv

http://www.visitbulgaria.net/en/plovdiv/plovdiv.html

https://bulgariatravel.org/en/plovdiv-city/

      On the map I have shown the way to cross the city of Plovdiv by the green dashed line in order to avoid the tunnel under the hill with the Ancient Amphitheatre on it, although it is not a problem to pedal it.

     I have pointed the walking area in the Plovdiv city (the next several pics.) beginning with the walking bridge on Maritsa River by the dashed green line – use it. (DO NOT PEDAL THERE !!!,  - it is forbidden, only walk !!!)

Route c

       As an addition I would suggest one more very nice opportunity to reach Pazardzhik from Husarya. This route is very easy and pleasant for exploring in the both directions:

      From Hisarya (road 642) to Staro Zhelezare (road 6061) Panicheri to Starosel to Krasnovski Bani to Ktasnovo to Belovitsa to Lyuben (road 606) to Praviste to Saedinenie (road 6062) to Pistigovo (toad 3703) to Dobrovnotsa to Pazardzhik.

A nice spot for relax is next to Krasnovski Bani:

https://www.facebook.com/AquaTermi/?locale=bg_BG

      Increasing the scale, two kilometers north-west from Starosel a nice Etarosel Wine&SPA Complex can be found out.

      It is a luxury place, maybe ixpensive.

 https://starosel.com/en/

     An interesting ancient archeology Thracian objects a available two kilometers further - Thracian Temple Complex.

https://bulgariatravel.org/en/thracian-temple-complex-starosel/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oX-NaunC8F0

My camp place next to a irrigative chanel near Lyuben, a little rain, a rainbow, beautiful sunset

and very fresh and wet morning.

Information for Saedinenie:

http://www.guide-bulgaria.

com/SC/plovdiv/saedinenie/saedinenie