Adventure day at Golubovitsa Cave

About

This trip takes us on a wild adventure to one of the most exciting caves in the Rhodopes – Golubovitsa. Wade through the knee-deep waters of a wild cave, float down its narrow tunnels in a boat, go rock climbing up the cliffs near its entrance, ride a zip-line trolley along the Arda river, and swing 40 meters into the air on an alpine swing, all in a single day! All of these activities are perfectly safe and suitable for people of all levels of physical fitness. The nearby village of Smilyan presents the perfect opportunity to try the local cuisine.

Highlights

• Dive into the wild cave of Golubovitsa with the help of professional spelunking guides

• Experience the thrill of floating down its tightest tunnels in a boat

• Full speleological equipment is provided

• Go rock-climbing up the Via Ferrata

• Enjoy the zip-line trolley

• Soar into the air on an alpine swing

• Try the local cuisine, especially the famed Smilyan beans

Description

Our journey begins with an approximately 1.5-hour-long drive from Plovdiv to the village of Smilyan located in the central part of the Rhodopes.

The path to the cave begins at a wooden canopy along the road from Smilyan to Mogilitsa, marked clearly with a large sign. A short walk along the rocky path, past a rope bridge and through a fresh beech grove, takes you right to the entrance of cave Golubovitsa.

At the entrance, the guides will provide you with the necessary speleological equipment to enter the cave and overcome the water obstacles created by the underground river - waterproof rubber boots, life jackets, lighting, inflatable rubber boats. Also, be careful when you enter, because the ceiling is really low at the start.

Shortly after the entrance, there’s a brief boat trip, and then you enter the cave proper. The constant flow of the underground stream is the reason for the extraordinary rock formations inside. There are stalactites and stalagmites in the upper sections that are unreached by the water.

After the underground adventure, back at the entrance of the cave, another exciting experience awaits – Via Ferrata, a 140-meter-long metal trail in the rock with built-in iron steps and secured with a rope. The dangerous vertical passage is only possible with climbing equipment provided on the spot to those who want to try it. The final stretch of this challenging climb takes you beneath beautiful rock vaults, sculpted into the rock by the water current and the winds.

For those who haven’t had enough adrenaline for the day, there’s more adventure ahead – a descent with the zip-line trolley, which is a rope line between the two banks of Esenna river, at a height of 20 meters above the water surface.

The final thrill on this already exhilarating day is the alpine swing. Soar 40 meters into the air and enjoy a gorgeous view of the Arda river valley and the landscapes of the Rhodopes.

After that, we’ll go on a walk around Smilyan, a scenic mountain village just 15 km away from the town of Smolyan. According to historians, Smilyan is one of the oldest settlements in the Rhodopes. Interesting sights include The Clock Tower, the Rhodopa Milk dairy farm, and the Bean Museum. Smilyan is the perfect place to enjoy some Rhodope cuisine, particularly the bean dishes made with a variety of beans typical of the Smilyan area. 

The price includes

• A guide

• Packed lunch

• Entrance fees for Golubovitsa cave and the zip-line trolley

The price does not include

• Transportation from Plovdiv to the cave and back

Notes

A minimum of 4 people is required in order to book this trip.