If you are a lover of horses and horseback riding, Kostinbrod is the place to enjoy them. A stud farm and 4 equestrian clubs provide all of the conditions for the training of beginners and for riding, including outdoors. And of course — ponies for the little ones.
Vitosha provides abundant opportunities to practice rock climbing. The main and most popular sites for different types and styles of climbing are 9, and in addition to them, particularly on the northern slope, there are individual crags and cliffs that are also of interest to climbers. Sofia itself has climbing walls, which are a good alternative for training or for the winter months.
Near Tran, there are dozens of climbing routes on the cliffs at Vrabcha Waterfall next to the village of Vrabcha, and they attract climbers from around the country to the region.
The mountainous terrain and constant air currents create the conditions for practicing para- and hang gliding in many areas of the Sofia Tourist Region and attract lovers of extreme sports and experiences. Vitosha is a preferred spot and flights give the opportunity to enjoy a bird's eye view of Vitosha and the whole of Sofia.
Another famous spot is Konyavska Planina, where national and international competitions are traditionally held, as well as at Lyulin Mountain, Lozen Mountain, near the villages of Vitanovtsi and Rasnik, Pernik and many other places.
Botevgrad is also rapidly developing as a cycling destination, thanks to a professional downhill slope and numerous cross-country routes. The downhill slope is 1.8 km long, full of challenging elements and is considered one of the hardest in the country.
Botevgrad enjoys many hiking opportunities in Stara Planina. There are many routes and one of them (Vrachesh Village – Murgash Peak) follows in part the national route Kom – Emine and the E3 European Long Distance Path from Santiago de Compostela (Spain) to Cape Emine.
A route from the EuroVelo network of the European Cycling Federation passes through the territory of the region (through Dragoman, Slivnitsa, Tran, Kyustendil) – EuroVelo 13, which moves along the Iron Curtain and reveals previously closed to visitors border villages and pristine natural areas.
The Tran eco-trail has already gained considerable popularity, but the opportunities for hiking and eco-tourism in the area of Tran are innumerable and new mountain hiking trails are constantly being traced. Their total length is now nearly 100 km and keeps increasing every year, and recently the 56 km mountain cycling route VeloErul was marked out.
Osogovo Mountain is beautiful and attractive in any season. Its topography is very convenient for hiking and there are 11 mountain routes marked by the Bulgarian Tourist Union. One of the most popular is the route Osogovo Hut – Prevala Area – Ruen Peak, on which the peak could be conquered in 3.5 – 4 hours during the summer. The main tourist sites are focused in the region of Osogovo Hut and the regions of Tri Buki and Mandra.
Vitosha is also the starting point of the Bulgarian section of the E4 European Long Distance Path, which starts from Spain and ends in Cyprus. The road in the country goes through the village of Dragalevtsi – Aleko Hut – Cherni Vrah – Smilyo Shelter, which continues outside the country in the direction of Rila.
Dozens of tourist routes lead to numerous lodges and impressive natural spots in the mountain, while 6 specially built thematic trails and alleys in Vitosha Nature Park introduce guests to its flora, peat and Bosnek karst. The mountain is also a popular cycling destination, featuring 10 trails in all disciplines and suitable for all audiences — from beginners to professionals or families with children. The Vitosha Tour is particularly popular — it is a route that circles the entire mountain and also includes a race along that route.
