Vitosha - Lyulin

Length: 21.7 km | Ascent: 700 м | Descent: 700 м | Level of technical difficulty: Low
Level of physical exertion: Medium
Duration: 2-4 hours depending on pace
Water: 1-2 l, there are fountains on the route in the first part (to Vladaia), then not.
Food: for half a day
Food (Appendix) Restaurants and shops in Vladaia
Terrain: Asphalt, dirt roads, trails.

This route is marked Low level of technical difficulty, but because of its length of 21.7km be prepared for some physical exertion. Depending on your pace it takes between 2-4 hours.

The route is an almost closed circuit that starts and ends in Knyazhevo. For a better breakdown of the long route the description is divided into stages. We will take the last stop of tram No 5 as the beginning of the route.

Stage 1:
Last stop of tram N 5 - the Quiet Corner. Depending on your preference for this part of the route, you can either choose to run on tarmac or on paths.

Asphalt: From the last tram stop you climb up the steep serpentines to ul. Panoramic road (pavement). You go along it in the direction of Boyana until you reach the boulevard. Belovodski road (asphalt, the road to the Golden Bridges). Go up it and drive to the Tichiya nook (about 7 km)

Trail: From the last tram stop you climb the steep serpentines and catch the trail up to White Water. After crossing the Belovod road you continue up the trail to the Golden Bridges and the Quiet Corner. After the White Water fountain the trail splits in two. There is a slight climb to the right which leads to the Quiet Corner.

Circular (most pleasant and longest option). Panorama Road. You reach the traffic light at Panoramic Blvd. You reach the traffic light at Belovodskiy Road. At the traffic lights you are straight ahead, keeping this direction until you reach Boyana Square (Boyanski Inn, Boyanski Monastery). From the square take the right road up and drive until the road ends. Shortly before the end of the road, turn right and continue down the asphalt road, which after 20 meters reaches a bridge. Continue along this road, keeping to the right-hand diversion paths. After about five hundred metres you will come to a fork with a fountain. Continue down and to the right (I think there is a sign for the white water). Continue on this trail as it ends at the whitewater road, right next to a fountain. You continue along the road to the fork for the white water, where you turn uphill. After the white water fountain, the trail splits in two. There is a slight climb to the right that reaches the Quiet Corner.

Stage 2: The quiet corner - Vladaia:
There is only one option here and that is the St. Ivan Rilski trail. It starts at the Tichiya Kut bus stop on the road to Zlatnite Mostovi. It is a gentle and very pleasant descent down a sandy lane in a forest. Shortly before Vladaya, the path turns sharp right, with an earth path ahead. You catch the earth path, which after 50m crosses a small wooden bridge and a few switchbacks bring you out onto a long wooden bridge. After the bridge, the trail ends at the Golden Bridges - Vladaya trail. Head down the stony path towards Vladaya (use the earth slope to the left of the path). At the first houses on Vladaya, turn slightly left along the lane passing the cemeteries, going around them. The lane itself crosses a cobbled street. Follow the pavement down to the intersection of a tarmac street - this is the 'main' street of Vladaia. Follow it. Take the first or second left, cross a large bridge and head right and up the street. Your goal is to go under the main Sofia-Pernik road through an underpass under it. It's the only one and you can't go wrong.

Stage 3: Climbing Lulin:
Once you have passed under the Sofia-Pernik road, a moderately difficult climb up an asphalt road begins. After about 1 km, the road makes a sharp left turn, with a concrete-gravel street to the right. You climb along it for 50 m until you reach a fork, at which the lane continues straight ahead, and an earth road bends to the left. You follow the earth track, which gradually becomes a wide and fairly rutted path that climbs uphill. You may have to push on here in places. After about 200 metres the path makes a sharp right turn and becomes very pleasant to ride. Ride only on this trail, not deviating anywhere on the small trails that converge in 2-3 places. The trail also has hiking markings. After a few gentle descents and climbs, you come to a meadow that is crossed by a small trail. There is a great view of Vitosha. You follow the big trail, which makes a sharp left turn. A descent begins, which leads to the area of Bonsovi Meadows.

Step 4: Bonsov Meadows - Knyazhevo:
Once you exit the forest (the end of the descent), there will be a group of houses and three possible directions ahead of you. On the left you come out on the asphalt towards the monastery of St. St. Cyril and Methodius. To the right is a dirt road in the direction of the Blackbird locality. Go along it. On your left you will see villas and buildings and on your right a plot of land with a fence of dead branches. You'll also recognise it by a large year-round puddle 30 yards past its start, which is most easily avoided on the right. It drops down and becomes quite fast. You boldly start and after about 1 km you emerge from the forest. On the flat the road turns right and becomes much rougher. You keep descending until you see the fence of the tank unit Upper Bath in the distance ahead of you. After the last fairly steep downhill slope, the climb to the unit fence begins. Do not climb up, but turn right - towards Knyazhevo. The path is lost here for 50 metres, but the continuation is easy to find. You actually go around the hill on the right, on top of which there is a small concrete building. A short climb follows and then you descend first into a forest of birch trees and then into a pine forest (after a sharp right turn). You venture down a very pleasant wide dirt lane into the pine forest. After about 2 km you reach the Sofia-Pernik railway line. The trail crosses it and ends in Potoče Street. From here you can go down the streets and you will come out on the Blvd. Tsar Boris III.