Cycling with a friend Long route - Vitosha and Lyulin mountains - 45 km, 1500 m vertical drop

The track of the long route passes through places that are not present in some maps. Once loaded into an app, the app itself makes its own interpretation of the route and displays the route with breaks.
The problem occurs most often with Garmin. In the Mapzy.cz and Koomot applications, it is necessary to select the first option when generating the track.

In this video you can see the whole track without interruptions:

Control time: 8 hours for the whole long route in the two mountains Vitosha and Lyulin Mountain ~ 45 km

Route: 

The starting point of the route is the centre of the village of. Vladaya. Immediately after the start, turn left past the cemetery, then drive along the dirt road for about 30-40 meters. Then turn sharp right, making an almost U-turn to catch the trail to the Quiet Corner area. After 3.7 km you come out onto the tarmac road, just before Silent Corner. From there turn right on the tarmac and drive straight up.

4.6km after the start, turn off the tarmac road and before the big right hand bend you come out onto the Arboretum.

Five kilometres after the start, the lane before the Arboretum turns left with a sharp, almost reverse, bend. 5.8 km after the start you will come out on the road that leads to the Iglika hut. There turn left in the direction of the hut "Planinets".

Once on the tarmac after the Arboretum take a slight right and immediately catch the road left towards Kopitoto. Drive along the tarmac to the next checkpoint, which is at the "Planinets" hut.

There will be a volunteer at the intersection who will guide participants to the correct direction and trail. 6.5 km after the start, turn off the main road to Kopitoto and turn right to the Planinets Hut. You will see a sign and an arrow.

After 8 kilometers you reach the checkpoint, which is located at the hut Planinets. It is obligatory for the volunteers to mark your starting number. There you will be able to rest as the checkpoint will be equipped as a support point.

A hundred meters after the hut "Planinets", in the direction of the Golden Bridges, there is a fork where you take the left part towards the Golden Bridges.

The moment you get on the paved road to Momina Skala, you go straight down it in the direction of Zlatnite Mostovi. You will see an arrow pointing to the right. Go through the centre of Golden Bridges and at the end, just after the bridge, continue straight up the lane.

Once you go down the lane, about a kilometre after that, you have dangerous crossing of the road. Watch out! Once you cross, continue up.

Moving up the lane, there are numerous canals, type of manholes. Drive with care!

At the Pancho Tomov hut you will see our second checkpoint and support point. Be sure volunteers have noted your number.

Take the dirt road and the moment you see the Red Riding Hood hut on your right and 10 meters after the turnoff for the meadow, take the dirt road and turn right on the trail. Be careful not to miss it! Right at the fork for the Red Riding Hood hut there will be a sign with an arrow to the right and a sign for dangerous section.

Attention! There is a dangerous section ahead and overtaking is prohibited! Continue driving along the Little Red Riding Hood trail until you reach a dirt road, turn left there.

Again, watch out as the section at the big right plant on Little Red Riding Hood is dangerous!

When you see a fork, head downhill and you should come to a dirt road to take to the left.

As you descend the Little Red Riding Hood Trail, you will come to the dirt road on the left. Drive along it only to reach the next checkpoint.

At one point the dirt road turns into an asphalt road and from here on you only drive left and up the asphalt. Follow the blue markings and blue signs.

You will then pass several abandoned buildings. You only need to follow the blue markings. You drive on a dirt, rocky road only straight and uphill. Don't turn off anywhere and then keep going right and down to the third checkpoint. Each participant should mark there and show their bib number to the volunteers.

As you go down the trail, just follow the blue blazes.

At one point you reach the track of Vitosha 100, cross and continue straight to the village of Merchaevo. Here there will be a volunteer person who will guide the participants in the short and long route. Once you enter the village of Merchaemo, turn left on the asphalt road.

You turn left and after 100 metres of riding you have a sharp right turn. There will be a volunteer and a big arrow. A steep drop starts on the tarmac. Drive with caution!

You come to the so-called "Marchev Tunnel". Once you descend, turn slightly to the right and there will be a volunteer there to direct you.

After the tunnel continue along the dirt road slightly to the right and enter the village of. Dragichevo.

Drive along the main road only, keeping slightly to the right until you come out on the main Dragicevski road.

At some point you will reach a STOP sign and in front of your eyes will be the main Dragicevski road. You have to cross it very carefully, then continue straight and slightly right. Then left and diagonally you will enter the woods. There will be a volunteer at this point.

After the STOP sign continue straight and turn right. After the bridge turn left and take the first right turn until you join a dirt road that leads you to the woods. You will then have a spectacular view in front of you.

After a gentle descent, there will be a person who will point you to turn right onto the trail that will take you up to Lulin Mountain. After that, the dirt road only goes up.

Follow the dirt road with the markings and in front of you you will see the ridge of Lyulin Mountain, and on your right you will have a view of Vitosha.

Just before you get on the concrete road to the military unit under Mt. Dupevitsa you should turn off the main road. On your left you will see markings and a sign pointing to the left.

Then you come out on the concrete road that leads to the military subdivision under Mount Dupevitsa. There you make a sharp left, almost a U-turn.

Following the markings on the concrete road you reach the top of Lulin Mountain. There is the next checkpoint where you have to show your starting number. You then head back along the Pumba cycle route and follow the signs carefully.

After the incredible descent on the Pumba bike trail, you'll reach the next checkpoint and aid station at Bonsovi Meadows hut. Be sure to show your bib number to the volunteers.

You climb up the path from the hut to the concrete road and after a few metres there you enter the forest. You follow the markings and drive along the dirt road to the tunnel of the village of. Vladaya.

On the first descent you will see a fountain and a triple junction. Turn extreme right and drive along the road to the village of. Vladaya.

Exit onto a dirt road and bear slightly to the right and continue following the markings only!

When you get to the tunnel of s. Vladaya tunnel and after you pass it you will see a volunteer who will direct you. Turn left and from here on follow the markings and the directions of the next volunteers to the finish in the village of Vladaja. Vladaya.