Organized Tours
Organized travel
Group hike through the Serbian-Bulgarian borderland
In cooperation with Natural Travel Office (based Niš in Serbia) and Air Serbia, the Dutch travel agency Natuurlijk Reizen has composed a unique group hike from Niš in Serbia to the Bulgarian capital Sofia. Both start and finish are loaded with history and culture and in between, you will encounter varied landscapes full of hills, forests and countryside. Accompanied by an experienced English speaking Serbian guide, you will hike through this borderland while your luggage will be transported. The only thing you will have to do is walk and enjoy. You can get more information at postbus@natuurlijkreizen.nl
SERBIA TO BULGARIA
15-10 / 27-10
BORDER to Border Serbia
Fully organized cycling/camping-trip, through the lush plains of the Vojvodina from the border of Hungary, to the historic capital Belgrade, and on, through the hills of Central Serbia all the way to the border with Bulgaria in Dimitrovgrad.
Carefree pedaling through the beautiful countryside of Serbia, everything is taken care of! The natural beauty of this gem of the Balkan and the hospitality of the Serbs will amaze you.
09-09 / 25-09
SERBIA TO BULGARIA
15-10 / 27-10
Individual
Group
Touroperators
Travels
We have devised the Sultans Trail for you, the active hiker or cyclist. There are various ways to make use of the Trail.
Individual travels
For those that prefer to embark on an adventure all by themselves or as a pair, the Sultans Trail Foundation provides all necessary information on ist website: tracks for navigation, addresses of overnight stays, sights etc. However, the Sultans Trail Foundations bears no responsibility for your trip.
Basically, it is possible to hike with minimal luggage because most of the time you will be able to find accommodation right on the Trail or nearby. The exception is the final 400 kilometres where accommodation is scarce and it may be practical to bring sleeping gear. Water and food are always within reach and camping is possible. Travelling by yourself or as a pair offers the best opportunities for interaction with locals, especially if you are willing to familiarize yourself with the local language and customs.
Travelling with friends
Some Sultans Trail Friends like to introduce new friends on to the Trail and take out-groups. Everyone carries his or her own luggage. Participation is a shared responsibility. Every participant is free to determine which activity he or she participates or not and thus for which activities you pay. The friends may give advice. Every participant gets all the required information to make their own choices.
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Organised travel
Finally, some professional travel organizations with local expertise, offer trips under commercial conditions. The travel organization is responsible for the realization of the programme. Within their possibilities, these organizations will make every effort to execute a beautiful trip along the Sultans Trail. They often include luggage transport in their packages.
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Limited Liability
In none of the trips described above the Sultans Trail Foundation is liable for the course of the trip. The Foundation is an intermediate that helps organizing the trips and announcing them so possible participants are made aware of the different options.
About the trail
The Sultans Trail has been devised with great care and will be inspected within time intervals and, if necessary, adjustments will take place. Yet there are many reasons why the Trail may not be usable at certain spots, because of new road construction, other building activities, changes in land use, overgrowing of paths, weather conditions etc. Trail users are constantly dependent on their skills, initiative and their common sense. Whenever you come across situations that may require reconsideration of the Trail, Sultans Trail’s Trail coordinator (Max Smits) likes to be informed. You may send your feedback to trailcoordinator@sultanstrail.com
Individual trips
For those who prefer to start an adventure by themselves or as a pair, Sultans Trail may provide all necessary information like navigation tracks, addresses of overnight stays, sights etc. You should be able to get by with a minimal burden of luggage, because almost everywhere you will be able to find accommodation within reach and within reasonable budgets.
However, in the last 400 kilometres of the route overnight stays get scarce and you may need a sleeping mat and sleeping bag. Water and food are always within reach and camping is possible. Being by yourself, or when there is just the two of you, allows for the greatest chance of interaction with locals especially if you are willing to familiarize yourself with the local language and customs.
Member & Friend Information
The Sultans Trail pilgrim’s passport is the fundamental document for the pilgrim on the Sultans Trail. Sometimes it even allows gaining access to accommodating facilities located along the itinerary. The pilgrim will in principle get a stamp in every location where he/she stays or passes
tourist offices, churches, Mosques, Hostels…. until the conclusion of the walk or cycle trip.
Sultans Trail Pilgrim’s passport can be obtained when you will be a Friend of the Sultans Trail. Click here to become a friend.
If you have hiked at least from Edirne to Istanbul or cycled from Sofia to Istanbul or if you have travelled continuously with a horse, you are entitled to your Ferman, the Sultans Trail diploma, that you can apply for at the Sultans Trail Foundation in Haarlem (The Netherlands).
Be careful! If you have walked from Edirne to Istanbul, or have cycled from Sofia or have travelled continuously with a horse you must collect at least two stamps per day in your Sultanstrail passport!
Upon arrival, you can send a copy of your Sultanstrail passport together with an admission letter in the Ferman register to the Foundation
SultansTrail – A European Cultural Route (the address can be found under the contact button)
If you apply for your admission in the Ferman register you need to state your full name, your home town, arrival date and means of travel. Consequently, you will be mentioned in the next newsletter.
You can order your Ferman register, and then it will be sent at the start of the New Year.
The following people have walked either parts or the complete SultansTrail and they have received the so-called Ferman, it can be compared with the diploma the pilgrims of Santiago de Compostella receive when they arrive in Santiago de Compostella.
Look for yourself in our Ferman register!
Being lost is the best way to find