BALKAN VOYAGE SCHOOLS
BALKAN VOYAGE SCHOOLS
Duke of Edinburgh Leadership Awards
BALKAN VOYAGE SCHOOLS
SUMMER PROGRAM 2020
Dates: 13th June - 3rd July 2020
High-Lights & Expedition Outcomes:
Summit the 3 highest peaks in Eastern Europe (Mount Musala, Mount Olympus & Mount Vihren)
Give back to the community with local projects (Belitsa Bear Rehabilitation Sanctuary)
Learn about ancient history and culture of one the oldest civilisations in the world.
Sleep over in the 1000yr old ancient Rila Monastery
All participants walk away with priceless life skills learnt, life long memories, friendship bonds, Basic First Aid certificate & an adventure fulfilling experience.
SUMMER PROGRAM SUMMARY:
COUNTRY
BULGARIA
GREECE
Cities, Towns, Villages
Sofia, Plovdiv, Bansko, Lakatnik, Yagodina, Melnik, Borovets
Thesaloniki, Meteora
Mountains
Pirin, Rila, Stara Planina, Rhodope
Olympus, Meteora
Activity Days
Multi day trekking, mountain biking, abseiling, caving, white water rafting, rock climbing, via feratta, team building tasks
Multi day hiking, rock climbing, beach sports
Culture & Community Days
Sofia city & Thracian history tour, Balkan cooking class (fishing trout), ancient monk monastery, traditional dancing, Open air theatre in the Sofia. Bear rehabilitation centre.
Visiting the ancient monasteries on the hill tops of Meteora.
Relax Days
Hot water springs in the Rhodope mountains. Relaxing at the poolsides in Lakatnik.
The Beaches of Thessaloniki.
Skill Based Learning
Basic First-Aid, rope skills, planning and money management, team based practical tasks through the trip.
Certificates & Awards:
Basic First Aid Certificate
Presidents Awards
PREPARATION: 3 DAYS PLANNING & A MULTI DAY TREK
The program kicks off in Cape Town, South Africa.
3 Days of planning and face to face meet ups are split up through the months running up to the expedition. During these planning days the group of participants get to meet each other & plan their expedition to every detail from activities, locations & structure of their tour. All of this along with the guidance of highly experienced mentor. This also allows the participants to get to know each other building a tighter bond.
There will be a multiday trek with the owner and guide from Balkan Voyage. This will be based in the Cederberg or Waaihoek Mountains which is included in the tour package cost.
Due to the nature of the tour including 3 multi day hikes over the 3 week expedition in the Balkans it is important that the participants get the exposure and preparation that they need.
THE EXPEDITION:
NUMBERS ARE LIMITED TO 20 PARTICIPANTS FOR 2020 SUMMER TOUR
Included:
All activities, food, flights, all transfers between Bulgaria & Greece, all technical gear (tents included), on site BLS medic, professional guide services, highly experienced on site guides & mentors. Fist aid training & certificate.
Excluded:
Personal Kit (boots, sleeping bags, rucksacks etc.), travel to and from Cape Town International, required VISA’s (Bulgaria is a EU country member), personal travel insurance, extra spending money (souvenirs, extra snacks etc.),
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
https://www.four-paws.org.uk/projects/bears/belitsa-sanctuary/
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/bulgaria
