Following the launch of our new Bulgaria hiking holiday recently, we think it's only polite to introduce you to the man leading the way and the newest member of our team. Meet Atanas, a mountaineer, travel lover and history buff. There's nothing he doesn't know about Bulgaria's mountains—he's been exploring them by foot, skis and bike since his teens. Read on to get to know Atanas (who we suspect is secretly half-yeti) and find out what our exciting new adventure entails. Tell us a bit about yourself—where did you grow up and why did you become a guide? I was born in the seaside city of Burgas but I’ve spent most of my life in the capital, Sofia. I started exploring the Bulgarian mountains in my teens, spending all my free time travelling, hiking, skiing and cycling with my free-spirited friends. Outdoor sports have always been a big part of my life and my favourite way to explore. I studied political science at university and became really interested in the history and culture of Eastern Europe, specifically the Balkans. But despite enjoying what I learnt, I knew academic life wasn’t for me—I wanted to explore the world first-hand. And so after graduating, I started guiding small-group activity tours in Bulgaria and its neighbouring countries and it struck me that being a guide combined all of my interests: outdoor sports, travel and history. During the pandemic, I used the time to improve my mountaineering skills and enrolled in a two-year mountain guiding course to gain my official Union of International Mountain Leader Associations (UIMLA) accreditation. I’m always learning new things and feel part of an amazing travel community—that’s the best thing about my job. What is your favourite place to explore in Bulgaria? As a person who loves trekking and skiing,
Following the launch of our new Bulgaria hiking holiday recently, we think it’s only polite to introduce you to the man leading the way and the newest member of our team. Meet Atanas, a mountaineer, travel lover and history buff. There’s nothing he doesn’t know about Bulgaria’s mountains—he’s been exploring them by foot, skis and
