ECOTOURISM
The five ecopaths provide various and pleasant opportunities for tourism. They have been constructed with the financial assistance of the PHARE Cross-border Cooperation Program of the EU. All eco-paths are secured and blazed and provided with information signs and boards. The routes are also provided with places for rest, taps and toilettes. The Tourist Information Center may arrange a trained mountain guide to accompany the tourist groups. If requested in advance it is also possible to provide lunch (barbeque, grill) that can be served at the summer houses with the fireplaces after the tourists have finished their tour on the eco-paths.
ECOPATH – RAVNINATA VILLAGE
Length of the route:5200 m.

The length of the ecopath is 5200 m. The starting point is 7 km away from Rudozem town on the road to Ravninata village. The road is asphalted and is accessible for any vehicles. In the beginning of the ecopath there is a parking, a summer-house with a fire place, a toilette and a tap. In the area of Sveta Bogoroditsa Peak and at the end of Ravninata village where the route passes there is a table with benches. At the end of the route – in the foot of Sveti Todor Peak there is a beautiful summer house. The route is very attractive with its location, historical remnants and rich flora and fauna. Beautiful panorama views are revealed from Sveta Bogoroditza Peak and from Sveti Todor Peak – there can be seen the Rozhen Observatory, the Snezhanka TV Tower and the whole Rudozem municipality. Remnants from a church and a chapel dating back to the Middle Ages can also be seen on these peaks. The route passes near an ostrich farm which may be looked at against minimum payment and ostrich eggs may be purchased as well. The path is ramp allowing tourists without special training to walk including elderly people and children. The route may be shortened as the tourists may start walking from the end of Ravninata village where the eco-path passes.
ECOPATH – PLOVDIVTZI VILLAGE
Length of the route:7000 m.

The length of the eco-path is 7000 m. The route starts from Domuzola area near Plovdivtzi village at 10 km away from Rudozem town. The road is asphalted and is accessible for any vehicles. The eco-path continues to Babina Chuka Peak, which is located at 1414 m above the sea level and then goes to the final point – Plovdivtzi Dam. The route passes next to Bulgaria’s border with Greece.
Besides the beautiful and virgin nature the tourists will also be attracted by the preserved border military sites from the communist past – border wire enclosure and an old “mine field”.
There are suitable places for rest on the ecopath – a fire place with barbeque and a toilette next to the border wire enclosures about 3 km from the beginning of the route; tables with benches next to Babina Chuka Peak (in the middle of the route) and at the end of the route next to Plovdivtzi Dam. The route passes through a various broken terrain. Due to the proximity of the ecopath to Bulgaria’s border with Greece the tourists are requested to take their personal identity cards and to call in advance the Tourist Information Center (TIC) in order to inform the border police. The procedure for this takes about 10 minutes and does not require any other special arrangements.
ECOPATH – MOCURA VILLAGE
Length of the route:5200 m.

The length of the eco-path is 5200 m. The starting point is Mochura village located at 18 km away from Rudozem town. It can be reached via an asphalted road to Korita village (14 km from Rudozem) and then 4 km macadam road to Mochura village. It is recommended the last part to be passed with an off-road vehicle. Appropriate transportation for the tourists may be provided by the Tourist Information Center (TIC) against preliminary request.
The route passes through high mountain meadows with virgin nature including almost all plant and animal species typical for the Rodopi mountain. The tourists will also be attracted by the preserved border military sites from the communist past. They will pass near the gate of former border troops barracks, a restored border wire enclosure and they will finally reach a border tower (a high metal facility – military observation point). The tower has been reconstructed and secured. Magnificent panoramic views in all directions are revealed from the top of the tower – vast territories from North Greece and South Bulgaria. A telescope is installed on the top of the tower and thus the tourists may observe the natural sights, wild animals and birds. Convenient places for rest have been constructed along the ecopath. In the beginning of the eco-path there is a table with a bench. In the middle of the route is located a nice summer house with fireplace, a tap and a toilette surrounded by beautiful meadows. A table with benches is located at the end of the route next to the tower.
The path is ramp allowing tourists without special training to walk including elderly people and children.
Due to the proximity of the eco-path to Bulgaria’s border with Greece the tourists are requested to take their personal identity cards and to call in advance the Tourist Information Center in order to inform the border police. The procedure for this takes about 10 minutes and does not require any other special arrangements.
ECOPATH "KECHI KAYA - KOZNIK"
Length of the route:4300 m.

The length of the eco-path is 4300 m and it is located 5 km away from Rudozem town and 2 km from Ribnitza village. The starting point of the route can be accessed via a 3 km asphalt road and 2 km macadam road.
At the starting point of the route there is parking, barbeque, tap and toilette. A table with benches is located in a picturesque area under the rocks about 1 km from the starting point. After climbing the Koznik fortress (about 40 minutes) there is a second table with benches. The route passes around the “Two Brothers” Rocks and reaches a rock edge with a third table and benches. The whole Rudozem municipality may be viewed from here as well as the town itself in the foot of the rocks. The route continues to the northeast in the direction of Varba village (Madan municipality) and reaches another rock edge where is located a fourth table with benches from which a nice view is revealed. After that it continues to a rock formation called “The Head” as in the middle of the way to it a fifth table with benches is situated. A summer house is found just over the rock. The route then goes down to the starting point.
ECOPATH "TZIGANSKO GRADISHTE - SADILISHTETO"
Length of the route:9500 m.

The length of the ecopath is 9500 m. The starting point can be reached from the road Rudozem – Elhovetz village - Plovdivtzi village - Koritata village -Mochura village. This is an 18 km road, of which 14 km asphalt. After Mochura village there is about 5 km macadam road reaching the starting point of the ecopath. In the beginning of the route there is parking, barbeque, tap and toilette. There starts a path going up to the border ridge and about two thirds of the path passes along this ridge. After climbing the ridge one can reach “Tzigansko Gradiste” Peak where a shelter can be found near the ancient Thracian sanctuary. The route then continues to the “Malkoto Chengene” Peak where a summer house is located, and then it goes to the “Brahimovoto” area where parking and a summer house are found. The path then continues to the “Sadilisteto” area where short rest can be made around the table with benches. A magnificent view is revealed from here to the Greek part of Rodopi mountain. One can see Dimario village as well as the entire gorge where the Rudozem-Xanthi road will pass.
This is the final point of the route. After it the tourists may return to the “Brahimovoto” area. They may continue their walk on a forest road to a shelter with parking, tap and toilette. Continuing to the starting point of the route the tourists will find another table with benches. This route is very picturesque because in the past it has been located beyond the military border wire enclosures.
Due to the proximity of the ecopath to Bulgaria’s border with Greece the tourists are requested to take their personal identity cards and to call in advance the Tourist Information Center in order to inform the border police. The procedure for this takes about 10 minutes and does not require any other special arrangements.