Bulgaria’s countryside is largely untouched by tourism, with its mountains and gorges; it looks like landscape out of a fairytale. It is a wonderful destination for travelers with a taste for nature in its full glory and for those who want to escape the overbuilt resorts.

Recently, Bulgaria  joined the green movement and now boasts 23 hotels that are Eco certified. In fact, 14 of the guest houses were recently given a Green House Award by the Bulgarian Association for Alternative Tourism, the state agency for tourism, and the European Centre for Ecological and Agricultural Tourism (ECEAT).

First, we visited Argirovi Guest House, located in the Rhodope Mountain village of Arda, in the southern-most part of Bulgaria. This hotel provides guests the opportunity to experience the traditional hospitality of the region. Here, you can sample local specialties and national dishes such as, Karvarma (stew) prepared by the owner with home-grown vegetables from their green house. The guesthouses consist of traditional Rodopi houses – containing three suites with three double and triple rooms, all with terraces. The hotel is surrounded by vegetable and fruit gardens, as well as an animal farm. Staying here is like meeting your long lost Bulgarian relatives and moving in. It offers a truly non-tourist type hotel with an experience you won’t forget.

Next, we meandered our way in our late model Renault (driving here is not for the faint of heart and there are no eco-type cars)  to the next village of Kosovo. Driving was an adventure. First, we had to decipher road signs which seem to be in Old World script and then had to negotiate with livestock for space on the roads! When we came to the village we were asked if we encountered any bears or wolves. We told them we barely got past the cows!

Because of its central location, the village of Kosovo is the perfect starting point to visit many of the unique, natural, historical and cultural sites of the Rhodopes. The Rhodopes are home to many different cultures such as Greek, Roman, Slavic and Bulgarian. The greatest musician and poet of Greek mythology, Orpheus, is said to have been born here. It seems as though the natives have conserved the best of the customs, music and cuisine of all those cultures.

The Kosovo Houses hotel complex is made up of several rural houses that are 150 to 200 years old. In 2004, they were restored, using traditional techniques and natural building materials. While staying here one can enjoy trekking, trips to natural and cultural monuments, bird-watching, fishing, mineral baths and skiing. We stayed at Hadjiyska House, which is a 3 star property and a cultural monument. It is the largest of all the houses, holding up to 18 guests. Each room has individually designed wooden furniture and luxurious bathrooms. The atmosphere, derived from the Bulgarian renaissance, has been restored with traditional elements such as window seats and wood beamed ceilings. We took day trips to the nearby ski resort of Chepelare (30 min drive) and it cost much less than we expected. In America, skiing is quite a pricey sport. Here, we spent the equivalent of $25.00 for lift tickets and lunch.

Bulgaria is a small, fascinating country of ancient cultures, scenic beauty and very friendly people .We are most happy to see them adopting green tourism in order to preserve their beautiful country.