breaking.the.borders

Each and every year, I challenge myself to pick a long-distance trail that will push my physical and mental boundaries a bit further. Last year, it was the GR20 in Corsica, 180 km with massive elevation change. This year, it was all about the distance. My goal was to hit the 500 km mark through mountains in one go. Kom-Emine seemed perfect for that. It's a 600 km trail that follows the main ridge of the Balkan Mountains. Long enough, but not too technical. Below you can find my 20-day itinerary for hiking Kom-Emine in Bulgaria.

Kom-Emine is Bulgaria’s longest hiking trail, stretching 600 km across the Balkan Mountains also known as the Stara Planina. It has its beginning at Kom Peak, right on the Serbian border, and ends at Cape Emine at the Black Sea. The trail is divided into three sections: western, central, and eastern, making you walk almost the entire country and taking you through a wide range of landscapes. In June 2024, I made a solo attempt to complete Kom-Emine in 20 days, and here is everything you need to know to retrace my steps. Let's go!