The Vrushka Chuka – Kom Route: Opening a Path Through the Wild
The '1% for Bulgarian Nature' campaign by Stenata stores supports the path to the wild beauty of Western Stara Planina.
There are places in the mountain that preserve their wild character and reveal their beauty only to those willing to put in the effort to get to know them. The route along the main ridge of the Western Balkan Mountains—from Vrashka Chuka through Mount Midzhur (2,166 m) to Mount Kom (2,016 m)—is definitely the big news in Bulgarian mountain tourism in recent years.
Inspired by the idea of turning this little-known region into an attractive destination for tourists and mountain adventure enthusiasts, the "Torlakia" Tourist Association works to make the route accessible, passable, and well-known. Behind this vision lie kilometers of overgrown trails, efforts to restore trail markings, and the construction of essential tourist infrastructure. But even more than that—it offers the opportunity for a beautiful, forgotten area to be rediscovered, connecting people and bringing a fresh perspective for the development of local communities. All of this is made possible through the support of numerous donors, volunteers, foundations, and small projects, as well as a dedicated core community of active citizens, ensuring long-term sustainability.
This year, the project is also supported by Stenata stores as part of the charity initiative '1% for Bulgarian Nature', which for the second consecutive year allocates funds to causes dedicated to preserving Bulgaria's natural heritage. A portion of the stores' summer turnover will be donated to the initiative of the Torlakiya Tourist Society. The tour operator Odysseia-in is also joining the campaign.
At December 2, on the second day of the "Days of Challenges"The mastermind behind the 'Vrushka Chuka – Kom' trail, Ivaylo Markov, will take the main stage to speak about the journey toward bringing this idea to life, the work accomplished over the year, and the challenges that lie ahead.
Because sometimes, to discover new horizons, we must first pave the way to them. And when more people believe in an idea, it can change not only the map of adventures, but also the lives of an entire region.