European long distance path E8 - part Bulgaria vs ST523 Shadeetsa - Ardino
A side-by-side look at distance, elevation, difficulty and the best time to hike each — so you can pick the right route.
Units
| European long distance path E8 - part Bulgaria | ST523 Shadeetsa - Ardino | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | 258 mi415 km | 15.0 mi24 km |
| Elevation gain | 15,945 ft4,860 m | 1,457 ft444 m |
| Typical duration | 17 days | 2 days |
| Difficulty | — | Easy |
| Route type | Point-to-point | Point-to-point |
| Network | International | International |
| Country | Bulgaria | Bulgaria |
| Best time to hike | Best months: February, April, June, August, September, October, November | Best months: June, August, September, October |
| Route & GPX | Route & GPX |
European long distance path E8 - part Bulgaria vs ST523 Shadeetsa - Ardino: which should you hike?
At 258 mi415 km, European long distance path E8 - part Bulgaria is the longer route — roughly 243 mi391 km more than ST523 Shadeetsa - Ardino (15.0 mi24 km). If you want the bigger challenge or a longer trip, that's the one; for a shorter or first multi-day hike, ST523 Shadeetsa - Ardino is the gentler pick. Check the elevation and best-season rows above, then open each route for the full guide and a free GPX download.