ST523 Shadeetsa - Ardino vs ST526 Kardzhali - Madrets
A side-by-side look at distance, elevation, difficulty and the best time to hike each — so you can pick the right route.
Units
| ST523 Shadeetsa - Ardino | ST526 Kardzhali - Madrets | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | 15.0 mi24 km | 14.0 mi22 km |
| Elevation gain | 1,457 ft444 m | 1,614 ft492 m |
| Typical duration | 2 days | 1 day |
| Difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Route type | Point-to-point | Point-to-point |
| Network | International | International |
| Country | Bulgaria | Bulgaria |
| Best time to hike | Best months: June, August, September, October | Best months: February, April, June, September, October, November |
| Route & GPX | Route & GPX |
ST523 Shadeetsa - Ardino vs ST526 Kardzhali - Madrets: which should you hike?
At 15.0 mi24 km, ST523 Shadeetsa - Ardino is the longer route — roughly 1.0 mi2 km more than ST526 Kardzhali - Madrets (14.0 mi22 km). If you want the bigger challenge or a longer trip, that's the one; for a shorter or first multi-day hike, ST526 Kardzhali - Madrets 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.