ST515 Shiroka polyana - Borino

The ST515 Shiroka Polyana – Borino is an easy, roughly 22 km point-to-point trail in the Western Rhodope Mountains of Bulgaria, descending around 450 m net from the Shiroka Polyana reservoir at 1,500 m to the village of Borino near 1,050 m. As one stage of the 2,500 km Sultans Trail from Vienna to Istanbul, it pairs gentle forest walking with deep cultural history.

About the ST515 Shiroka Polyana – Borino

The ST515 is a single waymarked stage on the Sultans Trail, a 2,500-kilometre (1,600-mile) long-distance hiking route that links St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna with the Süleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul. The full route crosses nine countries — Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey — and is maintained by the Sultans Trail Foundation, a Netherlands-based volunteer organisation that describes the path as "a path of peace and a meeting place for people of all faiths and cultures."

Within Bulgaria, the main corridor of the Sultans Trail threads through Sofia, the Rila Monastery and the Rhodope Mountains, passing towns such as Smolyan, Kardzhali and Ivaylovgrad. The ST515 sits squarely in that Rhodope section. It begins at the Shiroka Polyana ("Wide Meadow") reservoir, a high dammed lake set among spruce and pine forest at roughly 1,500 m, and finishes in Borino, a quiet mountain village in Smolyan Province at about 1,050 m elevation. The stage is classed as easy: it loses elevation overall, follows forest roads and clear paths for most of its length, and asks for stamina rather than technical skill.

The Rhodopes are among the oldest exposed mountains in Europe, a rounded, heavily wooded range rather than a jagged alpine one. That geology shapes the ST515's character — long, shaded forest corridors, conifer-clad ridges, and broad meadows instead of exposed scrambles. Because it is part of an international cultural route rather than a peak-bagging objective, the ST515 rewards walkers who enjoy steady rhythm, village life and history as much as scenery.

The Sultans Trail takes its name from Sultan Süleyman Kanuni, known in the West as Suleiman the Magnificent, who in 1529 marched an Ottoman army from Istanbul toward Vienna. He left the capital on 10 May 1529 and reached the walls of Vienna on 23 September, a journey of 141 days, before the Austrian garrison handed him his first defeat at the Siege of Vienna. He tried again unsuccessfully in 1532 and died near Szigetvár, Hungary, in 1566 at the age of 72. The modern trail deliberately retraces that historic corridor not to celebrate conquest but, in the Foundation's words, as "a path of peace" that connects Christian, Muslim and secular heritage across the Balkans. Walking the ST515, you are putting your feet on a thread of that 500-year-old story, even if this particular Rhodope stage saw no marching armies.

For Bulgaria specifically, the Sultans Trail runs from the Serbian border near Dimitrovgrad, through Sofia and the Rila Monastery — a UNESCO World Heritage site founded in the 10th century — before turning south into the Rhodopes toward Smolyan, Kardzhali and the Greek and Turkish frontiers. The ST515 belongs to this Rhodope chapter, a stretch the Foundation flags as the one part of the whole 2,500 km route that is genuinely seasonal because of mountain snow. Knowing where the stage sits in that bigger picture helps with logistics: it is rarely walked in isolation, and many hikers arrive having already crossed several Bulgarian stages on foot.

Route Overview & Stages

The ST515 is itself one stage of the larger trail, but it breaks naturally into three walking sections built around the reservoir, the forest descent and the approach to Borino. Distances below are practical estimates for planning; confirm exact figures against the operator's GPX before you set out.

Because the net trend is downhill, most walkers complete the ST515 comfortably in a single day. The 260 m of cumulative ascent comes mostly from short undulations along the reservoir and forest roads rather than any sustained climb.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Shiroka Polyana reservoir — A high dammed lake at roughly 1,500 m, ringed by conifer forest and popular with anglers; the trail's natural starting point and its most photogenic open water.
• Western Rhodope spruce forests — Dense Norway spruce and Scots pine stands that shade the central descent, part of one of Europe's most extensively forested mountain ranges.
• Batak–Devin highland plateau — The broad upland between the reservoir and Borino, dotted with seasonal pastures and dairy huts that supply the region's distinctive Rhodope cheese.
• Mountain streams of the Vacha catchment — Clear watercourses feeding the Vacha river system, crossed by small bridges and fords along the forest sections.
• Borino village centre — A working Rhodope village at about 1,050 m with a church, small shops and family guesthouses, marking the stage's end.
• Buynovo Gorge (nearby) — One of Bulgaria's deepest limestone canyons, a short drive south of Borino and a worthwhile rest-day excursion.
• Yagodina Cave (nearby) — A multi-level karst cave near Borino with year-round tours, illustrating the limestone underworld beneath the Rhodopes.
• Sultans Trail waymarks — The route's distinctive signage, linking this quiet stage to the 2,500 km cultural corridor running all the way to Istanbul.

Best Time to Hike the ST515 Shiroka Polyana – Borino

Unlike most of the Sultans Trail, which the Foundation notes "can be walked year-round," the Bulgarian mountain sections including the ST515 are seasonal. At 1,000–1,500 m the Rhodopes hold snow on north-facing forest tracks well into spring, and winter access to Shiroka Polyana is unreliable.

The practical window runs from late May to early October. June brings green meadows and full streams but lingering mud; July and August are warm and dry, with daytime highs around 22–26 °C at village level and cooler air on the plateau. September delivers stable weather, fewer insects and the first autumn colour in the deciduous fringes.

The single best month is September: as of 2026, settled high-pressure spells, comfortable 15–22 °C walking temperatures, low rainfall and dry forest tracks make it the most dependable time to link Shiroka Polyana to Borino. Always check a current mountain forecast before departing, as afternoon thunderstorms can build over the Rhodopes even in late summer.

Daylight matters for a 5–6 hour stage: in late September the Rhodopes still offer roughly 12 hours of daylight, ample for a relaxed crossing with photo stops, whereas by late October that shrinks toward 10 hours and the first snow can dust the higher ground around the reservoir. Spring walkers should treat late May with caution — snowmelt swells the Vacha-catchment streams, and some forest fords run higher than usual. If you want wildflowers, June is the showcase month for the Rhodope meadows; if you want solitude and crisp air, early October is hard to beat before conditions turn. Whatever the month, start early to clear the forest descent before any afternoon storm and to leave a comfortable buffer for reaching Borino's guesthouses before dark.

Practical Information

Accommodation

The ST515 is a day stage, so most walkers sleep in Borino at the finish or in nearby Devin. Borino has several family-run guesthouses (Bulgarian: kashta za gosti) typically costing €20–35 per room per night, often including a home-cooked breakfast. The larger spa town of Devin, about 15 km away, adds small hotels in the €40–70 range. Wild camping is informally tolerated in Bulgarian mountain forest away from reservoirs and villages, but there are no formal campsites directly on this stage; carry a stove and treat all water. If you walk neighbouring Sultans Trail stages back-to-back, budget for guesthouses in Batak, Devin and Smolyan as well.

Getting There & Back

The nearest airport is Plovdiv (PDV), roughly 2 hours by road; Sofia (SOF), about 3 hours away, has far more international connections. There is no rail line into the high Rhodopes, so the practical approach is bus or car. Regional buses run from Plovdiv and Smolyan to Devin and Borino; from Borino, reaching the Shiroka Polyana trailhead usually means a pre-arranged transfer or taxi up the forest road. Allow extra time, as mountain bus services are infrequent and seasonal. For onward national connections after the hike, the Bulgarian State Railways network links Plovdiv and Sofia to the rest of the country and Europe.

Permits & Fees

No permit is required to walk the ST515; the Sultans Trail is free and open to all, and there is no entry fee for the Western Rhodope forests. The Shiroka Polyana reservoir is a managed water body, so swimming may be restricted and any fishing requires a Bulgarian licence. Nearby attractions charge modest fees — Yagodina Cave tours run roughly €5–8 per adult. For up-to-date route notes, GPX files and stage descriptions, consult the official Sultans Trail website before travelling.

Gear & Packing List

The ST515 is non-technical, but Rhodope weather shifts quickly, so pack for sun, rain and cool plateau wind in one day. A 35–50 litre pack is ample for a day stage with the option of multi-day linking. The Fjällräven Abisko Hike 35 suits a light single-day load, while the Hyperlite Mountain Gear 2400 Windrider is a strong ultralight choice if you string several Sultans Trail stages together. For carrying extra food and a tent on a longer Rhodope traverse, the larger Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Windrider adds volume without much weight.

Bring sturdy trail shoes or light boots, a waterproof shell, sun protection, at least 2 litres of water capacity plus a filter, and trekking poles for the forest descents. If you are still choosing a pack for longer routes, our roundup of the best ultralight backpacks of 2026 compares seven tested options. Plan calorie-dense snacks for the climb out of any side valleys — our guide on how many calories you need hiking a full day helps you size your food bag for a 5–6 hour stage.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the quiet, forested character of the ST515 appeals, Bulgaria offers several connected long-distance options in the same mountains and beyond. The cross-Balkan European routes share waymarking philosophy with the Sultans Trail, while neighbouring ST stages let you build a multi-day cultural traverse toward Istanbul.

• Европейски пешеходен маршрут Е4, България — the Bulgarian section of the continent-spanning E4.
• European long distance path E8 – part Bulgaria — an alternative trans-Bulgarian corridor.
• ST424 Dimitrovgrad – Dragoman — a harder Sultans Trail stage near the Serbian border.
• ST425 Dragoman – Slivnitsa — an expert-rated western approach stage.
• ST426 Slivnitsa – Bankya — the stage leading toward Sofia.

For a contrasting alpine adventure, our walkthrough of how to hike the Theth to Valbona trail in Albania shows what a more dramatic Balkan crossing looks like.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike the ST515 Shiroka Polyana – Borino?
Late May to early October is the reliable window, and September is the single best month. As of 2026, September offers settled high pressure, comfortable 15–22 °C temperatures, low rainfall and dry forest tracks. The high Rhodopes hold snow into spring and become hard to access in winter, so avoid the cold months unless you are equipped for winter mountain conditions.

How difficult is the ST515 Shiroka Polyana – Borino?
It is rated easy. The roughly 22 km stage trends downhill from 1,500 m to about 1,050 m, with only around 260 m of cumulative ascent across gentle undulations. It follows forest roads and clear paths with no exposed or technical sections, so it suits fit beginners. The main demands are distance stamina and navigation through quiet, sparsely signposted forest.

How far is the ST515 and how long does it take?
The stage is approximately 22 km and most walkers finish it in 5–6 hours at a steady pace, making it a comfortable single day. Because elevation loss exceeds gain, the effort is modest. If you link it with neighbouring Sultans Trail stages, plan around 18–25 km per day and arrange village accommodation at each overnight stop.

Where can I stay near the trail?
Borino, at the finish, has family-run guesthouses costing roughly €20–35 per room per night, usually with breakfast. The spa town of Devin, about 15 km away, adds small hotels around €40–70. There are no formal campsites on the stage, though informal wild camping is tolerated in the forest away from the reservoir and villages; carry a stove and treat all water.

Do I need a permit or pay any fees?
No permit is needed. The Sultans Trail is free and open to all, and there is no charge to walk the Western Rhodope forests. The Shiroka Polyana reservoir is managed, so fishing requires a Bulgarian licence and swimming may be restricted. Nearby attractions such as Yagodina Cave charge small entry fees of roughly €5–8 per adult.