ST716 Mineralni bani - Haskovo

The ST716 Mineralni Bani–Haskovo is an approximately 18 km point-to-point day stage of the Sultans Trail in southern Bulgaria, gaining around 250 m of elevation over a single day. Rated easy to moderate, it links the thermal spa village of Mineralni Bani to the regional city of Haskovo across the gentle hills and farmland of the Maritsa Valley.

About the ST716 Mineralni Bani - Haskovo

The ST716 Mineralni Bani–Haskovo is one stage in the Sultans Trail, a 2,500 km cultural walking route that runs from St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna to the Süleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul. The full route crosses eight countries — Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey — and is recognised as part of the International Walking Network (IWN), placing it among the most significant long-distance routes on the continent. This particular stage belongs to the trail's southern Maritsa Valley alternative, which threads through southern Bulgaria toward the Turkish border at Edirne.

The trail is named after Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent (Süleyman Kanuni), who marched from Istanbul to Vienna in 1529, a journey of 141 days. The modern path, developed by volunteers from a Netherlands-based NGO, was conceived as a "path of peace" and a meeting place for people of all faiths and cultures rather than a memorial to conquest. Walking the ST716, you trace a corridor of Thracian, Roman and Ottoman history compressed into a half-day's walk.

Mineralni Bani — literally "mineral baths" — sits roughly 18 km north-west of Haskovo at the foot of the eastern Rhodope foothills. Its thermal springs, used since Thracian and Roman times, reach around 65 °C and feed a modern spa complex. From here the ST716 drops gently south-east across the open Thracian Plain into Haskovo, a city of about 70,000 people best known for its monumental statue of the Virgin Mary. The stage is short, mostly low-altitude and well suited to walkers who want a taste of the Sultans Trail without committing to its rugged mountain sections further north.

Route Overview & Stages

The ST716 is a single waymarked stage, but it breaks naturally into three walking segments. Distances are approximate and based on the Maritsa Valley alternative routing; signage on the ground follows the Sultans Trail's waymarks supplemented by local trail markers.

Most walkers complete the ST716 in a single day, allowing 4–5 hours of moving time plus stops. The terrain is forgiving: forest tracks and field roads dominate, with only short paved sections on the approach into Haskovo. Because the start and end points are both served by buses, the stage works equally well in either direction, though walking south-east toward Haskovo keeps the afternoon sun behind you.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Mineralni Bani thermal springs — Hot mineral water rising at roughly 65 °C has drawn bathers since Thracian and Roman times; the village's modern balneological centre is a fitting place to soak before or after the walk.
• Aleksandrovo Thracian Tomb — A 4th-century BC burial mound a short detour from the route, its painted hunting frescoes are among the finest surviving examples of Thracian art; a dedicated museum displays a full-scale replica.
• Statue of the Holy Mother of God, Haskovo — At about 32 m including its pedestal, this is one of the tallest monuments to the Virgin Mary in the world and the city's defining landmark, visible from the trail's final kilometres.
• Eski Mosque (Eski Camii), Haskovo — Dating to 1395, one of the oldest Ottoman mosques in the Balkans, a tangible reminder of the Sultans Trail's historical theme.
• Maritsa Valley panoramas — The open Thracian Plain spreads south toward the river and the Rhodope ridgeline, with vineyards and sunflower fields colouring the foreground in summer.
• Susam oak woodland — Shaded broadleaf forest on the early ridge offers welcome cover and good birdwatching, including raptors riding thermals over the hills.
• Haskovo old town and clock tower — Cobbled streets, the restored clock tower and a lively café culture make a rewarding finish after the open-country miles.
• Roadside Thracian sanctuaries — Several modest carved-rock sites near Mineralni Bani hint at the area's deep pre-Roman religious past.

Best Time to Hike the ST716 Mineralni Bani - Haskovo

Southern Bulgaria's Thracian Plain has a transitional climate with hot, dry summers and mild, damp winters. Because the ST716 stays at low altitude — Haskovo sits around 200 m above sea level — it is walkable across a far longer season than the Sultans Trail's Bulgarian mountain stages, which can hold snow into spring.

May is the single best month to walk the ST716. As of 2026, late-spring daytime temperatures hover around 20–24 °C, wildflowers fill the meadows, the oak woodland is in fresh leaf, and the long daylight makes the 18 km feel unhurried. April and early June are close seconds, offering similar greenery with slightly cooler or warmer extremes respectively.

Avoid July and August, when the open valley regularly exceeds 35 °C and the shadeless field tracks become punishing by midday — if you must walk in high summer, start at dawn and carry extra water. September and October bring a pleasant second window with vineyard harvests and stable, dry weather, making autumn an excellent alternative. Winter walking is possible on snow-free days, but short daylight and occasional cold rain make it the least rewarding season.

Practical Information

Accommodation

The ST716 is short enough to walk without sleeping on-trail, but both ends offer beds. Mineralni Bani has several spa hotels and guesthouses (pensions) trading on the thermal water, typically €30–€55 per night for a double room including breakfast. Haskovo, as a regional centre, offers a wider range: budget guesthouses from around €25, mid-range hotels at €40–€70, and a handful of business hotels above that. Camping is tolerated in the woodland sections in the spirit of the Sultans Trail's tent-friendly Bulgarian stages, but there are no formal campsites along this segment, so wild camping should be discreet and leave-no-trace. Budget roughly €30–€60 per day for a bed plus meals; Bulgaria remains one of the most affordable hiking destinations in Europe.

Getting There & Back

Haskovo is the logistical hub. The nearest major airport is Plovdiv (PDV), about 80 km west, roughly a 1-hour drive; Sofia Airport (SOF) is around 2.5–3 hours away by road and offers far more international connections. Haskovo's bus station has frequent regional services, and the town of Dimitrovgrad, 15 minutes north, sits on the main Sofia–Svilengrad railway line. Local buses run between Haskovo and Mineralni Bani several times daily (around 30–40 minutes), making it easy to position yourself at the start and return from the finish. A taxi between the two costs only a few euros and is a reliable fallback when bus timings don't align with your walk.

Permits & Fees

No permit is required to walk the ST716, and access to the trail and surrounding countryside is free. The Aleksandrovo Tomb museum charges a small entry fee (a few euros) if you take the detour, and the Mineralni Bani spa pools have their own admission prices. The Sultans Trail itself is maintained by volunteers and carries no toll; donations to the Sultans Trail Foundation help keep waymarking in good order.

Gear & Packing List

This is a low-altitude day stage, so your kit can stay light. A 35–55 litre pack comfortably carries a day's water, layers and food; the Abisko Hike 35 is ideal for a single day, while the 2400 Windrider suits anyone linking several Sultans Trail stages with overnight gear. If you plan to wild-camp through the wooded sections, the larger Arc Haul Ultra 60L gives room for a tent and sleeping system without weight penalty.

Beyond the pack, prioritise sun protection — the open Maritsa Valley offers little shade — and carry at least 2 litres of water in summer, as reliable refill points between the villages are scarce. Trail-running shoes or light hiking boots handle the forest tracks and field roads easily. Because the walk is short, fuelling is simple, but if you are chaining multiple long-distance days together it helps to understand how many calories you need hiking a full day so you don't under-pack food. For anyone weighing up a pack for a longer through-hike, our roundup of the best ultralight backpacks of 2026 compares the options tested above.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the Sultans Trail's blend of low-altitude culture and long-distance ambition appeals, Bulgaria has two other major waymarked routes worth exploring. Both intersect or run parallel to sections of the Sultans Trail and share the same well-marked, budget-friendly character.

• Европейски пешеходен маршрут Е4, България — the Bulgarian leg of the continent-spanning E4, crossing the high Rila and Pirin ranges for walkers wanting genuine mountain terrain.
• European long distance path E8 – part Bulgaria — the E8 partly overlaps the Sultans Trail itself and threads the same southern corridor, a natural next step from the ST716.

For a contrast in scenery, the dramatic Balkan crossing in our guide to how to hike the Theth to Valbona trail in Albania shows what the region's high mountains deliver.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike the ST716 Mineralni Bani–Haskovo?
May is the single best month. As of 2026, late-spring temperatures sit around 20–24 °C, the woodland is green and wildflowers fill the valley. April and June are nearly as good, while September and October offer a dry, pleasant autumn window. Avoid July and August, when the open, shadeless plain regularly tops 35 °C.

How difficult is the ST716 stage?
It is rated easy to moderate. The route is about 18 km long with only around 250 m of total ascent, almost all on gentle forest tracks and field roads at low altitude. The main challenges are summer heat and limited shade rather than steep climbs, making it suitable for reasonably fit walkers and a gentle introduction to the Sultans Trail.

How far is the walk and can it be done in one day?
Yes. At roughly 18 km the ST716 is comfortably a single day's walk, taking most people 4–5 hours of moving time plus stops. Because both Mineralni Bani and Haskovo are served by buses and taxis, you can start fresh in the morning and return by public transport the same evening without arranging overnight gear.

Where can I stay along the route?
Mineralni Bani has spa hotels and guesthouses from about €30–€55 per night, while Haskovo offers everything from €25 guesthouses to business hotels above €70. There are no formal campsites on this stage, though discreet wild camping is tolerated in the wooded sections. Overall, budget around €30–€60 per day for a bed and meals in this affordable region.

Do I need a permit to walk the ST716?
No permit is required, and access to the trail and surrounding countryside is free. The Sultans Trail is maintained by volunteers and carries no toll. You only pay small optional fees for attractions such as the Aleksandrovo Thracian Tomb museum or the Mineralni Bani thermal pools, each costing just a few euros.

For official route updates and waymarking, consult the Sultans Trail Foundation, and for the wider European long-distance network this stage connects to, see the European Ramblers' Association.