At 1,730 metres above sea level, Bilyanska lies below Ardin Peak. Hiking trails through the village lead towards the Arda sources and Mount Kom. For a stay focused on nature trails, the marked route to the Arda Source, its continuation to Ardin Peak, and the paths towards Mount Kom are useful landmarks.

Hiking to the Arda Source

Bilyanska is considered the place where the main source of the Arda River begins. Water emerges from beneath a large beech tree at the Arda Source. In the surrounding area, seventeen smaller springs also feed the Arda. The marked trail to the source starts in Bilyanska and crosses broad meadows offering views of Gorna Arda, Bilyantsi, Mount Kom, and Great Perelik Peak.

Visitors can drive to the end of the paved road near Bilyanska and continue on foot along a marked trail. Allow about an hour for the walk from Bilyanska to the Arda Source. A marked trail continues from the source to Ardin Peak. From there, visitors can see both the Bulgarian and Greek parts of the Rhodope Mountains. As road conditions can change, check them before setting out.

Choose an option based on what you would like to focus on: the trail to the Arda Source combines meadow views with a named spring destination; continuing to Ardin Peak offers views of both parts of the Rhodope Mountains. The paths towards Mount Kom provide another hiking option.

A Break, Events, and Overnight Stays

The area around the Arda Source has designated fire pits, pavilions, and a shelter for picnics and breaks. Check the condition of the facilities before your visit. On the way back from the Arda Source, you can enjoy fresh trout at the Dyadova Ryaka complex; check its availability before visiting.

A tourist gathering takes place at the Arda Source every year on the third Saturday in August. If the gathering is a key part of your trip, check the date before travelling.

Houses in Bilyanska offer accommodation for relaxation and holidays. If you would like to include the hiking trails to the Arda Source or towards Mount Kom, check the availability of individual accommodations for your travel dates.

More Destinations in the Wider Smolyan Destination

The wider Smolyan destination also has cultural attractions. In Mogilitsa, the Agushevi Konatsi are designated as an immovable cultural monument of national importance. In Stoykite, the exhibition “The Bagpipe: Ancient and Eternal” presents the art of bagpipe playing and the traditional craft of bagpipe making from all of Bulgaria’s folklore regions. It brings together a museum, an ethnographic art gallery, and a sound installation in an interactive experience; check access locally.

The Uhlovitsa Cave is located near Koshnitsa in the wider Smolyan destination. Its developed section is 330 metres long and is reached via a path with 280 metal steps. The cave is 460 metres long in total, is about 3.5 million years old, and features dendritic formations that strongly resemble marine corals.

Discover more destinations: Chepelare, Devin, Polkovnik Serafimovo, Zlatograd, Smolyan, Bosilkovo, Mogilitsa, Gela

Back to the wider travel overview: Smolyan Province.