Shipka Pass — Valley of Roses toGabrovo.

Distance

30 km

Duration

1 day

Climb

870 m

Rating

4.6 / 5

189 reviews

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Curated by Rider · Updated Jun 2026

Overview

Shipka Pass — Valley of Roses to Gabrovo.

The historic Shipka Pass crossing the Balkan Mountains (Stara Planina) at 1,185m, scene of a pivotal Russo-Turkish War battle in 1877-78. The road climbs steeply from the rose-growing Kazanlak valley through tight bends to the Russian-style memorial on the summit, then drops to the craftsman town of Gabrovo.

Quick facts

SurfacePaved

Distance30 km

Days1

Total climb870 m

DifficultyModerate

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Day-by-day

The route.

ROUTE

6 stops

KazanlakStart · Start in Kazanlak — world's Rose Valley capital. Best visited in June for the rose harvest festival.

Shipka VillageScenic Point · Small village at the foot of the pass. Traditional Bulgarian architecture. Rose oil museum nearby.

Shipka Pass Summit — 1,185mMountain Pass · The pass summit. Monument to the Bulgarian and Russian soldiers who died here in 1877. Commanding mountain views.

Shipka Freedom MonumentPhoto Spot · The impressive stone monument on the peak above the pass. 894 steps up — worth the climb for the panorama.

Buzludzha Abandoned MonumentScenic Point · The iconic abandoned communist-era monument nearby — eerie and fascinating. Approach road is rough.

GabrovoEnd · End in Gabrovo — Bulgaria's humor capital and living crafts museum. The old craftsman quarter on the river is superb.

Reviews

From riders.

189 verified rides logged on this route.

4.6/ 5

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

189 verified rides

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