Four buses a day run east from Troyan to
APRILTSI
, a large village nestling in the Vidima valley. It covers a wide area, with the suburbs of
Vidima
and
Ostrets
spreading many kilometres into the side valleys which fork away from the centre of the village. Buses from Troyan terminate in Ostrets, 3km southeast of the centre, so it's best to ask the driver for "Apriltsi", ensuring that you'll be put down somewhere on the main street, ul. Vasil Levski, where you'll find the
tourist office
at no. 102 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; tel & fax 06958/3249,
doncho_turs@infotel.bg
). Here you can pick up hiking advice and maps, and book one of a number of
pensions
or private
rooms
(US$9-18-US$18-36), most of which offer half- or full-board for a few extra dollars. The family-run
Tihiya Kât
hotel
in the suburb of Ostrets (tel 06958/2102 or 3363,
tihia-kat@infotel.bg
; US$9-18) is probably the swankiest accommodation option, featuring a stylish open-air swimming pool, while the
Dr. Tsurov
(tel 06958/2436; US$18-36) is in the centre of Apriltsi, has its own restaurant and a pleasant garden courtyard as well as an outdoor pool; half or full board is available at extra cost.
The main trail-heads for
hikers
start 5km out from the centre, at the southern end of Vidima, where a right fork in the road leads to the head of the Stârna valley 6.5km away, while a left fork heads up the Lyava Vidima valley, passing the
Vidima
chalet
after another 3km, then petering out 4km further on. Either spot serves as the jumping-off point for paths to the
Pleven
chalet
, a steep one-hour climb further south. The forbidding terrain of the main Balkan Range lies immediately beyond, although you'll need a
guide
hired through the Apriltsi tourist office to make full use of it.
