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The Wonderful Bridges, two natural rock arches high in the Rhodopes, are about 90 km from Plovdiv, roughly 2 hours by car via Asenovgrad and the village of Zabardo. Shiroka Laka, a village of white stone houses, is about 1 h 15 min further via Chepelare and Pamporovo. No bus links the two, so a driver is the practical way to see both in one day.
Why a car is needed
Buses from Plovdiv reach Chepelare, Pamporovo and Smolyan, and some continue to Shiroka Laka. The Wonderful Bridges, though, are at around 1,450 m on a side road beyond Zabardo, with no public transport at all. Linking the two by bus would take more than a day.
| Leg | Distance | Time by car |
|---|---|---|
| Plovdiv to the Wonderful Bridges via Asenovgrad and Zabardo | About 90 km | About 2 h |
| Bridges to Shiroka Laka via Chepelare and Pamporovo | About 50 km | About 1 h 15 min |
| Shiroka Laka to Plovdiv | About 100 km | About 2 h |
Use the booking form above to send your route and date. Shiroka Laka is pre-filled; mention the Wonderful Bridges so the route includes them.
The Wonderful Bridges
The bridges, Chudnite Mostove in Bulgarian, are arches of marble rock carved by the Erkyupriya river. The larger one is about 96 m long and up to 45 m high, and you can walk over the top and climb down beneath. The site is surrounded by pine forest and has a mountain hut with a restaurant nearby.
- Paths go over and under the arches; the descent below is steep and can be wet.
- There is parking near the bridges and the hut.
- Allow 1 to 1.5 hours to walk around both arches.
Shiroka Laka
Shiroka Laka is an architectural reserve: two-storey houses with white walls and stone roofs line a small river crossed by old humpback bridges. The village is also known for Rhodope folk music and has a national folk arts school. Several houses can be visited inside, and there are small taverns serving local dishes such as patatnik, a potato and cheese pie.
The village is small enough to walk end to end in twenty minutes, but give it longer: the pleasure is in the details, such as carved wooden gates, chimneys and the sound of the river under the bridges.
Each year before Lent, Shiroka Laka hosts a kukeri festival with masked dancers and bells. If your trip falls on that weekend, expect crowds.
Sample day
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| 08:00 | Pick-up in Plovdiv |
| 10:00 to 11:30 | Wonderful Bridges: walk over and under the arches |
| 11:30 to 12:30 | Lunch at the hut |
| 12:30 to 13:45 | Drive via Chepelare and Pamporovo |
| 13:45 to 15:45 | Shiroka Laka: houses, bridges, church |
| 15:45 to 17:45 | Drive back to Plovdiv |
The road beyond Zabardo is narrow and winds through the forest, and in winter it may be closed by snow. Check conditions and treat this as a late-spring to autumn trip.
What to bring
- Shoes with grip for the rocky paths under the arches.
- A warm layer: at around 1,450 m it is much cooler than Plovdiv.
- Cash for lunch at the hut and in the village taverns.
- A little patience on the forest road, where the driver may need to pull in for oncoming cars.
Other Rhodope ideas
For an underground waterfall, see Devil’s Throat Cave and Trigrad Gorge, about an hour beyond Shiroka Laka. For a shorter day, Hisarya is under an hour from Plovdiv. Our list of day trips from Plovdiv by drive time compares all the options.
Frequently asked questions
How far are the Wonderful Bridges from Plovdiv?
About 90 km, roughly 2 hours by car via Asenovgrad and Zabardo.
Can I reach the Wonderful Bridges by bus?
No. There is no public transport to the bridges, so you need a car.
Can I see the Wonderful Bridges and Shiroka Laka in one day?
Yes. They are about 1 hour 15 minutes apart by car, which leaves time for both.
Is the road open in winter?
The road to the bridges can be closed by snow. It is best visited from late spring to autumn.