ST526 Kardzhali - Madrets

Stage in the Sultans Trail, a historic and cultural long-distance hiking route from Vienna to Istanbul.

Covering 22.3 km, this demanding trail is best tackled by experienced walkers in good condition. Budget roughly 4 hours and 58 minutes or consider splitting it across two days.

This linear trail moves from one end to the other without looping back. A return journey by transport — or retracing the path — is needed to get back to the start. The trail is officially waymarked as ST526, so look out for the trail markers along the way.

Part of the International Walking Network (IWN), this route connects to a continent-spanning long-distance trail system. It meets the highest standards of waymarking, surface quality, and route documentation.