ST506 khiza Mechit - Rila Monastery

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

Covering 23.7 km, this demanding trail is best tackled by experienced walkers in good condition. Budget roughly 5 hours and 17 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. Follow the ST506 waymarkers throughout to stay on the official trail line.

This trail belongs to the International Walking Network (IWN) — one of Europe's most ambitious cross-border hiking networks. Waymarking and maintenance follow international standards throughout.