The regions scenic highlands and picturesque villages have only been discovered quite recently, ideal for walking, horse riding, birdwatching, mountain climbing and also the home to some fantastic folk music festivals.

The Rhodope mountains have become a key summer destination for hikers and those in search of rural tranquility.  The scenery can be truly stupendous,  ranging from rugged gorges to dense beech and pine forests and alpine pasturelands.

Duncan and Candy Sasses have retired to the historical village of Polkovnik Serafimovo, where they have purchased land and houses.  One of which they have converted into two modern apartments large enough for two families or 8 adults.  Another has been converted into stables to house the paint horses that will be available for trekking along the numerous mountain trails.

Polkovnik Serafimovo is situated in the central Rhodope mountains 125 km south of Plovdiv, Bulgaria's second city, which never fails to charm with its old quarter, a wonderful melange of renaissance mansions, mosques and classical remains.           Plovdiv will be served by Ryanair as from august 7th 2007.

As well as being only 30 km south of Pamporovo,  Bulgarias premier ski resort, from the end of June 2007 Polkovnik Serafimovo will be only 100km via the new border crossing ,north of the Aegean coastal town of Kavala and the international airport served weekly by Thomson charter flights from numerous destinations in U. K.  Along the coast between Kavala and Thessaloniki there are numerous unspoilt long sandy beaches with stunningly clear unpolluted waters and sleepy fishing villages, reminiscent of the portugese algarve back in the sixties.