If you’ve ever hiked the Balkans region, you know how awe-inspiring it can be. There are seven major mountain ranges in Bulgaria that are beloved by both locals and tourists alike. From the iconic Stara Planina, home the picturesque Botev peak, to the rugged charm of the Pirin, Rila and Rhodope Mountains, the region offers unparalleled natural beauty and outdoor adventure.
From epic winter snowboarding to summer biking adventures and soothing hikes, mountains in Bulgaria have plenty to offer. But with more and more people discovering Bulgaria’s natural beauty, it’s crucial to ensure the mountain huts and shelters that keep explorers safe and comfortable are well-maintained. That’s where campaigns like Bulgaria’s “Hut of the Year” come in.
What is “Hut of the Year” 2024 Campaign
Organized by the Bulgarian Tourist Union (BTS) and 360mag.bg, with many nominating organizations participating, the “Hut of the Year” competition helps to draw attention to the best huts and shelters in Bulgaria and provides grants to the winners. This campaign is all about celebrating and supporting Bulgaria’s network of mountain huts and shelters, with help from some well-known brands, such as Subaru and Siteground.
Voting for “Hut of the Year” 2024 started on May 15th, and runs until September 25th, so there is plenty of time to get involved. Head over to the “Hut of the Year” website to learn more and cast your vote or to sign up as a volunteer to help the huts and shelters in the fall.
How “Hut of the Year” Helps
The competition not only throws a spotlight on the best shelters and huts in each category, but they also award grants to the winners to improve their huts further. The “Hut of the Year” Awards started in 2023, and since then the number of grants has doubled, with a total of over BGN 65,000 between the 7 grants.
The best part of this contest is that the public gets to decide on the winners! From February to May, ten organizations with deep knowledge of these mountains and the chalets nominate worthy contenders. Then in May, the voting opens and the public gets to cast their ballots across 8 different categories.
In 2023, there was a fantastic turnout, with more than 25,000 Bulgarians who voted and more than 70 huts and shelters that participated. This year, it is expected to be even bigger since the grant totals have doubled.
Hiking in Bulgaria – the picturesque Pirin Mountains
Grants for the Huts
A lot of these huts lack basic necessities or are falling apart, which is where the grants come in, offering a lifeline to these crucial mountain shelters. Each grant has a different scope, but the ultimate goal is to solve particular problems related to the huts and shelters. Some are focused on the bare necessities, while others aim to enhance the experience for visitors by providing better conditions. These grants go beyond purchasing the necessary equipment, but they also help to support the implementation of certain activities or programs in the winner’s hut/shelter.
This year, there are seven grants available and their different uses will be integral to improving these huts and shelters.
- A Hut for Example – technology improvement grant by SiteGround
- Cosy Hut – renovation of the bed base in huts and shelters by TED Mattresses
- Grant for construction materials and specialized labor – by GP Group
- Grant for First aid kits around huts and shelters – by Credissimo
- Zero Emissions – grant for building a charging station for electric cars, by Photomate
- Grant for emergency solar system for shelters – by Pirinsko
- Grant for improving the areas and paths around huts and shelters – by Bulgarian Tourist Union
Hiking in Pirin Mountains – Bulgaria
Categories for Voting
There are eight different categories for “Hut of the Year”:
- Best Chalet without car access: For the secluded mountain hideaways.
- Best Chalet with car access: For the accessible shelters.
- Best Managed Shelter: For shelters run by a person on site.
- Best Stray Shelter: For shelters not run by a person on site.
- Lodge with the Best Kitchen: Typically, the best cuisine available.
- Cleanest Cabin: This shelter will be awarded the Kärcher Award.
- Cabin with the most sustainable eco practices: This shelter will be awarded the PhotoMate Award.
- Restart a Hut: For the best renovated abandoned hut, and previously the most popular category.
How to vote in the “Hut of the Year” 2024 Campaign
Voting for “Hut of the Year” 2024 started on May 15th, and runs until September 25th, so there is plenty of time to get involved. Head over to the “Hut of the Year” website to learn more and cast your vote or to sign up as a volunteer to help the huts and shelters in the fall.
