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Information

Festival Program 2026

TRAIL RUNNING FESTIVAL
DECATHLON Персенк Ултра 2026

Wednesday - 19.08.2026

Date/Hour Event Location Language
15:00 – 16:00
Gathering: organizers, volunteers, and friends
Start Zone
Bulgarian
18:00 – 20:00
International runners welcome drink
Hotel Perelik
English
21:00 – 22:30
Movie: Trails in Motion 2026
Hotel Perelik
English

Thursday - 20.08.2026

Date/Hour Event Location Language
09:00 – 10:00
Breakfast with Hill Season Podcast
Hotel Perelik
Bulgarian
10:30 – 11:00
Corporate Relay
Pamporovo Dam
Bulgarian
11:00 – 14:00
Guided hike
Hotel Perelik
Bulgarian
12:00 – 12:30
Photo Exhibition: 13 Years of Persenk Ultra
Hotel Perelik
English
12:30 – 17:00
Trail Running Conference
Hotel Perelik
English
17:00 – 17:30
Technical Conference – Athletes
Hotel Perelik
English
17:30 – 18:00
Technical Conference – Athletes
Hotel Perelik
Bulgarian
18:00 – 20:00
Welcome Cocktail for Athletes
Hotel Perelik
Bulgarian
20:00 – 20:30
Technical Conference – Volunteers
Hotel Perelik
Bulgarian
21:00 – 22:30
Movie: Trail Running Film Festival 2026
Hotel Perelik
Bulgarian

Friday - 21.08.2026

Date/Hour Event Location Language
09:00 – 16:00
Race: Pamporovo Sky Race 25KM
Start Zone
English
09:30 – 10:00
Breakfast with Hill Season Podcast
Hotel Perelik
Bulgarian
10:00 – 10:30
Kids Run - 6 - 13 years
Pamporovo Dam
Bulgarian
11:00 – 14:00
Guided hike
Hotel Perelik
Bulgarian
12:00 – 12:30
Expo Zone Opening
Hotel Perelik
Bulgarian
17:30 – 18:30
Media conference - Elite runners
Hotel Perelik
Bulgarian
19:00 – 20:00
Opening Ceremony
Start Zone
English
24:00
Race: DECATHLON Persenk Ultra 100KM
Start Zone
English

Saturday - 22.08.2026

Date/Hour Event Location Language
07:00
Race: DECATHLON Persenk Ultra 80KM
Start Zone
English
08:00 – 20:00
Race: DECATHLON Persenk Ultra 50KM
Start Zone
English
09:00
Race: Sport Box Trail Run 20KM
Start Zone
English
09:30 – 10:30
Breakfast with Hill Season Podcast
Hotel Perelik
Bulgarian
11:00 – 14:00
Guided Hike
Hotel Perelik
Bulgarian

Sunday - 23.08.2026

Date/Hour Event Location Language
09:30 – 10:30
Breakfast with Hill Season Podcast
Hotel Perelik
Bulgarian
11:00 – 14:00
Guided Hike
Hotel Perelik
Bulgarian
12:00 – 13:30
Closing ceremony and award ceremony
Start Zone
English
14:00 – 15:00
Volunteers farewell cocktail
Hotel Perelik
Bulgarian

Starter packs

Race packs for all events will be distributed on the following dates and locations:

15.08 – 18.08 – Plovdiv, Decathlon Plovdiv – Registration and race pack distribution for all events

19.08 – 22.08 – Pamporovo Resort, Hotel Perelik – Registration and race pack distribution for all events

Required equipment

Mobile phone

Charged mobile phone with the ability to make incoming and outgoing calls within the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria

Water

At least 500 ml of water

Whistle

In case of loss, the safest way to hear you

Bell

Helps prevent encounters with wild animals

Survival blanket

Aluminum foil (survival blanket) measuring at least 140 x 200 cm

Additional equipment

Hat

The best friend in rain or shine

Gloves

It's important to stay warm when the pace is slow or the temperatures are low.

Long pants

(or a combination of clothes that completely cover the legs)

Jacket

made of waterproof material with a water column of at least 10,000mm

How to get there?

Traveling by car

Sofia - Pamporovo

Pamporovo Resort is the main hub of the festival and the start location for all races.

Sofia → A1 (Trakia) → Plovdiv → Pamporovo (~230 km, ~3:45 hours) (~230 км, ~3:45 часа)

Varna - Pamporovo

Varna → A2 (Hemus) → Shumen → Targovishte → Veliko Tarnovo → A1 (Trakia) → Plovdiv → Pamporovo (~420 km, ~5:45 hours) (~420 км, ~5:45 часа)

Intercity buses

Sofia - Pamporovo

  • Sofia → Pamporovo 2:15 – 3:30 мин

Varna - Pamporovo

  • Varna→Assenovgrad (With a transfer 9+ hours)

Train

BDZ – Bulgarian State Railways

Pamporovo Resort does not have a railway station. The best option is to travel by train to Plovdiv, and from there take a bus to Pamporovo.
  • Varna → Plovdiv (7 hours)

  • Sofia → Plovdiv (2 hours)

Accommodation

Hotel "Perelik" 5★
Хотел „Орловец“ 5★

Hotel "Perelik" 5★ and Хотел „Орловец“ 5★ са официалните партньори и основни домакини на DECATHLON Persenk Ultra 2026. Двата хотела се намират един до друг, в самия център на Пампорово, и са част от един и същ собственик – което гарантира общ стандарт на обслужване, координирана организация и максимално удобство за всички участници.

Хотел „Перелик“ – сърцето на събитието

Всички ключови активности на фестивала ще се проведат именно тук:

  • техническа конференция

  • брифинги

  • регистрация и получаване на стартови пакети

  • официални церемонии

  • срещи и фестивални активности

The hotel provides participants and their companions with:

✔ Премиум настаняване в обновени стаи и апартаменти
✔ Просторни общи части и уютна атмосфера
✔ 24/7 рецепция и удобства, подходящи за спортисти
✔ Голям СПА център за възстановяване – басейни, сауни, релакс зони
✔ Перфектна локация с директен достъп до курорта и трасетата

Хотел „Орловец“ – комфорт и спокойствие на няколко крачки

Разположен непосредствено до „Перелик“, хотел „Орловец“ предлага същото високо ниво на комфорт и обслужване, в по-бутикова и спокойна атмосфера. Подходящ избор както за състезатели, така и за придружаващи семейства и приятели, които искат да съчетаят фестивалната емоция с релакс.

✔ Луксозни стаи и апартаменти
✔ Модерен СПА център
✔ Тиха и комфортна среда
✔ Буквално на 1 минута от всички събития на фестивала


Специални условия за участници и гости на Персенк Ултра

С промокод ULTRA2026 получавате:

  • 20% отстъпка при 1, 2 и 3 нощувки
  • 25% отстъпка при 4 и повече нощувки

Валидност на промокода: 17.08.2026 – 24.08.2026

Използвайте промокод ULTRA2026, за да получите специалната отстъпка директно на https://perelikhotel.book-onlinenow.net and https://hotelorlovetz.book-onlinenow.net.

Това партньорство гарантира високо ниво на организация, максимално удобство и истинско фестивално преживяване в сърцето на Родопите.
Персенк Ултра не е просто състезание – това е няколкодневен планински празник, в който всичко се случва на едно място.

Оферта DECATHLON Персенк Ултра

Landmarks

Snezhanka Tower

🚶‍♂️ Within walking distance of the race Start/Finish area

Snezhanka TV Tower was built in 1978 in the Rhodope Mountains, on Mount Snezhanka, which rises to 1,926 m above sea level. The tower itself is 156 meters tall. In addition to being one of Bulgaria’s 100 National Tourist Sites, it is one of the main landmarks and symbols of Pamporovo Resort. Snezhanka Tower is even featured in the logo of Pamporovo AD.

Smolyan Lakes

The Smolyan Lakes are arranged in a stepped formation along the left bank of the Cherna River. Reflected in their waters are, almost shyly, Mount Snezhanka, the Orpheus Rocks, and the Nevyastata rock formation. The lakes are of landslide origin. In the past there were around 20 lakes, but today only seven remain. Many have disappeared over time, while others have turned into marshland and are now difficult to find.

Today, the lakes form a fairy-tale corner near the town, where locals and visitors alike seek refuge and coolness during the summer heat. The area offers excellent opportunities for camping and fishing, and the three highest-located lakes are connected by a beautiful eco-trail. 

Canyon of the Waterfalls Eco Trail

The Canyon of the Waterfalls Eco Trail is located near the town of Smolyan, about 30 km from Pamporovo.

The hike starts close to an old Roman bridge. The trail is approximately 6 km long (around 4 hours of walking) and is circular, meaning it ends at the same point where it begins.

The highest point of the route reaches 1,800 m above sea level, with a total elevation gain of 700 m.

The trail passes through the Soskovcheto Reserve, home to more than 40 waterfalls, making it one of the most scenic hiking routes in the Rhodope Mountains.

Rozhen Observatory

Hidden deep in the Rhodope Mountains—rising with beauty and mystery—just 14 km from Pamporovo, lies one of the most important astronomical observatories in Southeastern Europe: the National Astronomical Observatory Rozhen. Located on Mount Rozhen in the Smolyan region, the observatory offers exceptional opportunities for space observation and scientific research, standing out on the scale of European astronomy.

Results

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

Rules

Rules for participation in competitions organized by the Bulgarian Ultramarathons 2020 Association

Start and method of transportation

All participants start together at the starting line and must travel the entire race course and pass through all checkpoints.

  • Failure to check in at the control due to the competitor's fault results in a 1-hour penalty added to the final score. It is your responsibility to provide an opportunity to be checked.

  • Moving off the course carries a penalty according to the deviation, starting from a minimum of 5 minutes and increasing according to the reduction made.

Mandatory equipment and inspection

Each participant is required to wear all mandatory equipment throughout the race. Checks are possible before the start, after the finish and at the checkpoints.

  • Missing one item of mandatory equipment results in a minimum 30 minute penalty added to the final time.

  • Lack of a critical element (such as a headlamp before a night stage) may result in disqualification depending on the situation and at the discretion of the examiner.

Декларации

Всеки състезател е длъжен предварително да се запознае, съгласи и лично да подпише следните две декларации:

  • Disclaimer

  • Декларация за съгласие за обработка на лични данни

Без надлежно подписани декларации участието в състезанието не е възможно. Декларациите се предоставят отделно от организаторите – онлайн или на място – и трябва да бъдат подписани лично от участника преди получаването на стартов пакет.

Environmental protection

Thank you for not throwing trash into nature and leaving a clean environment behind. 

  • There is no penalty for unintentionally dropping trash.

  • Intentional littering - 1 hour penalty

  • In case of repeated intentional littering - disqualification and ban from participating in all competitions organized by us.

Points and volunteers

Each checkpoint has a person in charge who has the right to stop a participant at his/her discretion. His/her decision is final and cannot be discussed by either the participants or the organizers. If a cut-off is announced, the time at which you left the checkpoint is taken into account.

Volunteers are at the checkpoints to help you successfully complete the race. Kind and respectful treatment of volunteers is not only mandatory, but also crucial for the smooth running of the race.

Cancellation and removal

Withdrawals can only be made at a checkpoint in front of a volunteer who is in charge of timing and who marks you as a withdrawal. Please check the classification to make sure you are correctly marked. If you withdraw, you may keep your number, but if you have a GPS tracking device, you must return it to the checkpoint manager.

If you need transportation from a point, notify the person in charge and arm yourself with patience. We do not leave anyone on the ground, but it may take hours before we are able to organize transportation.

Although sometimes reaching the next point is impossible, dropping out between two points is highly undesirable. Please do your best to inform the organizer, arrange transportation, and be properly marked as a drop-out.

Спиране на състезание по външни фактори

  • Ако състезанието бъде временно спряно само на един пункт:

    • Времето за влизане и излизане от този пункт няма да се брои.

  • Ако състезанието бъде спряно генерално:

    • Всеки участник се счита за финиширал на най-близката дистанция до мястото, където е спрян.

    • Пример: състезател от 160 км, спрян на 95-ти км, се класира като финиширал на 110 км.

    • Няма награждаване на състезатели, класирани служебно заради прекратяване.

Attitude

Negative attitude towards the organizer, volunteers or other competitors will not be tolerated and will lead to disqualification or ban from participating in all competitions in our chain.

Contestation

Submission of a contestation for illegal participation of a competitor is possible up to 1 hour after the competitor finishes.

Awards

The winners of the overall men's and women's classifications are entitled to participate in one race free of charge in the following calendar year. The race is from our calendar of their choice.

Drop bag

In some races it is possible to transport luggage to a designated point for use by competitors during the race. The drop bag must only be in a bag provided by us and marked with a number.

After the race, you can receive your drop bag.

We are not responsible for the condition of items in the drop bag. Forgotten bags will be returned by the supplier within one month after the race at the recipient's expense.

Special conditions for participation

Disadvantaged participants

Be sure to notify us before registration so that we can discuss the conditions for participation together. We may have additional requirements depending on the situation. These may include mandatory support from a companion (pacer) who will be with you during parts or the entire race, a car at certain points, and others. Depending on the circumstances, we may offer free participation for you and your team. Remember that you are responsible not only for yourself and your health, but also for your team, the volunteers at the points, and the organizers. Strive for maximum independence.

Participants under 18 years old

For distances under 30 km: participants under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult companion at all times during the race. Participants between 16 and 18 years of age may travel independently.

For distances between 30 km and 50 km: participants between 16 and 18 years of age may only participate after providing written consent from a parent or guardian.

For distances over 50 km: participants under 18 years of age are not allowed.

External assistance and pacers

Външна помощ от лица, които не са част от състезанието, може да получите само в зоната на пункта.

  • Assistance from outsiders outside the checkpoint area (10 meters after the checkpoint) is prohibited.

  • The use of pacers is prohibited in all competitions, except when expressly permitted and described in the annexes for the specific competition.

  • It is possible to finish with family/friends in the last 1 kilometer before the finish, only provided that this does not interfere with other competitors and does not affect the final ranking.

  • Mutual assistance between competitors is desirable and supported by us. 

  • Receiving outside assistance outside of regulation may result in penalty or disqualification.

  • Възможно е да получите външна помощ, когато това ще предотврати по-сериозна опасност. Информирайте организатора на следващия пункт или на финала. Всички подобни инциденти ще се разглеждат индивидуално.

Pricing policy

Discounts and rebates

Доброволци на което и да е от нашите събития получават 50% намаление от цената на едно състезание по техен избор. В случай, че състезанието има множество цени през времето (ранна и късна регистрация), за отстъпката се взима последната най-скъпа цена. Отстъпката важи само ако вашето доброволческо участие е през предходните 12 месеца към датата на регистрация или същото желано събитие. За да получите отстъпката се свържете с нас предварително.

Competitors with low incomes may receive a significant discount on the entry fee. Each such case is considered individually after submitting an application to the organizers.

Free entry for winners

The winners in the "general ranking" category for men and women receive the right to participate for free in any of our competitions in the following calendar year.

Transfer to another distance

It is possible to transfer to another distance, and the competitor must pay the difference in price according to the transfer date.

Transfer of registration

It is prohibited to transfer registration to another person and to run with someone else's number. It is prohibited to illegally cross the course by competitors without a starting number. This may lead to a ban from future participation in our competitions.

Carryover to next year

There is no possibility of transferring registration to the next year.

Refund of participation fee

Такса за състезание се връща само по начина, описан в уебсайта за регистрация.

T-shirt fee refund

A purchased t-shirt can only be returned if it is unopened and in perfect, unused condition. We will refund the full amount minus shipping costs.

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