The Balkan Mountains ("Stara planina") are the longest (550 km) and the biggest of all mountains in Bulgaria. Its range extends throughout the entire length of the country - from the Bulgarian border of Serbia to the Black Sea coast. The highest peak is Mount Botev (2376 m a.s.l.). The Balkan Mountains are recognized paradise for many walkers due to the good paths following the ridges of the mountains and the well developed network of mountain huts, which (despite being rather old some of them) provide reliable shelter for hiking groups.
Stara planina is the most foggy and windy of all Bulgarian mountains. Average temperature values around the Mount Botev are January average minus 8.9C; July average 7.9C and an annual average of minus 0.7C. Rainfalls are at their maximum at May and June and minimum (excluding the Mount Botev area) in February. The snow cover is rather irregular not only in duration but also in territory.
The western border of the mountain is Vrushka Chuka pass while on the north, the natural border is the Danubian plain. From west to east Stara planina touches upon the Sofia valley, Sredna gora and the Upper Thracian valley. To the east, the Balkan ends with cape Emine.
Within this borders it covers an area of 25 000 square kilometers.
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PARTS

> WESTERN STARA PLANINA
It starts from the Vrushka Chuka pass and it ends at the Zlatinski pass. This sector has a length of 215 km.
The most popular and the most climbed is Mount Kom (2016 m a.s.l.).
In general, the relief of the mountain does not have a well-expressed alpine character.
The Vratsa Mountains are one exception. The natural phenomenon Vrattsata is the focal point of climbing activities in Bulgaria.
The existence of many caves explains the speleological activities in this region. The biggest cave is Temnata dupka. Here too are the caves Ledenika, Elata, the picturesque Iskar Gorge. It is a natural miracle carved out of the stone breasts of the Stara Planina.

> CENTRAL STARA PLANINA
Central Stara Planina starts from the Zlatinski pass and ends at the pass Vratmik on the east. This is the highest and the most attractive part. Except the highest Mount Botev, there are 24 other peaks. Some of them are: Vezhen (2198 m a.s.l.); Golyam Kupen (2169 m a.s.l.); Ambaritsa (2166 m a.s.l.); Malak Kupen (2141 m a.s.l.)
The valley of the river Osam and the Steneto pass must be mentioned as an important natural reservation.
It is here than Nature has created a mountain heaven - the Northern Dzhendem and the Southern Dzhendem, the Heavenly rocks, the Heavenly springer, Singing rocks.
The Stara reka River gorge (passing through Karlovo) has also be declared a natural reservation.
There are the mount Stoletov, the Shipka pass, which sanctified peak hosts a 32 meter tall memorial of granite - the church monument Shipka.
There are also the National Park Central Balkan, the Troyan Monastery, the Kapinovski Monastery, the Kilifarevo Monastery, Dryanovski Monastery, the Merdanski Monastery in the Central Stara Planina.

> EASTERN STARA PLANINA
This part starts from the Vratnik pass and ends at the waters of the Black Sea.
There are no alpine formations. The Sliven Mountains deserves mentioning because of its height and the alpine character of the area around the Blue rocks as well the fact, that it is the most visited part of the whole of Stara Planina. The Natural Park "Sinite Kamani" (The Blue Rocks) is of great interest too.
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RIVERS
Over the greater part of the Central Stara Planina ridge runs the chief Balkan water-separator line. The rivers of greater importance, which flow from the mountain to the north and into the Black Sea via the Danube River are the rivers: Lom, Ogosta, Yantra, Roussenski Lom, Kamchia. To the south and into the White sea flow the rivers Strouma, Stara reka, Toundzha and Mochuritsa.