Summer Team Building 2026 in Kalofer: Hiking to Rayskoto Praskalo and team challenges in the heart of Bulgaria
17.06.2026 7 min. 59 views
Physical presence in the office has long ceased to be the primary measure of productivity and high performance. Of course, the office has its undeniable advantages - it is a place for meetings, onboarding new colleagues, brainstorming sessions, and social interaction. At Stenik, we believe that quality focus often happens best at home, which is why we choose trust over micromanagement - currently, between 70% and 80% of our team works fully remotely from different parts of Bulgaria.
But how do you maintain a strong team spirit when hundreds of kilometers separate you? The answer is simple: through genuine human connection. We compensate for the distance with at least two major team-building events per year, dedicated to being together, having fun, and strengthening the trust between us.
In mid-June 2026, we gathered for our summer team-building event in the Panitsite area near Kalofer. The choice was no coincidence - we met right in the heart of Bulgaria, making travel convenient for colleagues coming from different cities - Sofia, Plovdiv, Pazardzhik, Burgas, Haskovo, Ruse, Popovo, Kostinbrod, and Novi Iskar. There was also some symbolism behind it: just as we chose the center of the country, Stenik has been at the center of the development of Bulgarian eCommerce for more than 20 years. And last but not least - the fresh mountain air helped keep us “centered” after all the partying!
Day 1: Team challenges, skills and cheers
We started Friday with outdoor activities organized by Rafting Adventure Net. The goal was not just entertainment, but also developing skills we use every day at work – communication, coordination, trust, leadership, and the ability to find solutions under pressure.
Icebreakers
We broke the ice with plenty of fun icebreaker games focused on coordination, trust, and team bonding.
“Shepherds and sheep” game
We split into two main teams - “Bangaranga” and “Stenik”, who entered a friendly competition. Lyuboslav and Todor took on the role of shepherds. Their task was to guide their teammates (the “sheep”), who were blindfolded, to an improvised sheepfold using only pre-agreed sounds. The result was a perfect tie between the teams and a lot of laughter.
Skill and construction challenge (“Plank Tower”)
This challenge quickly revealed who had experience with an axe! The task required first splitting logs into planks and then building a stable structure. Team “Bangaranga” demonstrated both strong wood-splitting skills and superior architectural thinking, building the taller structure and securing the win in the challenge.
Culinary Delight
We went through identifying traditional spices to create authentic colorful salt, followed by kneading, decorating, and baking delicious traditional ceremonial breads. We performed exceptionally well and thoroughly enjoyed tasting the results of both teams' efforts. The outcome exceeded our expectations.
“Correct answer or shot”
To finish the day, the two teams competed in a fun quiz featuring questions from Bulgarian history and geography. Every wrong answer came with a “reward” - the Bulgarian version of a tequila shot: smooth rakia followed by a pickled cucumber. Although we demonstrated solid knowledge, there were still plenty of reasons to raise a toast.
Friday night turned into a lively party that, for some of the most resilient colleagues, continued until the early hours of the morning.
Day 2: A complete recharge in the Balkan mountains
The second day of the team-building event was dedicated to nature. The team split into two groups based on personal preferences - some colleagues chose a relaxing walk along the scenic “Byalata Reka” eco trail, while some of the guys set off on a hike to Rayskoto Praskalo.
The “Invincibles” expedition to Rayskoto Praskalo
“When the team-building hiking group is small, it means the party the night before was a good one.” Old company saying
A few colleagues took on the challenging route from the Panitsite area to Rai Hut and Rayskoto Praskalo - the highest waterfall in the Balkans. For most of them, this was their first mountain hike of such length - a full 21 kilometers. Despite the fatigue and a brief summer rain, the group reached its goal. Just like with complex eCommerce projects, success does not come overnight - it is the result of persistence, consistent effort, discipline, and teamwork. And the satisfaction at the finish is completely well deserved.
A walk along the “Byalata Reka” eco trail
While the small expedition was climbing the steep slopes, the rest of the team chose to recharge with fresh air and pleasant emotions along the picturesque “Byalata Reka” eco trail, enjoying the rocky canyons and river rapids.
The afternoon continued back at the complex with plenty of enjoyable conversations, card games, and board games.
Reflection, AI, and looking ahead
After the day’s adventures, it was time for our traditional team meeting - an important part of every team-building event. It gives us the opportunity to exchange ideas, share feedback, and discuss the direction in which the company is developing.
We reviewed what we achieved during the first half of 2026 and outlined our main priorities for the months ahead. Some of the key highlights included:
- The Voice of new colleagues: We first gave the floor to the newer members of the team, who shared their impressions of the work environment, company culture, and the factors that motivate them to grow professionally at Stenik. It was inspiring to hear that they feel comfortable as part of our team and want to build their long-term careers with the company.
- Shared success: We recognized colleagues who achieved key results on some of our most complex projects during the first half of 2026. We shared best practices, discussed the challenges we had overcome, and most importantly - celebrated the rewarding results together.
- Optimization and growth: We discussed the development and implementation of AI-powered optimizations and automations at Stenik, designed to support our workflows, increase efficiency, and allow us to deliver even greater value to our clients.
Of course, we also set new goals for the coming months. For now, we will keep them to ourselves and share the results when the time is right. Because every achieved goal is only the beginning of the next challenge.
Ready for the next peak
Omaynik complex in Kalofer won us over with its tranquility, fresh mountain air, and authentic atmosphere that helped us disconnect from everyday life and recharge in nature. An additional bonus was the limited mobile coverage, which gave us the opportunity for a true digital detox and more time for meaningful conversations.
We would like to thank our wonderful hosts for their hospitality and organization. We are already considering our next “green office” or team-building event there and highly recommend the place.
After several days surrounded by the beautiful nature of the Central Balkan Mountains, we returned home full of new energy, even more united, and motivated for the challenges ahead. Once again, we proved to ourselves that distance does not matter when people share common goals, values, and the desire to move forward together.
Would you like to work in a team where remote culture and trust are the standard, not the exception?
Take a look at our open positions or simply send us your application.
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