DAY 1

Arrival at Sofia International Airport.

Depending on the arrival time:

City tour of central area or free time.
The city tour usually starts from Alexander Nevski Cathedral, then continue to St. Sophia church,  along the Yellow square and with a view to all emblematic buildings around it, to the Presidency, St. George Rotunda and end with a nice walk along Vitoshka Pedestrian street to the National Palace of Culture.

After this don’t forget to visit on the outskirts of Sofia, to visit the Boyana Church; an UNESCO Heritage

Night spent in Sofia.

DAY 2 

We move south to Bansko at the foothills of the Pirin Mountains.

Stob Pyramids

Exit the highway in the direction of Stob and soon you will see the orange-pink mountains on your left in the distance.

Even now the Pyramids are a tiny spot but don’t worry,  that is just an illusion. Navigate through the somewhat deserted village of Stob and arrive at the bottom of the foothills of the Rila Mountains. Walk for 35 minutes on the winding path, which will lead you, the higher you get, to a breathtaking panoramic view.

Rila Monastery

Hidden in the deep valley of the river Rilska and between the forests of the surrounding National Park, the Rila Monastery rises majestically in front of you!Founded in the 10th century by the holy hermit Saint Ivan Rilski, it has become the most famous monastery in Bulgaria and as such is considered the Treasure of Bulgaria.

It is considered not only the most famous but also one of the oldest, the largest and still functioning monasteries, in short, the National Bulgarian pride, which according to its inhabitants represents the strength of a nation.

With the preservation of its faith, traditions and Cyrillic writing, it is no wonder that it was recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site in 1983.

Two nights in Bansko

DAY 3

Bansko

Bansko is a town at the foot of the Pirin Mountains, which are part of Pirin National Park, in southwest Bulgaria. It’s a gateway to numerous ski and snowboard slopes on Todorka Peak, including the challenging Tomba run. Footpaths cross the park’s craggy alpine landscape, home to bears and wolves. The park is also known for the high-altitude Vihren Peak, with forested ridges and striking glacial lakes.

When you have a chance visit he temple “Holy Trinity” which is situated in the center of Bansko and it is one of the symbols of the resort. Besides being one of the most visited attractions of the town, the temple is one of the largest in Bulgaria.

Fish your own “catch of the day” for lunch.

Horse riding in the mountains

Dancing Bear Parc, “nursery home” for bears

Rafting

DAY 4

Today we travel through the very southern part of the central Rhodopes to discovers the phenomenas of the Trigrad Gorge.

Yagodinska Cave

It is the pearl of Bulgaria’s cave world. The cave is named after the nearby village of Yagodina in the Rhodopi Mountains. The Yagodina Cave is a labyrinthine cave with several floors and offers a spectacle of incredibly beautiful caves.

With 10.5 km it is the longest in the mountain range and there is a specially lit path for tourists, of which 360 m has been made suitable for the disabled.

Eagle’s Eye

After the magical Yagodinska Caves, we have an appointment for Eagles’ Eye. You will drive through the so-called Buynovo Gorge, the longest gorge in Bulgaria.

The cliffs on both sides of the gorge rise up to hundreds of meters. The narrowest gorge between the cliffs is called “The Wolfs’ Leap”; locals say the wolves would jump into the gorge during the winter to attack the sheep cages.

In addition to caves, the river has carved other interesting formations into the marble cliff. Not far from the Yagodinska cave there is a natural bridge, and close to the bridge is the beautiful Praskolo waterfall. The overwhelming beauty of the Buynovo Gorge can be appreciated from “a bird’s eye view”, thanks to the Eagle’s Eye.

Park your car and let the reserved jeep take you to great heights. You will find yourself on a metal platform built on the steep cliff of the Saint Iliya Peak at an altitude of 1,563 meters, with an impressive view of the entire area.

Shiroka Laka

Shiroka Laka is located on your route in the Rhodopi, Mountains, 16 km from Pamporovo. Laka is old Bulgarian for curve, or meander.

Founded in the 17th century, it is now one of the many popular tourist destinations. The village has fortunately preserved its architecture from the Bulgarian Revival period, as well as its musical culture; the beautiful landscape and rich history, guarantee a lasting memory.

Accommodation in Pamporovo

DAY 5

Through the magic Rhodopi mountains to Plovdiv, a hidden gem

Wonderful Bridges

Deep and high in the majestic Rodhopi Mountains, there is a beautiful destination called The Wonderful Bridges (Chudnite Mostove). This is one of the most attractive and impressive natural phenomena in Europe.

The bridges were formed by the erosive force of the once flooded river in the past, which eroded the marble slab into a deep water cave. The ceiling collapsed, creating majestic marble bridges. Actually, the Wonderful Bridges marble arches connect the banks of the Dalbok Dol (Deep Gorge) river. A thousand years ago there was a cave in the riverbed that collapsed after an earthquake. Over the centuries the river washed away the rubble and the beautiful bridges emerged.

Bachkovo Monastery

The Bachkovo Monastery is located in the north of the Rhodopi Mountains, not far from the town of Assenovgrad. Founded in the 11th century by two Georgian brothers, aristocrats in Byzantine military service, it is one of the oldest monasteries in the entire Balkans and one of the other ten Unesco World Heritage sites in Bulgaria. It is linked to three cultures: the Byzantine, the ancient Georgian and the Bulgarian.

The Bachkovo Monastery is the second largest monastery in Bulgaria and is beautifully situated on a ledge to the right of the valley of the Chepelarska River. The monastery complex is almost 8000 m² and is located about 440 meters above sea level. It includes two large courtyards and four churches.

Asen’s Fortress

Asen’s Fort is an important stop on the most popular religious and cultural routes through the Rhodopi Mountains. Asen’s Fortress is a medieval fortress and a strong reminder of Bulgaria’s glorious past.

The fortress has existed since the time of the Thracians 3000 B.C. and was extended, fortified and named after Tsar Ivan Asenin 1231 during his reign.

The panoramic views from the fortress of Asen are astonishing. It was for this reason that the fortress of Asen is located on this steep rocky hill and has been rebuilt over the centuries.

Plovdiv

Plovdiv is said to be one of the oldest living cities in Europe.
It was originally built on seven hills, now there are only six: one was mined centuries ago for the construction of the city.
With its long history and architectural heritage, Plovdiv’s old town has acquired UNESCO protected heritage status, and has been given the official designation of “Architecture and Historical Reserve”.
As such, it was not surprisingly chosen as the European Capital of Culture for 2019. Because of its charm, Plovdiv is compared to other beautiful and historic cities and is called the Bulgarian Florence or Paris of the Balkans.

Accommodation in Plovdiv

DAY 6

The ancient city of Nessebar is located on a rocky peninsula jutting into the Black Sea and is one of the many UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Bulgaria.

The small peninsula is connected to the mainland by an artificial isthmus, which translated from ancient Greek means “a narrow strip of land connecting two parts”.

If you walk down the narrow isthmus, you can see that it will be a wonderful day trip. As you cross the narrow strip of land, a wooden windmill welcomes you to this ancient town hidden behind the remains of the walls of a Roman fortress.Often called the ‘Jewel of the Black Sea’, ancient Nessebar is over 3000 years old and was once a Thracian settlement known as Mesembria.

Varna

Varna is the third-largest city in Bulgaria. It is a port city on the Black Sea and a summer residence for everyone, from the Bulgarian nobility to the young holidaymakers. People of all ages will find something to their taste here.

After you have parked your car near the harbour, you will find a huge park that runs along the coast and cuts into the city, the Sea Garden, a national monument of scenic architecture.

Enjoy a leisurely stroll along the wide promenades and flowerbeds and in the shade of the palms and deciduous trees, there is plenty to see and do here.

Accommodation in Sankt Contatine & Elena

Day 7,8, 9, 10

Relax enjoy the Sun, Cuisine and maybe Nightlife?

Day 11

Provadia, Ovech Fortress

The fortress of Ovech, another picturesque place with a stone stronghold is located east of the town of Provadia. Like the Madara region, it is rich in unique natural formations, such as attractive above-ground and underground karst caves. There are also sinkholes, picturesque valley formations in the form of small ravines and inaccessible rock ledges.

The fortress, built on a ship-shaped plateau, has been called by different names over the centuries. The oldest is the Byzantine name Provat. Bulgarians called it Ovech which means “ram” in Bulgarian, while Turks called it Tash hisar (which means a stone fortress translated from Turkish). The fortress was inhabited successively by Thracians, Romans, Byzantines, Bulgarians and Turks.

Madara Horseman

” Madara Horseman” a national historical-archaeological reserve is located only 15 km northeast of Shumen, and 75 km from Varna.

In a beautiful natural setting between towering cliffs, people have lived here since the dawn of man. The town of Madara was first inhabited in the Neolithic period (the late Stone Age).

Over the centuries, rock sanctuaries, palaces, hermitages and monasteries have been built here. More than 150 natural caves in the rocks were used as such. Today, dozens of monuments and artefacts from all eras can be seen. The most remarkable monument in the Madara Reserve is the unique stone relief known as the Madara Horseman.

Velik0 Tarnovo

Veliko Tarnovo Region is located between the Danube to the north and the Balkan Mountain to the south. Here are some of the most visited cultural and historical landmarks in Bulgaria and therefore tourism occupies a significant part of the region’s economy. 140 cultural monuments of national importance are located in the area and one of the reasons is Veliko Tarnovo, which was the capital of the Second Bulgarian State.
The churches, monasteries and houses built during the National Revival are the reason for the development of religious tourism. In addition to that, there are also cultural, hunting, spa, wine and rural tourism.

Accommodation in Veliko Tarnovo

Day 12

We move slowly back to Sofia

Zlatna Panega

About four kilometres from Lukovit is the eco trail Iskar-Panega. A small man-made tunnel gets you to the staircase leading to the river. This park, along the Panega river, is the first Geopark of the country. The term Geopark stands for to a sustainable park, which should advance protection of nature. Local people are involved in its development to stimulate the economy. With good paths, wooden bridges and plenty of places to rest, this is a pleasant and easy trail to follow. In the clip on the left side, you can see some impressions of my roadtrip to Lukovit and the Geopark Iskar-Panega.

Eyes of God

Prohodna Cave is one of the most famous and easily accessible caves in Bulgaria. It lies 2 km away from Karlukovo Village and 112 km away from Sofia.
The cave is a natural 262 m long rock bridge. It has two entrances – a big and a small one. A path beginning at the approximately 35 m-high small entrance crosses the cave and goes out through the big entrance (the biggest cave arch in Bulgaria – 45 m).
Prohodna Cave is naturally lit thanks to its large entrances and cave holes – natural holes on the ceiling. These cave holes are precisely what makes the cave unique. Situated next to each other and having similar almond-shaped forms, the cave holes bear striking resemblance to giant eyes that seem as if they are staring at the visitors. It is not by chance that local people sometimes refer to them as The Eyes of God. Seen from a specific angle, they even resemble a face that looks down.

Back to Sofia for last night before departure

Day 13, Departure