Rila Monastery

In the morning your guide will pick you up from your hotel/accommodation in Sofia. You will start your adventure by visiting first the biggest monastery in the Balkans. Rila monastery, part of the UNESCO World Heritage List, is situated in Rila mountain, an hour and a half drive from Sofia. The place is magical. The monastery is surrounded by the amazing beauty of the Mountain. You will learn a lot about the Bulgarian Medieval History and the Orthodox Christianity. After the guided tour of the complex, you will be able to enjoy it as much as you like by taking some free time to feel the atmosphere. Then, you can have a good traditional Bulgarian lunch.

Melnik

Our journey will continue through a very scenic passage into the Pirin mountain. The region that we will head to is called the Balkan Tuscany. The region is famous for growing sorts of vines that you can’t find anywhere else. We will visit also one more medieval monastery and the smallest town in Bulgaria - Melnik. Melnik was the main stronghold of one Bulgarian aristocracy family in the 13th and the 14th century. During the Ottoman period, the town became the main wine production center and was exporting wines to many European countries. The most famous customer was Winston Churchill himself. We will overnight in this quiet little town. Overnight: Melnik

Villa Melnik Winery

After breakfast, we will start our journey toward the Rhodope Mountains. First, we can make a stop in one of the good wineries in Bulgaria- Villa Melnik. You can try some of the most famous Bulgarian wines and learn a lot about wine-making in those lands by having a guided tour of the winery.

Orlovo Oko - Eagle's Eye viewpoint

We will continue our journey through beautiful roads, mountain passages, and gorges. Our trip will lead us to Yagodina village where we can have a traditional Rhodope lunch. The place will be below the famous pike- the Eagle's Eye. If choose you can make an hour-long hike to the top where you will see a stunning view of the mountains. The hike is not hard and the efforts are totally worth it.

Diavolsko Garlo- The Devil's Throat

Our next stop will be an amazing cave- the Devil's Throat. The place is full of legends, mysteries, and it was believed that it was the entrance of the Underworld. When you get there you will understand why.

Trigrad

Our final destination for the day will be Trigrad. A charming town where we will overnight and enjoy an excellent Rhodope dinner.

Shiroka Laka

Our exploration of the Rhodope will continue. We will drive to a little town called Shiroka Laka. The town has beautiful local architecture. It is famous for its music school, keeping and developing the traditions of the bagpipe music instrument, spread in the Rhodope region. The town also has given birth to one of the main figures, responsible for saving the Bulgarian Jews during the Second World War. We will also visit his grave later in the day during the visit of Bachkovo monastery.

Marvelous Bridges

The Marvelous Bridges are a set of unique natural bridges formed over millions of years through the process of erosion. These bridges are located in the Rhodope Mountains of Bulgaria and are considered to be some of the most stunning and unusual geological formations in Europe. Each bridge is carved from solid rock and is a result of the relentless action of water over time. The bridges vary in size, shape, and height, but all have a natural beauty that is truly breathtaking. Some of the bridges are over 100 meters in height and span up to 50 meters across. The tallest and most famous bridge, known as the Eye Bridge, is a popular spot for tourists and is considered one of the most beautiful and impressive natural wonders in Bulgaria. After this natural beauty we will have lunch.

Bachkovo Monastery

The monastery is the second biggest monastery in Bulgaria. It was constructed in the XI century. Inside are buried two of the main figures, responsible for saving the Jewish population from being sent to the Concentration camps during the Second World War- Patriarch Kiril and Ekzarh Stefan.

Plovdiv

Our final destination for the day is Plovdiv. We will overnight in the heart of the city. You can enjoy its wonderful and artistic atmosphere, but also its intense nightlife.

Plovdiv Old Town

We will dedicate most of our day to exploring this amazing city. Imagine yourself walking in the footsteps of ancient civilizations, unraveling the secrets of the past, and discovering the rich heritage of this fascinating region led by a highly educated guide who will do his best to make this day amazing. Each stop on this tour will transport you to a different era, and provide a unique perspective on Bulgaria's history and culture. We will visit most of its highlights and historical sites.

After the tour of Plovdiv, we will check out our hotel and will depart for our final destination for the day- Zaara Winery. We will overnight in the complex, situated in the East part of the Rhodope. There, you will be able to try some more wonderful wines.

Stara Zagora

After a good breakfast, we will start our journey into the heritage of the ancient civilizations that have been living in those lands. We will start by visiting the city of Stara Zagora or Augusta Trayana as the Romans called it. This is an ancient city that was once a major center of trade and culture. As we explore it, you will gain a deeper understanding of the Thracians and the impact they had on the region. You will also visit an Architectural complex "The Museum of Religions". This place was spiritually important for more the two thousand years. Every culture has left its mark and all layers are visible in this amazing museum. After the walk, you will have lunch in the center.

After Stara Zagora, we will continue toward the Valley of the Thracian kings. We will enter in some of the Royal tombs from the IV century that are excavated. One of them- the Kazanlak tomb, part of UNESCO World Heritage List, keeping amazing paintings from that era, giving so much knowledge about this civilization.

After this intense time travel, we will reach our final destination- Chateau Copsa. Situated in the middle of vineyards the place has a unique atmosphere. Here you can try excellent high-quality gourmet food and wines.

Koprivshtitsa

After breakfast, our journey will move toward its end. We will drive on one of the most beautiful and scenic roads in Bulgaria. Our first stop will be a place of respect to the Bulgarian heroes from the struggle against the Ottomans, which has a wonderful view of the Central Balkan mountain. After that, we will visit an architectural reserve called Koprivshtica, with its amazing buildings from the late 18th and 19th centuries. It is like a time machine because it is perfectly preserved. You will learn a lot from our Revival period and uprisings against foreign rule. We will have lunch in a traditional Bulgarian restaurant.

Sofia

In the afternoon we will reach Sofia. If you didn't have time to see the city our guide will make a short tour of our capital before checking in your hotel in the center of Sofia. You can learn a lot about the turbulent XX century and the multiple changes in our political system. Sofia is a very vivid city and gives many opportunities to have a great time. Feel free to aks your guide for recommendations.