Day 1: Sofia- Bachkovo monastery-Plovdiv
Welcome to Sofia. Transfer to Bachkovo monastery – 2 hours and 30 minutes. Bachkovo monastery is the second largest monastery in Bulgaria, built by a Georgian family Bakuryani in 11th. century. A guided tour of 45 minutes.
Free time to enjoy the market street at the front of the monastery. Transfer to Plovdiv, the second biggest city in Bulgaria- 40 minutes. Plovdiv is rich with its history and archeological remains. That’s why Plovdiv is the cultural capital of Europe for 2019.
Walking tour in “The Old town” – 2 hours. Free time and night in Plovdiv. 7 hours
Accommodation: Overnight at 4* hotel in Plovdiv.
Day 2: Plovdiv-Dobarsko-Bansko
10.00. Hotel check-out. Drive to destination Bansko through West Rhodopi mountain – 2 hours and 40 minutes. Bansko is the biggest ski resort in Balkan peninsula. It is placed in a valley below Pirin mountain, which is a part of UNESCO heritage.
Visit the church in Dobarsko, built in 17th. century. There are speculations frescos were made by a female painter. It was very unusual in these times. Walking tour in around the old town of Bansko. 6 hours
Accommodation: Overnight in Bansko.
Day 3: Bansko-Melnik-Rila monastery-Sofia
9.00. Hotel check-out. Transfer to Melnik, the smallest town in Bulgaria, with less than 186 inhabitants. Melnik has a tradition with the red wine and there is one unique red sort, called “Wide Melnik leaf”. In the south of Melnik is the fortress of Alexius Slav. He was a nobleman from the royal dynasty Asenevstsi and he was a ruler of Rhodopi region. He didn’t agree with the reign of his cousin Boril, who had problems to take the throne of the kingdom. During the internal and external crisis, Alexius Slav separated from the Bulgarian kingdom and this was his residence. For more than 20 years he controlled the area like an independent state. 3 hours
Afternoon- transfer to Rila monastery– 2 hours. This is the biggest monastery of Bulgaria and a part of UNESCO heritage. Rila is the highest mountain in the Balkan peninsula and the monastery is in its hearth. Always there are a lot of tourists and pilgrims because during the dark times of the Bulgarian nation this monastery was the spring of power and faith. Walking tour of 1 hour and free time to enjoy the atmosphere and nature. Transfer to Sofia – 2 hours. Free time. 2 hours
Accommodation: Overnight in the main center of Sofia.
Day 4: Sofia
Walking tour after breakfast. Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria, still hiding some gems in its heart. According to your time of the flight – visiting the Boyana church and free time. (3 hours)