First stop in our journey will be Rila monastery. It is part of UNESCO world cultural heritage list and It’s one of the symbols of Bulgaria. Rila Monastery was founded in the 10th century by St John of Rila, a hermit canonized by the Orthodox Church. His ascetic dwelling and tomb became a holy site and were transformed into a monastic complex which played an important role in the spiritual and social life of medieval Bulgaria. A characteristic example of the Bulgarian Renaissance, the monument symbolizes the awareness of a Slavic cultural identity following centuries of occupation. You will have enough time to explore the monastery, the main church and the monastery museum.
. We will spend the night at the best ski resort in Bulgaria – Bansko. You will have a chance to try the unique local cuisine.
We will wake up early to get ready for a day full of spectacular views in Pirin National Park, another spot which is part of UNESCO. For the one who don’t want to hike, they will have a chance for SPA day in hotel with mineral water. Night in Bansko.
On this day we will head up to one of the oldest towns in the Europe. Plovdiv is a place where history and modern age go hand in hand. It is one of the oldest cities in Europe and has preserved material evidence of human presence for 8000 years. During the tour we will dive into the atmosphere of the interesting life of the families from the Bulgarian revival period. In Plovdiv you will have the option to visit the Roman theater and some of the traditional Bulgarian houses.
Our next goal is to reach the Black sea area. First we will have a walk in the biggest city of the southern part of Blacksea region Burgas. Next is the town of Nessebar, which is part of UNESCO world heritage. Built on a rocky peninsula on the Black Sea more than 3000 years ago Nessebar was originally a Thracian settlement. The charming town became a Greek colony at the beginning of the 6th century BC. The city’s remains include the Acropolis, Apollo’s temple and an ancient wall from the time of the Thracians.
On our way to Varna, the biggest city on the seaside, we will stop at some wild beaches and you will have time for some sunbathing. At Kamchia river we will take a boat which will bring us to the mouth of the river. Varna is full of live, so do not hesitate to dive in some of the parties at the popular night clubs.
Today we will visit the botanical garden in Balchik with more than 4900 species of plants. Beautifully arranged terraces and spots of the garden present annual spring and summer flowers, Alpine and aquatic vegetation, ferns, protected and rare species, lianas, flowering and evergreen shrubs. For lunch we will stop at a local restaurant with big variety of Blacksea region dishes. In the afternoon we will reach cape Kaliakra and will visit the fortress.
From Varna we will travel to the west and visit the monument “Founders of Bulgarian state”, which was built to celebrate 1300 years of first Bulgarian state. After Shumen we will visit the highlights of the region – Madara rider and Sveshtari tomb, both are part of Unesco World heritage site. After this cultural day full of history we will spend the night in the biggest town on the Danube in Bulgaria.
After a short walk in the center of Ruse next spot will be another UNESCO site – Ivanovo rock monasteries. For an evening walk we have chosen the area around the Tsarevets fortress in Veliko Tarnovo. The town was the capital of Second Bulgarian state and its known as the “city of tsars”. We will explore the fortress of Tsarevets with remains of the royal palace, more than 400 houses and 18 churches and climb to the Baldwin’s Tower and The Patriarchal Cathedral of the Holy Ascension of the Lord. Enjoy beautiful landscapes along the walk through the old houses in the town and grab some handcrafted souvenirs or sweets at Samovodska charshia.
We will continue our trip to the west with visit to one of the most beautiful caves in Bulgaria and an memorable walk along the green-blue water of Zlatna Panega river.
On the last day we will explore one of the natural wonders of Bulgaria, the Belogradchik rocks and fortress. You will enjoy stunning views and feel the power of mother nature. Belogradchik rocks are natural phenomenon located in the Northwestern part of Bulgaria. For millions of years the nature has molded interesting forms from the rocks which are connected with many legends. We will see the Madonna, Adam and Eva, the monks, the horseman and many more, depends on your imagination! Among the rocks we will enter the Belogradchik fortress which was built during the Roman Empire. If you can handle more experiences, we will head north to visit the Magura cave. In the evening we will arrive back in Sofia.
