4 days: A short touch to Bulgaria

Day 1 · Sofia- Bachkovo monastery-Plovdiv

1. 1

   Plovdiv Old Town

   7 hours

   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.

   Accommodation in 4* hotel in the center of the city. Walking tour in “The Old town” – 2 hours. Free time and night in Plovdiv.

Overnight in Plovdiv

Day 2 · Plovdiv-Dobarsko-Bansko

1. 1

   Pirin National Park

   6 hours

   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. Accommodation in Bansko. Walking tour in around the old town of Bansko.

Overnight in Bansko

Day 3 · Bansko-Melnik-Rila monastery-Sofia

1. 1

   The Melnik Pyramids

   3 hours

   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.

2. 2

   Rila Monastery

   2 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. Accommodation in the center of Sofia. Free time.

Overnight in the main center of Sofia

Day 4 · Sofia

1. 1

   Boyana Church

   3 hours Admission included

   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.