Things to do in Rhodope Mountains, Bulgaria

In the morning - meet your local English-speaking host at the centrally located meeting point. A 2-hour minibus transfer through the Bulgarian countryside takes you to the Rhodope mountains, where you climb aboard the narrow gauge train for a scenic ride through the mountains. Meet local Bulgarian people on the train and learn about the history of the area. Get off the train at Avramovo station for a short transfer to Bansko town at the footsteps of Pirin National Park. Your driver will drop you off at the convenient location, close to the Old Town. Explore at your own speed the ancient streets, visit the main church or take the opportunity to taste traditional local food at one of the traditional restaurants called mehana (lunch is optional and not included). In the afternoon, meet again your host and driver for a minibus transfer to the Rila National Park. You will arrive at the UNESCO listed Rila monastery after the crowds have gone, for a truly intimate experience. Explore on your own the ancient monastic complex. Later in the afternoon, get on the minibus for the final transfer back to Sofia city.

Your tour starts with pickup from your hotel/accommodation in Sofia at 8:00AM. After an approximate 1.5-hour drive, you will reach Plovdiv. Once there you will visit the highlights, such as the 1st-century Roman Theatre, the 2nd-century Roman Stadium, the oldest mosque on the Balkans, and an old pharmacy. You will then have the chance to take a walk through the Old Town where you can observe the typical Revival Period houses, museums, and narrow cobblestone streets. Scheduled throughout your itinerary are visits to 5 sites, as well as the top of the main hill which provides great views over the whole city. After you finish your exploration of Plovdiv, you will drive south to the Rhodope Mountain. This road is very scenic, and you will soon reach Vucha Dam where you will be picked by a boat before being taken to a place where you can enjoy lunch. While at this scenic location, enjoy a nice walk up to the cliff and a boat trip on the reservoir. At the conclusion of this unforgettable experience, you will head safely back to Sofia.

Begin the tour at the impressive Asen’s fortress, nearby the charming town of Asenovgrad. Explore the remarkable remains of King Ivan Asen's fortress and discover the nearby ancient 12th-century church painted with authentic pieces of iconography as well as the stone-made inscription carved by King Ivan Asen himself. Continue the tour with a drive to the picturesque Bachkovo monastery, the second largest in Bulgaria and over a thousand years old. Admire the sacred icon of the Virgin Mary dating back to the 14th century that rests inside, as well as the striking frescoed murals of the monastery's walls Conclude the trip with a visit to the "Wonderful Bridges". Situated high in the stunning Rhodope Mountains, 1,450 meters above sea level, admire these unique marble bridges formed by the erosive activity of what was once a high-water river. In summer the longest zip line on the Balkan Peninsula (240 meters) stretching between the 2 bridges is available for the more adventurous travelers.

You are going to love this magnificent horse riding with perfectly prepared and looked after horses. Choose among the options for horse riding and see the most of the Waterfalls Canyon or even reach the Perelik peak. It's good for complete beginners and intermediate riders. The whole area is just breathtaking. Truly wonderful experience with an expert local guide. You would be totally enchanted and would love to come back. Are you ready for some off-the-beaten track horse riding? The, you are at the right spot and we cannot wait to show you more.

This tour is perfect for travelers who are doing city trip vacation to the Cultural Capital of Europe. Plovdiv is considered to be one of the oldest cities and it is keeping its heritage from all periods of human history. Itinerary Day 1: Explore Plovdiv Old city You will be picked from your accommodation in Sofia and transferred to the historical part of Plovdiv. Our guide will give you an introduction to the cultural capital of Europe. You will check in your hotel in the historical part of Plovdiv and visit some of the main highlights – wealthy merchants' houses from the XIX century, the Roman theatre, the Roman stadium, 14th-century mosque, which gave the architect fashion in the whole Ottoman Empire, an old pharmacy and many more. Our guide will share all his knowledge about Plovdiv and Bulgaria with you. The evening you can spend in “The Trap” area, full of small restaurants and bars, serving good craft beers and wines. Day 2: Vucha reservoir, Devin path, and wine tasting After breakfast, you will visit one very interesting church, dated Late Antiquity, It is situated 20 kilometers from Plovdiv. After that, we will get in direction of the Rhodope Mountain. We pass a very beautiful and scenic road around some of the biggest water reserves in Bulgaria. You will enjoy the amazing nature by walking an eco path which will lead you to a beautiful waterfall. If your appetite has grown from the fresh air we will go to a restaurant to have lunch and enjoy the view from its terrace. In the afternoon we visit one of the best wine cellars in the South part of Bulgaria. Despite the good wines the place has very interesting owners and history. You will have a wine tasting and a guided tour inside the chateau. At the end of the day, we will get back to Plovdiv and enjoy the evening there. Day 3: Asen’s Fortress, Bachkovo monastery, and the Wonder Bridges This is the final day of your tour. After breakfast, we will check out our hotel and head to Asenovgrad, where we will visit a medieval fortress with a perfectly preserved church from the 13th century. The top of its fortifications will provide you with a spectacular view of the area. Duration: 1 hour Our next objective is the second biggest monastery in Bulgaria – Bachkovo monastery. It is beautifully painted and exists since the 11th century. It is still an active place of worship. It is also the place where the heroes who saved the Jewish community in Bulgaria during the Second World War from being sent to the Nazi camps. The rest of the day depends on your flight details. If you have to spend 1-2 hours more before catching a flight your guide will drive you to the museum of the Bulgarian Airforce. There you can see the evolution of military aircrafts, helicopters, etc. If time allows more you can reach a huge natural formation famous with the name “The Wonder Bridges” and admire the force of nature and time. The transfer to the airport is included.