What to expect
Walking Programme
Five fully-guided walks
Historic Cities
Sightseeing in Plovdiv and Sofia
Breathtaking Scenery
Rila, Pirin & Rhodope Mountains
Wine Tasting
Visit a wine cellar in Melnik
About this trip...
What's included?
Return flights & transfers-
Airport taxes & charges
Twin/double room for sole use
Breakfast daily at the hotel, 7 dinners & 5 lunches
Welcome drink
5 guided walks-
Visits to Rila Monastery, Boyana Church, Rojen Monastery, Trigrad gorge, Shiroka Laka, The Wonderful Bridges, Asen’s Fortress and Bachkovo Monastery
-
Wine Tasting in Melnik
Accompanying Solos Tour Leader
Fully Financially Protected
What's extra:
- Insurance click here
Itinerary
- UK - Bansko
- Pirin Mountains
- Rila Mountains
- Melnik
- Bansko - Smolyan
- Canyon of the Waterfalls & Shiroka Luka
- Plovdiv - Sofia
- Sofia - UK
What you’ll be doing
Day One: UK - Bansko
- Dinner included
Day Two: Pirin Mountains
- Distance - 7km
- Ascent/descent of 702m with a maximum elevation of 2428m
- Duration - Approximately 4 hours
- Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Day Three: Rila Mountains
Today we visit Rila – the other mountain range in Bulgaria. We will start with a morning transfer through the lush forests of the "Water mountain", where we visit the world famous Rila monastery – a UNESCO-listed site. After a picnic lunch, the hike through the picturesque valley will bring us to the so called "Dry Lake", where we can enjoy the unspoiled nature of Rila, before returning to our hotel.
- Distance - 9km
- Ascent/descent of 349m with a maximum elevation of 1950m
- Duration - Approximately 3.5hrs
- Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Day Four: Melnik
We enjoy a well-earned break from walking today to enjoy an included visit to the charming village of Melnik. Set in a picturesque valley, with good sandy soil and 350 sunny days per year, it’s no wonder that this region is home to the world famous Bulgarian wine cellars! After an included wine tasting, we enjoy lunch in a local restaurant before heading back to our hotel for the rest of the afternoon at leisure.
- Distance - 4.5km
- Descent of 324m with a maximum elevation of 659m
- Duration - Approximately 1.5hrs
- Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Day Five: Bansko - Smolyan
After breakfast, we transfer to the village of Dolen, an amazing example of an ancient Bulgarian settlement often referred to as an ‘open air museum’. After a picnic lunch, we set off on our hike through lush meadows and forests down to Trigrad, visiting the famous Trigrad gorge and the ‘Devil’s Throat’ cave - the largest underground waterfall in the Balkan Peninsula. Later, we continue onto the town of Smolyan nestled in the heart of the Rhodope Mountains.
- Distance - 9km
- Ascent of 388m and descent of 659m with a maximum elevation of 1344m
- Duration - Approximately 3.5hrs
- Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Day Six: Canyon of the Waterfalls
This morning, we enjoy a light hike to the ‘Canyon of the Waterfalls,’ hidden deep in the highest part of the Rhodope Mountains. After a picnic lunch, we visit the village of Shiroka Luka, an amazing perfectly preserved architectural reserve.
- Distance - 9km
- Ascent/Descent of 401m with a maximum elevation of 1462m
- Duration - Approximately 3.5hrs
- Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Day Seven: Plovdiv - Sofia
After breakfast, we set off to explore the medieval Asen’s Fortress, known for its striking 12th-century church and dramatic setting. From here, we continue to the Bachkovo Monastery—the second largest in Bulgaria—famous for housing some of the finest frescoes in Orthodox Christianity. Our tour then takes us into the ancient town of Plovdiv, where history comes alive amid cobbled streets and Roman ruins. Later in the day, we transfer to Sofia, the capital city, and check into our centrally located hotel. In the evening, our guide will lead us on a panoramic tour of Sofia’s historical centre.
- Breakfast & dinner included
Day Eight: Sofia - UK
After breakfast, we transfer to the airport for our return flight to the UK.
- Breakfast included
Trip Reviews
Beautiful Bulgaria
My incredible thanks to our tour support, Fiona, for her remarkable patience, understanding, friendship and humour, while sincere thanks goes to the astute, knowledgeable and patient Stoyan, whose unique ability to take us back in history, create a cultural feast for our ears to dine on, while locating great places to actually eat and sites to visit, to bring both Sofia and Plodhiv to an audience ignorant to the historical significance of Bulgaria!
Probably the best guide I've ever met
Just returned from this city break, still buzzing. I've learned so much about the cities and Bulgaria generally, especially from the incredibly knowledgeable and friendly local guide - probably the best guide I've ever met. The tour manager, Fiona, was also excellent: unflappable, great company and always willing to 'go the extra mile'.
Accommodation
Best of Bulgaria
- Four-star Casa Karina, Bansko (4 Nights)
- Three-star Kiparis Alpha, Smolyan (2 Nights)
- Four-star St. Sofia, Sofia (1 Night)
Dates & Prices
Essential Information
- Pirin Mountains - Distance 7km. Ascent/Descent 702m with maximum elevation of 2428m. Duration of approximately 4 hrs.
- Rila Mountains - Distance 9km. Ascent/Descent 349m with maximum elevation of 1950m. Duration of approximately 3.5 hrs.
- Melnik - Distance 4.5km. Descent 324m with a maximum elevation of 659m. Duration of approximately 1.5 hrs.
- Trigrad - Distance 9km. Ascent of 388m and descent of 659m with a maximum elevation of 1344m. Duration of approximately 3.5 hrs.
- Rhodope Mountains - Distance - 9km. Ascent/Descent is 401m with a maximum elevation of 1462m. Duration of approximately 3.5hrs.
- Walking boots with good ankle support
- Waterproofs – jacket and trousers
- Walking poles – recommended as they provide good support for the knees, particularly on downhill sections of walks and when conditions are wet/slippery
- Lightweight trousers and shorts with pockets
- Shirts or t-shirts for walking in
- Walking socks – several pairs
- Lightweight fleece or jumper
- Hat & gloves
- Daysack/rucksack for walking
- Umbrella – it can be used also for protection from the sun as well as rain
- Lightweight drinking bottle to carry water whilst walking
- Small first aid kit – plasters, insect repellant, etc
- Good, high factor sunscreen, sunhat and sunglasses – the sun’s strength is often multiplied in mountainous areas.
