What you can expect

Guided Walks
Enjoy five fully guided walks that showcase the diverse terrains and natural wonders of Bulgaria.

Historic Cities
Delve into the vibrant history and captivating culture of two significant cities, ancient Plovdiv and the dynamic capital Sofia.

Breathtaking Views
Prepare for a visual feast as stunning landscapes unfold at every turn as you hike through the dramatic Rila, Pirin and Rhodope mountains.

UNESCO Rila Monastery
Discover the majestic Rila Monastery, tucked in Bulgaria's Rila Mountains, famous for its vibrant frescoes and centuries-old architecture.
About this trip...
Airport transfers
Private Room
Breakfast daily at the hotel, 7 dinners and 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
- International flights not included. Let us help you book them! Learn more.
- Travel insurance
- Tips & drinks
- Meals when not included in the itinerary
- Activities when not included in the itinerary
What you’ll be doing

Day One: Arrival Day - Bankso
- Dinner Included

Day Two: Pirin Mountains
- Transfer Time: 30mins + 30mins
- Distance: 4.5 miles
- Duration: 4 hours
- Ascent/Descent: +2,300ft/-2,300ft with a maximum elevation of 8,000ft
- Terrain: Following rocky alpine trails with uneven surfaces, natural stone sections, and some steep ascents and descents. The route includes exposed areas around the lakes and Todorka saddle.
- Breakfast, lunch & dinner included

Day Three: Rila Mountains
Today we will 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 will 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 we return back to our hotel.
- Transfer Time: 1hr 30mins + 1hr 30mins
- Distance: 6 miles
- Duration: 3.5hrs approx.
- Ascent/Descent: 1,145ft with a maximum elevation of 6,400ft
- Terrain: A mix of forest paths with exposed roots, into a steep, open valley of loose glacial moraine and boulder-strewn ground, before easing out onto a flatter grassy alpine basin.
- Breakfast, lunch & dinner included

Day Four: Melnik
We have a well-earned break from walking today and we can enjoy an included visit the charming village of Melnik. Set in a picturesque valley, with good sandy soil and with 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 can enjoy lunch in a local restaurant before heading back to our hotel for the rest of the afternoon at leisure.
- Breakfast, Lunch and 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.
- Transfer Time: 1hr 20mins + 2hrs 30mins
- Distance: 6 miles
- Duration: 3.5hrs approx.
- Ascent: 1,275ft+ with a maximum elevation of 4,410ft
- Descent: 2.160ft-
- Terrain: A mix of forest trails, meadow paths, and mountain tracks through the Rhodope Mountains. Uneven ground, woodland sections, and gradual descents, with some rocky and steeper sections near Trigrad Gorge.
- Breakfast, lunch & dinner included

Day Six: Canyon of the Waterfalls
This morning we can 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.
- Transfer Time: 40 mins + 40 mins
- Distance: 6 miles
- Duration: 3.5hrs approx.
- Ascent/Descent: 1,320ft with a maximum elevation of 4,800ft
- Terrain: A mix of woodland paths, stone steps, wooden bridges, and sections of uneven ground. The route includes gentle to moderate climbs and descents as it follows the canyon.
- Breakfast, lunch & dinner included

Day Seven: Plovdiv - Sofia
After breakfast we make our way to the Medieval Asen’s Fortress with its beautiful 12th Century church and Bachkovo monastery, the second largest in Bulgaria and home of some of the finest frescoes of Orthodox Christianity. We will contiune our tour in Plovdiv ancient town. Later we transfer to Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, and check into our centrally located hotel. Here the guide will take us for panoramic tour of the historical centre of Sofia.
- Breakfast and Lunch Included

Day Eight: Departure day - Sofia
After breakfast, we transfer to Sofia Vasil Levski Airport before our onward flight.
- Breakfast Included
Trip Reviews
Accommodations
Dates & Prices
Essential Information
Shortly before your holiday, you will be invited to join an optional WhatsApp group to connect with your fellow travellers and your Tour Leader.
- 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.
Guided walks are included as part of this trip. Your dedicated walking guide will brief you in resort on the daily walking programme.
The walking programme is graded by difficulty, and you can expect to walk varying distances with a range of ascents and descents. Some walks may be challenging, with uneven or rough terrain underfoot and sections at higher altitude. Please refer to the day-by-day itinerary for full details of each walk.
A good level of physical fitness is required to fully enjoy this trip.
It is important that you consider whether your chosen trip is suitable for your level of fitness, mobility and any medical conditions or additional needs. If you are unsure, please contact our team before booking. We will be happy to discuss the trip requirements and your individual circumstances to help you decide whether the trip is suitable for you.
We are committed to treating all customers fairly and will consider any reasonable adjustments where possible. Please let us know before booking if you have a disability, medical condition or any additional requirements that may affect your trip. This allows us to assess whether we can safely and appropriately accommodate your needs and to ensure you have the best possible trip experience.
Care should be taken at all times, particularly on uneven or wet terrain. If you normally use walking poles, we recommend bringing them with you. Sturdy walking boots or walking shoes are essential.
Please note that the route and content of the walking programme may need to change during the trip, at the discretion of the specialist walking guide or local organiser, if local conditions require.
If you have any concerns during your trip, please speak to your specialist walking guide or Solos Tour Leader.
For further information, please refer to our website Terms and Conditions https://www.solosholidays.com/us/terms-and-conditions/
We recommend that you check passport and visa requirements for the country you are visiting at the State Department if you have a U.S. Passport. Most countries require that your passport have at least six months validity when traveling internationally, and many require that you have one to two blank visa pages for either an entry stamp or visa. As a general rule, please check that your passport has six months validity beyond your planned trip, and if not, please renew your passport with plenty of time to provide Solos with your updated passport information by the final payment due date.
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We recommend that you check if vaccinations are required for your destination at the CDC’s recommendations for your visited destination(s). We also recommend you purchase travel protection. A travel protection plan can often assist with medical emergencies and reimburse costs that are covered by the plan. Please verify coverage details with Solos before you travel











