Bulgaria Adventure: A Private Family Journey Through Majestic Mountains, Sun-Kissed Shores, and Timeless Traditions

Delivery of your car rental at your hotel, check out and depart to Rila monastery. On the way you can stop at the Junk museum in Kocherinovo and see a wide range of memorabilia from the Soviet period.

Visit of Rila Monastery, a UNESCO site, the largest monastery in Bulgaria, located at 1100 m above sea level. There you can admire wooden balconies, colonnades, azure fretwork, colourful murals, the old monastery kitchen, medieval 14th c. tower and museum with precious religious artefacts. Continue 3 km from the monastery to the cave of St. John of Rila – the founder of the monastery. Legend has it that only the righteous can pass through cave.  

After the visit of the monastery drive back to Gorski Kat - a family-run hotel for a delicious dinner and overnight.

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Departure along Struma river valley to Bansko museum town, located at the foothills of Pirin Mountain, which is a National Park and UNESCO site. 

Bansko is considered the best starting point for hiking, trekking and walking for all levels. The beautiful mountain offers many marked eco trails, a perfect combination of dense pine and fir forests, peaks, century-old trees, glacial lakes, small rivers, wild flowers, and scenic ladscapes as well as seat lifts, chalets and huts. 

In the afternoon - explore Bansko on a bike (half day rent of bikes included).

Start a private hiking tour with local guide to 3 of the most beautiful glacial lakes of Pirin mountain: Muratovo ( 2230 m ), Ribnoto ( 2190 m ) and Okoto lakes ( 2026 m ). 

In the afternoon we recommend exploring the old town of Bansko with its popular landmarks  St. Trinity Church (19th c., one of the symbols of the town), Museum-House of Velyan, House-Museum Neofit Rilski, Nikola Vaptsarov museum, Icon exhibition, Ethnographic complex ‘Radonova House’, etc.   

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If you feel like exploring the southernmost areas of western Bulgaria, you can plan a day trip to Melnik, Rozhen Monastery and Rozhen village which offers a wonderful panorama towards the border mountains with Greece. 

Visit the museum town of Melnik, which is actually the smallest town in Bulgaria, a popular tourist destination due to its picturesque architecture.The town is also famous with the impressive naturally formed sand pyramids in various shapes, resembling giant mushrooms, ancient towers and obelisks, spread in an area of 17 km². The town has a history of wine production since at least 1346. The local wine from the Broad Leave Melnik Vine was reportedly Winston Churchill's favourite. While in town, make sure to visit Kordopulov House ( 1754 ) – the largest residential house on the Balkans from the end of the 18th c. where you can also taste wine kept in its centuries old cellers. Back to Bansko

Travel from Bansko to Plovdiv. Being the 2nd largest Bulgarian city, once capital city of Philip the 2nd of Macedonia, the father of Alexander the Great, Plovdiv was awarded European Capital of culture in 2019 and is considered the oldest continuously inhabited town in Europe.

Visit the Old Plovdiv architecture reserve, awarded golden medal by UNESCO, with its historic national-revival houses, stop by the Ethnographic museum ( the so-called Royal House ), St. St. Constantine and Helena Church, The Ancient Theatre, the Roman Stadium and Djumaya Mosque square. 

Later in the day explore Kapana – the artistic neighbourhood of Plovdiv, with its colourful street art and take a walk on the nearby pedestrian street – the longest in the world, with many small shops, restaurants, cafes, and more ancient ruins from the period of the Roman Empire.

Take the highway from Plovdiv to the Black Sea. On the way possible stop in Stara Zagora to visit the Neolithic Dwellings Museum and the town centre with the Roman forum. or continue to Kazanluk – the centre of the Valley of Roses, known as well as the Valley of the Thracian kings. 

Late afrernoon - arrive in Nessebar area, check in at your hotel and enjoy the beach.

A day to relax at the beach or possible places to visit in the area:

Old town of Nessebar – one of the pearls of the Bulgarian seaside and a UNESCO site. According to the famous Greek geographer and historian Strabo, the town was named Messambria ( later altered to the Slavonic Nessebar), after the legendary founder – a Thracian by the name of Melsa and the Thracian name for city “bria”. In existence since the 2nd  millennium BC, the Hellenic colony on this site was founded in 510 BC by Dorian settlers. Having captured Messambria in 72 – 71 BC, the Romans preserved the city intact, leaving there a permanent garrison. 

Pomorie - a small and cozy town, located on a peninsula to the south of Nessebar. Visit Pomorie Lake - a protected area, super-saline lagoon with an area of 760.8 hectares. The Pomorie Lake Visitor Center offers an interactive exhibition about the natural wealth of the salt lagoon, as well as birdwatching of rare bird species with specialized optical gear. Oher interesting sites in the area are "Old Pomorie houses" - architectural reserve, Historical Museum, Museum of Salt, churches from 18-19th  c., Ancient Thracian domed tomb dated 2nd – 4th c. A.D., Pomorie monastery St George.

A day to relax at the beach or possible places to visit in the area:

Burgas – the 4th  largest city in Bulgaria, boasting with neat, pedestrian-friendly centre, spacious beach, a gorgeous seafront park, and some interesting museums. It is ideal place for nature lovers with its four lakes just outside the city, which are haven for many bird species. 

Sozopol - a museum town, located 35 km to the south of Burgas. Famous with its name “Apollonia” ( dedicated to god Apollo ) it is around 2500 years old. Stroll through the cobbled streets of Sozopol’s charming Old Town full with quaint art shops, cafes, and traditional town houses. This small seaside town offers a range of historical and cultural sites such as medieval churches, ancient coastal fortress and museums.

Time to soak up the sun, enjoy the sandy beaches and relax or visit one of the nearby aquaparks.

Take the highway from Burgas and travel back to Sofia. Visit some of the city museums and art galleries or take free time for own discoveries or shopping. 

In the evening - try out local specialties at a traditional restaurant close to the hotel.

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Check out of the hotel, drop the car rental at the airport and depart.