How about a walk in the beautiful nature of Bulgaria, combined with good cuisine? Add a bit of Christian and Balkan culture and you'll have this short tailormade tour and holiday discovering this charming land.

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How about a walk in the beautiful nature of Bulgaria, combined with good cuisine? Add a bit of Christian and Balkan culture and you'll have this short tailormade tour and holiday discovering this charming land.

Do you want to feel the thrill of an emotion-packed adventure? Majestic mountains whose peaks vanish into the sky, deep caves and small crystal lakes in the middle of thick forests, magnificent monasteries and little stone villages, this is one of the most fascinating areas of Bulgaria, its south-western part. This will be the area you'll travel in total freedom on a rental car for a marvellous self-drive vacation or long weekend.

We suggest you fully enjoy the trip exploring the winding roads of this wonderful places. We provide the car, you just have to choose which places to visit and for how long. 

Richard
Trip offered by Richard - Virtual Travel Spoken languages: Italian, English, French, Spanish Travel expert in Bulgaria

Trip summary

  • Travel style Tailor-made travel
  • Departure Sofia
  • End Sofia
  • Countries
    • Bulgaria
  • City
    • Sofia
    • Bansko
    • Plovdiv
  • Theme Car and motorcycle self drive
  • Accommodation Standard
  • Flight Excluded
  • Guide Not Included
  • The tour has met our standards

Detailed itinerary

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  • 1
    Sofia
    Day 1

    Arrive in Sofia, pickup the rental car, transfer to your hotel. You can spend the day visiting the city, overnight in the hotel.

    Visited places:
    • Sofia
  • 2
    Sofia - Rila monastery - Bansko
    Day 2

    Departure to Rila Monastery. Visit the largest monastery in the country, established in the 10th century by the most venerated Bulgarian saint, the hermit St.Ivan Rilski. Lunch near the monastery with fresh trout from local breeding farms.

    Departure to Bansko, accommodation in hotel in Bansko. Free time. Dinner and overnight.

    Visited places:
    • Sofia
    • Bansko
  • 3
    Bansko - Plovdid
    Day 3

    Distance: 190 km. The winding road runs along the valley of Mesta river and crosses Rodopi mountains.

    Plovdiv is a history book. Established in ancient timnes, it is considered the oldest city in Europe. The most important monument of that time is the Ancient Theater. Plovidv, just like Rome, is located on several hills, one of this is the historic center, a picturesque kaleidoscope of colorful facades of unique houses, a maze of cobble streets and stone churches.

    Possible detours for optional visits:

    Kovachevitsa is an architectural masterpiece. The tall houses with stone roofs are organically set in a rocky mountain landscape. It is a village which still bears the spirit of the old times of the revolt againts the Ottoman empire. Nearby is also Leshten village. Yagodinska cave with Buynoskov gorge and Trigrad gorge with the Devil's gorge are set amidst the sweet shapes of Rodopi mountains, where the enormous cliffs of the two gorges can be distinguished, cut by rivers which have excavated two beautiful gorges. 

    Dospat, Shiroka Poliana, Goliam Beglik and Batak dams are all situated along the road which runs through the selected itinerary. You can enjoy walks in the splendid countryside and along the dams. Tsigov Chark has plenty of restaurants and facilities. Dospat Batak area is located in the mountains and is not much populated. 

    Visited places:
    • Bansko
    • Plovdiv
    • Trigrad
    • Dospat
  • 4
    Plovdiv - Sofia
    Day 4

    Since the distance is short, today you can visit several attractions near Plovdiv. Bachkovski monastery, the second largest in Bulgaria, was founded in the 11th century and the only building left from those times is the ossuary situated 300 m away from the monastery. The monastery is famous for its frescoes from 1605 covering the walls of the dining hall. The main church of the monastery dates back to the 17th century.

    Assen fortress, built in the same period as Bachkovo monastery, is today a two-storey church perched on a rocky cliff over the valley of Chepelarska river. The view from the church is unforgettable. 

    Visited places:
    • Plovdiv
    • Sofia
  • Prices and conditions

    Price includes
    • Accommodation and treatment as per program
    • Local assistance
    • Medical- baggage -cancellation insurance
    Price does not include
    • Tips
    • Extras
    • Optional excursions
    • Everything not shown under "The price does not include"
    • Flights