El Monasterio de Rila está situado a una altura de 1.150 m en el corazón de las montañas de Rila y es el patrimonio de la humanidad búlgaro más famoso. Hoy en día el monasterio de Rila es el símbolo más grande e importante de la Iglesia ortodoxa búlgara. Este tour privado ofrece servicios de transporte cómodo y un guía de habla inglesa, que garantiza un enfoque individual durante todo el viaje. Después de 2 horas traslado desde Sofía hacia el complejo del monasterio, su guía le mostrará parte de la opulenta colección del museo, los ricos decorados de las cinco cúpulas de la iglesia de la Natividad de la Santísima Virgen, la imponente torre del siglo 14 Hrelyo y la cocina original del monasterio. Una buena y natural adición a los sentimientos de tranquilidad y la contemplación es otorgado por las escarpadas cumbres y densos bosques de hayas que rodean el monasterio.
Visita dos de las localidades con más historia de Bulgaria en esta excursión de día completo a la antigua capital medieval de Veliko Tarnovo y al cercano pueblo de Arbanasi. Tras salir por la mañana temprano, conduciremos por los pies de las colinas de la cordillera de los Balcanes en dirección a Veliko Tarnovo, la capital histórica del Segundo Imperio Búlgaro. ?br??br? Esta antigua ciudad, situada en tres colinas, contiene muchas maravillas arquitectónicas como iglesias antiguas, palacios, bastiones medievales y estrechas y animadas calles adoquinadas, plazas tranquilas y grandiosos edificios que datan del Renacimiento Nacional búlgaro. También visitaremos las ruinas del complejo del palacio real y la fortaleza medieval en la colina Tsarevets y Samovodskata Charshia, donde podrás ver cómo trabajan los artesanos. ?br??br? A su vez habrá tiempo para que puedas almorzar por tu cuenta. Después de comer, conduciremos hasta el pueblo vecino de Arbanasi, famoso por su arquitectura de los siglos XVII y XVIII así como por la iglesia de la Natividad de Cristo, que alberga unos frescos bien conservados. Además, visitaremos el monasterio de la Dormición de la Madre de Dios, que alberga el icono de la Virgen María y del que se dice que es milagroso, así como la casa Konstantsaliyata, una residencia de un mercader que data del siglo XVII convertida en la actualidad en un museo etnográfico. ?br??br? Después regresaremos al resort, al que llegaremos bien entrada la noche. Esta excursión de día completo incluye todos los traslados, las entradas, la visita, así como los servicios de un guía de habla inglesa. Comida y bebida no incluidas.
Descubre el alma real y auténtica de Sofía, una capital bulliciosa en la que Oriente se junta con Occidente, y donde lo viejo se encuentra con lo nuevo. Esta ciudad de contrastes es uno de los asentamientos más antiguos de Europa y su impresionante legado se refleja en un paisaje urbano que combina historia con modernidad. Visita museos, iglesias, palacios y castillos y disfruta de un delicioso descanso tradicional tomando el té, el verdadero sabor de Bulgaria.
El tour en sí comienza en el Museo Nacional de Historia, que cuenta con cientos de miles de objetos expuestos y es uno de los más grandes de los Balcanes. Aprende acerca de los momentos más importantes y heroicos en la historia de Bulgaria durante la visita guiada. Continúa hasta la cercana iglesia de Boyana, que es Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la Unesco. Cuenta con una impresionante colección de hermosos frescos de incalculable valor que datan del siglo XIII.
Nos trasladaremos al centro de la ciudad con un paseo histórico y cultural parando en algunos de los edificios más emblemáticos de la ciudad. El Palacio Presidencial, la Catedral de Alexander Nevsky - una gigantesca obra maestra arquitectónica con una cúpula dorada y que puede albergar 10.000 fieles - el antiguo Palacio Real, la Iglesia de San Nicolás el Milagroso (popularmente conocida como la Iglesia de Rusia), los restos de la antigua fortaleza y la iglesia del siglo IV de San Jorge.
Durante el recorrido, haremos una parada para tomar un té diferente. Prueba el sabor auténtico del té Kazanlak, que está hecho con aceite de rosas, y acompáñalo con una deliciosa tarta casera con mermelada, también preparada a base de aceite de rosas.
Haz un viaje al fascinante pasado de Bulgaria con esta excursión guiada de día completo al pintoresco pueblo de Koprivshtitsa y la antigua ciudad de Plovdiv. Ambos están llenos de casas bien conservadas, palacios e iglesias, mientras que cada uno ofrece una perspectiva diferente de otros tiempos. Koprivshtitsa cuenta con una amplia variedad de arquitectura búlgara y Plovdiv es rica en ruinas romanas. Como hay mucho que ver, el viaje tiene un itinerario intensivo con tiempo adicional para hacer turismo.
Koprivshtitsa es una ciudad-museo, con más de 300 monumentos arquitectónicos, artísticos, históricos y etnográficos bien conservados de la época renacentista búlgara, que se desarrolló de la década de 1760 a la de 1870, y casi cada calle ofrece una oportunidad para tomar fotos. El recorrido a pie por sus encantadoras calles empedradas se centra en las más representativas casas-museo, artesanía auténtica y exposiciones etnográficas. El puente de piedra de cuento de hadas, el azul oscuro de la Iglesia del Tránsito de la Madre de Dios con su interior casi desordenado, las casas Oslekov y Debelyanov… todo evoca un estilo esencialmente búlgaro.
Por la tarde nos dirigiremos a Plovdiv, una de las ciudades más antiguas de Europa y la segunda más grande de Bulgaria. Camina por atemporales y estrechas calles medievales para visitar los lugares más emblemáticos: el foro romano y el teatro, la fortaleza de Nebet Tepe, la Iglesia de los Santos Constantino y Helena, y una maravillosa colección de casas de comerciantes del siglo XIX. La ruta termina con tiempo libre para ir de compras en la calle peatonal principal.
Sofía es una capital bastante compacta, con la mayoría de sus lugares de interés concentrados en el centro de la ciudad. Únete a nosotros en este recorrido a pie de tres horas por los lugares más destacados y conoce los mejores puntos de interés de una forma entretenida y eficaz. Obtendrás una visión rápida de la fascinante historia de la ciudad y su dinámica cultura.
Visita la imponente Catedral de Alexander Nevsky, una gran obra maestra de la arquitectura con cúpulas de oro y cobre que puede albergar a 10.000 fieles. Admira la bellamente decorada Iglesia de San Nicolás el Hacedor de Milagros (popularmente conocida como la Iglesia Rusa), la Academia de Ciencias de Bulgaria, la Presidencia, la mezquita Banya Bashi, del siglo XIV —cuando Bulgaria era parte del Imperio Otomano—, así como el fantástico renacimiento bizantino de la Iglesia de St. Nedelya. Luego da un paseo hasta la antigua Iglesia de San Jorge, con forma redonda. Esta reliquia de ladrillo rojo fue construida por los romanos en el siglo IV. Entre las modificaciones que ha experimentado a lo largo de los siglos están la incorporación de valiosos y delicados frescos y su uso como mezquita durante cierto período. Es uno de los edificios más populares de Sofía y un símbolo de la ciudad.
Explore the rustic southwest of Bulgaria with this full day tour that will leave you with plenty of memories. Discover with your guide Rila Monastery – the most frequented Bulgarian Unesco World Heritage Site and one of the largest monastic complexes on the Balkans. Located among the giant mountain peaks of Rila Mountains, the monastery with its museum and Renaissance frescoes is a definite must see.
Further south is Melnik, the capital of a famous wine region and considered the smallest town in Bulgarian. There we will take a gentle walking tour along narrow alleys amid 18-19th century houses and strangely shaped formations made of sand and clay. A visit to the 18th century Kordopulov house and its tunnel-like wine cellar is included. There you will taste a glass of locally produced red wine, just before heading back for Sofia.
Visit two Unesco World Heritage Sites in one day with this loop shuttle from Sofia to Rila Monastery and Boyana Church. These holy sites hold a special place in the hearts of most Bulgarians and are symbols of national identity. You will also have the chance to taste some delicious local treats such as ¨mekitsi¨ and buffalo yoghurt.
Rila Monastery is famed for its arcaded balconies, delicate frescoes – the work of one of the most famous Bulgarian revival painters – the gilded iconostasis, the fabulous mountain views… the unique combination of them all makes for an extraordinary and memorable visit to the monastery. You have at least two hours of free time at Rila to explore the complex, enter the main church and take photos of the narthex gallery, admire the exhibits in the museum, try the tasty ¨mekitsi¨ (Bulgarian doughnuts) with delicious buffalo yoghurt (a local speciality) or even have a short walk in the area.
The Boyana Church’s frescoes are considered predecessors of the European Renaissance. The majority of more than 240 figures depicted are full of not just reverence for God but also of the individuality and vitality of mankind. You have half an hour of free time to explore the church at your own pace.
An exciting full day trip revealing to you the charm and beauty of the most preserved Revival town in Bulgaria- Koprivshtitsa, the secrets and splendor of Bulgarian rose oil production and the ancient Thracian tomb of Kazanlak.
An early start from Sofia will takes us on the picturesque mountain road winding between Balkan and Sredna Gora Mountains. We will arrive in Koprivshtitsa in about 2 hours and we will take a guided walking tour to the most representative and colourful house- museums dating back to the 19th century houses. The Revival town is nested in the rolling hills of Sredna Gora Mountains and has been a center of Bulgarian Revolutionary movement, literacy, culture and crafts during the Ottoman rule. Then we continue east to the Ethnographic Complex Damascena, located in the heart of the Vallye of Roses, where you will learn why Bulgaria is famous for rose oil production. If you want to see the blooming roses - from 15th May till 15th June is possible. The next stop is the town of Kazanlak and a visit of the famous Thracian tomb dating back form IVc, a Unesco World Heritage site. We will use a different route for the return passing through the fertile Thracian valley with spectacular views to Rodopi and Rila mountains.
Explore the must-see sights in Bulgaria and discover the history and culture of the country on this private 2-day tour starting from Sofia. Visit the magnificent Rila Monastery, explore the city of Plovdiv, and discover the archaeological site of Perperikon.
This 2-day introduction of Bulgaria is ideal for culture – hungry travellers with limited time. On this private tour you will visit the Rila Monastery, the most famous tourist sight in Bulgaria and a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you can admire the perfect fusion of creative ambition and spiritual devotion and a culmination of Bulgarian Renaissance art and cult architecture. You will then explore the city of Plovdiv, one of the oldest cities in Europe and an important epicenter of Bulgarian art and culture. You will also explore the spectacular ancient city of Perperikon, a recent archaeological sensation that will challenge your imagination and reveal interesting facts about different ancient civilizations.
Day 1: Sofia- Rila Monastery – Plovdiv
You will be picked up from your hotel in Sofia early in the morning and transferred to the Rila Monastery, a fabulous sight of colors, forms, and symmetry a couple of hour’s drive away. Here you will visit the monastery museum and admire the famous wood- carved Rafael’s Cross before entering the notable Nativity Church, where you will find the grave of the last Bulgarian monarch, the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mery Ossenovitsa, and the largest guided iconostasis on the Balkans. Taste the local delicacies and head towards Plovdiv, the second largest city in Bulgaria 3 hours’ drive away. Explore the Old Town of Plovdiv as you walk along the cobbled strees to the Roman Theater and Stadium. Enter the Ethnographical museum, the most representative of the abundant colorful 19th century houses. Finish the day with a glass of hangover – free red Mavrud wine and stay overnight in a 3-star hotel in the city center.
Day 2: Plovdiv – Perperikon – Sofia
You will first visit the Bachkovo Monastery in the morning, a monastic temple with an intriguing history and fabulous frescoes. You will then continue on the road towards Perperikon, through sleepy villages where an interesting mix of Bulgarians and ethnic Turks congregate. Explore Perperikon, an archaeological complex where Thracians, Romans, Bulgarians, and Turks have left their heritage. In the afternoon you will pass through the agriculturally developed Thracian Plain on your 3- hour drive to Sofia. The tour ends with a drop-off at your hotel in Sofia.
Meeting/ Pick up point: The customer's hotel.
Duration: 2 day private tour.
Start or opening time: The tour is available daily at early morning 07.30 am.
Languages: English.
Includes:
- English-speaking guide throughout the tour.
- All transportation costs.
- Accommodation in a 3- star hotel in Plovdiv with breakfast.
- Entrance fees to the Rila Monastery Museum, the Ethnographic Museum in Plovdiv, the Bachkovo Monastery dining room and Perperikon.
Spend the day in the Rila, walking around its pearls: The Seven Rila Lakes. During the last few years this destination has become one of the most popular places for one-day hiking tours in the Rila Mountains. The reasons are several: impressive nature beauty, easy access by chairlift, variety of paths and hiking routes in the area.
If you wish to make your walk harder or easier your guide will be able to adjust the group program accordingly.
A transfer from Sofia takes us to the Panichishte Resort cable car which takes us to the Seven Rila Lakes Cirque. Then we start exploring them one by one. Each lake is named after its most characteristic feature. The highest one (at 2500m/8200ft above sea level) is called Salzata (''The Tear''), from where we have a bird’s eye view over all seven lakes, as well as surrounding outcrops and deep valleys; the next one in height carries the name Okoto (''The Eye'') after its oval form; Babreka (''The Kidney'') is the lake with the steepest shores of the entire group; Bliznaka (''The Twin'') is the largest of all; Trilistnika (''The Trefoil'') has an irregular shape; the shallowest lake is Ribnoto Ezero (''The Fish Lake'') and the lowest one is Dolnoto Ezero (''The Lower Lake''; 2100m/6995ft), where the water that flows out of the other lakes is gathered to form the source of Dzherman River.
Vitosha looming is the first thing visitors to Sofia notice on their way from the airport. Few cities and even fewer capitals possess such a natural feature. Vitosha is the Balkans’ oldest Nature Park and Bulgaria’s most visited mountain. Each year, thousands of tourists enjoy the beauty of its scenery and its plant and animal life.
Our hiking trek takes you along the entire crest of the Vitosha. Starting from appr 1750m/5830ft above sea level we first climb Cherni Vrah Peak (2290m/7625ft.) following a gently ascending trail and then traverse the Torfeno Branishte (“The Peat”) Nature Reserve to reach the famous stone rivers of the Zlatni Mostove (“Golden Bridges”) natural feature. The wet meadows on either side of the path are home to a number of rare and endemic plant species, including a few species of orchids. You might also be lucky to encounter some of the recently introduced Balkan Chamois (wild goats). Hiking takes place above the tree line in the alpine and sub-alpine part of the mountains, and eventually you descend through century-old coniferous woods to you final destination – a magic river of huge boulders covered with yellow lichens.
Explore the best of Vratsa Karst Nature Park in one day. An early transfer will take you to Zgorigrad village passing by the rock phenomenon Vratsata and further to the beginning of the beautiful and thrilling eco-trail of Borov Kamak waterfall (50m high). Climb up on wooden ladders and steps in the pristine valley full of small waterfalls and cascades, enjoy a picnic lunch at the top and descend on a nice beech forest path with great panoramic views to Zgorigrad village and Vratsa Mountains.
On the way up to the waterfall you will cross the river on wooden bridges just above the rapids, climb up rocky steep sections on massive wooden ladders and enjoy great views of Borov kamak waterfall from below and then on top of it.
After the hike you will be transferred to the sinister cave Ledenika where mother nature has made a masterpiece of an enchanting underground world. It is 320m long and its name comes from the icy stalagmites formed at the entrance in winter time and early spring. With its stunning cave formations Ledenika is one of the most beautiful show caves in Bulgaria and a habitat of the endemic beetle Fagomycetes ledenicus or ''the light hater''.
This hiking trail is especially recommended for spring, when is the best time to enjoy the turbulent waters of the waterfall and the icy structures inside the Ledenika Cave.
A real adventure bike trip back in time on the southern slopes of Vitosha mountain. Explore the less popular south side of Vitosha mountain on a bike, submerge in ancient times in one of the newest tourist attraction in Bulgaria - the reconstructed Mali Tsari grad fortress and enjoy a refreshing swim in the mineral swimming pools in the area.
We pick you up from your hotel and drive on a mountain road in Vitosha mountain up to Zheleznitsa village. Here you get on the bikes for a short climb up to Yarema area at 1500m. The rest is a pleasant descend in forested area and vast meadows leading to a big valley with many scattered villages. Most of the tracks are isolated asphalt roads with no or very slow traffic. We stop at Tsari Mali Grad fortress dating back from 3-6 century where we make a visit of the local ethnographic museum, do a ride on the attraction train to the top of the fortress hill and enjoy a lunch in the area.
Later we continue with some more biking among vast potato fields and farm lands and end in Samokov town famous for the best potatoes in Bulgaria and the prominent Bulgarian icon painting school from 19c. On the way we can stop at a local swimming pool with mineral water for sunbathing and relaxation. Transfer back to Sofia passing by the biggest dam in Bulgaria - Iskar dam.
A day tour that will take you to the fascinating 17th century Troyan Monastery and the nearby Museum of Folk Crafts. Troyan Monastery is one of the biggest Bulgarian orthodox temples in Bulgaria with frescoes and architecture highly admired by equally by pilgrims and tourists. The monastery is located in one of the most picturesque places of Balkan Mountain.
In the Museum of Folk Crafts you will see different demonstrations and learn about different crafts practiced in the Bulgarian mountains during the 19th century. There are options for purchasing authentic handmade souvenirs and also have pleasant 1-hour stroll in the majestic Balkan Mountains.
The tour has an intensive itinerary with an extended time for sightseeing. It’s an ideal way for people with limited time in Bulgaria to receive as much impressions as possible in just one day. Koprivshtitsa is a museum-city, boasting more than 300 well-preserved architectural, artistic, historical and ethnographical monuments from the Bulgarian Revival Period.
Our walking tour will be focused on the most representative house-museums, authentic crafts and ethnographic expositions. The afternoon will be dedicated to Plovdiv - one of the oldest towns in Europe and the second biggest in Bulgaria. We will walk on the narrow cobble streets to visit its iconic sights: the Roman Forum and Theater, Merchant houses from 19th century, the fortress of Nebet Tepe and St. Constantine and Helena Church. The trip ends with free time for shopping on the main pedestrian street.