1Day

Arrival in Sofia. Transfer to hotel. Overnight in Sofia.

2Day

Breakfast. Departure to Rila Monastery - the most famous and the most fascinating monastery in Bulgaria, under UNESCO protection. Tour of the monastery and visit to the Monastery church, museum and kitchen "Magernitsa". Afternoon arrival in Bansko, the most modern ski resort in the country. Bansko has an atmosphere of its own –exciting combination between the magnificent nature of Pirin Mountain and the ambience of old Bulgarian small town. Overnight.

Sightseeing during the day:

Rila monastery /UNESCO site/ - It can briefly described as a combination nonumental architecture an rich history. It was founded in the X century by Ivan Rilski and used to be the primary spiritual and cultural center of Bulgaria and the whole ortodox enclave. The library contains 16000 volumes including 134 manuscripts from l5th to 19th century, numerous incunabula and documents. The monastery's unquestionable authority influenced the Turkish sultants who confirmed the rights granted by the Bulgarian kings by special firmans. Retaining the names of the donors and the exact date of donation, they represent an original chronicle of the national consciousness, of those pure patriotic feelings and hopes which were inspired throughout centuries in every Bulgarian by the Rila Monastery - the country's largest spiritual and cultural temple.

Bansko - the newest Bulgarian winter resort, recently discovered by the foreign tourists. Bansko provides an interesting combination between the virgin nature of Pirin Mountain and the atmosphere of the ancient Bulgarian small town. Bansko ski resort is situated in Southwestern Bulgaria, at the foothills of one of the most beautiful Bulgarian mountains - Pirin, which is a national preserve, included in the WORLD NATURAL HERITAGE list. The Holy Trinity Church in Bansko. Built in 1835 the Holy Trinity Church with its fine belfry and clock tower constitutes the very heart of Bansko. It is also famous for its collection of icons and murals painted by local Bansko artists who once made the Bansko School of Painting one of the best in Bulgaria.

3Day

Breakfast. Departure towards Rozhen monastery and visit of the complex - the only monastery restored during the first centuries of Ottoman rule which has survived to these days. It owes its fame above all to its carved iconostases and lecterns.

Continue to Melnik – the smallest town in Bulgaria famous for the unique sandstone pyramids, traditional architecture and delectable wines. Tour of the town with visit of the Kordopoulov’s – the biggest residential building on the Balkans from the Revival period, housing extraordinary mural paintings and enourmous wine-cellar. Overnight in Melnik.

Sightseeing during the day:

Rozhen monastery - Situated far to the south in the Pirin area, 6 km from Melnik, this is the only monastery restored during the first centuries of Ottoman rule which has survived to this day. The present-day appearance of this old monastery (built by the Melnik ruler, despot Slav, during the 12th or 13th century) dates back to the 16th century. According to one inscription, the image of Christ Pantocrator together with the twelve apostles above the entrance gate of the Holy Virgin main church, was painted in 1597. Valuable monuments of 17th century painting included the external southern wall (Doomsday, Jacob's Ladder), dated with an inscription from 1611, as well as scenes from the life of John the Baptist painted in 1622 in the ossuary. The inside walls in the naos, the narthex and chapel of the main church were painted in 1732, with a strong inclination for narration, as a result of which more than 150 subject-matters were illustrated. The abundance of figures of monks and hermits unknown anywhere else, many of them, probably historic personages, contemporaries of the unknown painter, is also typical. Rozhen Monastery owes its fame above all to its carved iconostases and lecterns. Some of them are extremely complicated compositions, both in intent and in actual execution, in which Biblical themes have given full scope to boundless imagination which reached the peaks of decorativeness. Rozhen Monastery has left us with a treasure in yet another art - that of calligraphy. A unique work of the calligraphic school, which existed here as early as in the 14th century, is the manuscript "Interpretation of Jonah", taken in 1674 from the Constantinople Patriarch Dositheusm, and kept today in the Holy Grave Church in Jerusalem.

Melnik - Bulgaria's smallest town is hudding among frozen sandstones pyramids immobile for millennia, 190km south of Sofia. Thracians, Romans and Byzantines have written its history. Trace of it are preserved in unique monuments of old architecture, some of which are of national significance. Melnik's houses are spacious, with wide eaves and towers, high stained glass windows, carved ceilings and large celars here the famous Melnik wine matures. A single street leads to the finest example of the formes splendor of this small southern town.

The Kordopoulos House - with Venetian stained glass windows, spacious rooms and salons, ornamental murals, weaves and fretwork, a wrought iron gate and large wine-cellar from which caravans with the famous Melnik wine once left for Salonika, Athens, Vienna, Rome, and even Marseille and Spain.

Phenomenon Melnik Pyramids - The pyramids of Melnik are rocky formations (earth pyramids) in the south-westen peripheral slopes of the Pirin mountain. They are located in the surroundings of the town of Melnik. These magnificent natural sculptures are outlined in various forms and shapes, looking like haystacks, Egyptian pyramids, Gothic temples, minarets, ancient towers and loop-holes, giant obelisks, rising jumpers with incredible resemblance to colossal stone mushrooms.

4Day

Breakfast. The tour continues via the Rhodope mountains to the picturesque museum village of Kovatchevitsa with impressive architecture. The atmosphere is so charming with the narrow cobbled little streets, stone walls of the houses rising extraordinarily high, greyish slabs covering the roofs, tranquillity, countless swallows perching along the electric lines, goats climbing up the fences, fireflies in summertime. Visit to Leshten mountain village. Overnight in the popular SPA resort of Devin.

Sightseeing during the day:

Kovatchevitsa - the origin of the Kovatchevitsa village is connected to the violence the Bulgarian population in that area had been put under during the forcible conversion to Mohammedanism in the period 1623 - 1625 and later on in 1656. In that time, the Bulgarians that didn't want to accept the Islam left their homes, abandoned their properties and their relatives and looked for salvation and shelter in the higher, inaccessible parts of the mountain. The abundance of drinking water in the land of the village, the spacious pastures, the mild climate and the safety from Turkish raids made it favourable for the refugees to settle there. The architecture of Kovatchevitsa is distinctive and original.

5Day

Breakfast. Departure towards Trigrad gorge - one of the most fabulous places in the West Rhodope. It impresses visitors with the outlines of the 500-meters gorge with high, over 300 m sheer cliffs. Visit to the famous Yagodina Cave. The cave has five stories, with many labyrinths and abysses inside. Overnight in Devin.

Sightseeing during the day:

Phenomenon Trigrad Gorge - the Trigrad gorge is one of the most impressive places in the West Rhodope Mountain. It is reached from the town of Devin - the village of Teshel. The path is dug out the left bank in the rocks and passes through 80-m tunnel. Here you can see the outlines of the 500-meters gorge with high, above 300 m sheer cliffs. Undergrown spreading pines rise in the holes and cracks of the rocks.

Yagodina cave - is another interesting cave to be discovered in the region of Trigrad. This is the longest cave on the Balkan peninsula (10km). It is located in the canyon valley of the river Buinovska 2 km to the west of the village of Yagodina. One who dares to explore these caves will be rewarded with a once in a lifetime experience. The cave is of karsts type and it is five stories tall, with many labyrinths and abysses inside. Part of the cave is electrified and reveals mysterious formations: draperies, pipe-like stalactites, cave pearls, leopard skin and many hanging stalactites. Some of the formations inside resemble the well-known Santa Claus, Snow-White and The Seven Dwarfs, Virgin Mary and her newborn child, Elephant, and some characters from the Bulgarian culture and tradition. The New Year’s hall is of great interest too.

6Day

Breakfast. Departure towards Shiroka Luka village-museum /an architecture and ethnographic reserve/ well known for its original Rhodope architectural style, musical traditions and history. Visit of the local music school (except Jul, Aug, beginning of Sept). Continue to Smolyan. Overnight in Pamporovo mountain resort.

Sightseeing during the day:

Shiroka Luka - This is a village museum /an architecture and ethnographic reserve/ well known for its original Rhodope architectural style, musical traditions and history. It is the centre of a region of 5 villages /Stoikite, Gela, Stickal and Solishta/ populated by Christians and Muslems. It was founded after the most massive forceful conversion of the population of the Rhodope mountain to the Islam during the Turkish domination /17^th c./.

7Day

Breakfast. In the morning visit to Bachkovo Monastery - one of the oldest monasteries in the Bulgarian lands and the second biggest in the country. It is mainly known for its original architecture, rich collections of old icons, jewelry, coins and church plate. Continue to Plovdiv with a stop to Aseneva fortress en route. Overnight in Plovdiv.

Sightseeing during the day:

Bachkovo monastery - One of the oldest monasteries in the Bulgarian lands, it rises in the picturesque Chaya river valley, 29 km south of Plovdiv. Founded in 1083, Bachkovo Monastery is chiefly known for its original architecture, rich collections of old icons, jewelry, coins and church plate. The library preserves many valuable incunabula and old manuscripts. Its most remarkable feature, however, are the paintings that are seen everywhere - in the church and ossuary, where the figure of the Bulgarian Tsar Ivan Alexander is discernible among the 11th and 14th century murals, in the refectory (1601), in the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin main church (1604), and in the Holy Trinity and St. Nicholas church (1840), which contain some of the first murals painted by the celebrated National Revival artist Zahari Zograph.

Asenova fortress - 21 km south of Plovdiv, above the road to Smolyan stands the historical Asenova fortress which had existed even during the Thracian ages but became strategically important in medieval ages after the battle at Klokotnitsa (1230) when the Bulgarian King Ivan Asen II captured the Despot of Epir – Teodor Komnin. The feudal castle of the fortress with the tower and the two water reservoirs are thoroughly stied and conserved.

8Day

Breakfast. Tour of the Old Town of the city – an imposing open-air museum situated on the three hills of the ancient Trimontium. Visit the Ancient Theatre (a well-preserved Roman amphitheatre), Ethnographic museum and other interesting sites. Departure towards Koprivshtitsa town situated in the heart of Sredna gora mountain range. Tour in the town famous for the numerous museums, old stone bridges and walls, wooden yard gates, more than 120-year-old buildings and courtyards in their typical colours. Evening arrival in Sofia. Overnight.

Sightseeing during the day:

Plovdiv - is the second largest city in Bulgaria. Being older than most of the oldest towns like Rome, Athens, Carthage or Constantinople, almost contemporary of Troy, Plovdiv is a town built upon layers of towns and a culture developed upon layers of cultures. Plovdiv is a picturesque town, with many parks and gardens, museums and archaeological monuments. Its old part, called the Old Town, is an imposing open-air museum situated on the three hills of the ancient Trimontium. One of the most remarkable sights of the town, the Ancient Theatre (a well-preserved Roman amphitheatre), is located there and is still used for open-air performances.

Koprivshitsa is one of the few thoroughly preserved architectural ensembles of the Revival Priod. The entrance fee permits visits in all 6 houses in Koprivshitsa - Oslekov`s House /the most famous architectural and ethnographic site of the town/, the House of Georgi Benkovski /the leader of the April Uprising/, The house of Luben Karavelov /acquaints us with the revolutionary and journalistic activities of Luben Karavelov/, the House of Todor Kableshkov /exhibits the activity of 25-years "old-young" man who organized the rebellion in the town, the author of the famous Blood-stained letter, etc./, Lyutov`s House / hosts exposition on the subject of "Treasury of Bulgarian Construction Genius"/, The House of the famous Bulgarian writer Dimcho Develyanov. So, you can enter in all houses or visit few of them following their interests.

9Day

Breakfast. Sofia city tour including National Archaeological Museum, National Theatre, Russian Church St. Nikola, Parliament Square, Alexander Nevski Memorial Cathedral with the most valuable collection of Bulgarian Icons (13-19^th c), St. Sofia Church (6^th c), St. George Rotunda (4^th c), National Palace of Culture. Time at leisure. Overnight in Sofia.

Sightseeing during the day:

Sofia - Roads from all parts of the world have been meeting here nearly 7 000 years. Peoples have come and gone, civilizations have advanced and declined, but the city has remained. More than 250 historic, archaeological and architectural landmarks in the city which the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great once called "My Rome".

10Day

Breakfast. Transfer to the airport. Departure.