At 8:30 you will be picked by your guide from your hotel/accommodation in Sofia. You will have an hour and a half drive, on a beautiful road, to get to the first famous site-Rila monastery. Situated deep in the dense pine forests of Rila Mountain, Rila Monastery is the biggest and most important Orthodox cloister in Bulgaria. It is an outstanding example of the Bulgarian cultural and historical heritage, in which architecture and painting merge harmoniously. The site is part of the UNESCO world heritage list. Rila Monastery was found in the 10th century by St Ivan Rilski, a hermit canonized by the Orthodox Church. His ascetic dwelling and tomb became a holy place and later on a monastic complex was formed. It played an important role in the spiritual and social life of medieval Bulgaria.

After a nice lunch in the area of the monastery, we will continue our journey toward the second biggest cities in Bulgaria-Plovdiv. Plovdiv is said to be the oldest continuously inhabited city in Europe. The city has cultural and economic significance both in the past and in the present due to its strategic location. Pieces of evidence of its millennial history can be found all over the place – from the Roman Theatre to the Ottoman mosques. This is the reason why Plovdiv is one of the most charming sights in Bulgaria- wherever you look you will find history, a legend from a different period, traces of glorious past and at the same time, it’s a pleasure to see how vivid is it still and how it continues to develop and writes its new history. There we will visit the highlights – the Roman Theatre, the Roman Stadium, and have a walk in the Old Town with typical for the Revival Period house museums and narrow cobblestone streets.

The evening we will spend in Plovdiv. We will overnight in the heart of the Old town in a nice 3* hotel. You can enjoy your free time by visiting the famous area called "The trap". It is like a maze full of small craft beer and wine shops, wonderful restaurants, bars with live music, and many more places of entertainment.