→ Depart from Sofia in the morning
→ Transfer to the Rila monastery (2-2:30 hours)→ Guided tour of the monastery
Visit the Rila Monastery museum and complex
→ Transfer to Melnik (the smallest city in Bulgaria a.k.a. The Bulgarian Capital of Wine)
Sightseeing and wine tasting in local winery (optional)

Overnight in Melnik

→ Transfer to Rhodope mountains (3-4 hours)
Visit traditional mountain villages and meet local people on the way
Try Bulgarian homemade jam and delicious local food
→ Free time at the afternoon

Overnight in a traditional mountain village

→ Depart after breakfast
→ Transfer to Bachkovo monastery ( 1.5-2 hours)
→ Explore the 2nd big monastery in Bulgaria
→ Transfer to Plovdiv, The European Capital of Culture (40 min)
→ Walking city tour of Plovdiv
Visit The Old Town (dating from the 19th century); the exterior of the Ethnographic museum; Balabanov house; the Ancient theatre of Philippopolis; the Ancient stadium of Philipopolis; the St. Constantin and Elena church; the Djumaya Mosque and square; the building of the Regional Historical Museum; Saint Ludvik Cathedral; the Agara (Marketplace); the famous main pedestrian street; “The Trap” neighbourhood and Nebet Tepe.

→ Free time in Plovdiv in the afternoon
Overnight in Plovdiv

→ Depart from Plovdiv after breakfast
→ Transfer to Koprivshtitsa mountain village (2 hours)
→ Walking city tour of Koprivshtitsa
Visit the exterior of Dimcho Debelyanov house, Uspenie Bogorodichno Church, the first Bulgarian school from 1843, The Forestry House, the exterior of the Georgi Benkovski House, the library, Todor Kableshkov’s house from the outside, the liberation square and the “First Gun” bridge.
→ Stop for lunch in traditional Bulgarian restaurant
→ Transfer to Kaznalak (The Rose Valley)(1.5 hours)
→ Visit the Russian memorial church, the Thracian tomb “Golayma Kosmatka” and a local rose oil distillery
→ Free time in Kazanlak for dinnerOvernight in Kazanlak area

→ Depart after breakfast from your hotel in Kazanlak
→ Transfer to Veliko Tarnovo via Shipka pass (1.5- 2 hours)
Visit Etar open air museum on the way
→ City tour of Veliko Tarnovo
Visit the Tsarevets Fortress and the famous craft street
→Free time for dinner

Overnight in Veliko Tarnovo