The Seven Rila Lakes & Rila Monastery
Experience Bulgaria’s two ultimate highlights in a single day. This expertly timed day trip combines a breathtaking hike to the panoramic Seven Rila Lakes with a cultural visit to the historic Rila Monastery, the largest and most important spiritual landmark in the country.
It is the ultimate mountain-and-culture combo designed to maximize your time without feeling rushed.
- Conquer the highlights of the Rila Mountains in just one day from Sofia.
- Trek past the spectacular lakes with stunning panoramic views (chairlift ticket optional/paid locally).
- Rila Monastery: Enjoy ample time to explore the vast UNESCO-listed complex and its famous frescoed church.
- Relax in an air-conditioned vehicle with a professional driver navigating the mountain roads.
- Active yet Accessible: A moderately active trek perfect for travelers with basic physical fitness and comfortable shoes.
Duration: 12 hours
- Free cancellation
Wine and Tapas Boutique Bulgarian Wine Tasting
Taste Bulgarian wines from boutique wineries along with typical Bulgarian meats and cheeses in the heart of Sofia. In a quiet artistic street among chill atmosphere you will learn more about the history of wine making in Bulgaria. You will explore the taste of the local grapes along with different local meats and cheeses. As it is very difficult to find Bulgarian wines outside our country you will have one truly unique experience nevertheless if you are wine enthusiast or have deeper knowledge of wine.
Duration: 1 hour
- Free cancellation
Plovdiv and Rila Monastery tour in one day
We are the only company that offers this unique combination of tour to Rila Monastery and Plovdiv in one day. Visit the two most visited locations in one day with this amazing tour. The Monastery of Saint Ivan of Rila is the largest and most famous monastery in Bulgaria. Plovdiv’s history spans 8,000 years, it’s the second biggest city in Bulgaria.
Entrance in the monastery is only allowed with covered shoulders and covered knees. Please have appropriate clothes.
We won't have time for a restaurant meal, just packed lunch or fast food.
Approximate schedule, it can be plus/minus 30 minutes at those stops depending on traffic:
07:45 Meet and leave Sofia
09:15 Arrivel at Rila Monastery
10:15 Leaving for Plovdiv
13:30 Some time to walk around Plovdiv
14:00 We join the Free Plovdiv Tour (this is a donation based tour, and the tip for the guide is not included in the price of the tour)
16:00 Time to walk around and optionally grab some food
17:00 We leave Plovdiv
18:30 We arrive in Sofia
Duration: 10–11 hours
- Free cancellation
Private 1-day Trip To Wonderful Bridges-Bachkovo-Asen's Fortress from Plovdiv
Our private tour brings you to the top spots around Plovdiv at your own pace and starting time from Plovdiv. Your private local guide is also your driver with the comfortable vehicle. All entrance fees are included in the privately-guided option.
Wonderful Bridges are a natural phenomenon, which is believed to had formed during the collapse of former cave formed in Proterozoic marbles from the waters of a small river deep gully probably an earthquake.
Bachkovo monastery "Uspenie Bogorodichno" was founded in 1083 by the Georgian Gregory Bakuriani, who made a donation to the building.
Asen's Fortress - one of the most preserved fortresses in Bulgaria. Truly breathtaking scenery, views and history behind it!
Choose between privately-guided and self-guided tour.
Duration: 5–6 hours
- Free cancellation
- Private tour
Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Shuttle Tour
Rila monastery shuttle will take you to Bulgaria's most important and visited historical site and even more - two UNESCO places, amongst with Boyana church. Enjoy the wonderful frescoes from 19th century, representing the achievement of the Bulgarian Revival painting school, feel the amazing spirit of the largest monastery in the country, surrounded by the indescribable beauty of Rila mountain. V travel team will represent to you all the secrets of this place. In the afternoon we will visit Boyana church, where murals from 13th century will show you the majesty of the Bulgarian medieval country.
Duration: 8 hr 30 min
- Likely to sell out
- Free cancellation
Small Group Tour to Rila Monastery and Boyana Church
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 founded 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 the guided visit to the Monastery complex and lunch, we will head back to Sofia. On the way, we will stop at the second UNESCO site for the day Boyana church. Small but unique with the most preserved frescoes from 1259 in this part of Europe. The tour will end with drop-off at your hotel/accommodation.
Duration: 7 hours
- Free cancellation
Private tour: Rila Mountains and The Seven Rila Lakes from Sofia
You will have the pleasure to get to the highest of all lakes - the Eye, the Tear, the Kidney, the Twins, the Trefoil, the Fish Lake and the Lower Lake and enjoy the super scenery revealed from there. It's superb!
Duration: 6–9 hours
- Free cancellation
- Private tour
Sofia Walking Private City Tour
The Sofia City Tour is a great possibility to discover its rich history and to get acquainted with its present.
The city of Sofia offers beautiful buildings, Roman remains, old churches, extremely interesting archaeological complexes and of course thousands of bars and restaurants where you can taste traditional Bulgarian dishes.
Duration: 2–3 hours
- Free cancellation
- Private tour
Historic Sofia: Exclusive Private Tour with a Local
Join a Local for a two-hour exclusive journey through Sofia, a can't-miss experience that invites you to admire historic landmarks, relive storied pasts, and dive into the city's rich culture.
• Discover Sofia’s past with the guidance of a Local.
• Uncover how Serdica has defined Sofia's history.
• Experience a personalised tour, tailored to your interests.
• Get curated recommendations for further city discovery.
• Enjoy a private and intimate tour, exclusively for your group.
Immerse yourself in Sofia's heritage and let its history become part of your own journey.
Duration: 2 hours
- Free cancellation
- Private tour
Full-Day Belogradchik Rocks and Belogradchik Fortress from Sofia
Feel the power of mother nature and explore this million years history just in one day! Belogradchik rocks are natural phenomenon located in the Northwestern part of Bulgaria. For millions of years the nature has molded interesting forms from the rocks which are connected with many legends. We will see the Madonna, the Eagle, the Schoolgirl, Pinocchio and many more, depends on your imagination! Among the rocks we will visit the Belogradchick fortress which was built during the Roman Empire.
If you can handle more adventures we will make an easy 45 minutes downhill hike around the rocks (OPTIONAL)
Duration: 10–11 hours
- Free cancellation
7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Tour
IMPORTANT: Entrance in the monastery is only allowed with covered shoulders and covered knees. So please make sure you have appropriate clothes.
Often called the 8th wonder of the world, the Seven Rila lakes are legendary for their beauty and awesomeness. They are one of the most visited natural sites of Bulgaria. We combine them with a visit to the Rila Monastery. The Monastery of Saint Ivan of Rila, better known as the Rila Monastery is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria.
The tour starts at 08:00 and finishes around 19:00.
The driver will pick you up, will take you to the Monastery and will show you around. After that he will take you to the lift to the 7 Rila Lakes, you will be able to go up to the lakes, the driver will stay down and wait for you there. When you come back, he will pick you from the lift and bring you back to Sofia.
Duration: 10–11 hours
- Free cancellation
Full-day Rila Monastery, Stob Pyramids and St Ivan Rilski Cave from Sofia
Explore the picturesque Bulgarian countryside, visiting three famous Bulgarian attractions within a day tour from Sofia! Spend the morning in the Rila Monastery, one of the country’s most famous UNESCO World Heritage sites, a "must see" for anyone visiting Bulgaria. Discover the centuries old forests of the Rila Mountains on a scenic walk to the cave of St. Ivan Rilski (St. John of Rila), where the founder of the monastery lived as an anchorite and explore the amazing rock formations of the Stob’s Pyramids nature phenomenon. Escape the Sofia crowds for a memorable full-day trip led by an expert!
Duration: 6–8 hours
- Free cancellation
- Private tour
Monasteries and Waterfalls Tour from Veliko Tarnovo
Explore some of the most beautiful natural and cultural landmarks around Veliko Tarnovo with our guided tours to monasteries and waterfalls. You can choose between two options, depending on how adventurous you want your journey to be.
The first option is a 3-hour off-road tour with a 4x4 jeep, where you are a passenger and our professional guide drives you. This tour includes off-road terrain, taking you through scenic forest paths and less accessible terrain for a more immersive experience in nature.
The second option is a 2-hour tour with without off-road included. We embark on this route with a normal car. This is ideal for travelers who prefer to experience a more relaxing tour and enjoy the nature's beauty.
You can visit breathtaking sites like Hotnitsa Waterfall and Preobrazhenski Monaster. Other routes are available upon request.
Discover Bulgaria’s natural beauty and history
Duration: 2–3 hours
- Free cancellation
Buzludzha Monument and The Rose Valley Day Tour From Sofia 13 hrs
Join us on a small-group guided trip to one of the most iconic communist monuments from the past in Eastern Europe. The UFO-like abandoned building is located on top of Buzludzha Peak in the Central Balkan Mountains. Today, an empty structure stripped of its initial purposes, it has gained many admirers and popularity around the world, and is considered a remarkable representation of this part of history. We will make a short stop at the wonderful Ethnographic Complex of Damascen, where you can learn more about the production of the famous Bulgarian rose oil. Last, enjoy the beautiful Shipka memorial church and the scenic sub-Balkan way on the way back to Sofia!
Duration: 12 hours
- Free cancellation
3 Caves tour - Saeva dupka , Eyes of God cave & Devetashka Cave
The beauty of the Bulgarian nature has many faces. The country’s nature is diverse and offers wide range of adventure options with its magnificent mountains, scenic landscapes and beautiful coastlines, but much of the breathtaking sites are hidden in a fantastic underworld.
During this cave tour we will explore 3 of the most popular and interesting underground pearls of Bulgaria - Saeva dupka, Prohodna cave (known also as The Eyes of God) and Devetashka cave.
Duration: 10 hours
- Free cancellation
Koprivshtica Day Tour from Sofia
Koprivshtica is the Revolutionary capital of Bulgaria. Here in 1876 starts the April Uprising, the biggest uprising of the Bulgarians against the Ottoman yoke. Walking around the cobblestone streets of the town is like going back to the heroic past of the country. Visit the houses of the Bulgarian revolutionaries and learn about their sacrifice for the liberation of Bulgaria, as well the birthplaces of great poets and writers. A day in the town of Koprivshtica will make you feel like you have travelled to a place, taken out from the remarkable Revolutionary novels of the Bulgarian writers.Also on the way back we will stop at Chavdar, a neolithic village reconstruction, based on a real archaeological excavations in the area.
Duration: 9 hours
- Free cancellation
Rila Monastery and 7 Rila Lakes Self-Guided Shared Trip from Sofia
This self-guided, shared shuttle tour will take you to both the 7 Rila Lakes area in the morning and then in the afternoon to the UNESCO Rila Monastery in the Rila National park - Bulgaria's most famous natural and cultural sites. In the morning the shuttle bus tour bus will take you to the start of the hiking routes ar the Rila Lakes area and base station of the chair lift from where you can take the chair-lift up in the mountain. You have more than 5 hours for your self-guided tour of the Rila Lakes area. After that in the afternoon the shared shuttle will take you to the Rila Monastery - Bulgaria's most visited cultural and historical site. You have more than 1 hour to explore the monastery site on your own.
Duration: 13 hours
- Likely to sell out
- Free cancellation
Full-Day Guided Tour to Seven Rila Lakes in Bulgaria
The Seven Rila Lakes are a group of glacial lakes, situated in the northwestern Rila Mountain in Bulgaria. They are the most visited group of lakes in Bulgaria. The lakes are situated between 2081 m – 6827 ft) and (2535 m – 8316 ft) above sea level. Each lake carries a name associated with its most characteristic feature.
-The highest one is called ‘Salzata’ (the Tear) due to its clear waters.
-The next one in height carries the name ‘Okoto’ (the Eye) after its almost perfectly oval form.
-Babreka (the Kidney) is the lake with the steepest shores of the entire group.
-Bliznaka (the Twin) is the largest one by area.
-Trilistnika (the Trefoil) has an irregular shape and low shores.
-The shallowest lake is ‘Ribnoto Ezero’ (the Fish Lake)
-The lowest one is ‘Dolnoto Ezero’ (the Lower Lake), where the waters that flow out of the other lakes are gathered to form the Dzherman River.
Duration: 9 hours
- Free cancellation
- Private tour
Plovdiv and Bachkovo Tour
A beautiful day visiting both the pretty and ancient city of Plovidiv and the interesting Bachkovo Monastery nearby.
Duration: 10–11 hours
- Free cancellation
Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanasi day tour from Sofia with pickup
Visit ¨the City of Tsars¨ with the most impressive medieval fortress in Bulgaria.
Take the advantage of this small-group tour with free hotel pickup.
Duration: 10–11 hours
- Free cancellation
Rila Monastery In-Depth Tour (Extended Free Time)
Escape the rush of standard group tours and immerse yourself in Bulgaria’s rich history on this In-Depth Day Trip to the UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery. Nestled high in the Rila Mountains, this medieval landmark features breathtaking frescoes, historic architecture, and surrounding alpine beauty.
Why choose this tour?
Instead of rushing between multiple sites, this tour is designed for travelers who want Extended Free Time at Rila Monastery. After a guided introduction to the complex, you will have ample, unhurried time to deeply explore the inner museums (optional), take stunning photos, hike nearby nature paths, and enjoy a relaxed local lunch completely at your own pace.
Duration: 8 hours
- Free cancellation
Plovdiv, Bachkovo Monastery & Roman Heritage: Day Tour from Sofia
The Intimacy of a Private Trip, the Price of a Group Tour
Why settle for a crowded 50-seater bus when you can explore Bulgaria’s cultural heart in a guaranteed small group of max 8 travelers? We specialize in high-quality, personalized experiences where you are a guest, not just a number.
Guaranteed Departure
Unlike many operators who cancel if the bus isn't full, we guarantee our departure. Whether you are a solo traveler or a couple, your plans are safe with us. We run this tour regardless of the final group size, ensuring you never miss the magic of Plovdiv.
Expert Storytelling & Hidden Gems
Beyond the famous Roman Theater and Bachkovo’s Miraculous Icon, our expert guides take you into the "real" Plovdiv—the artistic Kapana "Trap" district and secret viewpoints most tourists overlook. Enjoy a flexible pace, deeper historical insights, and a seamless journey in a comfortable vehicle. Experience the oldest living city in Europe the way it was meant to be seen: up close and personal.
Duration: 8–9 hours
- Free cancellation
Private Wine Tasting in the UNESCO town of Nessebar
In Nessebar's Old Town, sunlight danced on cobblestones as you entered a charming, vine-draped winery. Cool stone walls whispered of history, and the air thrummed with anticipation. On a terrace overlooking the Black Sea's turquoise embrace, crystal glasses awaited, each holding a promise of enchantment.
Your guide, a local with a twinkle in his eye, unveiled Bulgaria's secrets - the deep, earthy Mavrud, the crisp, citrusy Sauvignon Blanc, and the robust, oak-aged Melnik. Each sip, a journey through sun-drenched vineyards and family traditions. As the sun dipped, casting a golden glow, a cheese platter arrived, a symphony of flavors on your tongue. Laughter mingled with the sea breeze, creating an unforgettable tapestry of Bulgarian magic. You leaned back, the world slowing to the rhythm of waves, forever enchanted.
Escape to a haven for Bulgarian gems! Since the beginning, we've championed the finest small-batch Bulgarian wines.
Duration: 1–2 hours
- Free cancellation
- Private tour
Private Transfer from Veliko Tarnovo to Sofia (SOF) Airport
Take the worry out of your departure to Sofia (SOF) Airport and pre-book a private transfer to suit your group size (up to 8 people). Avoid the long lines for taxis at the hotel, and travel in the comfort of a Premium car or minivan.
Duration: 2 hr 45 min
- Free cancellation
- Private tour