Arrival Sofia Airport. Private transfer to your hotel. Walking tour of Sofia with local guide. Check in and overnight.

Rent-a-car delivery to your hotel. Departure to Rila Monastery location. Check in at your hotel, located close to a small river, just 5 km before Rila Monastery. Off road vehicle will wait you there to transfer you to Tiha Rila locality, from where you will have an independent walk to Ribni ezera ( lakes ). Return back with the vehicle to your hotel. Dinner to taste BBQ mountain trout ( typical for the region ) and overnight.

Morning independent visit of Rila Monastery UNESCO site – the largest monastery in Bulgaria, as well as the most visited tourist site in the country. Proceed to Maliovitsa. Leave the car at the parking of CMS Maliovitsa and proceed to Maliovitsa hut, where you will spend the night. If your time permits, hike/ trek in the afternoon.

Morning independent trek to Maliovitsa peak ( 2729 m ) – appr. 5 - 6 h back and forth. Return to your car. Depart to Sapareva Banya. Check in at your hotel.

Drive from Sapareva Banya to Pionerska hut, take the chair lift to the 7 Rila lakes. A pleasant walk/ hike in the area – you can go to the highest lake from the glacial group ( 2535 m above sea level ). Afternoon back with the lift to Pionerska hut, 2nd night in Sapareva Banya.

Depart from Sapareva Banya to Borovets mountain resort. Borovets is the oldest Bulgarian winter resort with a history that dates back to 1896 and was originally established at the end of the 19th c as a hunting place for the Bulgarian Kings. Check in at your hotel, many opportunities for walking, biking, horse riding, possible visit of the summer residence of the Bulgarian kings.

In the morning - take Yastrebets gondola lift and walk to Musala hut and the lake, or even to Musala peak ( 2925 m, the highest mountain peak on the Balkans ). Return back with the lift and rest at your hotel.

Departure from Borovets to Plovdiv – the 2nd largest Bulgarian city, once capital of Philip the 2nd of Macedonia, the father of Alexander the Great. Plovdiv has been European capital of culture in 1999 and 2019 and is considered the oldest permanently inhibited city in Europe. Meet your private tour guide, who will show you the Old Plovdiv architecture reserve with the Ancient Amphitheatre, the Ethnographic museum ( the so-called Royal House ), the Roman Stadium, Kapana artistic neighbourhood of Plovdiv and the longest pedestrian street in the world. Check in at your hotel in the Old Plovdiv architecture reserve and free late afternoon for own discoveries.

Departure south of Plovdiv with possible stops en route to Assenova Fortress, Bachkovo Monastery ( 2nd largest in Bulgaria, 11th c ), Wonder bridges rock formations. Check in at a hotel in Pamporovo area, overnight.

Hike in the area of Snejanka peak, Orphey rocks, the Canyon of Waterfalls, eco-trail Nevyastata, etc. Overnight at the same hotel.

Depart to Trigrad gorge region. Possible stop en route to Shiroka Luka museum village with its 17th c typical national-revival architecture houses - two storey-buildings with bay-windows and an internal wooden staircases. Overnight at a family-run hotel with dinner included. Possibility for horse-riding in the area.

Morning private jeep tour from Teshel village, including Trigrad Gorge, Buinovo Gorge, Yagodina cave, Devil`s Throat cave, Orlovo Oko Observation platform. In the afternoon continue to Kovachevitsa and Leshten villages with a small detour. Further north, leaving the Rhodope mountains you will enter the region of Pirin Mountain ( National park, UNESCO site ). Independent visit of Bansko museum town, with its authentic old part. Check in at your hotel, dinner and overnight.

Possible day to Vihren hut – climb Vihren peak ( 2914 m, the hightest in Pirin, 2nd highest in Bulgaria after Musala, however more difficult ) – appr. 3 h one way, or walk in the region of the lakes – Bunderishko, Okoto, etc. / go to Demianitsa hut ( many lakes in the region, small rivers, glacial forms ), Bunderitsa hut, etc./ visit the Dancing bears rehabilitation park near Belitsa.

From Dobrinishte, you can go to Gotse Delchev hut – take the lift to Bezbog hut, walk in the area and to Popovo lake. Afternoon departure to Sofia ( 2,5 h drive ). Rent-a-car drop off at your hotel. Overnight.

Private transfer to the airport.