Small group tour to Plovdiv, Asen's Fortress and Bachkovo Monastery
Description
During this day tour, you will be able to visit one of the must-see places in Bulgaria, not surprisingly elected European Capital of Culture for 2019, as well as two of the highlights in the region - Asen's fortress and Bachkovo Monastery
Tour Options
Itinerary
The tour starts with pick up from your centrally located hotel/accommodation in Sofia. After approximately an hour and a half drive, we will reach 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. Afterward, we will have lunch.
When we are done with our traditional Bulgarian lunch, we will head towards the final destination of the tour – Asenova Fortress (approx. 25 min drive from Plovdiv). Asen's Fortress is situated on the top of a cliff in Rodopi Mountain, at approx. 20 km distance from Plovdiv. It is a Medieval fortress with a rich history and breathtaking view.
After feasting our eyes on the beauties of nature, we will drive to the Bachkovo monastery. This is the second biggest monastery in Bulgaria and one of the oldest. It was established in the late XI century by a man for Georgia. The monastery later became part of the Bulgarian church. It suffered a lot from the turbulence of the time and keeps a lot of history and drama.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pick up from centrally located addresses.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Travelers with flu or cold symptoms will not be taken in the vehicle
Reviews(178)
Very nice visit. Friendly and dedicated guide.
Our guide Daniel was very knowledgeable and charismatic. He picked us at the hotel an returned us safely.
We did not have a good experience on this tour, unfortunately. I don’t even know our guide’s name. I truly felt like I was listening to an audio guide: ton of information with zero personality or engagement with the group. We were 80% of the group and literally ran thru Plovdiv to not get lost. Didn’t even have time to buy a souvenir. The tour itself was good but the guide was not. I would recommend a different company that does the same itinerary to have a better experience
Dear Marina, Thank you for your review. We are happy you liked the tour itinerary, though we feel your description of the guide’s pace misses some important context. Rather than 'running through Plovdiv,' our guide actually extended the duration of the tour to accommodate your family’s pace, as the teenagers in your group frequently separated and requiring extra attention to ensure the tour went smoothly. Our guides always adapt their personality to the energy of the group. We are quite surprised by this review, considering that your group thanked the guide warmly at the end of the trip for the service provided. Wish you many great trips :)
The VIP travel is recommended. You do not need to rush and the tour was great. I really recommend this tour from Sofia.
This day trip proved excellent value during our week in Sofia. Our guide Nina was so competent, warm and friendly and simply a wealth of knowledge with regards The Old Town of Plovdiv and Bulgaria in general. Fascinating houses and history. The ancient architectural structures were extraordinary and filled with wonder. I certainly recommend this experience to anyone with a keen interest in their current vicinity and history in general.
Our guide Micha (I hope I have spelt your name correctly) was absolutely lovely and so well informed. I highly recommend this tour.
Great day out, but would have liked to have had time at the monestry to have walked around the market there and have something yo eat which seemed to have much better places to eat than in Ploovdiv. Guide was excellent though with real in depth knowledge of her subject
I cannot recommend this tour enough. We had a scheduling conflict as the agency was fully booked, but they went above and beyond to make sure we didn't miss Plovdiv. Our guide, Josif Barsanov, was absolutely incredible. Even though it was his day off, he stepped in to take us. His English is excellent, and he is deeply knowledgeable and attentive. He brought his 6-year-old daughter along, who was lovely and made the experience feel even more special and authentic. We learned so much about Bulgaria and felt truly cared for the whole day. If you are looking for a guide who genuinely cares about your experience, Josif is the best. Thank you for making our trip so memorable!
The day started off with a hotel pick up. The tour was intimate with 5 people. Theodore was extremely informatative. Full day experience. You cannot come to Bulgaria and not visit Plovdiv! Highly recommend this tour.
Beautiful tour, awesome views. We lucked out and ours turned out to be a private tour. Comfortable car, nice guide, great lunch
