Sofia City tour and Photo shooting
Sightseeing tour of Sofia, a city founded 7 000 years ago.
Visit and photo shooting the main attractions are the Alexander Nevski Cathedral and the Crypt, National Theatre, St. Sofia church, Sofia’s oldest building the 4-rd century St. George Rotonda. Dinner and overnight in Sofia.

Sofia – Rila Monastery – Melnik
Drive to the Rila Monastery – the biggest and most important symbol of Bulgarian Orthodox church. The Monastery has been founded in the 10-th century and rebuilt in 13-th and 14-th centuries. It is one of Europe’s oldest and included in UNESCO’S list in 1983. Behind the 20 meters walls lies an impressive monastery building, a church and a chapel with valuable murals.
The route continues to Melnik – Bulgaria’s smallest town, famous for its unique red wine and the natural sandstone pyramids. Close to Melnik lies the picturesque Rozhen Monastery dating from the 13th c. ( the only Bulgarian monastery that remained unharmed during the Turkish yoke). Overnight in Melnik.

Melnik – Ribnovo – Kovachevitsa
Today we drive through the picturesque Rhodopi mountains, believed to be the birthplace of the legendary Orpheus and a territory where the ancient Thracian tribes celebrated their religious cults.
The village of Ribnovo is situated at the western slopes of the Rodopi Mountains. It is inhabited by Bulgarians, professing Islam. The different religion has determined their different culture and lifestyle. The picturesque village residents will be our first photo models on this trip.
By the evening we will continue to the village of Kovachevitsa (35 km, 1 hr), where we will spend the overnight. Kovachevitsa is an architectural reserve with its interesting stone houses corresponding in a harmonious way with the surrounding nature. Accommodation in authentic houses converted into hotels.

Kovachevitsa – Trigrad –Devin
Today we will visit the villages of Trigrad, Kesten, Yagodina and Buinovo, where we will different photo shooting subjects. These are small villages, situated close to the border.
Many of the houses are now abandoned and a handful of the other residents have a modest and traditional lifestyle. Nature in this region is not of less interest – Trigrad and Buinovo gorges are among the highlights in the Rodopi Mountains – hundreds of meters of vertical cliffs on both sides of narrow river beds. There is a cave within each gorge –Yagodinska cave in Buinovo gorge and Devil’s Throat in Trigrad gorge. We will spend the overnight in the town of Devin.

Devin – Plovdiv
Today we continue our journey to Plovdiv, the second largest city in Bulgaria but this is its least dignity. Its appeal comes from the fact that this is one of the oldest towns in Europe. Its old part has preserved lots of traces of its millennial history – from the ruins of the Thracian settlements and the Roman Theater to the colorful houses and stone churches from the Revival Period. Overnight in Plovdiv.

Plovdiv – Veliko Tarnovo
Veliko Tarnovo is one of the oldest towns in the country, as its history dates back to more than five thousand years ago, which is proven by archaeological excavations. The most significant monument of culture in Veliko Tarnovo is the medieval fortress Tsarevets, situated on the homonymous peak, surrounded on three sides by the river Yantra. Excavations show that although Tsarevets is surrounded by a fortified wall, it was not a closed fortress, but a real medieval town, in the center of which the following objects were rising: the palace, the church “St. Petka”, multiple residential and economic buildings, water reservoirs and battle towers. The Patriarch’s residence was on the highest part of Tsarevets, and the Patriarch’s church “The Ascension of Christ” was also in close proximity. Visit the Fortress and some of the main Bulgarian Monasteries. Overnight in Veliko Tarnovo.

Veliko Tarnovo – Sofia
Approximately 3 hours drive towards Sofia. Depending on the return flight timing, we can go directly to Sofia Airport, or spend another night photo shooting in Sofia.