Sofia greets you not with fanfare but with a sense of presence. This city, layered in stone, memory, and faith, welcomes you gently. Upon your arrival, you are met and transferred to your hotel. The first few hours are for settling in—a moment to breathe, unpack, and step into the rhythm of a new place.

In the late afternoon, you embark on a leisurely walking tour. It is not hurried or scripted, but rather exploratory and calm. The grandeur of Alexander Nevsky Cathedral yields to the echoes of Ottoman influence near the mineral baths. In the mosque’s tiled courtyard, you take a moment to pause. Shoes off. Silence held. There is something here that does not need words.

Highlights of the Day:

• Walking city tour through Sofia's historic and spiritual hear - visit of the Banya Bashi Mosque, explore the Old Sofia area, and admire the stunning Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. The tour will also take us to the City Garden and the National Theatre

Travel Details: Airport transfer (~30 min); Light walking city tour; Overnight at a hotel in Sofia (-/-/-)

Not far from the city, the land rises. Today you may choose to travel up into the arms of Vitosha Mountain, a place where towering pines stretch toward the heavens and a cool mist softens every sound. A short walk leads you to Boyana Waterfall, where crystal-clear water cascades over stones, and the forest hushes around you. This is a sanctuary for prayer, whether spoken or unspoken.

The mountain offers a space to think, to listen, and to simply be. If you prefer to stay in Sofia, the city itself provides its own forms of retreat: quiet parks, museum galleries, and sunlit benches. Your time is your own.

Highlights of the Day:

• Optional nature walk to Boyana Waterfall, followed by contemplative time in the cool air of Vitosha.

Travel Details: Expected Travel Distance 25–30 km round trip (~40 min total drive); Optional 3–5 km trek; Overnight stay at a hotel in Sofia (B/-/-)

The journey eastward is gentle. Fields glide by, dotted with red-tiled villages. Then Plovdiv rises into view—ancient and alive. One of Europe’s oldest cities, it speaks in layers: Thracian foundations, Roman arches, and Ottoman domes.

You stroll through the winding lanes of the Old Town, which are cobbled and steep. Wooden eaves stretch over the street like hands engaged in conversation. As you approach the Dzhumaya Mosque, your pace slows. The air cools beneath its arcades. Inside, the space opens wide, simple and profound. Prayer in this setting feels natural and effortless, akin to breathing.

Later, you explore Kapana, the creative quarter filled with art, textiles, whispers of calligraphy, and the aroma of coffee. There is joy here, as well as contrast and history in every stone.

Highlights of the Day:

• Explore Plovdiv's cobbled streets and rich Ottoman heritage, and take the opportunity to visit and pray at the historic Dzhumaya Mosque.

Travel Details: Expected travel distance: 145 km (~2 hrs); city tour moderate walking; Overnight stay at a hotel in Plovdiv (B/-/-)

The morning sun catches mist above the valley. Today, we embark on a journey to Kazanlak, the heart of the Valley of Roses. If the season is right, the fields blush with shades of pink, and the air is filled with their fragrant scent. Even when the roses sleep, their presence lingers in oil, in memory, and in myth.

Nearby, you descend into the Thracian Tomb, a sacred resting place that is over two millennia old. Horses gallop across the frescoed walls, while warriors feast in eternal stillness. It is quiet here and profoundly moving. A visit to the Rose Museum will provide us with even more insights into this remarkable Bulgarian region.

This day celebrates beauty—ancient and fragrant.

Highlights of the Day:

• Visit to Kazanlak and the Rose Museum, and entry to the UNESCO-listed Thracian Tomb

Travel Details: Expected travel distance: 210 km round trip (~3.5–4 hrs); Light walking; Overnight stay at a hotel in Plovdiv; (B/-/-)

Today, the road bends southward. Along the way, we will stop at Osman Baba Teke, a place of spiritual resonance, where earth and devotion meet. Nestled in the hills near Haskovo, this 16th-century dervish mausoleum is dedicated to the esteemed Ottoman-era spiritual leader, Osman Baba. The site, shaded by trees and accompanied by the gentle murmur of the wind, attracts both the faithful and the curious, offering a profound sense of tranquility. The simple white structure, wrapped in local legend, remains a place of pilgrimage, prayer, and personal reflection.

From there, the journey climbs. You enter the Rhodopes, green and vast. By late afternoon, you arrive in Velingrad—a town of steam and stillness. Here, mineral springs bubble beneath the fir-covered slopes, and time seems to soften at the edges.

Highlights of the Day:

• The Osman Baba Teke, a site of spiritual significance, is a 16th-century dervish mausoleum dedicated to the esteemed spiritual leader of the Ottoman era.
• Arrival in Velingrad, Bulgaria’s spa sanctuary

Travel Details: Expected travel distance: ~340 km total (~5.5–6 hrs with visit and breaks); Minimal walking; Overnight stay at a hotel in Velingrad; (B/-/-)

A full day to do what you need most: rest, soak, wander, and breathe. The thermal waters here are not just hot; they are soothing, gentle, and restorative. You can indulge in a spa experience with private hours or simply float beneath the mountain light.

You may choose to remain silent today, allowing yourself to fully experience the warmth, tranquility, and beauty of the nature surrounding you. In the afternoon, consider taking a short walk in the forest or enjoying tea on a balcony that overlooks the hills.

Highlights of the Day:

• Enjoy a day of rejuvenation in thermal mineral waters, indulge in a spa experience, or find reflective rest in the tranquil rhythm of nature.

Travel Details: Leisure day; Overnight stat at a hotel in Velingrad; (B/-/-)

If your legs crave movement, today offers the opportunity for a delightful walk. Consider a gentle hike through the Rhodope forest, a cultural experience in the nearby village of Dorkovo, or an optional visit to Kostandovo, where some of the world's largest and most intricate handwoven carpets are still crafted on traditional looms. In this tranquil village, craftsmanship is not merely a trade; it is a devotion passed down through generations. Here, life moves at a handmade pace: bread rising in clay ovens, wood is carved with care, and conversations are shaped slowly.

Later, the path may lead you to Kleptuza Lake, a tranquil mirror reflecting the sky. You sit at its edge as the world falls silent.

Highlights of the Day:

• Forest walk or village visit for cultural immersion and human connection
• Evening pause at Kleptuza Lake

Travel Details: Expected travel distance 10–30 km (~20–40 min); walking 3–6 km; Overnight stay at a hotel in Velingrad; (B/-/-)

You return north, winding once more through the valleys. Sofia awaits, not as it once was, but as you now see it: familiar, gentle, and transformed by your journey.

There is time to revisit the mosque, to shop, to wander aimlessly, and to sit once more in the sunlit square, reflecting on how the journey began. Tonight, perhaps a last evening stroll beneath the lamps and stars.

Highlights of the Day:

• Return to Sofia, have some personal time, with the option to visit favorite spots or do some final shopping.

Travel Details: Expected travel distance: ~135 km (~2.5 hrs); Overnight stay at a hotel in Sofia; (B/-/-)

The last morning arrives with a quiet sense of closure. You take one final look, breathe in the air that has become familiar, and begin to pack not just your belongings, but the moments that stood out — the landscapes, the conversations, the small surprises along the way.

It’s time to move on, but not to forget. Travel leaves its mark in quiet ways, and this journey through Bulgaria will stay with you — not loudly, but surely.

Travel Details: Expected travel distance ~15 km transfer (~30 min); Departure from Sofia; (B/-/-)