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Offered languages
- English
This is the part of the experience most visitors never reach.
Many tours stop at the monastery. We take you further—into the forest, to the cave where Saint Ivan Rilski lived in solitude. It’s not just an extra stop; it’s the moment that gives meaning to everything you’ve seen before.
Without the cave, you’ve seen a remarkable building.
With it, you begin to understand the spirit of the place—and why it matters.
Included as a standard part of the journey, this experience transforms a simple visit into something deeper, more personal, and truly unforgettable.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
We meet outside the Banya Bashi Mosque, on Knyagina Maria Luisa Boulevard, opposite McDonalds, near Serdika metro station.
Itinerary
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1Rila Monastery
Stop 1 - Rila Monastery Location: Rila Monastery Nature Park, Kyustendil Province - approx. 120 km south of Sofia Time at stop: approx. 1 hour 30 minutes Bulgaria's largest and most important Orthodox monastery, founded in the 10th century by the hermit Ivan Rilski and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. Set deep in a pine-forested valley at 1,147 metres, surrounded by the highest peaks in the Balkans. Your guide leads a full tour of the complex - the striped arcaded balconies, the vivid frescoes by Zahari Zograf and other masters of the Bulgarian National Revival, the ornate gold iconostasis inside the main church, and the 14th-century Hrelyo Tower, the oldest surviving structure on the site. Free entry to the monastery church and courtyard. Optional museum entrance approximately 5 EUR, paid on the day.
2 hours • Admission ticket free -
2Cave of St.Ivan Rilski
Stop 2 - The Cave of St. Ivan Rilski Location: Rila Monastery Nature Park forest - approx. 3-4 km from the monastery Time at stop: approx. 1 hour 30 minutes (including 30-minute forest hike each way) The cave where the founder of Rila Monastery spent years alone as a hermit before his disciples found him and built the first chapel nearby. One of the most sacred sites in Bulgaria - and one of the most unusual experiences on any day trip from Sofia. The cave ends in a narrow rock tunnel. The legend is old and simple: only those with a clean soul can pass through. For centuries, pilgrims and visitors have entered the tunnel with a wish in their heart. The holy spring beside the cave flows year-round and is said never to freeze, even in the coldest Bulgarian winter. The forest hike is easy to moderate, 30 minutes each way on a marked trail through ancient spruce forest. Guests who prefer not to hike are welcome to wait comfortably at the trailhead - the cave section is not compulsory.
1 hour • Admission ticket free -
3
Stop 3 - Kirilova Polyana: Traditional Bulgarian Picnic Location: Kirilova Polyana alpine meadow, Rila Monastery Nature Park - 10 minutes by car from the monastery Time at stop: approx. 1 hour The moment no other tour from Sofia offers, and the one guests talk about most. A short drive takes you deeper into the nature park to 1,450 metres, where the forest opens into Kirilova Polyana - a vast alpine meadow ringed by the peaks of Dvuglav, Zliya Zab, and Kupenite. Tranquil, uncrowded, and completely unlike the bustle at the monastery. Your guide unpacks a traditional Bulgarian picnic prepared fresh that morning. Seasonal, local, always a surprise - warm banitsa, Bulgarian yogurt, and honest food that connects you to this place in a way no restaurant manages. Fully included in your tour price. No other day tour from Sofia does this. Return to Sofia Scenic drive back through the Rila Mountains and Sofia countryside. Estimated arrival in Sofia: 17:30.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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