On this day trip to the Rila Monastery, you'll visit the spiritual icon of Bulgaria and relax in the hot springs in Sapareva Banya. Did you know they are the hottest waters in continental Europe?
Day Trip Details
At the designated time, we'll meet at Yanko Sakuzov Boulevard, number 7. From there, we'll start a 2-hour journey toward the southeast to enter the mountains of Rila. Let's go!
Our first destination of the day will be the Rila Monastery. Once there, we'll embark on a guided tour of 1.5 hours around this complex, declared a World Heritage Site. During the tour, we'll discover one of the prime examples of architecture of the Bulgarian National Revival.
We'll enter the porticoed courtyard, where the arch galleries, wooden roofs, and above all main church, stand out; its murals feature an iconographic program of great theological richness. Did you know that many of its frescoes depict scenes from The Last Judgement?
After the tour, we'll continue our journey and in 1.5 hours we'll arrive at Sapareva Banya.
On this spa town, famous for being the home of the hottest geyser in continental Europe, you'll enjoy 2 hours of free time to relax in its thermal pools. You'll dive into its mineral waters, rich in sulfides, valued for their therapeutic properties.
Finally, we'll start our journey back to Sofia in a 1.5 hour drive. We'll say our goodbyes at the meeting point after a total of 9 hours.
Additional Info
The guide will accompany you during the visit to the Rila Monastery. However, you'll visit the hot springs of Sapareva Banya on your own.
