Rila monastery, the holiest place in Bulgaria

Experience Rila monastery with a local guide. This is the holiest place in Bulgaria and one of our UNESCO sites. It is located in the Rila Mountains, the highest mountain in the Balkans.
Experience Rila monastery with a local guide on a private tour. The monastery is the holiest place in Bulgaria and one of our UNESCO sites. It is located in the Rila Mountains, the highest mountain in Bulgaria and in the Balkans. It takes about a 2-hour drive from Sofia to reach it.

We Bulgarians are Orthodox Christians since the 9th century. Many Bulgarians visit the monastery all year long because this is the holiest place in Bulgaria and It has kept the Bulgarian spirit through the ages of foreign domination.
St. Ivan of Rila founded the monastery in the 10th century. He was a hermit who lived in a cave about 5 km away from the monastery.

The monastery church is among the most beautiful churches in Bulgaria. It has wall paintings both outside and inside. Today the grave of the last Bulgarian king Boris III is in the church. Also, the relics of St. Ivan of Rila are here. One of the special icons is the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary. It gives support to people who visit the monastery and pray for health.

We can have lunch in the area.
Optional visit to Boyana church in Sofia on the way back. This is the only UNESCO sight in Sofia currently. It is a museum church with wonderful frescos dating prior European Renaissance.
Drop off to your accommodation in Sofia.

To guarantee availability book as soon as possible. Early booking is worth consideration especially if you planning the trip during high season like public holidays or weekends.

This excursion you can cancel with no cost up to 24 hours before the start of the trip. If you cancel it after 24 hours or not show up on the excursion you will still be charged the full price of the activity. Being late on pick-up or departure will be considered as not showing up.