Adventure Tour to Plovdiv and Rhodope Mountain
Description
Unveil the soul of Bulgaria on a captivating journey that seamlessly bridges ancient history and untamed nature. From the cobblestone streets of Plovdiv—one of Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, where Roman amphitheaters sit alongside colorful Revival mansions—to the lush, whispering forests of the Rhodope Mountains, this day trip offers an unforgettable blend of culture and adventure. Wander through thousands of years of legend, recharge with local flavors, and hike hidden forest trails along crystal-clear streams to stand at the foot of the magnificent Slivodolsko Padalo Waterfall. Perfect for curious travelers and outdoor enthusiasts alike, this escape from Sofia invites you to experience the rich heritage and dramatic landscapes that make Bulgaria truly magical.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Step back in time as you explore Plovdiv, continuously inhabited for over 8,000 years and widely celebrated as one of Europe’s oldest living cities. Departing from Sofia at 08:00 will bring you straight into the heart of this cultural capital, where layer upon layer of human history sits right beneath your feet. You’ll walk along centuries-old cobblestone streets flanked by grand 19th-century Bulgarian houses, adorned with vibrant painted facades and intricate wooden carvings. You will encounter remarkable monuments from the classical world, including the Roman Theatre and the sprawling Roman Stadium. Along the way, your guide will share fascinating stories of the Thracians, Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans, all of whom left their unmistakable mark on this extraordinary city. After soaking in the culture, history, and vibrant bohemian atmosphere of Plovdiv’s colorful Kapana arts district, we’ll take a well-deserved pause for lunch. Enjoy a quick and delicious break at a local spot.
After lunch, a short 40-minute drive brings us deep into the Rhodope Mountains—the mythical realm of Orpheus. We hit the trail toward Slivodolsko Padalo, nestled inside the protected Chervena Stena Reserve. Our 1-hour hike winds through a dense forest along a mountain stream. You'll pass small wooden bridges, mossy rocks, and clear cascades whose mineral-rich waters shine in striking turquoise hues. The main event is Slivodolsko Padalo—at nearly 50 meters, it is the highest waterfall in the Rhodope range. For those with good agility and sturdy hiking shoes, an optional path leads directly down into the gorge. Here, you can stand right at the base, feel the cool mountain mist, and touch the icy water. After capturing photos and enjoying the mountain air, we take an easy 1-hour walk back to the vehicle for our comfortable return drive to Sofia.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pick up the tourists from their accommodation in Sofia.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
- Hiking shoes are mandatory
- People with flu symptoms can't attend the tour
Reviews(8)
For us, Plovdiv was a surprisingly beautiful city in Bulgaria! The Roman excavations in the center were very worth seeing! A visit to the monastery and the great scenery in the mountains rounded off the very nice tour!
Our guide Daniel was very welcoming when picking us up in the morning. He was full of great history knowledge about Plovdiv and not only. He showed us all the highlights of the city, and recommended the best restaurants to have a meal. After our city excursion we headed to Rhodope mountain and the scenery did not disappoint. It felt like we were in a sci-fi movie. It cannot be described therefore so worth visiting.
Plovdiv is divided into the old part and the new part. Ideally wear a comfortable shoes for the old part since its all cobbled payment. The road to Rhodope mountains was amazing even the boat trip in Vucha lake/ reservoir. Boris our guide gave us a lot of information and he is an excellent driver. Highly recommended.
Loved the climb up to the old fortress and the views were spectacular ..the guide Daniel was very knowledgeable and had lots of info about all the places we saw
An amazing day spent. The tour was amazing from beginning to end. Vasco our tour leader was super, his information about the history was told with so much passion and made even more interesting. The city of Plovdiv is just amazing and The lake it left me speechless of words. No words or photos can explain the really beauty. Thank you Vasco 👍😊
The guide was very interesting and gave us lots of tips! The guide picked us up directly from the hotel. We talked a lot and we could visit Plovdiv before going to the mountains and the lake. It was really great and we’re going at our own pace. It was perfect, a big thank you!!
Great day, very knowledgeable guide…and beautiful weather helped! We learnt a lot about Bulgaria, the history and it’s music on the way back in the car! I can fully recommend this trip!
Dear traveler, Thank you for your nice words. They really mean a lot to us. Our team wishes you many more wonderful experiences and trips. Best regards, BulTrips
We booked this day trip from Sofia in August. We were expecting a minibus of people but instead we were the only two on the tour and had a private car for the day. It was very hot in certain places like the amphitheatre so would recommend bringing water. Adrian (our tour guide) was brilliant and took us around some of the key places in Plovdiv including a few of the house museums (with entrance fees included), the amphitheatre and the Roman hippodrome. Adrian then left us to explore Plovdiv for around 20 minutes before we met up with him to drive to Rhodope. The drive to the Rhodope Mountains took a couple of hours but once there Adrian took us on a small boat across to a remote island where everything had been built from sustainable materials. The island itself was stunning and idyllic with hammocks to relax in and food cooked fresh whilst you wait. I had trout caught fresh from the reservoir that day and it was delicious! After lunch, we had the opportunity for a private boat trip around the resort which was beautiful. The only slight disappointment was that the wave runners were no longer working and so we were not able to experience this. In all, Adrian was very friendly and professional. Thank you BulTrips for a very enjoyable day trip.
