I did a small tour through this country that has been occupied by Greeks, Romans, Ottomans and Russians. The emphasis was on walking and the hospitaly of small hotels, with home cooking.

Skandaloto and the Kozya Stena Reserve.

Skandaloto is a small mountain village not far from the Troyan Pas and Kozya Stena Reserve. It is almost a one street town. Als so many places in rural Bulgaria it looks like it is slowly being deserted by the young. Not far from Skandaloto is the "Kozya stena”, a small reserve. It is situated in the picturesque Stara Planina Mountain and included in the territory of National park Central Balkan.

Koprivshtitsa

Koprivshtitsa is a characteristic Bulgarian town, still preserving the atmosphere of the Bulgarian National Revival period of the 19th century.

Rila NP - Vapski Ezera

Rila National Park, the largest national park in Bulgaria, is located about 100 km. south of Sofia, in the central and highest regions of the Rila Mountains. The Park contains rare and endangered wildlife species and communities, self-regulating ecosystems of biological diversity, as well as historic sites of global cultural and scientific significance. Vapski Ezera are a group of high gletscher lakes within the park.

Rila Monastery

The Monastery of Saint Ivan of Rila, better known as the Rila Monastery is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. It is situated in the south western Rila Mountains, 117 km (73 mi) south of the capital Sofia in the deep valley of the Rilska River at an elevation of 1,147 m (3,763 ft) above sea level. The monastery is named after its founder, the hermit Ivan of Rila (876 - 946 AD). Source: Wikipedia.

Sofia

Sofia is the capital and the 15th largest city in the EU, with 1.2 million people. The town dates back to the 7th century BC. Nowadays the town has its share of hip hotspots as well as historic buildings. The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is one of the most impressive buildings of its sort. And for those who walk and explore there are lots of interesting details to be observed.