The Cave of Saint John and Rila Monastery - Shuttle Day Tour
Overview
Enjoy a great combination of history and natury with this one day tour to two iconic Bulgarian places!
What's Included
- Trip to Rila Monastery and the cave of Saint John
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- English- speaking guide or driver, depending on the booked option.
- Personal expenses
- Gratuities (optional)
Meeting Location
Old City Center
ulitsa "Oborishte", 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.
This activity ends back at the meeting point.
What To Expect
This day tour is a great combination of history and nature – the Rila Monastery and the holy cave of Saint John.
The meeting point for the tour is behind Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, near café La Cathedrale – please be there at 8:45. The departure is at 9:00 and since this is a group tour, we cannot wait much if you are late.
First, we will travel about two hours on a picturesque road to the Rila Monastery – this is the biggest and most important Bulgarian monastery, a UNESCO heritage site as well. There, for sure, you will be captured by its amazingly beautiful frescoes and architecture.
Then, if you have booked the guided option of the tour, you will have about 40-minute guided visit of the monastery, during which you will learn about the life of Saint John and about the history of the monastery – from the time of its establishment in the 10th century until nowadays. The guide will also show you and tell you the story of the more important frescoes, as well as the miraculous icons, situated in the church, and the relics of Saint John.
If you have booked the ‘transport only’ option, you will have more free time to explore the monastery on your own.
After the guided tour, at 12:00 we continue with a short 5-minute drive down the road, until we reach the beginning of the path to the holy cave of Saint John – the place, where he spent the last years of his life and considered to be a sacred area. The walking path to the cave is about 15-minutes, moderate difficulty, and it is a great refreshing walk in the nature. There, you will have the chance to pass through it and to drink water from the nearby spring, which is believed to be never freezing.
After the hike, we will go back to the monastery, where you will have 1 – 1.5 hours of free time, during which you can take photos, check the souvenir shops and have a lunch break. Since the dining options around the monastery are rather limited, we recommend you to bring some food from Sofia.
Around 14:00 – 14:30, you will head back to Sofia. The expected return is between 16:00 and 16:30, depending on the traffic and on the group size.
Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- 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
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Please warn us if you have a 0-2 years old baby when you make the reservation so that we can prepare a special seat for them
- For the safety and enjoyment of all guests, any customer who appears intoxicated at the time of the tour will not be permitted to participate. In such cases, no refunds will be issued.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers
Frequently Asked Questions
(7)Q: What is the cancellation policy for the The Cave of Saint John and Rila Monastery – Shuttle Day Tour?
Cancellation Policy
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Activity code: C-42558P116
Traveler Photos
Reviews
Average 4.93 out of 5 stars based on 14 traveler reviews collected by City Boat Tours and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor
Additional Info
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Frequently Asked Questions (7)
The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from City Boat Tours customers.
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- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (EEST).
- Trip to Rila Monastery and the cave of Saint John.
- Air-conditioned vehicle.
- English- speaking guide or driver, depending on the booked option.
- Personal expenses.
- Gratuities (optional).
This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Apr 2025The minimum age to participate is 3..
Apr 2025If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.
If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.
Apr 2025Accessibility information for the The Cave of Saint John and Rila Monastery - Shuttle Day Tour is as follows:
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- 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
Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for The Cave of Saint John and Rila Monastery - Shuttle Day Tour will be included in your confirmation email from City Boat Tours. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!
Mar 2024What's Included
- Trip to Rila Monastery and the cave of Saint John
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- English- speaking guide or driver, depending on the booked option.
- Personal expenses
- Gratuities (optional)
Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- 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
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Please warn us if you have a 0-2 years old baby when you make the reservation so that we can prepare a special seat for them
- For the safety and enjoyment of all guests, any customer who appears intoxicated at the time of the tour will not be permitted to participate. In such cases, no refunds will be issued.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers
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