Start your trip from Sofia around 8:30 a.m. The distance to Bachkovo is 151 km. Take first the Thracian highway towards Plovdiv, then continue till the exit to Asenovgrad. It takes less than two hours to get there.

See the Bachkovo Monastery, a major Eastern Orthodox monastery in Southern Bulgaria. It is located on the right bank of the Chepelare River and about 10 km south of Asenovgrad. The monastery is a unique combination of Georgian, Byzantine and Bulgarian culture. If you are interested in the history of this unique monument, there is a local guide who will tell you the inspiring history.

The region of the monastery is abounding with traditional restaurants where you can have lunch.

Right after lunch, head towards the Asen’s Fortress, another historical must-see sight. It is located in the Bulgarian Rhodope mountains, 2 - 3 km south of Asenovgrad. Spend there about an hour enough to walk around and to climb to the top of the fortress. It was built exactly on the hill above the road to guard the canyon against conquerors.

At the end of the trip, you could stop at Plovdiv for a short break for an hour and return to Sofia; ideally, you should reach there between 7:30 and 8:00 p.m.