Full-Day Pernik Countryside Walking Tour with Zemen Monastery

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Visit St. Ioan Letni Chapel, perched above Pchelina Dam on a rocky hill
• 02 Take in marvellous and breathtaking views over one of Southwestern Bulgaria's largest dams
• 03 Explore the historic Zemen Monastery in the Pernik region
• 04 Enjoy traditional Bulgarian soups and barbeque on weekends or lunch at "Kalenata pivnitza" on weekdays
• 05 Discover the deep Shegava river canyon near Razhdavitsa village

Introduce yourself to Bulgaria's religious and natural heritage on this full-day tour through the Pernik countryside. Visit the striking St. Ioan Letni Chapel above Pchelina Dam, explore the historic Zemen Monastery, and discover the dramatic Shegava river canyon near Razhdavitsa village. Along the way, enjoy traditional Bulgarian soups and barbeque at the monastery on weekends, or lunch at "Kalenata pivnitza" on weekdays.

The view from the top of the cliff is marvellous and breathtaking.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 1 Day

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Not included

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Pernik, Sofia

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Radomir, Pchelina Dam, Zemen Monastery and Shegava Canyon

• Meet your tour guide at 9:00 a.m. and head to the town of Radomir. Radomir is situated in Pernik District in southwestern Bulgaria, at the western foot of Golo Bardo Mountain, about 13 km from the town of Pernik.
• Stop near Pchelina Dam, formerly known as Lobosh, located 68 km from Sofia and one of the largest dams in southwestern Bulgaria.
• Visit St. Ioan Letni Chapel on Pchelina Dam, one of the many abandoned chapels in Bulgaria. Built in 1350, this small whitewashed Orthodox church stands on top of a rocky hill overlooking the dam. The view from the top of the cliff is marvellous and breathtaking.
• Continue to Zemen Monastery. The distance between Pchelina Dam and the town of Zemen is 14 km.
• Have lunch at the monastery with traditional Bulgarian soups and barbeque if it is a weekend.
• On weekdays, have lunch at a pub named "Kalenata pivnitza".
• Proceed to Shegava river canyon. Shegava is a deep canyon in the Konyavo Mountains at the beginning of the Zemen Gorge, near Razhdavitsa village.
• Return to Sofia by 18:30.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• Transport
• English-speaking Bulgarian tour guide
• Parking fees

What's Not Included

• Personal expenses
• Entrance fees

Know before you go

• For 3-4 people - €30 per person.

• For 5-6 people - €25 per person.

• For 7-8 people - €20 per person.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Pernik, Bulgaria

Tour start

Pernik, Bulgaria

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.