Private trip to Bachkovo Monastery and Assen’s Fortress
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
From Plovdiv we head towards the Rhodope Mountains passing through the pretty town of Assenovgrad. Nearby we will see the remarkable remains of King Ivan Assen’s fortress – a wise ruler of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. There we are to find an ancient church dating from the 13th century painted with some authentic pieces of iconography as well as the stone made inscription carved by King Ivan Assen. Next we go deeper in the Rhodope Mountains towards the picturesque Bachkovo monastery. The cloister is the second largest in Bulgaria, founded in 1083 and one of the most sacred places in the Bulgarian history.
We can stop on the way if you wish. If you are the only one booked for that day, the tour is just for you.
Please note that the maximum number of people who can join is 6
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Travel time is included in the total duration
What To Expect
Bachkovo Monastery
Inside the monastery we ll visit the main church of the Virgin Mary built in 1604 where a valuable icon of the Virgin Mary from 1310 is kept. According to the legend, this remarkable icon is wonder-working. Attached to the Virgin Mary church we ll see the Archangels Church dating to the 12th century. The monastery refectory is another jewel in the complex which has preserved colorful murals from 1643. Together with the Doomsday fresco, we ll witness the images of some saint-monks, ancient philosophers and writers as Socrates, Aristotle, Diogenes and many more. The panoramic mural on the outside wall of the refectory represents a bird s eye view of the monastery with all the surrounding buildings at the time of the painting – 1846.
Nearby we will see the remarkable remains of King Ivan Assen s fortress – a wise ruler of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. There we are to find an ancient church dating from the 13th century painted with some authentic pieces of iconography as well as the stone made inscription carved by King Ivan Assen. The entry is 4 lv for adults and 2 lv for the kids
Options
Private trip to Bachkovo Monastery and Assen’s Fortress
Pickup included
What‘s Included
Air-conditioned vehicle
Gratuities
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
25 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
nice drive out of Plovdiv
Adam F,Apr 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It was a nice drive out of Plovdiv to visit an historic monastery and ruins of a fortress. The drive & sightseeing can be done in 2 to 3 hours max.
Great guild and a great...
Meghan M,Apr 27, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great guild and a great time. The views were so beautiful and we had plenty of time to see it all. Definitely recommend!
Beautiful
eagertraveller123,Nov 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great trip - lovely sites, really beautiful. The monastery reminded me of Rila but more intimate. The fortress is steep but if you’re fit you’ll enjoy the church and surroundings. Lovely frescos and icons
Recommended!
FRANCESCO B,Aug 19, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.003 hours tour, very practical to visit some of the most famous spots around Plovdiv; Lyuben is easygoing and a good driver!
Great day trip in a short time frame - really close to Plovdiv.
F6868TWdavidh,Aug 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Lyuben was right on time, took us to the Monastery and Fortesss and was very helpful. It was a wonderful experience and I definitely recommend them if you are looking to take a day trip from Plovdiv. The Rhodope mountains are gorgeous.
A Lovely Escape from Plovdiv
Rosica R,Jul 13, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Me and my husband spent some wonderful hours of the day visiting Bachkovo Monastery and Asen's Fortress. The monastery felt so peaceful and full of history - I could've stayed there for hours. When we arrived at Asen's Fortress we admired the stunning views. Definitely make your way to the top — the stairs only look scary, but they’re really not that bad! Just a short drive om Plovdiv, but it felt like a different world. Our driver made the trip even more fascinating with his stories. It's totally worth it!
Great value tour
ybartisan,Jul 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very enjoyable and relaxed visit to monastery and beautiful Asens fortress - Luben is a very friendly and lovely guide who made us feel very welcome in his car and provided some good information on the places we visited. Excellent value for money. Timing for the whole trip - from I. Time pick up to just the right amount to enjoy each location / was excellent
very enriching 😍
Curiouspavel,Jul 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00really good trip. my group and I had a lot of fun and we took amazing photos. plus, the driver was a great guy. tip: take photos with the Bulgarian flag at the fortress.
Our guide was nice but didn’t explain much
Heather M,Jun 20, 2025
- Review from Viator
3.00Our guide was nice and polite but didn’t explain much about the fortress and church that we visited. We wish we would have learned some of the history of these amazing spots.
Amazing time - book this!
OnAir611387,Jun 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an amazing time! Luben is a fantastic guide!! So glad we got to meet him during our time in Bulgaria. Highly recommend!
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