A place where mighty mountains, historic cities, and golden beaches all vie for your attention, it can be difficult to know where to begin in Bulgaria.

Let HF Holidays help you discover a country of contrasts on a guided walking holiday in Bulgaria. Discover two very different sides of this former Soviet state on a winter break that pairs capital city Sofia’s standout sights with guided snowshoe walks in the Rila Mountains – the nation’s tallest range.

Sofia is Bulgaria’s biggest city and though it’s pint-sized compared to Europe’s major capitals, it's a modern, youthful city, sprinkled with relics of the past. Think ornate onion-domed churches, Ottoman mosques and Red Army monuments. Join an expert guide on a tour of the capital which includes highlights like the remarkable 4th‑century Church of St George, the Roman amphitheatre, and the Ivan Vazov National Theatre.

Then, move on to the mountain ski resort of Borovets, our base for exploring Rila National Park’s forests and frozen lakes on snowshoes. Borovets is one of Bulgaria’s most popular ski resorts and gateway to the mighty Rila Mountains – the tallest both in the Balkan Peninsula, and Southeast Europe.

After all those snowshoe walks in the frozen peaks of Rila, relax with a soak in the natural hotsprings of Sapareva Banya. And no trip to the region would be complete without visiting the UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery – a remarkable 10thcentury holy site tucked away in a peaceful valley in the heart of the national park. Top it all by following in the footsteps of the monastery’s patron saint on a walk to the sacred cave of St Ivan Rilski.