Stop 1 - Prohodna Cave (The Eyes of God) Location: Near Karlukovo village, Lovech Province - approx. 120 km north of Sofia Time at stop: approx. 1 hour Bulgaria's most photographed natural landmark - a 262-metre cave tunnel with two massive almond-shaped skylights in the ceiling that fill the cave with natural light. The formations are called the Eyes of God. In bright sun they glow like beacons. In wet weather they appear to cry. Your guide covers the geology, the legends, the Ottoman folk history, and the films shot here. You walk the full passage, from the small entrance through to the 45-metre grand vault - the largest cave entrance in Bulgaria. Free entry.

Stop 2 - Cherepish Monastery Location: Iskar Gorge - approx. 40 km north of Sofia, on the return route toward Sofia Time at stop: approx. 1 hour Founded in the 14th century during the Second Bulgarian Kingdom under Tsar Ivan Shishman. Burned by Ottoman forces and rebuilt three times. Used as a rebel hideout during the Russo-Turkish war of the 19th century. Today it is a tranquil working monastery sitting on the banks of the Iskar River beneath dramatic gorge cliffs. Inside: frescoes from the 16th to 19th centuries, a collection of historic icons in the monastery museum, and a two-storey ossuary built into the cliff face above the courtyard - one of the most unusual and quietly powerful sights in Bulgaria. Almost always uncrowded.

Stop 3 - Panoramic Gorge Walk and Traditional Bulgarian Picnic Location: Lakatnik rocks viewpoint or scenic platform near Gara Bov - chosen on the day Time: approx. 1 hour 15 minutes (including 15-minute walk each way) Your day ends not in a car park but on a hilltop. A short, easy 15-minute walk leads to one of two panoramic viewpoints above the Iskar Gorge - both offering sweeping views across the river, the cliffs, and the valley below. A covered shelter at the Gara Bov platform makes this stop fully weather-proof. Your guide unpacks a traditional Bulgarian picnic prepared fresh that morning. The contents vary with the season - always local, always traditional, always a genuine taste of Bulgaria. Think warm banitsa, Bulgarian yogurt, and seasonal produce the kind of honest food that city restaurants rarely get right. Fully included in your tour price. This is the moment guests talk about most. Return to Sofia Scenic final stretch back to Sofia. Estimated arrival: 17:30-18:00.