Iskar Gorge Trek, Skaklia Waterfall and Cherepish Monastery Tour from Sofia

Best guide ever

Amazing way to experience the best waterfall's season in this part of Europe! Amazing landscapes, great service by the local provider and amazing guide. This girl (Ina) made our day unforgeable! We so much got close that we plan the rest of our stay not only with this agency, but especially with her! You should contact Ina for any outdoor experiences you aim for in this country. Last but not least, it was a honor to be guided by one of the best female rock climbers of Bulgaria. She is amazing! We love her!

via Tripadvisor

This is a bit of a...

This is a bit of a journey. The afternoon the day before our excursion, I got a message that our tour guide was not well, and so we could either cancel and receive a refund, or book in for a different tour. That is fine. However, we opted to do a different tour instead, this one to Rila Monastery, Caves, and the Stob Pyramids. We were picked up on time. However, we were picked up in the guide's personal vehicle. He said that since it was Easter, many of the rental places were closed (?). I wouldn't mind so much, but the van was old and not clean. As we engaged with our tour, I became more and more certain that our guide had never run this tour before. He had a minimal amount of additional knowledge about the sites, and when we were at the Rila Monastery, basically just read to us from the signs. I normally don't give bad reviews, but I probably wouldn't recommend this travel company.

Response from the operator: Dear Amanda, Your review is not only disappointing—it is deeply unfair and shows a concerning lack of empathy. I was originally scheduled to be your guide on the Iskar Gorge tour on April 20th. Tragically, I became severely ill with viral gastroenteritis the day before—high fever, constant vomiting, and debilitating dehydration. In any normal scenario, this would have meant an immediate cancellation of the tour. Instead, knowing it was the Easter holiday weekend and that finding an alternative experience would be nearly impossible on such short notice, I refused to leave you empty-handed. While barely able to stand, I worked urgently to find a replacement guide and a new tour that could still give you a memorable day. The tour you joined—visiting the Rila Monastery, the caves, and the Stob Pyramids—is significantly more expensive than the one you initially booked. Yet, I offered it at no extra charge to you, simply because I didn’t want your holiday ruined. Due to the Easter closures, the guide had to use his personal vehicle—a last-minute, practical solution. While not a commercial van, it was used to ensure the tour happened at all. The guide, stepping in at the very last moment, may not have delivered a polished performance, but he was willing to save a tour he hadn’t planned for, and I commend him for it. This was not a case of negligence or unprofessionalism—it was a case of a small business moving mountains to help a guest despite major obstacles. Rather than appreciate the effort that went into salvaging your experience, you chose to publicly criticize a tour that, by all rights, should’ve been canceled. To future guests reading this: we are a company that will move heaven and earth to deliver a meaningful experience—even in the face of illness, holiday shutdowns, and impossible logistics. While we’re proud of our hundreds of glowing reviews, we’re even more proud of how we handle challenges behind the scenes—something this reviewer clearly failed to recognize. Sincerely, Kiril Kostov Founder & Manager Azimut Tours

via Viator

Magnificent landscape of Iskar

I enjoyed visiting Mosteiro. A place that gives us a lot of rest. You can shop for icons. The house of the great writer Ivan Vasob is very beautiful.

via Tripadvisor (translated)

We had an excellent time on the tour...

<p>We had an excellent time on the tour, guide was very informative and friendly. We would love to do it again during spring time.</p>

via Viator

This was an amazing experience. Nice...

<p>This was an amazing experience. Nice hiking route. Since this was in September the water fall had dried up. but the route was truly amazing. Nada the Azimuth travel agency Guide was very good and she know the area well . overall a nice trip and i recommend this trip</p>

via Viator