Private day tour from Bansko to Stob's pyramids and Rila Monastery
The Stob Earth Pyramids are one of the most interesting natural phenomena located not too far from the capital city of Bulgaria - Sofia.
It is their shapes, origin and diversity that made this tourist site a protected natural landmark visited by thousands of people every year.
The formation of the Stob Earth Pyramids is quite interesting as they are told to be a result of erosion, melting glaciers, wandering rivers, heavy rains and strong winds. The mixture of all of these, formed an area of approximately 1 km with fascinating pyramids, which reach up to 12 meters height and 40 meter width.
You would be surprised to know that if you visit the site today and again in around 50 years, the pyramids would look quite different. The reason is that the Stob Pyramids can be easily destroyed by erosion as they are made of sandstone. Some of the columns have “hats” topped with a flat stone. As you are admiring the view, you might even wonder how these massive stones are balanced on the sharp top. The Pyramids also vary in colour from dark brown to bright yellow depending on the time of the day that you visit the site.
Regardless, the view is spectacular and you would be reminded once again how beautiful nature is.
There are many legends told around the Stob Pyramids. One of them believes that a young couple from the nearby village were getting married, however, the mother of the groom did not approve the girl and she cast a spell on their marriage. When the groom kissed the bride for the first time, everyone turned into solid rocks. If you pay a closer look to the pyramids, you might even find which group formation is called the ‘wedding’.
The Stob Earth Pyramids are a fantastic choice for a day trip, as there is a pleasant eco trail taking approximately 30 minutes each way to get to the beautiful rock formations.
The next stop of this private day tour from Bansko is the outstanding Rila Monastery. The biggest monastery in Bulgaria holds history of over 1000 years. During the 13th - 14th century the construction of the present structured commenced, however, there are various frescos and architectural parts from the monastery which date back to the 11th Century. The tower with the bells is the oldest building located in the middle of the monastery courtyard.
Rila Monastery is one of the most symbolic monuments of the 19th Century Bulgarian Renaissance. You will be absolutely impressed by the magnificent architecture, the beautiful columns and arches, the outstanding frescos and wall paintings and the shining domes.
Take a private day tour from Bansko to Stob Earth Pyramids and Rila Monastery and immerse yourself into Bulgarian culture and nature. Your experienced driver will be also your tour guide for the day and will tell you more about some of the most interesting legends and stories behind these fascinating tourist attractions.
What you will visit on the tour:
Stob pyramids;
Rila monastery;
Tour Duration
- 6 to 8 hours, depending on the itinerary, pick up and drop off location tour duration may vary.
