How to Spend 7 Days in Borovets, Bulgaria. .

1:00PM Car Rental in Sofia

The rent-a-car delivery can be made directly to Sofia airport or right to the bus and railway station in the city. You can also hire a car, which the car rental agency will deliver to the Villa, or to any address in the city that you have specified in advance.

There are well-known auto rental companies available at the International Airport such as Hertz & Avis.

3:00PM Check into The Villa

Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by the Villa's friendly caretakers, Vili and Kolio. They will show you the Villa's many amenities and help you to get settled in your room.

Open year-round, the American-owned Villa provides the quintessential alpine atmosphere, refinement and comfort. Surrounded by a national forest of towering pines, the chalet offers tranquility and is still close to ski lifts, mountain trails, stores, restaurants and other Borovets attractions.

3:30PM Arrival Refreshments

Upon your arrival at Villa Stresov, our caretakers will welcome you with delightful refreshments served in the entertainment area, on the balcony or in the garden.

Enjoy a wonderful spring or summer afternoon on the patio outside. The Villa Stresov's lawn and gardens are attractively landscaped with diverse species of alpine flowers and shrubs.

The first floor entry foyer, with its beautiful granite floor, opens into a spacious oak wood paneled living room entertainment area, with balcony and beautiful antique-tiled fireplace and stereo system/satellite TV/VCR, high speed Internet access, and game room.

8:00PM Dinner in Borovets at Alpin Restaurant

The restaurant operates on an à la carte basis of the PUB type. Here you can sample tasty European and Bulgarian national cuisine specialties until midnight.

In summer, you can spend time relaxing in the garden, cooled by the fresh air from the waterfall and cascades. There is also an outdoor barbecue where the chef will prepare mouth-watering specialties, grilled on live coals, right in front of you.

10:00PM Kick Back & Relax in The Villa

Settle into your "home away from home" and spend some time getting acquainted with the Villa. You may want to play some games and watch TV in the Villa's entertainment area, enjoy the sauna on the ground floor or the hot tub in the summer garden bathhouse.

Villa Stresov's living room and entertainment area feature two sofas, three arm chairs, full stereo, satellite television / VCR / DVD, high speed Internet access, and many games.

The Villa's summer garden bathhouse features a 6-person Landmark Hot-SpringSpa^® where the water jets will soothe and relax you after enjoying any of the many activities in and around the Villa Stresov. After your busy day, the sauna and hot tub are an ideal way to relax before you retire for the night.

8:00AM Breakfast in The Villa

Every morning a generous, healthy breakfast is carefully prepared and served by the caretakers who will be waiting for you in the dining room. This hearty breakfast is included in the Villa's rental rates and features juices, fruit, cheeses, sausage, breads, yogurts, eggs, cereal, tea, coffee, and other items.

9:00AM Ride Up- Hike Down Mt. Moussala

Borovets is serviced by a well-organized ski lift system. The cabin cableway to Mt. Yastrebets is the most imposing one - taking you to 2363 metres above sea level. The difference in altitude is 1046 m and the length of the route is 4827 m. Its capacity accomodates up to 1200 people per hour.

The journey takes 23 min. Getting off of the cableway one faces the Paradise of Rila - the highest peaks of the mountain - Mt. Moussala, Mt. Malka Moussala, Mt. Irechek, Mt. Deno, Mt. Aleko.

It is about a four hour walk down the mountain, to a point by the Yastrebets hotel. If you really want to work up an appetite, take the trail instead of the gondola!

1:30PM Culinary Delights in Borovets at "The Blue" Restaurant

Enjoy lunch at this charming Borovets restaurant - when you see it you will understand why it's named "The Blue". Featuring over 20 different starters, fresh salads, soups, chicken, ribs and steaks. A fully stocked bar offers cocktails, Bulgarian wines as well as local and imported tap and bottled beers.

3:00PM Horseback Riding

Discover the beauty of Borovets on a horseback riding adventure.

6:00PM Enjoy Villa Patio & BBQ House

Borovets has five grocery stores at present that offer all the ingredients you need to prepare your own meals, perhaps using some of the local recipes. The Villa features an ultra-modern and fully-equipped European kitchen that is stocked with a wide variety of spices and condiments.

Be sure to take advantage of the Villa's moderate climate during the spring and summer months. Simply roll out the barbecue from our BBQ house to prepare your meals outdoors. You'll enjoy dining in our lovely landscaped garden and patio.

11:00PM Night on the Town at The Buzz Bar

Probably the most famous bar in Borovets is the Buzz Bar, located halfway down the main street. The bar is split into two rooms with the first containing sofas and chairs where you can relax and visit, while the second room is the disco / club area. The DJ plays a variety of pop, R&B, hip-hop and other great dance music.

The Buzz Bar has earned a reputation as being a top night out, and for good reason - the music is excellent and the DJs professional mixing technique makes for easy and pleasant listening, the drinks are inexpensive and the bar has an overall very relaxed atmosphere to it.

8:00AM Breakfast in The Villa

Your hearty breakfast will be ready and waiting for you including: juices, fruit, cheeses, sausage, breads, yogurts, eggs, cereal, tea, coffee, and other items. You may want to enjoy your breakfast on the Villa balcony overlooking the garden and gazebo.

10:00AM Tour of Rila Monastery

The Rila Monestery is the biggest, most important and most-visited working Bulgarian monastery. This site is included in the UNESCO's World Heritage List. It is the most famous monument of Bulgarian architecture and culture from the National Revival period and is an easy drive southwest from Borovets. Founded during the 10th century, it survived the times and became the most zealous guardian of the Bulgarian spirit and language.

Its present day monumental appearance dates from the mid -19th century. The monastery's most treasured historic and artistic monuments include: the 14th century Hrelyo's Tower; the five-domed Birth of the Blessed Virgin Church; the original 19th century monastery's kitchen; colourful frescoes; and the magnificent iconostasis (a beautifully decorated partition).

7:00PM Dinner at Mamacita Mexican Restaurant

After a full day of sightseeing enjoy a nice Mexican meal at a local restaurant in Borovets.

9:00PM Relax in Villa

You will be ready to settle down for the night in the Villa after your full day of touring the Rila Monastery.

Enjoy the Villa's 6-person Landmark HotSpringSpa® located in the summer garden's bathhouse. Water jets will soothe and relax you after your busy day.

8:00AM Breakfast in The Villa

Your hearty breakfast will be ready and waiting for you including: juices, fruit, cheeses, sausage, breads, yogurts, eggs, cereal, tea, coffee, and other items. You may want to enjoy your breakfast on the Villa balcony.

10:00AM Golfing at Ihtiman Golf Course

Although golf is rapidly increasing in popularity, there are still few courses in Bulgaria. Golf Club Air Sofia - Ihtiman is located about 20 miles from Borovets and was the first course built in Bulgaria. The fairway layout, obstacles, water hazards, bridges and bunkers, sand traps would be a challenge even for advanced players. This golf club also includes a driving range and a training green for beginners.

2:00PM Spa Time at The Lodge Collection

Spend some time at The Lodge Collection's spa where you may choose one of the many types of massages, facials or body treatments that it provides.

4:00PM Afternoon High Tea

Villa Stresov offers an Elegant Afternoon High Tea consisting of French champagne, delicious fresh cakes and a selection of teas and coffee. This treat is to be ordered in advance through Stresov International at the cost of 10 EUR per person.

5:00PM Kick Back & Relax in The Villa

You may want to play some games and watch TV in the Villa's entertainment area, enjoy the sauna on the ground floor or the hot tub in the summer garden bathhouse.

Villa Stresov's living room and entertainment area feature two sofas, three arm chairs, full stereo, satellite television / VCR / DVD, high speed Internet access, and many games.

The Villa's summer garden bathhouse features a 6-person Landmark Hot-SpringSpa^® where the water jets will soothe and relax you after enjoying any of the many activities in and around the Villa Stresov.

After your busy day, the sauna and hot tub are an ideal way to relax before you retire for the night.

7:00PM Catered Meal in the Villa

After your full day enjoying Borovets and The Villa, have a delicious meal brought to you. Take advantage of the Villa's deluxe amenities and stay in for the night to prepare for the busy day ahead of you.

10:00PM Nightcap by Lovely Villa Fireplace

After your wonderful dinner, you can unwind with a nightcap in front of the Villa Stresov's beautiful green, antique-tiled fireplace.

8:00AM Breakfast in The Villa

Your hearty breakfast will be ready and waiting for you including: juices, fruit, cheeses, sausage, breads, yogurts, eggs, cereal, tea, coffee, and other items. You may want to enjoy your breakfast on the Villa balcony.

10:00AM A mountain tour to the "Seven Rila Lakes"

A full-day route to the "Blue eyes" of the mountain. You'll spend a day among the mountain peaks, surrounded by the remarkable beauty and serenity of the Rila National Park.

The cirque (an amphitheatre-like valley, or valley head, formed at the head of a glacier by erosion) of the Seven Rila Lakes is the largest in the Rila Mountains. It is centered East of Haidyta Peak, (also known as Hermit Peak). The cirque opens to the North and feeds the German River, which is a main source of the Struma River.

6:00PM Dinner at Red Dragon

Returning from your all-day tour of the Seven Rila Lakes, you can enjoy fine Chinese cuisine at the Red Dragon.

10:00PM Relax in Villa Stresov Garden

After a full day in the mountains, return to your Villa and enjoy the light spring and summer breezes that produce gentle music from two sets of Woodstock wind chimes in the garden. The grounds and majestic trees are illuminated at night with discretely located lights.

8:00AM Breakfast in The Villa

Your hearty breakfast will be ready and waiting for you including: juices, fruit, cheeses, sausage, breads, yogurts, eggs, cereal, tea, coffee, and other items. You may want to enjoy your breakfast on the Villa balcony.

10:00AM Bulgarian White Water Rafting Excursion

Take a 10 km rafting excursion on the Struma River. Category of the route: II, III, III+, IV, depending on the water level. Time of the descent: approximately 2- 2+ hours, which includes: dressing, instructions, test-swimming in the river, descent. There is a possibility for showering after the descent, as well as, for a cup of tea with rum. In each boat, there are 4 or 6 participants and one instructor. Assembly point: Rai Motel - Kresna Inns (the first inn in Simitli - Kresna direction). Minimum number of the participants - 6 people.

3:00PM Fishing Excursion to Lake Iskar

After your rafting excursion take some time to go fishing on Lake Iskar. Lake Iskar is probably the fishing mecca of Western Bulgarian! In any season, you will find keen fishermen on the shores. The majority of fishing is done in the Lavandula region at the Samokov end of the lake.

The majority of fishing is done in the Lavandula region, at the Samokov end of the lake.

7:00PM Dinner at The Black Tiger Restaurant

The Black Tiger serves Bulgarian National Cuisine as well as steaks. The restaurant also has a fun Karaoke Bar.

8:00AM Breakfast in The Villa

Your hearty breakfast will be ready and waiting for you including: juices, fruit, cheeses, sausage, breads, yogurts, eggs, cereal, tea, coffee, and other items.

11:00AM Villa Check Out & Departure Gifts

At the end of your stay at the Villa, each guest will receive these wonderful departure gifts: an adjustable cap with Villa Stresov's logo, as well as a Villa Stresov luggage tag, in a lovely forest green Villa Stresov gift bag. Each adult also receives a bag of premium ground coffee.