Day 1: From Sofia transfer to 'Vitosha' Nature Park, a large domed mountain massif which rises up right on the doorstep of the Bulgarian capital and which has two fine botanic reserves.

Day 2: Day spent exploring the 'Vitosha' Important Plant Area. Here we will explore a mix of species-rich Nardus grasslands, Alpine and boreal heaths, Siliceous montane screes, as well as peat bogs and mires. Some of the likely species to be found include: Knautia drymeia, Knautia midzorensis, Geum coccineum, Lilium jankae, Lilium martagon, Cirsium appendiculatum, Verbascum longifolium ssp. pannosum, Veratrum lobelianum, Trollius europaeus, Carduus kerneri, Viola dacica, Cicerbita alpina, Silene roemeri, Pinguicula balcanica, Gymnadenia frivaldii, Gymnadenia albida, Dactylorhiza cordigera, Acinos alpinus, Potentilla ternata, Dianthus microlepis, Geum montanum, Homogyne alpina, Campanula alpina, Campanula patula, Anemone narcissiflora, Primula farinosa, Swertia perennis, Aquilegia aurea, Saxifraga stellaris, Saxifraga rotundifolia, Gentiana punctata, Ranunculus platanifolius, Thalictrum aquilegifolium, and Jovibarba heuffelii.

Day3: A full day in the 'Rila' Important Plant Area. This incorporates the 'Rila' National Park exploring sub-alpine grasslands, rocky biotopes and glacial lakes in the region of Mt. Musala (2925m), the highest peak of the range and indeed in the whole of South-Eastern Europe. Some of the species we might find include: Geum bulgaricum, Geum montanum, Geum reptans, Saxifraga pedemontana, Dianthus microlepis, Myosotis alpestris, Jasione bulgarica, Jasione laevis ssp. orbiculata, Ranunculus montanus, Campanula alpina, Viola dacica, Potentilla ternata, Acinos alpinus, Senecio carpaticus, Pedicularis verticillata, Pedicularis orthantha, Gentiana punctata, Gentiana pyrenaica, Doronicum columne, Veratrum lobelianum, Leontodon riloensis, Ranunculus crenatus, Pinguicula balcanica, Soldanella pussila, Primula deorum, Primula minima, Potentilla haynaldiana, Gymnadenia frivaldii, Gymnadenia albida, Bartsia alpina, Rhodiola rosea, Anemone narcissiflora and Saxifraga pedemontana.

Day 4: Having driven our way round the north-western foot of the Rila Mountains, we continue our explorations of the 'Rila' Important Plant Area, by making our way into the depths of the Rilska Reka Valley to visit the Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The monastery is located in the heart of the 'Rila Monastery' Nature Park. As well as visiting the monastery itself we will walk in the surrounding forests, part of the 'Rilomanastirska Gora' Nature Reserve. Here we have a chance to see species such as: Verbascum abietinum, Knautia drymeia, Heracleum sibiricum, Achillea grandifolia, Salvia verticillata, Campanula patula ssp. epigea, Chamaecytisus absinthioides, Polyginatum verticillatum, Anemone ranunculoides, Paris quadrifolia, Acteus picata, Orthilia secunda, Digitalis viridiflora, Linaria dalmatica, as well orchids such as Dactylorhiza saccifera, Neottia nidus-avis, Epipactis persica, and Epipactis gracile. Later in the day we transfer to Bansko, a mountain resort which is located at the gateway to the 'Pirin' National Park. If time allows we will begin our explorations of the region with a visit to the Banderishka Valley where we will look for species such as: Centaurea mannagetae var. pirinica, Crataegus stevenii, Silene waldsteinii, Daphne kosaninii, Campanula jordanovii, Chondrilla urumoffii as well as the orchids Epipactis helleborine and Epipactis atrorubens.

Day 5: A full day exploring the 'Pirin' Important Plant Area. We will focus our botanizing on the ancient coniferous forests, sub-alpine meadows and rock outcrops that lie scattered around Mt. Vihren (2914m), the highest peak in the 'Pirin' National Park. Being the contact zone between limestone and granite massifs, the flora of this region is particularly rich. Species we will be searching for include: Campanula jordanovii, Campanula glomerata, Daphne kosaninii, Daphne cneorum, Dianthus cruenthus, Daphne mezereum, Digitalis viridiflora, Viola grisebachiana, Dianthus petraeus, Linaria dalmatica, Jovibarba heuffelii, Chamaecytisus absinthioides, Silene roemeri, Onobrychis pindicola, Saxifraga paniculata, Saxifraga ferdinandi-coburgi, Saxifraga luteoviridis, Saxifraga exarata, Stipa balcanica, Sempervivum erythraeum, Linum capitatum, Linum alpinum, Lamium garganicum, Aquilegia aurea, Veronica kellereri, Gentiana verna, Primula elatior, Primula minima, Primula halleri, Thymus perinicus, Thymus albanum, Aster alpinus, Leontopodium alpinum, Brassica jordanoffii, Potentilla apennina ssp. stojanovii, Dryas octopetala, Armeria alpina, Salix reticulata, Oxytropis urumovii, Arabis ferdinandi-coburgi, Ranunculus montanus, Erigeron vichrensis, Centaurea achtarovii, Pinus heldreichii, Saponaria bellidifolia and Erysimum drenowskyi.

Day 6: Leaving the Pirin Mountains, we make our way on down the Mesta Valley and into the Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains. Today's exploration will be focused on a botanic reserve in the heart of the 'West Rhodopes' Important Plant Area. Some of the species we hope to see will include: Hypericum cerastioides, Geum rhodopaeum, Geum molle, Geum rivale, Viola rhodopaea, Viola dacica, Galium boreale, Potentilla fruticosa, Potentilla palustris, Linum capitatum, Angelica pancicii, Anthyllis aurea, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Cirsium ligulare, Veronica urticifolia, Digitalis lanata, Astragalus centralpinus, Dianthus deltoides, and Verbascum densiflorum, as well as orchids such as Orchis ustulata, Dactylorhiza baumanniana, Dactylorhiza cordigera and Gymnadenia frivaldii.

Day 7: Our final botanic exploration will be in the 'Trigrad-Perelik-Persenk' Important Plant Area, a karst region characterized by limestone gorges, caves and cliffs rich in calciphilous plant species and high number of endemics. Some of the interesting species we are likely to find include: Secale rhodopaea, Trachelium rumelianum, Haberlea rhodopensis, Asyneuma anthericodes, Saxifraga aizoides, Saxifraga stribrnyi, Morina persica, Scabiosa rhodopaea, Campanula jordanovii, Campanula lingulata, Campanula persicifolia, Marrubium frivaldskyanum, Nepeta cataria ssp. rhodopaea, Globularia cordifolia, Laserpitium latifolium, Petkovia orphanidea, Sideritis scardica, Scrophularia bulgarica, and Asphodeline taurica.

Day 8: Leaving the Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains we make our way back to Sofia where the tour ends.