TOUR of BULGARIA

ITINERARY

Day 1 – Welcome to Sofia – an 8500 year old city. Transfer from the airport and accommodation in a 3 star hotel in the center of the city. Optional dinner at a restaurant in the typical Bulgarian folk style where you can enjoy a rich selection of wines and folklore program. Overnight in Sofia.

Day 2 - Sofia - Etara - Veliko Turnov
After breakfast panoramic tour around Sofia. Visit to the Alexander Nevski cathedral, the Church of St. Sofia, which had given the name of the city; and the historical and cultural centre of the capital.Set off to Etara a popular open-air museum re-creating the way of life and the means of livelihood of the Bulgarians in the 19th c. Late in the afternoon departure for Veliko Turnovo. Accommodation and overnight in a 3 star hotel in Veliko Tarnovo.

Day 3 – The hill of the kings After breakfast – sightseeing of the capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom: the historical hill Tsarevets with the Fortress, the Patriarchal church, the Royal Palace and the Emperor Bolduin’s tower. Panoramic tour of the town, stroll along the old Trade Street. In the afternoon – departure to the village of Arbanassi. The village is famous for its ancient rich decorated churches and magnificent architecture. It used to be a residence of the Bulgarian kings. Visit to the Church of the Nativity of Christ. Back in Veliko Tarnovo. Overnight in the hotel.
Optional:orthodox songs concert in the St. Michael and Gavrail archangels” church or special Sound and Light show in Veliko Turnovo – at the medieval fortress of Tsarevets (only for a group of 20+ persons). 

Day 4 – The European Bulgaria starts at  the Danube river. After breakfast – departure to the Rusenski Lom river valley. Visit Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo (XII-XIV c) – an UNESCO object famous with its unique frescoes. Departure to Ruse – the first Bulgarian city with European appearance also called “the little Vienna”. The city is also the main Bulgarian port located on the river-bank of Danube river. Panoramic tour around the city: the Monument of Liberty, the Pantheon of National Revival Heroes and others. Accommodation in a 3 star hotel.

Optional boat trip over the Danube river or tasting of local wines in a wine cellar located into a former military fort. There is a replica of a fresco from the Thracian Kazanlak Tomb in one of the rooms in the winery which reproduces the skill of the Thracians to make an Art from the wine.

Day 5 – Shumen - Osmar - Varna
In the afternoon - departure for the region of the town of Shumen. Visit of the architecture reserve with a stone bas-relief 25 m high – “Madara Horseman”, which is under the protection of UNESCO and also of the curing spring in an ancient Thracian sanctuary. This mystical place is one of the strongest energy zones in Bulgaria with healthy and psychology effects upon people, visiting it. Lunch in the village of Osmar – in a private rural house, where the hospitable housekeepers offers home-made ecologically clean food. The village of Osmar is famous for its wine called “Pelin” – made with curative herbs from a secret recipe. Late afternoon departure for Stone Forest, a natural phenomena with calcified stone figures, dating tens of thousands years back in time. Departure for the sea capital, the sea beauty Varna. Accommodation and overnight in a 3 star hotel in Varna area.

Day 6 – 7 Seaside vacation
Optional half day trip to the town of Balchik, also called “The White Town“. You will visit the summer residence of the Romanian Queen Maria, called “The quiet nest“ and the Botanical garden, with more than 3000 species of plants. There are also about 250 species of cactuses. The Botanical garden is the second largest garden in Europe. Visit of Kaliakra Cape and the medieval fortress. A dinner in a folk restaurant comes next, including drinks and folklore program with the famous nestinarski dancers (barefoot dancers over glowing embers)

Day 8 – Nessebar and Ropotamo
Breakfast.Short panoramic tour of Varna. Departure for the South Black Sea side. Visit of the Ancient town of Nessebar /we recommend here a lunch with fish specialties/. The town is listed in the UNESCO world heritage. There are more than 40 churches, dated from different eras, visit of some of them. The atmosphere is very pleasant with the old architecture of the houses, the romantic narrow streets. In the afternoon - departure for the Ropotamo Reserve – one of the most exotic places at the Black sea coast of Bulgaria. Row with a boat down the Ropotamo River to it's mouth at the sea – possibility to meet wild animals, unique rock figures, rare plants. Accommodation and overnight in a 3 star hotel in Bourgas.

Day 9 – The Valley of the Roses and the Thracian Kings
After breakfast – visit of the town of Kazanlak – the capital of the Rose valley and Thracian kings. Visit to the Museum of Roses and “The Thracian Kazanlak tomb” dating back to the 4th C. BC (listed in the world natural and historical heritage of UNESCO) Take a 30-minute flight with 2-seater plane above the most interesting places of the area – the monument of the liberty on “Shipka” peak, the “Buzludja” peak, the Thracian tombs and etc. Incredible panorama of historical strategically important sites
In the afternoon - departure for Plovdiv. Accommodation and overnight at a 3 star hotel in the top center of the city.

Day 10 – The Antique Plovdiv
After breakfast – visit of the Old Plovdiv, built in IV centuries before Christ from the King Philip of Macedonia. Visit of two of the most interesting houses – cultural monuments (Balabanov’s House and the House of Hidlian), the oldest church “St. Constantine and Elena”, the antique theater, the Roman stadium. Next is visit of Bachkovo Monastery. Founded in 11 century by two Georgian brothers, this is the second largest Bulgarian Monastery after the Rila Monastery. There are exceptionally valuable frescos of biblical subjects from 16-th century in the monastery. The Icon of Virgin Mary, the patron saint of the monastery, is considered to have miraculous power.Return to Plovdiv. Overnight in the hotel.Wine tasting in “Todoroff” boutique wine-cellar located not far from Plovdiv. This cellar produces small consignments of high quality wine made from the typical Bulgarian grape variety “Mavrud”. There is a small SPA hotel next to the cellar which offers a various of wine body therapies.

Day 11 – The treasury of the Rila monastery
Departure to the Rila monastery, founded in 10th c. It was the biggest Bulgarian medieval spiritual centre with rich collection of icons, wall-paintings, old-printed books – some 15 000 volumes, etc. Guided tour around the monastery. The monastery is a monument on the UNESCO list of world heritage. Arrival in Sofia. Accommodation in Sofia.

Day 12. After breakfast – transfer to the airport and flight back home

Tour prices include:

v      Accommodation for 11 nights in hotels 4* and 3* on BB base, including 4 days vacation on the seaside.

v      One lunch in a private guest-house in Osmar village.

v      A/C vehicle with driver during the whole trip.

v      Parking fees and road taxes.

v      All entrance fees for the museums and churches.

v      Professional guide throughout.

  Tour prices don’t include:

v      Other meals than stated.

v      Beverages.

v      Photo/video fees at sites, museums, etc.

v      Gratuities of any kind.

  Optional:

v      Half board supplement – 9 EUR per person per day (recommendable for 14+ PAX)

v      Folklore dinner in Sofia – 30 EUR per person

v      Live orthodox songs concert in Arbanassi - 15 EUR per person (for min. 6 PAX).

v      “Sound & Light” show in Veliko Turnovo – 30 EUR per person (for min. 20 PAX).

v      Boat trip over the Danube river - upon request.

v      Wine tasting in “Levent” wine cellar – 15 EUR per person (for min. 6 PAX).

v      A trip to Balchik, Kaliakra and dinner with folklore program - 42 EUR per person.

v      Flight with 2-seater plane above Kazanlak - upon request.

v      Wine tasting in wine-cellar “Todoroff” – 15 EUR per person (for min. 6 PAX).