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Best
of Romania
and Bulgaria Tour
2009
11
Days
Departure Dates:
April 24/ May15/ June 19/ Aug 7/ September 11& 25, 2009
From
Bucharest, the "Little Paris" to Sofia, the "City of
Wisdom" experience a magnificent tour of two Balkan countries with
so much in common, yet so different
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Day 1: Arrival in
Bucharest
Arrive
in Bucharest and check into the Hilton hotel in the heart of the town.
This evening meet with the Tour Manager and enjoy dinner in local
restaurant.
Accommodation at ATHENEE PALACE HILTON hotel, in
Bucharest (D)
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Day 2:
Explore Bucharest in a city tour
Get
acquainted with the Romanian capital, once nicknamed "Little
Paris". During the tour you will visit the Parliament Palace, the
second largest building in the world after the Pentagon and the open air
Village Museum. Your tour will bring you also to the Romanian Athenaeum,
the Metropolitan Church, the Opera House, the National Military Club,
the Military Academy and the Triumphal Arch. The rest of the day is
free.
Accommodation at ATHENEE PALACE HILTON hotel, in
Bucharest (B) |
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Day 3: Bucharest – Cozia – Sibiel
(300 km)
After
breakfast, depart for Sibiu, once the richest town in Transylvania. Your
route crosses the Transylvanian Alps through the scenic Olt river
valley; along the way you’ll visit the Cozia monastery built in 1386.
Arrive in the picturesque village of Sibiel where you enjoy a hearty
Romanian dinner at a local home with overnight stay (B,D)
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Day 4:
Sibiel – Biertan – Sighisoara – Brasov (300 km)
In
the morning enjoy a comprehensive walking tour of Sibiu including the
visit to the Cathedral, where the son of Vlad the Impaler (another of
Dracula’s monikers) was assassinated. You also stop at the Brukenthal
Art Gallery before continuing to the Saxon village of Biertan where you
visit the fortress church that is one of the UNESCO World Cultural
Heritage Sites. The church hosts the largest wing altar in Romania and
was used as the residence of the Lutheran bishop of Transylvania for
over 300 years. Your next stop is Sighisoara the best-preserved medieval
fortified town in Romania and the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler. After
arrival, you proceed on a walking tour of the town and visit the famous
Clock Tower Museum with its Torture and Weapons Rooms and stop in the
house in which Dracula (Vlad the Impaler) was born in 1432. Later,
arrive in Brasov in time for dinner
and overnight at the CURTEA BRASOVEANA hotel, situated in the
medieval old town (B,D)
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Day
5: Brasov – Bran – Brasov (200 km)
After
breakfast depart to the small village of Bran, where you visit the
spectacular Bran Castle, made famous by Bram Stoker’s novel as the
residence of the vampire count. The castle that today is popularly
referred as the “Dracula’s Castle” was built on the top of a steep
rock by the prince Mircea the Old in 1377 to protect the border between
Valachia and Transylvania. The day continues in the fairytales town of
Brasov, founded in the 12th century. Sightseeing includes the
Black Church where you can admire the collection of ottoman prayer rugs
dating from 16th-18th centuries. At the museum dedicated to the first
Romanian school in Transylvania, Professor Olteanu presents an engaging
and informative talk about Romania, past and present. Accommodation and dinner in Brasov, CURTEA BRASOVEANA hotel (B,D) |
Day
6: Brasov – Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria (370 km)
After
breakfast you will visit the marvelous Peles Castle, once the summer
residence of the Romanian royal family. Then you will start driving
south, cross the Danube riverand continue in Bulgaria to the medieval
Veliko Tarnovo, former capital of the Bulgarian Empire.
Accommodation
and dinner at YANTRA hotel, in Veliko Tarnovo
(B, D)
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Day
7: Veliko Tarnovo (100 km)
After
breakfast this you’ll have a morning tour of Veliko Turnovo. See the
medieval quarter of the town and the historical Tsarevets Hill, where
remains from the former capital’s glory can still be seen. Proceed to
the picturesque village of Arbanassi. The village was originally founded
by Albanians and it grew rich after Sultan Suleyman I gave it to one of
his sons-in-law in early 1538, thus exempting the bustling town from the
harsh Ottoman taxation. In this typical medieval Bulgarian town of stone
houses and red tiles roofs, we visit the Church of Nativity, the most
richly decorated church in Bulgaria. Its interior is completely covered
with colorful frescoes painted in the first part of 1600s.
Accommodation
at YANTRA hotel, in Veliko Tarnovo (B)
Day
8: Veliko Tarnovo – Etara - Kazanlik – Plovdiv (200 km)
Departure
towards Plovdiv. On The way stop for a short visit of Etara open-air
museum, representative for its architecture, the life style and the
economic past of Gabrovo region during the Revival period. Cross the
Balkan mountains through the Shipka Pass, famous for its historical
significance. Later on you will stop in Kazanlik to see the UNESCO
listed Thracian Tomb with its Hellenistic frescoes from the 3rd
century BC. Just arrived in Plovdiv, have a walk in the old town with
its cobbled streets and typical national revival architecture. Visit the
Ethnographic Museum, the Roman Amphitheatre, the Church of St.
Konstantine and Elena–one of the oldest churches in Bulgaria.
Accommodation
at TRIMONTIUM hotel, in Plovdiv (B,L)
Day
9: Plovdiv - Rila Monastery- Sofia (300 km)
Leave
Plovdiv in the morning and drive across the mountains to the Rila
Monastery – one of the greatest centers of scholarship and
religion in Bulgaria during the National Revival Period. Founded in the
middle of the 10th century it played a key role in preserving
Bulgarian culture and language during the centuries. It is included in
the UNESCO world heritage list. See the monastery church with its
amazing frescos painted by the most famous Bulgarian finest artists from
19th c. and the monastery museum. Proceed to Sofia and overnight
at HILTON hotel (B)
Day
10: Explore Sofia
In
the morning discover the Bulgarian capital during a walking
city
tour including Alexander
Nevsky Cathedral, St. Nicholas Russian Church and the Rotonda of St.
George Church- the oldest building in Sofia, the National Theatre.
Afternoon at leisure and Farewell dinner in the evening.
Accommodation
at HILTON hotel, in Sofia (B, D)
Day
11-
Day
11: Your program ends after breakfast.
Price in
EURO
per person available for minimum 2 full paying
passengers
*US$ rate varies depending
the exchange rate
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Price
per Person /
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EURO
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Twin/Double
occupancy
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2157
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Single
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2563
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Tour includes:
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Meals:
10 breakfasts, 1 lunches, 6 dinners (without drinks included)
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Transportation
by modern A/C cars, minibuses or coaches
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Services
of a professional English speaking guide
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All
entrance fees
Children
5-12 years of age are entitled to 50% discount if sharing a room
with 2 adults.
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Selected
Hotels*
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Bucharest
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Athenee Palace Hilton *****
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Sibiel
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Farmhouse ***, all the rooms have private
facilities
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Brasov
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Curtea Brasoveana ****
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Veliko Tirnovo
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Grand
Yantra****
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Plovdiv
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Trimonzium****
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Sofia
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Hilton *****
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*Similar category hotel may be used depending on availability
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