Visit Bulgaria on a multi-day tour and see the remarkable landscape that has been the setting for dramatic conflicts between the East and the West. We provide an itinerary designed to allow guests to discover, explore and enjoy Bulgaria in-depth and at its best.
EXTENSIONS
Yes, summer holidays at the Black Sea
Do not miss a unique chance to prolong your stay in Bulgaria with one week more at anincredibly low price! We can offer a great variety of accommodations - from home stays (no meals) to 2, 3 and 4-star hotels (BB or HB) in the most famous summer resorts along the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast, namely Sunny Beach, Sozopol, Nessebar, Golden Sands etc. Please contact us for more details.
Accommodation: 3-star hotels, en-suite double rooms on halfboard, except for Day 1 and Day 8 when dinner is not served. During the days good restaurants will be suggested for lunch en-route.
Best period: May-October
Price: 2-3 pers. - 990 Euro/pers.; 4-7 pers. - 910 Euro/pers.; 8-12 pers. - 580 Euro/pers.
Single room supplement: 130 Euro
The price includes: transfers from/to Sofia airport and private transfers throughout the tour; an English-speaking guide; accommodation and boarding as mentioned; entry charges; VAT and all local taxes
The price does not include: tips, other meals, alcohol drinks and personal expenses
The price includes: transfers from/to Sofia airport and private transfers throughout the tour; English-speaking guide (other languages can also be handled); En-suite double rooms on a bed and breakfast basis in 3-star hotels; entrance fees; VAT and all local taxes
The price does not include: tips, other meals, alcohol drinks and personal expenses
Greetings and transfer from Sofia Airport to a centrally located 3- star hotel in Sofia.
We leave the Bulgarian capital city. Our journey takes us between the summit of the Stara Planina mountains and the gentle slopes of the Sredna Gora mountain range. Our first stop is the picturesque little town of Koprivshtitsa with its well-preserved examples of Bulgarian Renaissance architecture. We will take a walk along the cobbled streets and peep into the museum homes of some of the most famous Bulgarian poets and revolutionaries of the 19th century. Transfer to Troyan monastery, home to the unique icon of “St. Virgin Mother with Three Hands”. The church is richly decorated by Zahari Zograf, probably the most famous Bulgarian Renaissance artist. Accommodation for two nights in Veliko Tarnovo.
During the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, the borders of Bulgaria stretched to three seas. At that time Tarnovo was the city of rulers, a centre which united absolute political and religious power. It has frequently been compared to Rome and referred to as the Second Constantinople. The entire day is spent exploring the sites of the city and the region. We will look at the centre, the Tsarevets fortress and the church of “Sts. Petar and Pavel”. Nearby is the architectural museum reserve of “Arbanasi”. We will visit the Konstantseli fortified house built in a typical 17th century style and the small church of “Nativity of Christ”, which despite its ascetic outward appearance hides a richly decorated interior. In the late afternoon there will be time for a relaxing walk through the busy craft shops of the Samovodska market area in Veliko Tarnovo.
From Veliko Tarnovo we make our way to the small town of Tryavna. In Tryavna we shall visit the Daskalov house which is home to the Museum of Wood Carving and the Museum of “Tryavna Iconography School”. Today we shall visit the open-air museum at Etara, where skilled craftsmen will make us feel part of Bulgarian folk traditions in metal working, leather crafting, potting, wood carving, wool spinning and working with other types of material. From here we shall continue our journey to the Kazanlak necropolis. This is the first Bulgarian site to have been included in the list of sites under the aegis of UNESCO. It is a masterpiece of Thracian architecture and famous for its unique frescoes which tell us so much about the skills of Thracian artists and the day-to-day life of the ancient Thracians. Overnight accommodation in Plovdiv.
The old town of Plovdiv is famous not only for its fabled Renaissance architecture and important ancient ruins, but also as a centre for artists. A culture tour of the town includes the Ethnographic Museum, the Ancient Theatre, the Roman Stadium and the Dumaya Djamiya Mosque. Near Plovdiv quite close to Asenovgrad is one of the oldest monasteries in the Balkans – Bachkovo Monastery – an example of the interaction of three cultures – Byzantium, Old Georgian and Bulgarian. The unique architectural and artistic masterpieces preserved here are of priceless value for all Orthodox culture. In the afternoon we will have the chance to taste 5 wines in the boutique vineyard of Todoroff, one of which is Mavrud made from a Bulgarian grape variety. Overnight accommodation in Plovdiv.
After breakfast we continue our journey to Rila Monastery (UNESCO) – the most famous and largest Christian monastery in Bulgaria. The exceptional frescoes in the central church form a gallery of masterpieces of Renaissance art and could be considered a Bulgarian analogue of the frescoes of the Sistine chapel. We will learn the history of the monastery from the exhibition in the museum, which includes the Cross of Raphael – an exceptional example of miniature wood carving. Return to Sofia.
Breakfast and a cultural tour of the eclectic heart of the Bulgarian capital city which has preserved many examples of its multifaceted history. We shall see the ruins of Roman Serdika, the early Christian rotunda of “St. Georgi”, the former Tsar’s palace and the administrative buildings constructed during the communist regime. The Orthodox cathedral of “Alexander Nevski”, the Mosque of Banya Basi, the Synagogue – the biggest in the Balkans, the catholic cathedral of “St. Joseph”, are only streets away from each other – conclusive evidence of the envious religious tolerance of the Bulgarian people. Free time in Sofia.
Departure from Sofia to Sofia airport according to your return flight.
