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Tour Cost Per Person:
Group size:
Minimum 2 participants € 1 465 per person in double/twin room sharing
3- 4 participants € 1300 per person in double/twin room sharing
5- 6 participants € 1100 per person in double/twin room sharing
Single supplement: € 190
Single supplement applies for single travelers or for those travelling together who would prefer a single room.
Cost Inclusions:
♦ 7 nights (breakfast & taxes included) in 3-star centrally located hotels, as per itinerary.
♦ Transportation throughout the itinerary by private car. English speaking guide-driver.The guide will drive.
♦ Entrance fees to sights and museums as per itinerary.
Bulgaria is undiscovered jewel of Europe. It is the melting pot of people and cultures, the cross-point where the political layers of north, south, east and west meet. This is a journey through the history and culture of a fascinating Balkan country with a spectacular Thracian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantium and Ottoman heritage. Bulgaria is Europe’s most ancient civilization with breathtaking archaeology and cultural finds.
During our journey we see the abundance and diversity of cultures - from ancient up to modern times. Bulgaria has been isolated for many years, it was a country behind the Iron Curtain. Nowadays Bulgaria is on the move and changes are happening every day. Already a member of the European Union we learn not only about Bulgaria’s ancient past, but also see how this country walk towards New Europe and modernize its economical, judicial and political systems.
Itinerary: Sofia (arrive) – Plovdiv (2 nights) - Veliko Tarnovo (2 nights) –Sofia (3 nights) – Sofia (depart)
Day 1
Arrive in Sofia and meet your local tour guide.
Direct transfer to Plovdiv and check in at your hotel (two nights).
Day 2
All day in Plovdiv.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Guided walking sightseeing tour of Ancient Plovdiv to see the 2nd century Roman Forum, Stadium and Theater; Djumaya Mosque (built in 1423); we enjoy the National Revival 19th century architecture of the Old Town. Visit the Ethnographical museum and the art gallery of Zlatyu Boyadzhiev, who is one of the most famous Bulgarian painters. Overnight in Plovdiv.
Day 3
Transfer Day from Plovdiv to Veliko Tarnovo via Kazanlak, Shipka Pass.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning: Picturesque drive through the famous Valley of Roses. En route we visit Kazanlak situated amidst the Valley of Rosesthat is the home of the exquisite Bulgarian rose oil, also known as “attar of roses”, a world center for rose oil production. We will visit the museum of Rose. In addition, we will visit the replica of the world-famous 4th century BC Thracian tomb at Kazanlak, a UNESCO World Heritage Site to learn aboutThracian history and culture.
Afternoon: continue scenic drive via historical ShipkaPass in the Balkan Mountains. En route we will visit the beautiful Shipka church and Etara architectural and ethnographical reserve, which is a unique open-air museum of traditional architecture and ethnography, reflecting the atmosphere of a typical Bulgarian town of the 18th -19th centuries. We may organize upon request hands on activities at Etara: pottery, cowbell making, work with braid, dyeing with natural dyers. In addition, you may see the process of making wooden musical instruments/splitting of the wood, turning, decoration, playing an instrument/.
Late afternoon: Arrive in Veliko Tarnovo and check-in at your hotel (two nights).
Day 4
All Day in Veliko Tarnovo.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning: Veliko Tarnovo wasthe capital city of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (1185 - 1396). It has been at the center of many important historical events and was the birthplace of the first Bulgarian constitution. We visit the fortress on Tsarevets Hill, where the Royal Palace and the Patriarch Church once were located.
Afternoon: We will visit the village-museum of Arbanassi, famous for its traditional architecture.
We also take a walk through the narrow cobblestone street of the old Samovodene Market Place, leading into small, sunny squares. There you will find a charming handicraft shops and get acquainted with some traditional local crafts like icon-painting, wood-carving, weaving, copper & silver-smith, etc. You can even enjoy a cup of Turkish coffee made on hot sand the way it was prepared 100 years ago.
Day 5
Transfer Day from Veliko Tarnovo to Sofia.
Breakfast at the hotel.
En route: visit Troyan monastery and Oreshaka village.
The Troyan monastery “Assumption of Virgin Mary” is the third biggest monastery in Bulgaria and the third in significance as well. According to the monastery chronicles, it was established in the beginning of 17th century by several hermits who also brought with themselves the miracle-working icon of “Holy Virgin Troerouchitsa” (three-handed Holy Mother). The monks won the respect of the local residents who started visiting them for prayer and advice. Subsequently, a church consecrated to the Holy Virgin was built. With the support of the local people, the residential buildings in the monastery were expanded and a new church “Holy Mother’s Assumption” was erected in 1835. The monastery church is of one of the most interesting places in the monastery. Zahari Zograf, one of the most famous mural painters of the Revival Period, painted the incredible frescoes in the monastery church, which fascinate every visitor.
The Oreshaka village is the home of the National Arts & Crafts Exhibition Complex. It displays and sells embroidery, pottery, ceramics, weaving, woodcarving and metalwork.The complex has an exposition area of 4500 square meters, spread in nine exhibition halls.
Arrive in Sofia and check in at your hotel (3 nights).
Day 6
All day in Sofia
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning: We will drive to the outskirts of the city to visit the National Museum of History, where the magnificent Thracian treasures of ancient gold are on display. We’ll also visit the famed Boyana Church, a remarkable UNESCO World Heritage Site with fascinating frescoes from the 13th century, reflecting both Byzantine and local Christian art traditions. They impress with the humanistic trends, which were unusual for the medieval period. The frescoes were painted by an unknown Bulgarian painter in the style of the Tarnovo School of Painting and are considered the finest examples of Bulgarian medieval art.
Afternoon: We have walking field trip through the downtown area of Sofia. We will see the Roman Serdica Fortifications (3rd-5th centuries) and St. George's Rotunda (4th century), famous for its original structure and unique frescoes, St. Alexander Nevski Momerial Church. We visit the National Art Gallery. Housed in the former Royal Palace, the gallery treasures the most valuable collection of classical paintings and sculptures, which chronically illustrate Bulgaria's artistic achievements from the beginning of the 19th century to the 1950s.
Overnight Sofia.
Day 7
One-day excursion to Rila Monastery, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Breakfast at the hotel.
Depart for excursion to Rila Monastery, which is the most impressive of all Bulgarian monasteries and is an original national museum with a century-old history. This renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site is located 90 miles south of Sofia in the gorgeous natural scenery of the Rila Mountains. The monastery is considered one of the highest achievements of Bulgarian monumental architecture of the National Revival period (18th-19th centuries).
Drive back to Sofia. Overnight in Sofia.
Day 8
Transfer to Sofia Airport for departure. End of our service. Contact us: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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