A tour in the very center of Eastern Europe, where the influences of Orient & Occident came together, where the people from North & South defied each other before they lived together.
Bulgaria, lies in the Balkans and in spite of its small size was an important cross- road for many civilizations: the Trachians whose burial sites were discovered in the last decades; then, the Greeks, the Romans, the Slavs, the Byzantines and especially, the Ottomans who dominated the country before being excluded by the Russian Armies. Discover the Bulgarian culture, with its innumerable influences: the richly painted monasteries; the traditional peasant homes in the middle of nature; the castle fortresses and their medieval centers; the icons and iconostases of Orthodox churches; the treasure of Trachian graves; the Bulgarian voices and their mystery...
Bulgaria is an authentic and pure country which has not yet been affected by an overcrowded tourism.
DAY 1
Arrival in Soa.Transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight in a 4* hotel.
DAY 2 Sofia - Rila monastery - Melnik - Sandanski (280 km).
After breakfast, short sightseeing of Soa, including: The St Alexander Nevsky memorial church, St George Rotunda, the St Soa,andtheStPetka of Saddlers Church. Departure to the Rila monastery, sightseeing and lunch. Departure to Melnik, sightseeing, wine tasting session in an original old cellar and dinner in a traditional tavern. Overnight in a 4* Sandanski Hotel.
DAY 3 Sandanski - Bansko (150 km).
After breakfast, departure to Bansko. Visit to the Historical Museum in the town of Razlog, where you will assist the Mummers custom/ Kukeri. Picnic in Bansko. Sightseeing of Bansko. Dinner in a traditional tavern.
DAY 4 Bansko-Plovdiv (180 km).
Departure to the village of Dobarsko after breakfast for a folk show. Lunch and tasting session of the sheep yoghurt on route. Dinner and overnight in Plovdiv.
DAY 5 Plovdiv
After breakfast trip to Bachkovo monastery. Lunch in a local restaurant. After lunch sightseeing of Plovdiv, including Ethnographic museum, The Antique Theatre and St Constantine and Helen church. Dinner at the Alafrangite restaurant. Overnight in a 4* Hotel in Plovdiv.
DAY 6 Plovdiv - Nessebar - Bourgas (300 km.).
After breakfast departure to the Black Sea Coast. Lunch in a restaurant in the town of Nessebar. Sightseeing of Nessebar. Dinner and overnight in a 3* Hotel in the town of Bourgas.
DAY 7 Bourgas - Varna - Shoumen (210 km).
After breakfast departure to Varna, sightseeing including: the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin and The Varna Historical Museum. Lunch at a local restaurant. Stopover for a visit to the Madara Horseman. Proceed to Shoumen. Sightseeing of the Tombul mosque. Dinner and overnight in a 4* Hotel.
DAY 8 Shoumen - Arbanassi - Veliko Tarnovo (210 km.)
After breakfast departure to Arbanassi, sightseeing. Lunch at the Lyulyaka restaurant in Arbanassi. In the afternoon sightseeing of Veliko Tarnovo. Wine-tasting session in a wine cellar in Lyaskovets. Dinner and overnight at a 4* Hotel in the town of Veliko Tarnovo.
DAY 9 Veliko Tarnovo - Etara - Koprivshtitsa - Sofia (310 km).
After breakfast departure to Etara - Ethnographic open air museum, sightseeing followed by visit to the Thracian Tomb at Kazanlak. Lunch at a local restaurant. Proceed to Koprivstitsa, sightseeing. Farewell dinner in a traditional restaurant with a folklore show in Sofia. Overnight in a 4* Hotel in Sofia.
DAY 10 Sofia
After breakfast visit to The National History Museum of Sofia. Lunch. Transfer to the airport in Sofia.
• 9 overnights in 3 and 4-star hotels, according to the program
• 9 meals on full board
• entrance fees to museums
• two wine-tasting sessions in Bansko and Lyaskovets
• one tasting session of sheep yoghurt
• one performance of the Mummer custom (Kukeri)
• one lunch-picnic in Bansko
• one folk-show in Dobarsko
• one farewell dinner in a traditional restaurant with a folklore show
Over 45-seater coach, A/C, mic USD 1950
1. English speaking tour guide USD 300
2. This program can be changed upon request.
3. Different packages are available - we customize any tour to meet all demands.
4. For further information please contact: Cultural Romtour, ofce@culturalromtour.ro
