Authentic Bulgaria

8 days/7 nights tour

Guaranteed departures 2010:

• 25 April - 02 May
• 20 June - 27 June
• 03 October - 10 October

Highlights: this is a tour, in which are included the most famous pearls of Bulgaria /without the sea side/. It is a mixture of the best, which this beautiful country had treasured as natural and cultural-historical heritage, during the centuries.

There are 8 of the "24 wonders of Bulgaria" included in this itinerary:

1. Rila Monastery (UNESCO object)
2. The historic hill of Tsarevets in Veliko Tarnovo
3. Etara open air Ethnographic Museum
4. Shipka peak
5. The Thracian tomb in Kazanlak (UNESCO object)
6. The Old Plovdiv
7. Bachkovo Monastery
8. Melnik

Day 1 - Welcome to Sofia - a 8500 Years Old Town

Arrival to Sofia airport. Departure for the town of Troyan, famous for its art school of ceramics. You will stay at the picturesque village of Chiflik, situated 16 km from Troyan, in extremely beautiful nature. Accommodation in a SPA hotel with warm mineral water swimming pool, SPA centre, restaurant and all facilities for a pleasant stay. Dinner and overnight.

Day 2 - The Capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom

After breakfast - visit of "Eco Art" house in the village of Drashkova Polyana. The hosts, which are masters of pottery, will demonstrate making of ceramic dishes, typical for the area.

Next is visit of Arbanassi village, famous for its ancient rich decorated churches and magnificent architecture. It used to be a residence of the Bulgarian kings. Lunch in a private house in the village, where you will taste delicious homemade meals.

In the afternoon - a trip to the old capital of Bulgaria - Veliko Tarnovo. Visit to the historical hill Tsarevets with the Fortress, the Patriarchal church and the Emperor Baldwin's Tower. You will walk along the old Trade Street - "Samovodska charshia".

In the afternoon - departure to Dryanovo and visit Bacho Kiro Cave, where remains of the prehistoric man were found. Short visit of Dryanovo monastery follows.

Departure to Kmetovtsi village. Accommodation, dinner and overnight in a hotel with very good cuisine - a completely restored authentic Inn from the middle of 19-th century.

Day 3 - The Valley of the Roses and the Thracian Kings

After Breakfast - visit to Triavna, the town, famous for its art school in icon-making and woodcarving. Visit the icon-making museum and the Daskalov's House, famous with the wood carved suns on its ceilings. Next comes panoramic tour around Gabrovo - the capital of humor.

Note: The international festival of humor is held here every third week of May. The main attraction is the carnival, which draws thousands of guests and participants from Bulgaria and abroad.

Departure for Etara - a unique open air museum, recreating the way of life of the Bulgarians in the 19th c. It is a great attraction for tourists, one of the most visited places in the country.

Set off to Kazanlak - the capital of the Rose valley. The road to Kazanlak passes by Shipka peak, where is situated the monument of the Bulgaria liberators from the 19th C. There is a wonderful view to North and South Bulgaria from the monument's top - over 1100 m above sea level. You will learn more details about the crucial battles, which changed the course of the Russian-Turkish war in 1877-78. On your way to Kazanlak, in the village of Shipka is the Russian church, where concerts with Church Slavonic music are often performed. In Kazanlak you will visit the Museum of the Rose, where you can see how the famous Bulgarian rose oil (used in the perfumery) is produced and the Thracian Kazanlak Tomb, dating back to the 4th C. B.C. It is listed in the world natural and historical heritage of UNESCO. Accommodation, dinner and overnight in 3* hotel in Kazanlak.

Day 4 - The Antique Plovdiv

After breakfast - departure to Plovdiv, the city of the seven hills. Visit to the Old Plovdiv, built in IV century B.C. from King Philip of Macedonia, with the Ethnographical museum, the oldest church "St. Constantine and Elena", the Antique Theatre and the Roman Stadium.

In the afternoon - visit to Bachkovo Monastery - the second biggest in Bulgaria. The monastery was built in 10-th c. and is famous with the miraculous icon of Virgin Mary - Mother of God. A number of temples in the area made it known as "Rhodopes Holly Mount".

Optional: wine tasting in the boutique wine-cellar "Todoroff", near to the village of Brestovica, where a red wine of high quality is produced.

Drive back to Plovdiv. Accommodation in a 3* hotel in the top center of the city. Dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight.

Day 5 - The "Bulgarian Hollywood"

Breakfast. Departure to Velingrad, the SPA capital of Bulgaria. Before Velingrad, we will visit the one and only  carpet factory, producing giant carpets, which clients are world celebrities as Queen Elizabeth II, Mick Jagger, etc.

In Velingrad - visit of the Dvoretsa 5* hotel (the name means "The Palace"), where the use of the natural and eco products, like roses, grapes, herbs in SPA treatments for recreation and health will be demonstrated.

A very attractive train trip in the mountain follows. The journey from Velingrad to Avramovo (the highest railway station on Balkan Peninsula with 1211 m altitude) will be by a train, which is moving on narrow (70 cm) railway lines. You will pass trough points, which offer unique views of the Rhodopes Mountains.

After that - take off for the "Bulgarian Hollywood" - a real "El Dorado" for the fans of the photo safari. These are the villages of Kovachevitsa and Leshten - architectural reserves, where old houses from the beginning of the 19th c. are preserved. Here were shot one of the best Bulgarian historical films, which were awarded with high international awards. The houses in Leshten are fully equipped on the inside. Accommodation, dinner and overnight in the unique atmosphere of the ancient houses of Leshten village.

Day 6 - The Town of the Sand Pyramids

After breakfast - departure for Rozhen village. Visit of the local monastery, founded in XI-th century. An attractive walking tour from Rozhen to Melnik follows. Pass through a path next to the real sand pyramids carved in various forms by the nature.

Melnik is the town of the sand pyramids and the smallest one in Bulgaria (once there lived some 18 000 people, and nowadays there are no more than 700-800). This is a unique unforgetable place. Melnik is famous for its red wines. Visit of Kordopulova house and tasting of a glass of Melnik wine in cellar, dug in the sand rocks.

Arrival in Sandanski, which is one of the biggest SPA resorts in the country. The mountain air and the mineral water are also very good for the health - the town is in the outskirts of Pirin - second highest mountain on the Balkans. The mountain has about 100 peaks at an altidute more than 2000 m and is an UNESCO-protected site! Sandanski is also the birthplace of the famous in ancient times Spartacus. Accommodation, dinner and overnight in 4* SPA hotel in Sandanski.

Day 7 - The Treasury of the Rila Monastery

Breakfast. Take off to the Rila monastery, founded in 10th c. It was the biggest Bulgarian medieval spiritual centre. The monastery has rich collection of icons, wall-paintings, old-printed books - about 15 000 volumes. Guided tour around the monastery. It is in the UNESCO list of world heritage.

In the afternoon - return to Sofia. Panoramic tour around the Bulgarian capital (a 8500 years old city!) and visit to the most interesting historical sights: the Alexander Nevski Cathedral, the St. Sofia Church, which had given the name of the city, the antique Roman theatre dated III-IV-th century (the time of the Emperor Constantine the Great) and the historical and cultural center of the capital.

Accommodation, dinner and overnight in 3* hotel.

Optional: Dinner at a typical Bulgarian folk style restaurant. Excellent cuisine, great selection of wines and folklore show.

Day 8

After breakfast - free time. Transfer to the airport and flight back home.

Price: 619 EUR per person sharing double room

The price is valid for April, May and October departures. Price for June-September departures – 680 EUR

Single room supplement: 120 EUR

Tour prices include:
• Accommodation for 7 nights in best available hotels 4*, 3* and rural houses in Leshten village on HB base.
• One lunch in Arbanassi in a private guest-house.
• A/C vehicle with driver during the whole trip.
• Parking fees and road taxes.
• All entrance fees for the museums, sites and churches.
• Train journey from Velingrad to Avtamovo.
• Wine tasting in Melnik.
• Professional English speaking guide throughout.
• Detailed map of Bulgaria

Tour prices don’t include:
• Other meals than mentioned.
• Beverages.
• Porterage in the hotels.
• Airplane tickets to Bulgaria

Optional:
• Full board supplement – 9 EUR per person per day
• Dinner with folklore show in Sofia – 25 EUR per person
• Wine tasting in wine-cellar “Todoroff” – EUR 15 per person

NB: The tour prices are based on a mixed join-a-group of 6 or more participants. If you would like private tour, please send us your request here…