UNESCO Grand Tour “THE BEST OF BULGARIA”

UNESCO GRAND TOUR "THE BEST OF BULGARIA"

12 days / 11 nights tour

Tour for limited groups with guaranteed departures in 2012:

• 18th May- 29th May
  
• 08th Jun - 19th Jun 
  
• 09th Sep - 20th Sep

This tour is an exclusive programme and presents the best of nature and heritage of Bulgaria. We will meet you with ancient towns - like Nessebar and Plovdiv, with the ancient Thracian culture and the mysterious Madara Horseman, with the wild nature of Ropotamo reserve, with the Valley of Roses and so we'll reach the excellent beaches at the Black Sea coast. Of course, we'll start from Sofia - a 8500 years old town, called "My Rome" by Emperor Konstantin the Great 17 centuries ago!

Highlights:

• Fully escorted tour with a professional guide, who can be also a driver
• Limited group tour with up to 10 passengers
• Round trip tour of entire Bulgaria, including all must-to-see places and objects in the country
• Accommodation in first class, tourist class and typical hotels
• Traditional meals in authentic restaurants

Most important objects and attractions in this itinerary, 9 included in the "24 wonders of Bulgaria":

• Bulgaria's capital city Sofia - one of the oldest cities in Europe
• UNESCO listed Boyana church - its magnificent mural paintings had initiated the beginning of the European Renaissance
• UNESCO listed Ivanovo rock churches
• Architecture in Russe - the main Bulgarian port on the Danube river
• UNESCO listed Madara horseman rock formation - a mystical spot with one of the strongest energy zones in the country
• The first Bulgarian capital Pliska
• Touch the beauty of the Bulgarian seaside - clean water, beautiful sandy beaches and a lot of sun
• The oldest processed gold in the world in Varna archeological museum
• UNESCO listed old town of Nessebar - one of the oldest settlements on the Black sea coast with beautiful ancient churches
• The historic hill of Tsarevets with the royal castle in the old Bulgarian capital Veliko Tarnovo
• UNESCO listed Thracian Tombin Kazanlak
• Old town of Plovdiv - 19th century houses and Roman ruins, including a Roman amphitheatre, also in use today
• Bachkovo monastery with the miraculous icon of Virgin Mary
• UNESCO listed Rila monastery - the biggest Bulgarian spiritual centre

Route map

Day 1 - Welcome to Sofia - a 8500 years old city!

Arrival to Sofia. Transfer from the airport and accommodation in 4* hotel in the centre of the city (Best Western City or similar). Welcome dinner and overnight in the hotel.

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Day 2 - The capital of Bulgaria

After breakfast - panoramic tour around Sofia and visit to the most fascinating places of interest: the Alexander Nevski cathedral, the St. Sofia church which had given the name of the city, the antique Roman Forum dated III-IV-th century (the time of the Emperor Constantine the Great), the quadrangle of tolerance with the temples of the major religions in Bulgaria: the Christian Orthodox, the Catholic, the Muslim and the Jewish, the square with the Royal palace, the boulevard to King Liberator, the Parliament, the National Theatre, and the historical and cultural centre of the capital.

In the afternoon - visit of the Boyana church - a medieval Bulgarian Orthodox church situated in the Boyana district, near Sofia. The monument is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The church is one of the most completely and perfectly preserved monuments of east European medieval art. The frescoes in the church, painted in 1259, make it one of the most important collections of medieval paintings and initiating the beginning of the European Renaissance.

Free time in Sofia. Accommodation and overnight.

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Day 3 - The hill of the kings

After breakfast - departure to Veliko Tarnovo - the capital of the Second Bulgarian kingdom. Sightseeing of the historical hill Tsarevets with the Fortress, the Patriarchal church, the Royal Palace and the Emperor Bolduin's tower. Panoramic tour of the town, stroll along the old Trade Street - "Samovodska charshia".

Departure to the village of Arbanassi. The village is famous for its ancient, richly decorated churches and magnificent architecture. It used to be a residence of the Bulgarian kings. Lunch at a restaurant with typical for the region cuisine.

Return back to Veliko Tarnovo. Accommodation and overnight in hotel Gurko 3* (or similar)

Optional:

• Live Orthodox songs concert in the St. Michael and Gavrail Archangels Church.
• For the beer lovers we offer possibility to visit the local brewery "Bolyarka" with tasting of Bulgarian beer.

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Day 4 - The European Bulgaria begins from… Danube river

After breakfast - departure to the Rusenski Lom river valley. Visit to the Rock Churches of Ivanovo - an UNESCO object, famous for its unique frescoes from XII-XIV century. Set off to Ruse - the first Bulgarian city with European appearance, also called "the little Vienna". The city is also the main Bulgarian port, located on the bank of Danube river. Panoramic tour around the city: the Monument of Liberty, the Pantheon of National Revival Heroes, Dohodno Zdanie Building, the National Museum of Railway Transport and others. Accommodation and overnight hotel Cosmos 3* (or similar).

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Day 5 - Phenomena from the antiquity

After breakfast - departure for the region of Shumen town. Visit of the architecture reserve with a stone 25 m high bas-relief of Madara Horseman, which is under the protection of UNESCO. This mystical place is one of the strongest energy zones in Bulgaria with healthy and psychology effects over the people who have been there.

Departure for the first capital of Bulgaria - Pliska (VII-IX century). Visit of the Archeological reserve complex and the Great Basilica - is real masterpiece of mediaeval architecture. It was the biggest Christian orthodox temple in Southeast Europe in IX century.

Departure for the sea capital, the sea beauty Varna. Late in the afternoon, departure for the nature phenomenon "The Stone Forest" - a magical place with many stone figures, dating tens of thousands years back in time.

Accommodation and overnight in Interhotel Cherno More 3* hotel (or similar)in the region of Varna.

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Day 6 - 7 Leisure at the seaside

Optional tours and activities:

• A half day trip to the town with ancient history - Balchik, also called "The White Town". You will visit the summer residence of the Romanian Queen Maria, called "The quiet nest" and the Botanical garden, with more than 3000 species of plants. There are also about 250 species of cactuses. The Botanical garden is the second largest garden in Europe.
• Panoramic tour around the sea capital of Bulgaria - Varna, with visit to the Archeological museum, where the oldest processed gold in the world is stored.
• Dinner at a restaurant in the typical Bulgarian folk style. Excellent cuisine, wines and folklore programme with dance on glowing embers.

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Day 8 - Nessebar and Ropotamo - paradise for the photo-hunters

Breakfast. Departure for the South Black seaside. Visit of the Ancient town of Nessebar. The town is listed in the UNESCO world heritage. There are more than 40 churches, dated from different eras, visit of some of them. The atmosphere is very pleasant with the old architecture of the houses, the romantic narrow streets.

In the afternoon - departure for the Ropotamo Reserve - one of the most exotic places at the Black sea coast of Bulgaria. Row with a boat down the Ropotamo River to it's mouth at the sea - possibility to meet wild animals, unique rock figures, rare plants. This short voyage is a real treasure for the photo-hunters.

Dinner in a fish restaurant. Accommodation and overnight in St. Stefan 3* hotel (or similar) in Nessebar and Sunny Beach area.

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Day 9 - The Valley of the roses and the Thracian kings

After breakfast the tour continues with visit of the town of Kazanlak - the capital of the Rose valley and Thracian kings. Visit to the historical museum, which houses the unique gold and bronze treasures - as the golden mask of king Teres, recently discovered in the Valley of the Thracian Kings. Then follows theThracian Tomb of Kazanlak, dating back to the 4th C. BC (listed in the world natural and historical heritage of UNESCO), as well as the ethnographic complex of Damastsena, where the technology of production of rose oil is introduced.

In the afternoon - departure for Plovdiv. Accommodation in hotel Expo 3* (or similar). Dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight.

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Day 10 - The Antique Plovdiv

After breakfast - visit of the Old Plovdiv, built in IV century before Christ from the King Philip of Macedonia. Visit to the old part of the town with the Ethnographical museum, the St. Constantine and Elena Church, the Antique Theatre and the Roman Stadium.

Next is visit of Bachkovo Monastery. Founded in 11-th century by two Georgian brothers, this is the second largest Bulgarian Monastery after the Rila Monastery. There are extremely valuable frescos of biblical subjects from 16-th century in the monastery. The Icon of Virgin Mary, the patron saint of the monastery, is considered as miraculous.

Return to Plovdiv. Overnight.

Optional: Wine tasting in "Todoroff" boutique wine-cellar, located not far from Plovdiv. This cellar produces small consignments of high quality wine, made from the typical Bulgarian grape sort "Mavrud". There is a small SPA hotel next to the cellar, which offers various wine therapies.

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Day 11 - The treasury of Rila monastery

Take off to the Rila Monastery, founded in 10th c. The biggest Bulgarian medieval spiritual centre with rich collection of icons, wall-paintings, old-printed books - some 15 000 volumes. Guided tour round the monastery. It is in the UNESCO list of world heritage. Lunch and departure to Sofia. Accommodation and overnight in Best Western City 4* hotel (or similar).

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Day 12

After breakfast - transfer to the airport and flight back home.

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Guaranteed departures for min 2 passengers travelling together

* Maximum group size - 10 passengers
**10% discount for 4 passengers travelling together

Tour prices include:

• Accommodation for 11 nights in best available hotels 4*, 3*
• 17 meals - 12 breakfasts, 3 dinners and 2 lunch
• A/C vehicle with driver during the whole trip (for groups up to 6 persons, the driver could be also a guide).
• Parking fees and road taxes.
• All entrance fees for the museums, sites and churches.
• Professional English speaking guide throughout (for groups up to 6 persons, the guide could be also a driver).
• Detailed map of Bulgaria

Tour prices don'tinclude:

• Other meals than mentioned.
• Beverages.
• Flight tickets to Bulgaria
• Porterage in the hotels.

Optional:

• Supplement for lunch - 8 EUR per person
• Supplement for dinner - 10 EUR per person
• Folklore dinner at the seaside - 30 EUR per person
• Live orthodox songs concert in Arbanassi - 20 EUR per person (for min. 6 PAX)
• Visit of "Bolyarka" brewery in Veliko Tarnovo and tasting of local beer - 10 EUR per person (for min. 6 PAX)
• A trip to Balchik - 40 EUR per person (for min. 6 PAX)
• Panoramic tour around Varna - 20 EUR per person
• Wine tasting in wine-cellar "Todoroff" - 15 EUR per person

Pre and Post tour accommodation

Accommodation in 4* hotel in Sofia (Best Western city plus or similar)
85 EUR per double or twin room per night with breakfast included
63 EUR per single room per night with breakfast included