UNESCO Tour Authentic Bulgaria

UNESCO TOUR AUTHENTIC BULGARIA

8 days/7 nights tour

Tour for small groups with guaranteed departures for 2012:

• 05-12 May
• 01-08 June (Rose Festival Tour)
• 22-29 Sept

Highlights:

• Fully escorted tour with a professional tour guide
• Limited group tour with up to 10 passengers
• Accommodation in First class and typical hotels with all service charges, taxes and porterage included
• Traditional meals in authentic restaurants
• Unique experience - overnight in a XIX century old houses in Leshten village, fully equipped to meet the needs of modern accommodation.

Most important objects and attractions:

• Bulgaria's capital city Sofia - one of the oldest cities in Europe
• The Valley of the Roses - join the local people for celebrations of annual Rose Festival (for 01-08 June tour only)
• UNESCO listed Thracian Tombs
• Old town of Plovdiv - 19th century houses and Roman ruins, including a Roman amphitheater in use today.
• Train journey in Rhodopes mountain
• UNESCO listed Rila monastery - the biggest Bulgarian spiritual centre

Route map

Day 1 - Welcome to Sofia - a 8500 years old town

Arrival to Sofia. Accommodation in 4* hotel. Dinner and overnight.

Day 2 - The Capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom

After breakfast - panoramic tour around the Bulgarian capital (a 8500 years old city!) called "My Rome" by the Emperor Constantine the Great and visit to the most interesting historical sights: the Rotunda church of St. George (dated IV century AC), the mineral springs, the St. Nedelya square, where 4 temples from different religions are located next to each other: The Catholic church, The Orthodox church, The Synagogue and The Mosque are forming quadrangle, symbolizing religion tolerance in Bulgaria. Next is the Alexander I square where the Royal Palace and the National Theatre are located, the Parliament, the Church of "St. Sofia" (the name means wisdom), which had given the name of the city, and the "Alexander Nevski" cathedral (the biggest Orthodox temple on the Balkan peninsula).

Departure 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". Accommodation, dinner and overnight in 3* hotel.

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

After breakfast - departure to Etara - a unique open air museum, reproducing 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 and Thracian Kings. The road to Kazanlak passes by Shipka peak, where is situated the monument of the Bulgaria liberators from the 19th C. From the monument's top, over 1100 m above sea level, there is a wonderful view to North and South Bulgaria. You will learn more details about the crucial battles, which changed the course of the Russian-Turkish war in 1877-78.

On the way to Kazanlak, in the village of Shipka we will visit Shipka Memorial Church, built in honor of to the Russian, Ukrainian and Bulgarian soldiers who died for the liberation of Bulgaria from the ottoman slavery. The church's bell tower reaches a height of 53 m and the heaviest bell weighs 12 tons.

In Kazanlak you will visit the Historical Museum, which houses collection of bronze and gold treasures, as well the replica of Thracian Kazanlak Tomb, dating back to the 4th C. B.C. It is listed in the world natural and historical heritage of UNESCO.

Departure to Skobelevo village where we will visit the Ethnographical Complex "Damascene", which works also as a family run rose oil distillery from more than 20 years. The hosts will show how the famous Bulgarian rose oil (used in the perfumery) is produced.

In the late afternoon we will reach Plovdiv, the city of the seven hills founded by Philip of Macedonia - the father of Alexander the Great. Accommodation, dinner and overnight in 4* hotel in Plovdiv.

Day 3 - 03.06 (Rose Festival Tour) - The Magic of the Roses

Early in the morning we will take breakfast boxes from the hotel and depart to Kazanlak - the capital of the rose valley. We will join the local people in the rose-picking in the rose plantations near Kazanlak. Visit of authentic operating rose-distillery and introduction to the technology of production of rose oil (a highly esteemed component in the perfume and cosmetics industry), tasting of rose products. Visit of the traditional for this festival town carnival - a big attraction for the tourists. Lunch at open-air barbecue with folklore program.

In the afternoon - visit of The Thracian Kazanlak Tomb, dating back to the 4th C. BC (listed in the world natural and historical heritage of UNESCO).

Set off for Plovdiv - the city with the seven hills, founded by Philip of Macedonia - the father of Alexander the Great. Accommodation and overnight in 4* hotel.

Day 4 - The Antique Plovdiv

After breakfast - visit to the Old Plovdiv, with the some of the museum houses, the oldest church "St. Constantine and Elena", the Antique Theatre and the Roman Stadium.

In the afternoon - visit to Bachkovo Monastery - the second biggest monastery in Bulgaria. The monastery was built in 11-th c. and is famous with the miraculous icon of Virgin Mary - Mother of God. A number of temples made this region known as the "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. Dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight in the hotel.

Day 5 - The "Bulgarian Hollywood"

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

An attractive train trip in the mountain follows. The journey from Velingrad to Avramovo (the highest railway station on the Balkan Peninsula with 1211 m altitude) will be by a train, moving on narrow (70 cm) railway lines. You will pass trough points, offering 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 prizes. The houses in Leshten are fully equipped 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 village of Rozhen. Visit of the local Rozhen monastery, founded in XI-th century. Then we descend to Melnik - 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 inhabitants). This is a unique unforgettable 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 - the second highest mountain in Bulgaria. The mountain has about 100 peaks at an altitude 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 the 10-th c., the biggest Bulgarian medieval spiritual centre. The monastery has a rich collection of icons, wall-paintings, old-printed books - about 15 000 volumes. It is included in the UNESCO list of world heritage. Visit of the monastery and lunch in a nearby restaurant, famous with its dishes of mountain trout.

In the afternoon - return to Sofia. Accommodation and overnight in 4* 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.

Guaranteed departures for min 2 passengers travelling together

* Rose Festival Tour
** Maximum group size - 10 passengers
***5% discount for 4 passengers travelling together
****15% discount for 6 passengers travelling together

Tour prices include:

• Accommodation for 7 nights in best availablehotels 4*, 3* and rural houses in the village of Leshten
• 14 meals - 7 breakfasts, 6 dinners and 1 lunch

• For Rose Festival Tour: 7 breakfasts, 5 dinners and 2 lunches

• 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.
• Porterage in the hotels.
• Detailed map of Bulgaria

Tour prices don'tinclude:

• Other meals than mentioned.
• Beverages.
• Flight tickets to Bulgaria

Optional:

• Dinner with folklore show in Sofia - 35 EUR per person
• Wine tasting in wine-cellar "Todoroff" - EUR 15 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