Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Sofia
Upon arrival you will be met and taken to your hotel. In the afternoon you will enjoy sightseeing tour of Sofia including the gold domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Crypt, a precious museum of Orthodox Art, 4th c. AD St. Sophia Church, 4th c. AD St. George Rotanda, 11th c. AD church of St. Petka of the Saddlers. Dinner and overnight Hotel Thracia or similar.

Day 2 Sofia-Veliko Turnovo
Departure for Veliko Turnovo, Bulgaria’s medieval capital. On the way, stop at the Troyan Monastery (16 c. AD), one of the most beautiful in Bulgaria. lunch included. Sightseeing tour of Veliko Turnovo, includes the Tsarevets Holy Hill, 9th c. AD church of St. 40 Martyrs, church of St. Peter and Pavel. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel Yantra or similar in Veliko Turnovo

Day 3 Veliko Turnovo-Arbanassi- Shipka-Kazanlak
Visit the museum village of Arbanassi with the Church of Nativity (16-17th c. AD) and Konstanzaliev’s House. Visit 14th c. AD Preobrazhenski Monastery. Departure for Kazanlak. On the way visit the Etura open-air architectural-ethnographic museum, the picturesque Dryanovo (14th c. AD) and Sokolski (19th c. AD) Monasteries, the spectacular Shipka Pass and the Russian Memorial Cathedral of Shipka. Lunch included. Dinner and overnight in Kazanlak at the Hotel Palas or similar.

Day 4 Kazanlak-Hissar-Starosel-Plovdiv
See the famous 4th century BC Thracian Tomb included on UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage List; Goliamata Kosmatka Tomb dating back to 5- 4th century BC belonging to the Thracian king Seuthes III; visit Kazanlak History Museum where some of the unique golden treasures discovered in the region are on display.Lunch included. in the afternoon visit of Hissar. See some of the best-preserved Roman remains and fortifications. Proceed to Starosel to see the recently discovered Thracian sanctuaries dating back to 5th c. BC. Dinner and overnight in Plovdiv at the Hotel Ramada Princess or similar.

Day 5 Plovdiv-Bachkovo Monastery-Sandanski
Sightseeing tour of Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s second largest city. Visit the Old Quarter with its Ethnographic museum, 2nd c. AD Roman Amphitheater and the 4th century AD St. St. Constantine and Helena Church, Lamartine’s house and Jumaya Mosque. Lunch at the famous Alafrangite restaurant. Afternoon visit to the 11th century Bachkovo Monastery with its original architecture and spectacular 17th c. AD frescoes. Visit Assen’s Fortress, see the 13th century church of St Mary of Petrich, one of the best examples of Medieval architecture in Bulgaria. Dinner and overnight in Sandanski at the Hotel Interhotel or similar.

Day 6 Sandanski-Melnik-Rila Monastery-Sofia
Depart to Melnik, the smallest town in Bulgaria with remarkable wooden houses. Visit the Rozhen Monastery, 9th c. AD. After lunch visit the 10th century AD Rila Monastery, the biggest and most spectacular in Bulgaria, one of Europe’s oldest and included on UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage List. Dinner and overnight in Sofia at the Hotel Thracia or similar.

Day 7 Sofia
Morning visit of the National Museum of History and the UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage listed Boyana Church with its astonishing 13th century AD frescoes. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner at a traditional folk style restaurant. Overnight in Sofia at the Hotel Thracia or similar.

Day 8 Sofia-End of Tour
After breakfast you will be taken to the airport. You may extend your stay in Sofia or continue with a tour to beautiful Romania.

Additional nights available.

Wine tasting in Sandanski and Plovdiv available for the supplement of EURO 30 per person