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Grand Tour of Bulgaria and Romania

Depart:
Escorted Tour-Land Only

15 Days/ 14 Nights

2020 Departures:

May 2 and 23
July 11
August 1 and 22
September 5
Price per Person:

In a double room $2099
Single supplement $479

Package Includes:

14 nights hotel accommodation at superior tourist and first class hotels
Round trip airport transfers-if arriving and departing on scheduled days
Breakfast each morning
13 lunches-drinks not included except for mineral water and coffee
14 dinners-drinks not included except for mineral water and coffee
English speaking tour escort
Air conditioned transportation
Sightseeing as per itinerary
Hotel taxes and service charges

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Sofia
Upon arrival you will be met and taken to your hotel. Remainder of the day is at leisure to begin your exploration of the historic Bulgarian capital. Dinner and overnight Hotel Budapest or similar.

Day 2 Sofia-Rila Monastery-Sofia
Departure to the Rila Monastery which dates from the 10th century and is a UNESCO World Heritage site, the largest and the most impressive Bulgarian monastery. Tour of the monastery complex, church and museum with its lavish collection of precious old manuscripts, icons, jewellery, masterpieces of woodcarving and its ethnographic exhibition of fabrics and carpets. Return to Sofia for overnight at the Hotel Budapest or similar.

Day 3 Sofia-Plovdiv
Sightseeing tour of Sofia, a city with 7000 of history, concentrating on numerous cultural and historic monuments from different periods. Visits of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the St. George Rotunda from the 4th century, the St.Sofia Basilica, the Ruins of Serdica. Continue to Plovdiv , a city ranking second in importance after Sofia, passing through the highest Bulgarian mountain, Rila. Overnight in Plovdiv at the Hotel Alafrangite or similar.

Day 4 Plovdiv-Bachkovo Monastery-Kazanlak
Plovdiv is one of the most ancient towns in Europe, older than Rome. Sightseeing of the old town of Plovdiv with National Revival architecture and excavations from Roman times. Visit of the ancient Roman theater with impressive marble statues, decorative columns and arcades. Excursion to the Bachkovo Monastery form the 11th century, one of the richest galleries of traditional Bulgarian religious art with exquisite murals and medieval icons. Depart for Kazanlak, the capital of the famous Valley of Roses. Overnight in Kazanlak.

Day 5 Kazanlak-Tryavna-Veliko Tarnovo
This morning visit the recently discovered Thracian golden treasures in the Kazanlak Historical Museum. Continue with one of the UNESCO’s sites, the Thracian Tomb dating back from the 4th c.BC. Visit the replica of The Thracian Tomb. Departure to the town of Tryavna via the historical Shipka Pass. Walking tour of Tryavna, where vaulted stone bridges, houses, churches and square with a clock tower preserve the spirit and talent of the artists from Tryavna School of Art from the 17th century. Visit the Woodcarving Museum of Tryavna. Continue to Veliko Tarnovo. Overnight in Veliko Tarnovo at the Hotel Alegro or similar.

Day 6 Veliko Tarnovo-Arbanassi-Veliko Tarnovo
Sightseeing of Veliko Turnovo, including a walk on Samovodska Charshiya the traditional arts and crafts street and visit to Tsarevets hill, an impressive sight with medieval fortifications and dramatic architecture. Departure to the museum town of Arbanassi boasting a genuine gallery of religious art in its Church of Nativity. Visit the Konstantsalieva house, fine example of 17th century house of a wealthy merchant. Overnight in Veliko Tarnovo.

Day 7 Veliko Tarnovo-Madara-Sveshtari-Rousse
Departure to Madara. Visit the Madara Rider which is included on the UNESCO List of World Cultural Heritage. It is a unique relief carved into a 100m high cliff and represents a figure of a knight over a lion. The tour continues to Sveshtari to visit the Sveshtari Thracian Tomb, a UNESCO monument. The unique architectural decor of the tomb includes 10 female figures carved in the walls and painted murals, a remarkable example of the culture of the Thracian people.walking tour of Rousse, one of the key cultural and economic centers of the country and the seat of Bulgarian shipping in the beginning 20 century Overnight in Rousse at the Hotel Duvav Plaza or similar.

Day 8 Rousse- Ivanovo-Bucharest
Depart to Ivanovo to see the Ivanovo medieval rock churches which are unique monuments and UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites. They consist of churches, chapels and monastic cells, located on the craggy gorge of the Roussenski Lom River. Visit of the main church. In the afternoon departure to Bucharest. Overnight in Bucharest. Dinner and accommodation in Bucharest at the Hotel Ambassador or Hotel Minerva or similar.

Day 9 Bucharest-Curtea De Arges-Sibiu
n the morning panoramic sightseeing tour of Bucharest with a stop at the Cathedral of the Patriarchate, then departure to Curtea de Arges, former capital of Wallachia. Visit the Episcopal Church where the Romanian Kings are buried. Lunch en route. Drive along the picturesque Olt Valley for a visit to the Cozia Monastery and then to Sibiu, one of the oldest towns in Transylvania, formerly Hermannstadt, founded by the Saxon colonists. Guided walking tour of the medieval town (the Main Square, the Evangelical Church, the Liars Bridge etc.) Dinner this evening. Overnight Hotel Ana Airport or similar.

Day 10 Sibiu-Biertan-Sighisoara
Morning drive to the heart of Transylvania to visit the secret retreat for the royalties of Europe. The Saxon villages display a remarkable, unspoiled harmony between people and landscape. This trip is like a visit back in time. Arrive to Biertan for a visit of the impressive fortified church, a UNESCO world heritage site.. Lunch. Drive on to Sighisoara, birthplace of Vlad the Impaler (“Dracula”). Visit the medieval citadel (the “Upper Town”): the Clock Tower, the Church on the Hill etc. and lunch.). Dinner and overnight in Sighisoara at the Hotel Sighisoara or similar.

Day 11 Sighisoara-Targu Mures-Bistrita-Sucevita
After breakfast, continue to Targu Mures, visit of the elegant city center well known for its architecture. Drive on to Bistrita, one of the 7 main medieval towns of “Siebenburgen” (the German name for Transylvania). Continuation through the Tihuta Pass. Typical dinner and accommodation in Sucevita at the Hotel Popas or similar.

Day 12 Sucevita-Monasteries-Piatra Neamt
Full day in Bucovina, land of the unique painted monasteries belonging to UNESCO World Heritage. Visit the Moldovita and Sucevita monasteries with outside frescoes. Lunch en route, then visit the famous monastery of Voronet, “the Sistine Chapel of the Orient”. Late afternoon drive south to visit the Agapia Monastery. Dinner and accommodation in Piatra Neamt at the Hotel Ceahlau or similar.

Day 13 Piatra Neamt-Prejmer-Brasov
Departure across the mountains to Brasov through the spectacular Bicaz Gorges, the Red Lake, Miercurea Ciuc. Lunch en route. Visit the beautiful fortified church of Prejmer. Late afternoon arrival in Brasov or Poiana Brasov. Enjoy a panoramic sightseeing tour and guided walking tour in the historical center of Brasov (formerly Kronstadt), including a visit to the Black Church, Dinner in a typical restaurant. Overngiht Hotel Poiana or Hotel Bradul or Hotel Escalade similar.

Day 14 Brasov-Bran Castle-Sinaia-Bucharest
After breakfast departure to Bran for a visit to “Dracula’s Castle”. Drive across the mountains to Sinaia. Lunch. Visit the Sinaia Monastery (1695) and the fabulous Peles Castle, former summer residence of the Romanian Royal family. Late afternoon drive to Bucharest. Upon arrival visit the outdoor Village Museum. Farewell dinner in a typical restaurant. Overnight Hotel Ambassador or Hotel Minerva or similar.

Day 15 Bucharest-End of Tour
After breakfast you will be taken to the airport or you may extend your stay in lovely Bucharest. You may also choose to continue on to Hungary.

Additional nights in Sofia and/or Bucharest available.




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