Itinerary

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

Day 2 Sofia-Kazanlak-Veliko Turnovo
Morning Sofia city tour. See the gold domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the Crypt, a precious museum of Orthodox art, the 4th Century St. George Rotunda, the Presidential Palace, National Theater, City Garden, Russian Church of St. Nicolas, Parliament Square and the 6th century St. Sofia Church. In the afternoon departure for Kazanlak, situated in the middle of the Valley of Roses. Visit the 4th century bc Thracian Tomb included on UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage List and famous for its beautiful and extremely valuable murals; and Goliamata Kosmatka Tomb dating back to 5-4th centuries bc belonging to the Thracian King Seuthes III. Lunch included. Continue to Veliko Turnovo the medieval Bulgarian capital. En route see the Russian Memorial Cathedral of Shipka and the Etura, architectural-ethnographic museum. Dinner and overnight in Veliko Turnovo Hotel Yantra or similar.

Day 3 Veliko Turnovo-Arbanassi-Veliko Turnovo
Sightseeing tour of Veliko Turnovo, Bulgaria’s medieval capital: Tsarevets Holy Hill, 9th century AD church of St.40 Martyrs, church of St. Petar and Pavel. Visit the museum village of Arbanassi with the Church of Nativity (16- 17th century AD) and Konstanzaliev’s House. Visit the 14th century AD Preobrazhenski Monastery. Dinner and overnight in Veliko Turnovo

Day 4 Veliko Turnovo-Shoumen-Varna
After breakfast depart for the town of Shoumen and see the Madara Rider, the spectacular figure of a knight triumphing over a lion, carved into a 100-m-high cliff. Listed on UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage List, the Madara Rider is Europe’s only rock-bas relief from the early Middle Ages: AD 705-801. Lunch included. Afternoon drive to Varna, sightseeing tour of the city including the Cathedral and the Roman Baths. Dinner and overnight in Varna. Hotel Golden Tulip or similar.

Day 5 Varna-Nessebar-Plovdiv
Departure for the ancient town of Nessebar, situated on a tiny, rocky peninsula on the Black Sea, over 3,000 years old site, originally a Thracian settlement, unique for its finest achievements of medieval church architecture. Nessebar, one of the most treasured Bulgarian landmarks, also popular with the 19th century typical for the Black Sea architecture style wooden houses, listed on UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage List. lunch included. Afternoon drive to Plovdiv, Bulgarian second largest city. Dinner and overnight in Plovdiv. Hotel Ramada Princess or similar.

Day 6 Plovdiv-Bachkovo Monastery-Sofia
Sightseeing tour of Plovdiv, Bulgarian second largest city. Visit the Old Quarter with unique architecture preserved: the Ethnographic museum, 2nd century AD Roman Amphitheater and 4th century AD St. St. Konstantine and Helena church, Lamartine’s house and Jumaya Mosque. You will also enjoy a wine tasting of some of Bulgaria’s best wines. Lunch in the famous Alafrangite restaurant. Afternoon visit of the 11th century Bachkovo Monastery with original architecture and spectacular 17th century AD frescoes. Drive to Sofia for dinner and overnight. Hotel Thracia or similar.

Day 7 Sofia-Rila Monastery-Rila
Morning visit of the UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage listed Boyana church with its astonishing 13th century AD frescoes, one of the most complete and perfectly preserved monuments of east European Medieval art. Lunch included. Afternoon visit to the 10th century AD Rila Monastery, the biggest and most spectacular in Bulgaria, one of Europe’s oldest and included in UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage List. Dinner at a traditional folk style restaurant. Overnight in Sofia.

Day 8 Sofia-End of Tour
After breakfast you will be taken to the airport or you can extend your stay in historic Sofia of continue to fascinating Romania.

Day 9 

Additional nights available.