Bulgaria, The Land With Rich Ancient History Tour

Bulgaria, The Land With Rich Ancient History

Classic escorted round tour of Bulgaria

Sample itinerary: Sofia – Veliko Tarnovo - Arbanasi – Varna – Nesebar – Stara Zagora - Kazanlak - Plovdiv - Sofia

Best period: April – October

Remark: The package price is valid for a group of minimum 10 pax

Preliminary Program:

Day 1: Sofia

Arrival, meet & Assist at the airport. Transfer to the hotel and accommodation.

Half-day city tour of Sofia incl. Parliament, Cathedral Saint Aleksander Nevski, Saint Sofia church, Russian church, National Theatre, Presidency, Roman remains Market hall, Vitosha boulevard. Overnight.

Optional: Welcome dinner.

Day 2: Sofia – Veliko Tarnovo

Breakfast. Transfer to Veliko Tarnovo- the historical capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire. Hotel accommodation. Sightseeing tour and visit the medieval fortress “Tsarevets”. Overnight.

Optional: Lunch & Dinner.

Day 3: Veliko Tarnovo – Arbanasi – Veliko Tarnovo

Breakfast. Transfer to Arbanasi – an architectural and historical village. Visit the church Nativity of Christ – famous for its frescoes. In the afternoon time for leisure. In the afternoon visit the Monastery of Transfiguration. Overnight.

Optional: Wine tasting tour in a regional wine cellar.
Optional: Lunch & Dinner.

Day 4: Veliko Tarnovo – Varna

Breakfast. Transfer to Varna. En-route visit the Madara rider (UNESCO heritage) a famous rock relief probably presenting one of the early Bulgarian kings of the First Bulgarian Kingdom. Our next stop is the two ancient capitals of the First Bulgarian Empire - Pliska (between 681 and 893 AD) and Preslav (from 893 to 972 AD), one of the most important cities of medieval Southeastern Europe. Continue to Varna and accommodation in the hotel.

Overnight.
Optional: Lunch & Dinner.

Day 5: Varna

Breakfast. Sightseeing tour of Varna. Visit the Regional Archaeological Museum (the oldest gold in Europe). Visit the Roman Baths – one of the best-preserved in Bulgaria. Visit the Aladja Monastery (a rock-hewn religious complex. Visit the Golden Sands – a summer resort. Back in the Hotel. Overnight.

Optional: Dinner in a traditional restaurant with a live folklore show in Golden Sands or dinner in a fish restaurant.

Day 6: Varna – Nesebar – Stara Zagora

Breakfast. Transfer to Nessebar (UNESCO World Heritage List) - a small town with more than 3000-years old history, situated on a rocky peninsula on the Black sea. Sightseeing tour of the town. In the afternoon continue to Stara Zagora. Accommodation in the hotel. Overnight.

Optional: Lunch & Dinner.

Day 7: Stara Zagora – Kazanlak- Stara Zagora

Breakfast. Sightseeing tour of the city. Visit the Roman remains, the Archeological Museum of Stara Zagora, Neolithic Dwellings Museum (6th c. BC)., Transfer to Kazanlak to visit. Thracian tombs of Kazanlak - dates back to the 4th century BCE (UNESCO World Heritage Site ) Sightseeing tour of the city Inkl. Rose distillery and Golden treasure hall of Historical museum of Kazanlak Back in Stara Zagora. Overnight.

Optional: Lunch & Dinner.

Day 8: Stara Zagora – Perperikon- Plovdiv

Early breakfast and transfer to visit Perperikon – the largest megalith ensemble in the Balkans on a 470 m high rocky hill. It is thought that the famous Temple of Dionysius is located at this location. Continue to Plovdiv. Hotel accommodation. Time to relax.

Day 9: Plovdiv – Bachkovo Monastery – Sofia

Breakfast. Sightseeing tour of Plovdiv. The second biggest city in Bulgaria has a very long history and a pot of remains from different periods. We will visit the Roman Amphitheatre, Roman Stadium, Ethnographical Museum, and the Old town. Time for lunch and transfer to Bachkovo Monastery Assumption of the Virgin – the second biggest monastery in BG lands. Visit the monastery. Continue to Sofia. Accommodation in the Hotel. Overnight.

Optional: Lunch & Dinner.

Day 10: Sofia – Rila Monastery - Sofia

Breakfast. Visit of National Historical Museum & Boyana Church (UNESCO World Heritage List). Transfer to Rila Monastery of St. Ivan of Rila. Visit the monastery and the museum. Back to Sofia. Time for individual exploring of the city. Overnight.

Optional: Lunch/ Dinner

Day 11: Sofia

Breakfast. Time for individual exploring of the city, shopping and relax Overnight.

Optional: Farewell dinner in a traditional restaurant with a live folklore show.

Day 12: Sofia

Breakfast. Check out and transfer to Sofia Airport for the departure flight.

End of services.