1st day
Arrival in Sofia. Accommodation at a hotel in the city
centre. A walking city tour during which you will see
St. Alexander Nevsky’s Cathedral, St. Sophia’s
Church that gave its name to the city, the
Parliament, St. Nicholas’ Russian Church, St. George’s
Rotunda, the Banya Bashi Mosque built in 16th
century. Dinner at a traditional Bulgarian restaurant
(upon request). Overnight in Sofia.
2nd day
Sofia – Koprivshtitsa – Troyan.
Breakfast. A trip to the beautiful mountain town of
Koprivshtitsa where the April uprising of 1876 took
place, an important moment in the national struggle
for liberation from Turkish rule. You will visit two
traditional Bulgarian houses, great examples of the
local architecture. Leaving for the town of Troyan
through the Troyan mountain pass, a road built by
the Romans connecting Moesia with Thrace and the
Aegean Sea and called Via Trayana. Troyan is a town
built in early 15th century by settlers looking for a
place high in the mountains inaccessible for the
Turkish hordes. The town is famous for its wood
carvers, as well as its architecture. A good example
of the latter is the Troyan monastery, popular
among tourists and locals alike. Dinner at a traditional
Bulgarian restaurant (upon request). Overnight in
Troyan.
3rd day
Troyan – Veliko Tarnovo.
Breakfast. Leaving for Veliko Tarnovo, the capital of
the Second Bulgarian kingdom, located on the
Yantra river. Considered one of the most beautiful
cities of the Balkans, it was destroyed in 1393. The
Tsarevets fortress, seat of the Bulgarian king and
power in medieval times, has been restored. A visit
to the fortress followed by a trip to the village of
Arbanassi situated on a high plateau 4 km away,
famous for its beautiful old houses richly decorated
with wood carvings and other works of traditional
crafts. A visit to the 18th-century Konstantsaliyata's
House, a house owned by a rich local merchant that
was restored in 1958. A visit to Nativity of Christ’s
Church built in 15th century, the most interesting
among the many village churches due to its murals
created between 16th and 18th century and
depicting over 3500 figures. Overnight in Veliko
Tarnovo.
4th day
Veliko Tarnovo – Shumen – Varna.
Breakfast. A trip to Varna with stops along the way
to see the ruins of the ancient Bulgarian capitals -
Pliska and Preslav. Visit to the Madara Horseman, a
23 metre-tall figure carved on a rock, a UNESCO site,
a symbol of the ancient Bulgarians. A further stop in
Shumen to see the second largest mosque on the
Balkans – the Tombul Mosque, named after the form
of its 25-metre-high roof made in a style called
Turkish baroque. Lunch (upon request). Leaving for
the Black sea and the city of Varna. A visit to the
local cathedral and the Archaeological Museum that
contains some of the oldest golden artifacts in the
world. A walk down the pedestrian street that
connects the city centre with the beach. Overnight
in Varna.
5th day
Varna – Nessebar.
A visit to the Aladzha Cave Monastery built around
12th century and listed as a national monument in
1906. Leaving for the southern coast and the town
of Nessebar, a UNESCO site with unique
architecture, many medieval churches and houses. It
is called “the town of the 40 churches”. A visit to St.
Stephen’s Church. Overnight in Nessebar.
6th day
Nessebar – Kazanlak.
Breakfast. Leaving Nessebar for the Valley of the
Thracian Kings. You will visit the Thracian tomb in
the town of Kazanlak, a UNESCO site, as well as the
Rose House to sample various products made of rose
oil and rose water. Lunch (upon request). A trip to
Shipka where you shall visit the Shipka Monastery
built in 1902 to commemorate the liberation after
the Russian-Turkish war. A visit to Seuthes III tomb
located in the Golyama Kosmatka mound. Dinner in
Kazanlak (upon request). Overnight in Kazanlak.
7th day
Kazanlak – Plovdiv.
Breakfast. Leaving for Plovdiv, the second largest
Bulgarian city, an important cultural and tourist
centre located in the Thracian valley on the Maritsa
river and built on 7 hills. A walking tour of the old
part of the city with a visit to St. Constantine and
Elena’s Church, the Ethnographic Museum, the
Roman Amphitheatre, the Roman Stadium and the
Djumaya Mosque. A walk down the pedestrian
Alexander Battenberg street. Lunch (upon request).
Free time. Dinner at a traditional Bulgarian restaurant
with local music and dances (upon request).
Overnight in Plovdiv.
8th day
Plovdiv - Bansko.
Breakfast. Leaving Plovdiv for the Rhodope and the
Pirin mountains. A stop in Velingrad, a town located
between the Rila, the Pirin and the Rhodope
mountains, famous for its thermal springs, a popular
spa resort. A walk in the central part of the town.
Arrival in Bansko, one of the most popular ski resorts
located in the Pirin mountains at 925 m. above sea
level, a town with traditional 18th and 19th century
houses made of stone and wooden logs. A visit to
Velyan’s and Neophyte Rilski’s houses, good
examples of the local architecture. Dinner (upon
request). Overnight in Bansko.
9th day
Bansko – Rila - Sofia.
Breakfast. Leaving for Sofia. A stop for a visit to the
Rila monastery, the largest and the most important
Bulgarian monastery situated on the Rilska river in
the Rila National Park, a UNESCO site, very popular
among tourists. It was founded in 930 by St. John
of Rila, built, demolished and rebuilt many times
throughout its history, famous for its murals, columns
and wood carvings. Lunch at a restaurant by the
river (upon request). A visit to the National History
Museum housed in the former residence of the
socialist leader Todor Zhivkov, or to the 12th-
century Boyana Church. Accomodation and
overnight in Sofia.
10th day
Breakfast. Free time and transfer to the airport. End
of the tour.