The best of Bulgaria
8 days / 7 nights

• Arrival in Sofia - the capital of Bulgaria


• Pick-up from the airport and transfer to the hotel,/li>
  
• The rest of the day is free. In the evening you meet your tour leader and the fellowtravelers


• Accommodation and overnight in Sofia


• Optional: Supplement for the dinner in traditional restaurant with folklore program- 15 EUROpp. Night club- entrance and 1 drink- from 15 EURO.

• After breakfast, sightseeing tour of Sofia – a city with 7000 years long history, concentrating numerous cultural and historic monuments from different periods


• Visits of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral with the richest collection of icons on the Balkan peninsula, the St. George Roman Rotunda from the 4th century, the St.Sofia Basilica, the Ruins of Serdica


• Overnight in Sofia


• Optional: Half day excursion with visit to Boyana Church (UNESCO) and the National museum of History with transportation and professional guide: min 2 participants required- 30 Eur/person

• Departure to the Rila Monastery/10th c/, 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, ethnographic exhibition of fabrics and carpets


• Continue to Plovdiv – city ranking second in importance after Sofia, passing through the highest Bulgarian mountain - Rila with a short break in the Borovets Resort


• Overnight in Plovdiv

• Sightseeing of the Old town of Plovdiv with its 3,000 years long history, National Revival architecture and excavations from Roman times


• Visit of the ancient Roman Amphitheater with impressive marble statues, decorative columns and arcades


• Excursion to the Bachkovo Monastery / 11th c/ - one of the richest galleries of traditional Bulgarian religious art with exquisite murals and medieval icons
• Departure to Kazanlak, the capital of the famous Valley of Roses


• Overnight in Kazanlak


• Optional: Visit the museum of roses or rose producing company 20 EUROpp.

• Visit the recently discovered Thracian golden tresures in Kazanlak Historical Museum


• Continue with one of the UNESCO’s sites – the Thracian Tomb dating back from the 4th c.BC


• 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 artist from Tryavna School of Art from the 17th century


• Visit the Woodcarving Museum of Tryavna


• Visit the ethnography village Bojentsi


• Overnight in Veliko Tarnovo


• Option: Visit the new excavated Thracian tomb - Golyama Kosmatka - 5 EUROpp only- entrance (on the route). Visit the Memorial church Shipka- 5 EUROpp- entrance (on the route). Sound and Light show program (on request). Price - depends on the group size.

• Sightseeing of Veliko Turnovo, including Tsarevets hill - an impressive sight with imposing medieval fortifications and dramatic architecture


• Departure to the museum town of Arbanassi boasting a genuine gallery of art in its Church of Nativity


• Overnight in Veliko Tarnovo


• Optional: Half day excursion to Etara open air Ethnographic museum with coffee break: 45 EURO per person, min 2 participants required, SPA package in the hotel - starting from 15 EUROpp.

• Departure to Sofia


• On the way stop and visit the Troyan monastery, dating from 16th century and third largest in Bulgaria


• Arrival in Sofia. The rest of the day is free


• Overnight in Sofia


• Optional: Visit the cave Saeva Dupka - 10 Eur / person (with a small lead out of the route).

• In the morning free time in Sofia


• Transfer to the airport

Prices:

• 790.00 Euro/person sharing a double room


• 150.00 Euro Single room supplement

GUARANTEED DEPARTURES in 2010 for minimum 2 participants at the following dates:

• 15th May 2010 - closed


• 12th June 2010 - closed


• 17th July 2010 - closed


• 14th August 2010 - closed


• 11th September 2010

GUARANTEED DEPARTURES in 2011 for minimum 2 participants at the following dates:

• 23 April 2011


• 21 May 2011


• 18 June 2011


• 16 July 2011


• 20 August 2011


• 17 September 2011


• 15 October 2011

What's included:

• Airport pick-up and drop-off


• Accommodation 7 nights as per the above program at a 3-star hotels


• Full board meals /breakfast, lunch, dinner/ throughout the program


• Private car (for 2-3 pax) or air-conditioned van, minibus or coach for all the above itinerary and program


• Professional English speaking guide throughout (for parties of 2-3 pax the guide will also drive)


• All entrance fees to museums, monasteries and sites included in the program


• All Bulgarian and Romanian taxes

What's not included:

• Flight tickets


• Hotel extras /telephone, mini bar, etc


• Drinks /other than water


• Photographing or filming fees at the visited sites


• Tips


• Porterage


• Travel insurance


• Personal Expenses


• Visa procurement (if needed)