Throughout Bulgaria
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14 dyas / 13 noches
Day 1. Arrival in Sofia
Arrival in Sofia. Transfer to hotel Sofia Dedeman Princess Hotel 4****. Dinner and overnight in Sofia.
Day 2. Sofia & National Historic Museum & Boyana Church
Breakfast. City tour of Sofia including the Sveta. Nedelya Sq.,the 4th century AD Rotunda St George, The Presidency, National Theatre, The City Garden, Russian Church St. Nicolas, Parliament Square, Alexander Nevski Memorial Cathedral with the most valuable collection of Bulgarian Icons (13-19th c), Sveta Sofia Church (6th c). Lunch and free time for leisure and shopping or optional excursion to the National Historic Museum and Boyana Church (UNESCO site). Dinner and overnight at Sofia Dedeman Princess Hotel, 4****.
Day 3. Sofia – Koprivshtitsa – Troyan Monastery - Kazanlak
Breakfast and departue to the Central Bulgaria, visit of Koprivshtitsa (one of the best preserved towns of the Bulgarian national revival period). Visit to several houses- museums, lunch and then we proceed to the Troyan Monastery - where you can see one of the Miraculous Icons of the Virgin. Continue to the town of Kazanlak, acommodation at Kazanlak Palace Hotel, 3+***. Dinner and overnight there.
Day 4. Kazanlak – Shipka – Etara – Tryavna – Veliko Tarnovo
Breakfast and walk tour of Kazanlak - Visit to the Regional Historic Museum, the Ethnographic Complex Kulata and the ancient Thracian tomb (UNESCO site). Departure to Veliko Tarnovo via the Shipka mountain pass. Visit of the Russian Memorial Church, built in honor to the heroes of the Russian-Turkish war of Liberation of 1977 - 1878 - Russian soldiers and Bulgarian volunteers. Continue to Etara – an unique open air museum of authentic traditional crafts, created to preserve for the coming generations the appearance and the spirit of the old time Bulgarian mountain villages and the manufacturing traditions of the region. Lunch at a local tavern. Next stop will be the town of Tryavna, famous with it’s wood- carving school. Evening arrival in Veliko Tarnovo, dinner and overnight at Grand Hotel Yantra, 4****.
Day 5. Veliko Tarnovo & Arbanassi
Breakfast. A walking tour of Veliko Tarnovo and visit of the medieval fortress of Tsarevets, the old Marketplace Samovodska Tcharshia, the Forty Martyrs Church and other exciting landmarks. Lunch and departure to Arbanassi, where we will visit the unique Holy Nativity Church. Return to Veliko Tarnovo and free time for leisure or shopping. Dinner and overnight at Veliko Tarnovo’s – Grand Hotel Yantra, 4****.
Day 6. Veliko Tarnovo – Ivanovo – Russe
After breakfast we shall say good-bye to the lovely town of Veliko Tarnovo and we shall depart to Russe. Our first stop will be at the village of Ivanovo and the Rock Churches also listed in the UNESCO’s World Heritage. Then we shall continue to Russe, the biggest Bulgarian town on the Denube. Lunch. In the evening - free time for leisure or an optional river cruise. Dinner and overnight at Riga Hotel Russe, 4****.
Day 7. Russe – Sveshtari – Shumen – Madara – Varna
Breakfast and departure the village of Sveshtari and one of the Thracian tombs, included in the UNESCO’s World Heritage list. We continue to the town of Shumen to visit the Mosque of Tomboul – the biggest one in the Balkan peninsula and the 1300 years Bulgaria” Monument. A stop for lunch, then we continue to Madara (UNESCO site) – the first European rock relief. Evening arrival at Varna, acommodation at Aqua Varna Hotel 3***. Dinner and overnight in Varna.
Day 8. Varna – Balchik – Kaliakra - Varna
Breakfast and a walk around Varna – we’ll see the Cathedral, the Roman Terms, the Archeological Museum (probably, the best one in Bulgaria). Departure to Balchik to visit the Queen Maria’s Palace and the national Bothanical garden. Lunch and later on visit to Cape Kaliakra. Return to Varna, dinner and overnight at Aqua Hotel 3+***.
Day 9. Varna – Nessebar
Breakfast and departure to Nessebar – may be the most beautiful and picturesque sea - town, with its Historic Old Quarter situated on a small island. A walking tour in the Old Town of Nessebar, visiting the Medieval Churches and lunch. Free time for leisure and shopping. Dinner and overnight in Nessebar.
Day 10. Nessebar – Plovdiv
After breakfast – departure to Plovdiv. Lunch and a walking tour of Plovdiv with visits of the Old Town of Plovdiv - imposing open-air museum situated on the three hills of the ancient Roman town of Trimontium. Visit to the Ancient Stadium, the Ancient Theatre (a well-preserved Roman amphitheatre), the Ethnographic museum and other interesting sites. Dinner and overnight at Dedeman Trimontium Plovdiv Hotel, 4****.
Day 11. Plovdiv – Bachkovo Monastery – Shiroka Laka – Dospat – Bansko
In the morning, after the breakfast – departure towards the South of Bulgaria, also known like the Bulgarian Macedony. Pass trough the Rodopi Mountain, which offers unforgettable lanscapes. Our first visit we’ll be the Bachkovo Monastery (UNESCO site) - one of the oldest monasteries in the Bulgarian lands and the second biggest in the country. It is mainly known for its original architecture, rich collections of old icons, jewelry, coins and church plate. Continue to Shiroka Laka y Dospar lake. Lunch on the way and evening arrival at Bansko (the most famous Bulgarian ski station). Walk tour at the Old Town of Bansko, dinner and overnight in White Fir Valley Hotel, 4****.
Day 12. Bansko – Melnik - Sandanski
Breakfast and departure to the smallest town in Bulgaria – Melnik, famous for its delicious wines and old-fashioned houses. A walk around Melnik and wine tasting at the Kordopulov’s house. Continue to Rozhen Monastery – the most authenitic monastery in Bulgaria, visit and lunch at local tavern. Continue to Sandanski – the biggest balneological resort and birth place of Spartacus. Dinner and overnight in Sandanski Interhotel, 4****.
Day 13. Sandanski – Rila Monastery – Sofia
Breakfast and departure to the Rila Monastery – the diamond of the whole trip and the country's largest ecclesiastic and cultural temple. This is the most famous and the most fascinating monastery in Bulgaria, under UNESCO protection. Visit to the Monastery church, museum and kitchen "Magernitsa". Lunch at a local tavern, then we continue the trip to Sofia. Evening arrival at the capital, acommodation at Sofia Dedeman Princess Hotel 4****. Farewell dinner and overnight in Sofia.
Day 14. Departure
Breakfast and transfer to the Airport.
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