THE GREAT TOUR OF BULGARIA EXTENSION

No of days: 6 days

Price: from 695 Euro

Departures: on demand

DAY 1 Bucharest – Arbanassi – Veliko Tarnovo

In the morning, leave the Romanian Capital and drive south to the Bulgarian border. It takes about one hour drive to the border and another hour and a half to get to Arbanassi, a very picturesque village, where the Bulgarian rich people had their residences at the beginning of the 17^th century. Before the visits of Konstantsaliev House and The Nativity Church, have lunch in a Bulgarian “mehana” from the village. Afterwards, arrive to Veliko Tarnovo, the Capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom and visit Tsarevets Fortress, destroyed by the Ottomans in 1393 and partially restored during the communist era. Accommodation in a hotel in the old town area.

DAY 2 Veliko Tarnovo – Shumen – Varna

In the morning we leave Veliko Tarnovo and we drive to the scenic Bulgarian Coast. On the way to Varna, we stop in Shumen to visit the Medieval fortress, probably built or enlarged by Vlad the Impaler. Nearby Shumen, close to a small village called Madara, there is an old sculpture in the mountain known as Madara Horseman. The relief depicts a majestic horseman 23 m (75 ft) above ground level in an almost vertical 100 m (328 ft)-high cliff. The horseman, facing right, is thrusting a spear into a lion lying at his horse\'s feet. An eagle is flying in front of the horseman and a dog is running after him. The scene symbolically depicts a military triumph.The monument is dated back to circa 710 AD and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. In the afternoon we arrive in Balcik, where we visit the summer palace of the queen Maria of Romania and the picturesque botanic garden around the Palace. In the evening we arrive in Varna where we spend the night. Accommodation in a hotel in Varna.

DAY 3 Varna – Nessebar – Plovdiv

In the morning we drive south, along the Bulgarian coast and 50 Miles south of Varna we reach the exquisite town of Nessebar. This old town has on several occasions found itself on the frontier of a threatened empire, and as such it is a town with a rich history. The ancient part of the town is situated on a peninsula (previously an island) connected to the mainland by a narrow man-made isthmus, and it bears evidence of occupation by a variety of different civilisations over the course of its existence. Its abundance of historic buildings prompted UNESCO to include Nesebar in its list of World Heritage Sites in 1983. In the afternoon we arrive in Plovdiv, the second largest Bulgarian city, and visit the old town where you can admire the unique Bulgarian Revival Architecture, but also the impressive ruins from the Roman time. Walking tour in the old town, situated on the highest hill from the area and visit The Roman Arena, The Roman Amphitheatre, St Constantine and Helen Church and the Ethnography Museum. Overnight in Plovdiv.

DAY 4 Plovdiv – Bachkovo Monastery – Rila Monastery – Sofia

Today we visit the two most beautiful Bulgarian Monasteries: Bachkovo and Rila, both of them being Unesco World Heritage Sites, both of them painted by one of the greatest Bulgarian painters, Zahari Zograf. Start the day with Bachkovo Monastery, located 30 Miles south of Plovdiv and after the visit, drive through the mountains to Rila Moinastery, the greatest symbol of the Bulgarian culture, art, architecture and religion. Built for the first time at the end of the XI th century, Rila Monastery managed to survive in spite of the 500 years of Ottoman occupation and two serious attempts to destroy it, first one during the XV th, second one during the XIX th century. Make sure you don’t skip the museum of the monastery, where you can see incredible religious items like: old icons, books, costumes and the outstanding cross carved by the monk Rafail, at the end of the XVIII th century. In the evening, arrive in Sofia and get accommodation in a hotel close to the city center.

DAY 5 Sofia

In the morning, walking tour in the city center of the Bulgarian Capital. During the tour you’ll see the Presidency of Bulgaria, St George Church (also known as Rotonda) - the oldest in Sofia – The National Theatre, the Russian church of St Nicholas and the impressive cathedral Alexandr Nevski. During the tour, you will visit the best two museums in Bulgaria: the Archeology Museum, located in the city center, in a former mosque, and the National History Museum, located in the former house of the Bulgarian dictator, Todor Jivkov. Depending on the hour, you can also visit the only UNESCO World Heritage Site from Sofia, Boyana Monastery, located close to the History Museum. Accommodation in the same hotel in Sofia.

DAY 6 Sofia – transfer to the airport / end of our services

Our services include:

- 5 nights accommodation in 3*** or 4**** star hotels

- 5 breakfasts

- 1 dinner (farewell dinner in Sofia (+ folk show)

- The entrance fees for all the sites mentioned in the program

- Transportation for the entire tour (car, mini van or van – depending on the size of the group)

- Transfer to the airport

- English speaking guide for the entire tour

Not included:

- Other meals than mentioned

- Photo fees

- Tips

Price:

695 EUR / person, based on double room occupancy, for 3*** star hotels

785 EUR / person, based on double room occupancy, for 4**** star hotels

Single room supplement: 150 EUR / person for 3*** star hotels

215 EUR / person for 4**** star hotels

This price is valid and the departure is guaranteed for a group of minimum 2 persons

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