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BULGARIA TOUR
ESCORTED
2008
The Treasures of Bulgaria
Departures on Saturdays
7 nights/8 days
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Visit
the most famous and popular tourist treasures of
Bulgaria. This tour is a mixture of the best, which this beautiful country had
treasured as natural and cultural-historical heritage during the centuries.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival in Sofia - Dance on glowing
embers
Arrival to Sofia. Transfer from the airport and accommodation in 4* hotel.
Dinner and overnight.
Optional: Dinner at a typical Bulgarian folk style restaurant. Excellent
cuisine, great selection of wines and folklore show.
Day 2 – A 8500 years old town - Sofia - Troyan - Chiflik
After breakfast – panoramic tour around Sofia (a 8500 years old city!) and visit
to the most interesting historical sights: the “Alexander Nevski” Cathedral, the
Church of ”St. Sofia”, which had given the name of the city and the historical
and cultural center of the capital.
Free time, opportunity for some shopping.
In the afternoon – departure for the town of Troyan, famous for its art school
of ceramics. You will stay at the picturesque village of Chiflik, situated 16 km
from Troyan, in unusually beautiful nature. Accommodation in a SPA hotel with
warm mineral water swimming pool, SPA centre, restaurant and all facilities for
a pleasant stay.
Optional: visit of the National Museum of History with its unique collection of
Thracian treasures.
Day 3 – The Capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom - Veliko Tarnovo
After breakfast – set off to the Troyan Monastery - the third biggest monastery
in Bulgaria. There is a miraculous icon of Virgin Mary - the legends tell that
it appeared at this place with the foundation of the monastery during the Middle
ages. The history of the monastery is connected to the Liberation of Bulgaria in
the 19th c. A few monks who still remain here make marvelous plum brandy.
In the afternoon – a trip to the old capital of Bulgaria – Veliko Tarnovo. Visit
to the historical hill Tsarevets with the Fortress, the Patriarchal church and
the Emperor Baldwin’s Tower. You will walk along the old Trade Street –
“Samovodska charshia”.
Visit the village of Arbanassi, famous for its ancient rich decorated churches
and magnificent architecture. It used to be a residence of the Bulgarian kings.
Visit of a private house in Arbanassi, where you will taste local home made
meals for dinner. Accommodation and overnight in 3* hotel in Veliko Tarnovo.
Day 4 – A smile from Gabrovo
After breakfast – a visit to “Bacho Kiro” cave, where remains of the prehistoric
man were found. Next is Gabrovo - the capital of humor. Visit to the "House of
the humor" with its exhibition of caricatures, carnival masks, costumes and
other attractions, which will cheer you up.
Note: The international festival of humor is held here every third week of May.
The main attraction is the carnival, which draws thousands of guests and
participants from Bulgaria and abroad.
Departure for “Etara” – a unique open air museum recreating the way of life of
the Bulgarians in the 19th c. It is a great attraction for tourists, one of the
most visited places in the country.
In the afternoon - a visit to Triavna, the town, famous for its art school in
icon-making and woodcarving. Visit the icon-making museum and the "Daskalov's
house", famous with the wood carved suns on its ceilings. Return to Veliko
Tarnovo, dinner and overnight in the hotel.
Optional: In the evening you could join the special “Sound & Light” show in
Veliko Turnovo – a real waterfall of music and colours on the background of the
magnificent fortress of Tsarevets (only for a group of 20+ persons).
Day 5 - The Valley of the Roses and the Thracian Kings
After breakfast – departure to Kazanlak – the capital of the Rose valley. The
road to Kazanlak passes by Shipka peak, where is situated the monument of the
Bulgaria’s liberators from the 19th C. There is a wonderful view to North and
South Bulgaria from the monument’s top – over 1100 m above sea level. You will
learn more details about the crucial battles, which changed the course of the
Russian-Turkish war in 1877-78. On your way to Kazanlak, in the village of
Shipka is the Russian church, where concerts with Church Slavonic music are
often performed. In Kazanlak you will visit the Ethnographical museum, where you
can see how the famous Bulgarian rose oil (used in the perfumery) is made. Next
is the Thracian Kazanlak tomb dating back to the 4th c. B.C. It is listed in the
world natural and historical heritage of UNESCO. In the Historical museum you
will see the recently golden mask of the Thracian king Theres and the bronze
head of the King Seuthes III. Late in the afternoon – a drive to Plovdiv,
accommodation, diner and overnight in 3* hotel in the top center of the city.
Day 6 - The Antique Plovdiv
After breakfast – a visit to the Old Plovdiv, built in IV century B.C. from King
Philip of Macedonia, with the Ethnographical museum, the oldest church “St.
Constantine and Elena”, the Antique theatre and the Roman stadium.
In the afternoon - visit to Bachkovo monastery – the second biggest in Bulgaria.
The monastery was built in 10-th c. and is famous with the miraculous icon of
Virgin Mary – Mother of God. A number of temples in the area made known the area
as “Rhodopes Holly Mount”.
Optional: wine tasting in the boutique wine-cellar “Todoroff” close to the
village of Brestovica, where a red wine of high quality is produced /for groups
of min. 6 people/.
Drive back to Plovdiv, overnight and dinner in the hotel.
Day 7 - The treasury of the Rila monastery
After breakfast – a trip to Rila monastery, founded in 10th c. It was the
biggest Bulgarian medieval spiritual centre with rich collection of icons,
wall-paintings, old-printed books – some 15 000 volumes, etc. The monastery is a
monument in the UNESCO list of world heritage and is situated in the highest
mountain on the Balkans – Rila Mountain. Guided tour around the monastery.
Departure for Sofia. Accommodation, dinner and overnight in 4* hotel in the
capital.
Day 8
After breakfast – free time. Transfer to the airport and flight back home.
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Prices
in Euro or US$* (rate varies depending the exchange |
|
Number of Passengers |
DBL |
SNGl |
|
2 PAX |
1236.00
€ |
1
344.00
€ |
|
3-6 PAX |
1075.00
€ |
1181.00
€ |
|
7-13 PAX |
713.00
€ |
806.00
€ |
|
14-19 PAX |
569.00
€ |
663.00
€ |
|
20+ PAX |
538.00
€ |
631.00
€ |
Tour prices include:
·
Accommodation for
7
nights in hotels 4*
and 3*
on HB base.
·
One
of the
dinners in Arbanassi is in a private guest-house.
·
A/C vehicle
with driver during the whole trip.
·
Parking fees
and road taxes.
·
All entrance
fees for the museums and churches.
·
Professional
guide throughout.
Tour prices
don’t
include:
Optional:
-
Dinner
with folklore show in Sofia – 38 EUR per person
-
The biggest icon collection in Bulgaria at the crypt of the “Alexander
Nevski” cathedral –
13 EUR per person.
-
Visit of
the National Museum of History in Sofia – 23 EUR per person
-
“Sound &
Light” show in Veliko Turnovo – EUR 33 per person (for min. 20 PAX).
-
Wine
tasting in wine-cellar “Todoroff” – EUR 19 per person (for min. 6 PAX).
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