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Guaranteed departures 2012: 05-12 May, 01-08 June (Rose Festival Tour) 22-29 Sept

There are 8 of the 24 wonders of Bulgaria included in this itinerary:

1. Rila Monastery (UNESCO object)
2. The historic hill of Tsarevets in Veliko Tarnovo
3. Etara Ethnographic Museum at open air
4. Shipka peak
5. The Thracian tombs in Kazanlak (UNESCO object)
6. The Old Plovdiv 
7. Bachkovo Monastery
8. Melnik

ITINERARY:

 Day 1 – Welcome to Sofia – a 8500 years old town
Arrival to Sofia. Accommodation in 4* hotel. Dinner and overnight. 

Day 2 – The Capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom
After breakfast – departure 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”.
Next is visit of Arbanassi village, famous for its ancient rich decorated churches and magnificent architecture. It used to be a residence of the Bulgarian kings.  Departure to Kmetovtsi village. Accommodation, dinner and overnight in a hotel with very good cuisine – a completely restored autentique Inn from the middle of 19-th century.
 
Day 3 – The Valley of the Roses and the Thracian Kings
After breakfast - 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. Next comes panoramic tour around Gabrovo - the capital of humor.  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.
Set off to Kazanlak - the capital of the Rose valley. The road to Kazanlak passes by Shipka peak, where is situated the monument of the Bulgaria 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 Museum of the Rose, where you can see how the famous Bulgarian rose oil (used in the perfumery) is produced and the Thracian Kazanlak Tomb, dating back to the 4th C. B.C. It is listed in the world natural and historical heritage of UNESCO.  Later in the afternnon – departure to Plovdiv, the city of the seven hills. Accommodation, dinner and overnight in 4* hotel in Plovdiv.
 
Day 4 - The Antique Plovdiv
After breakfast – 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 it known as "Rhodopes Holly Mount".
Optional: wine tasting in the boutique wine-cellar "Todoroff", near to the village of Brestovica, where a red wine of high quality is produced.  Drive back to Plovdiv. Dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight in the hotel.
 
Day 5 – The “Bulgarian Hollywood”
Breakfast. Departure to Velingrad, the SPA capital of Bulgaria. Before Velingrad, we will visit the one and only  carpet factory, producing giant carpets, which clients are world celebrities as Queen Elizabeth II, Mick Jagger, etc.
In Velingrad - visit of a 5* SPA hotel, where the use of the natural and eco products, like roses, grapes, herbs in SPA treatments for recreation and health will be demonstrated.  A very attractive train trip in the mountain follows. The journey from Velingrad to Avramovo (the highest railway station on Balkan Peninsula with 1211 m altitude) will be by a train, which is moving on narrow (70 cm) railway lines. You will pass trough points, which offer unique views of the Rhodopes Mountains.
After that - take off for the "Bulgarian Hollywood" - a real "El Dorado" for the fans of the photo safari. These are the villages of Kovachevitsa and Leshten - architectural reserves, where old houses from the beginning of the 19th c. are preserved. Here were shot one of the best Bulgarian historical films, which were awarded with high international awards. The houses in Leshten are fully equipped on the inside. Accommodation, dinner and overnight in the unique atmosphere of the ancient houses of Leshten village.
 
Day 6 – The town of the sand pyramids
After breakfast - departure for Rozhen village. Visit of the local monastery, founded in XI-th century. An attractive walking tour from Rozhen to Melnik follows. Pass through a path next to the real sand pyramids carved in various forms by the nature.  Melnik is the town of the sand pyramids and the smallest one in Bulgaria (once there lived some 18 000 people, and nowadays there are no more than 700-800). This is a unique unforgetable place. Melnik is famous for its red wines. Visit of Kordopulova house and tasting of a glass of Melnik wine in cellar, dug in the sand rocks.
Arrival in Sandanski, which is one of the biggest SPA resorts in the country. The mountain air and the mineal water are also very good for the health - the town is in the outskirts of Pirin - second highest mountain on the Balkans. The mountain has about 100 peaks at an altidute more than 2000 m and is an UNESCO-protected site! Sandanski is also the birthplace of the famous in ancient times Spartacus. Accommodation, dinner and overnight in 4* SPA hotel in Sandanski.
 
Day 7 – The treasury of the Rila monastery
Breakfast. Take off to the Rila monastery, founded in X-th c. It was the biggest Bulgarian medieval spiritual centre. The monastery has rich collection of icons, wall-paintings, old-printed books - about 15 000 volumes. Guided tour around the monastery. It is in the UNESCO list of world heritage.  In the afternoon - return to Sofia. Panoramic tour around the Bulgarian capital (a 8500 years old city!) and visit to the most interesting historical sights: the Alexander Nevski Cathedral, the St. Sofia Church, which had given the name of the city, the antique Roman theatre dated III-IV-th century (the time of the Emperor Constantine the Great) and the historical and cultural center of the capital.  Accommodation, dinner and overnight in 4* hotel.
Optional: Dinner at a typical Bulgarian folk style restaurant. Excellent cuisine, great selection of wines and folklore show.
 
Day 8
After breakfast – free time. Transfer to the airport and flight back home.

2012 Price for guaranteed departures minimum 2 passengers traveling together:

* Rose Festival Tour
Maximum group size - 10 passengers
5% discount for 4 passengers traveling together
15% discount for 6 passengers travelling together
 

 *$ rate varies depending the exchange

Tour prices include:

·         Accommodation for 7 nights in best available hotels 4*, 3* and rural houses in Leshten village on HB base.

·         A/C vehicle with driver during the whole trip.

·         Parking fees and road taxes.

·         All entrance fees for the museums, sites and churches.

·         Train journey from Velingrad to Avtamovo.

·         Wine tasting in Melnik.

·         Professional English speaking guide throughout.

·         Porterage in the hotels.

·         Detailed map of Bulgaria

Tour prices don’t include:

• Other meals than stated.
• Beverages.
• Airplane tickets to Bulgaria

Optional:

• Full board supplement – 12 EUR per person per day
• Dinner with folklore show in Sofia – 43 EUR per person
• Wine tasting in wine-cellar “Todoroff” – EUR 19 per person

Pre and Post tour accommodation

4* Hotel in Sofia (Hotel Best Western City plus or similar)
Euro 107 per double or twin room per night with breakfast
Euro 79 per single room per night with breakfast

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