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BULGARIA TOUR ESCORTED  2009 The Treasures of Bulgaria 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. 7 nights/8 days

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

1. Boiana church (optional) (UNESCO object)
2. Rila Monastery (UNESCO object)
3. Tsarevets in Veliko Tarnovo
4. Etara 
5. Shipka
6. The Thracian tombs in Kazanlak (UNESCO object)
7. The Old Plovdiv  
8. Bachkovo Monastery

Day 1 – Dance on glowing embers
Arrival to Sofia. Transfer from the airport and accommodation in 3* hotel.
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
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
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 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 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 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 and overnight in 3* hotel in the capital.

Day 8
After breakfast – free time. Transfer to the airport and flight back home

Tour prices include:

·         Accommodation for 7 nights in hotels 4* and 3* on BB base.

·         One dinner in Arbanassi 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:

• Other meals than stated.
• Beverages.
• Photo/video fees at sites, museums, etc.
• Gratuities of any kind.

Optional:

• Half board supplement – 9 EUR per person per day (recommendable for 14+ PAX)
• Dinner with folklore show in Sofia – 30 EUR per person
• The biggest icon collection in Bulgaria at the crypt of the “Alexander Nevski” cathedral – 10 EUR per person.
• Visit of the National Museum of History in Sofia – 18 EUR per person
• “Sound & Light” show in Veliko Turnovo – EUR 30 per person (for min. 20 PAX). 
• Wine tasting in wine-cellar “Todoroff” – EUR 15 per person (for min. 6 PAX).

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