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Romania and Bulgaria Tour

2011  -    11 Days/10nights 

Departure Dates:
06 May, 10 Jun, 05 Aug, 02 Sep, 30 Sep 04 May 2011

From Bucharest, the "Little Paris" to Sofia, the "City of Wisdom" experience a magnificent tour of two Balkan countries with so much in common, yet so different

Day 1: Arrival in Bucharest
                                                                                                            
 Arrive in Bucharest and check into the Hilton hotel in the heart of the town. This evening meet with the Tour Manager and enjoy dinner in local restaurant. Accommodation at ATHENEE PALACE HILTON hotel, in Bucharest (D)
 

Day 2: Explore Bucharest in a city tour

Get acquainted with the Romanian capital, once nicknamed "Little Paris". During the tour you will visit the Parliament Palace, the second largest building in the world after the Pentagon and the open air Village Museum. Your tour will bring you also to the Romanian Athenaeum, the Metropolitan Church, the Opera House, the National Military Club, the Military Academy and the Triumphal Arch. The rest of the day is free.
Accommodation at ATHENEE PALACE HILTON hotel, in Bucharest (B)

Day 3: Bucharest – Cozia – Sibiel (300 km)

Day 4: Sibiel – Biertan – Sighisoara – Brasov (300 km)

In the morning enjoy a comprehensive walking tour of Sibiu including the visit to the Cathedral, where the son of Vlad the Impaler (another of Dracula’s monikers) was assassinated. You also stop at the Brukenthal Art Gallery before continuing to the Saxon village of Biertan where you visit the fortress church that is one of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites. The church hosts the largest wing altar in Romania and was used as the residence of the Lutheran bishop of Transylvania for over 300 years. Your next stop is Sighisoara the best-preserved medieval fortified town in Romania and the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler. After arrival, you proceed on a walking tour of the town and visit the famous Clock Tower Museum with its Torture and Weapons Rooms and stop in the house in which Dracula (Vlad the Impaler) was born in 1432. Later, arrive in Brasov in time for dinner and overnight at the CURTEA BRASOVEANA hotel, situated in the medieval old town (B,D)

Day 5: Brasov – Bran – Brasov (200 km)

Day 6: Brasov – Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria (370 km)

After breakfast you will visit the marvelous Peles Castle, once the summer residence of the Romanian royal family. Then you will start driving south, cross the Danube river and continue in Bulgaria to the medieval Veliko Tarnovo, former capital of the Bulgarian Empire. Accommodation and dinner at YANTRA hotel, in Veliko Tarnovo (B, D)

Day 7: Veliko Tarnovo (100 km)

After breakfast this you’ll have a morning tour of Veliko Turnovo. See the medieval quarter of the town and the historical Tsarevets Hill, where remains from the former capital’s glory can still be seen. Proceed to the picturesque village of Arbanassi. The village was originally founded by Albanians and it grew rich after Sultan Suleyman I gave it to one of his sons-in-law in early 1538, thus exempting the bustling town from the harsh Ottoman taxation. In this typical medieval Bulgarian town of stone houses and red tiles roofs, we visit the Church of Nativity, the most richly decorated church in Bulgaria. Its interior is completely covered with colorful frescoes painted in the first part of 1600s.
Accommodation at YANTRA hotel, in Veliko Tarnovo (B)

Day 8: Veliko Tarnovo – Etara - Kazanlik – Plovdiv (200 km)

Departure towards Plovdiv. On The way stop for a short visit of Etara open-air museum, representative for its architecture, the life style and the economic past of Gabrovo region during the Revival period. Cross the Balkan mountains through the Shipka Pass, famous for its historical significance. Later on you will stop in Kazanlik to see the UNESCO listed Thracian Tomb with its Hellenistic frescoes from the 3^rd century BC. Just arrived in Plovdiv, have a walk in the old town with its cobbled streets and typical national revival architecture. Visit the Ethnographic Museum, the Roman Amphitheatre, the Church of St. Konstantine and Elena–one of the oldest churches in Bulgaria.

Day 9: Plovdiv - Rila Monastery- Sofia (300 km)

Leave Plovdiv in the morning and drive across the mountains to the Rila Monastery – one of the greatest centers of scholarship and religion in Bulgaria during the National Revival Period. Founded in the middle of the 10^th century it played a key role in preserving Bulgarian culture and language during the centuries. It is included in the UNESCO world heritage list. See the monastery church with its amazing frescos painted by the most famous Bulgarian finest artists from 19^th c. and the monastery museum. Proceed to Sofia and overnight at HILTON hotel (B)

 Day 10: Explore Sofia

In the morning discover the Bulgarian capital during a walking city tour including Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, St. Nicholas Russian Church and the Rotonda of St. George Church- the oldest building in Sofia, the National Theatre. Afternoon at leisure and Farewell dinner in the evening.

Accommodation at HILTON hotel, in Sofia (B, D)

Day 11-  Your program ends after breakfast.

Price in EURO per person available for minimum 2 full paying passengers
*US$ rate varies depending the exchange rate

• Meals: 10 breakfasts,  6 dinners (without drinks included)

• Transportation by modern A/C cars, minibuses or coaches

• Services of a professional English speaking guide

• All entrance fees

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