MUSEUM TOWNS, VILLAGES AND BULGARIAN TRADITION
Destinations to visit with this tour: Arbanasi - Aseneva Fortress - Bachkovo Monastery - Bansko - Devin - Koprivshtitsa - Kovachevitsa - Leshten - Melnik - Pamporovo - Plovdiv - Rila Monastery - Rozhen Monastery - Shiroka Laka - Smolian - Trigrad Gorge - Yagodina Cave
1 Day ARRIVAL IN SOFIA
Arrival in Sofia. Transfer to a hotel. Overnight in Sofia.
2 Day SOFIA - RILA MONASTERY - BANSKO ( 150 km.)
Breakfast. Departure for the Rila Monastery - the most famous and the most fascinating monastery in Bulgaria, under the UNESCO protection. Tour of the monastery and visit to the monastery church, museum, and kitchen, known as Magernitsa. Afternoon arrival in Bansko - the most modern ski resort in the country. Bansko has an atmosphere of its own - an exciting combination between the pristine nature of Pirin Mountain and the ambience of an old Bulgarian small town. Overnight.
3 Day BANSKO - ROZHEN MONASTERY - MELNIK (90 km.)
Breakfast. Departure for Rozhen Monastery and visit of the complex - the only monastery restored during the first centuries of the Ottoman rule which has survived to the current time. It owes its fame, above all, to its carved iconostases and lecterns. Continue to Melnik - the smallest town in Bulgaria, famous for its unique sandstone pyramids, traditional architecture and delectable wines. Tour of the town with visit to the Kordopoulov's - the biggest residential building on the Balkans from the Revival period, housing extraordinary mural paintings and an enormous wine-cellar. Overnight in Melnik.
4 Day MELNIK - KOVATCHEVITSA - DEVIN (140 km.)
Breakfast. The tour continues, via the Rhodope Mountains, to the picturesque museum village of Kovatchevitsa featuring impressive architecture. The atmosphere is so charming with the narrow cobbled little streets, stone walls of the houses rising extraordinarily high, greyish slabs covering the roofs, tranquillity, countless swallows perching along the electric lines, goats climbing up the fences, and fireflies in summertime. Visit to Leshten mountain village. Overnight in the popular spa resort of Devin.
5 Day DEVIN - TRIGRAD GORGE- CAVE DEVIL'S THROAT -YAGODINA CAVE - DEVIN (50 km.)
Breakfast. Departure for Trigrad Gorge - one of the most fabulous places in the West Rhodope. It impresses visitors with the outlines of its 500 meter gorge with over 300 meter high sheer cliffs. Visit to the famous Yagodina Cave. The cave has five stories, with many labyrinths and abysses inside. Overnight in Devin.
6 Day DEVIN - SHIROKA LAKA - SMOLIAN - PAMPOROVO ( 40 km.)
Breakfast. Departure for Shiroka Laka village-museum - an architecture and ethnographic preserve, well known for its original Rhodope architectural style, musical traditions, and history. Visit of the local music school (except for Jul., Aug., and beginning of Sept.). Continue to Smolian. Overnight in the Pamporovo Mountain Resort.
7 Day PAMPOROVO - BACHKOVO MONASTERY - PLOVDIV (85 km.)
Breakfast. In the morning visit to the Bachkovo Monastery - one of the oldest monasteries in the Bulgarian lands and the second largest in the country. It is mainly known for its original architecture, rich collections of old icons, jewellery, coins, and church plate. Continue to Plovdiv with a stop at the Aseneva Fortress en route. Overnight in Plovdiv.
8 Day PLOVDIV - KOPRIVSHTITZA ( 70 km.)
Breakfast. Tour of the Old Town of the city - an imposing open-air museum, situated on the three hills of the ancient Trimontium. Visit the Ancient Theatre (a well-preserved Roman amphitheatre), the Ethnographic museum and other interesting sites. Departure for Koprivshtitza town, situated in the heart of the Sredna Gora Mountain Range. Tour in the town famous for the numerous museums, old stone bridges and walls, wooden yard gates, more than 120-year-old buildings and courtyards in their original colours. Evening arrival in Sofia. Overnight.
9 Day KOPRIVSHTITZA - SOFIA (120 km.)
Breakfast. Sofia city tour including the National Archaeological Museum, the National Theatre, Russian Church St. Nikola, the Parliament Square, the St. Alexander Nevski Memorial Cathedral with the most valuable collection of Bulgarian Icons (13-19th c.), St. Sofia Church (6th c.), St. George Rotunda (4th c.), and the National Palace of Culture. Time at leisure. Overnight in Sofia.
10 Day SOFIA, DEPARTURE TO THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport. Departure.
Max
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Professional
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Free
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|---|---|---|---|
| Transfer | Arrival Transfer Airport – Centre of Sofia, sharing, one way only | Roundtrip Transfer Airport – Hotel - Airport, no assistance only driver; | Roundtrip Transfer Airport – Hotel - Airport, with English-speaking assistance; |
| Guide | English-speaking local guides | English-speaking escort guide throughout, excluding the transfers | English-speaking escort guide throughout; |
| Transport | Air-conditioned vehicles; For parties up to 5 persons – the guide is also a driver; | Modern air-conditioned vehicles; For parties up to 5 persons – the guide is also a driver; | Modern air-conditioned vehicles; For parties up to 5 persons – the guide is also a driver; |
| Hotels | 2-3* hotels, with private bathroom; breakfast included; regardless the location, all hotels are conveniently located next to public transport stations with good connections to the city centre. | 3* hotels, buffet breakfast included; the hotels are located in the central area of the town; | 4* o 5* hotels, buffet breakfast included; top central location; porterage service included |
| Entrance | Not included. | Included. | Included. |
| Meals | Breakfast | Breakfast | Half board – lunch or dinner according the clients preferences |
