Dancing Adventure - Tour The Unique Folk Dances Of Bulgaria - 15 Days

Itinerary

Day 1: Sofia - the capital of Bulgaria

Stop At: St. Kyriaki Cathedral Church, pl. "Sveta Nedelya" 20, 1000 Sofia Center, Sofia, Bulgaria
We start the day meeting our instructor-choreographers for about 2 hours. The training is focused on two of the most widely known Bulgarian folk dances – Ra-che-‘ni-ca and ’Pra-vo Ho-‘ro. Lunch follows, and then a walking tour and some free time in the capital Sofia. The day ends with dinner at a traditional Bulgarian restaurant with a folklore show program.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in 3-star hotel in Sofia city center

Day 2: Arbanasi or Veliko Tarnovo

Stop At: Tsarevets Fortress, Tsar Asen Square, 5000 Царевец, Велико Търново, Bulgaria
We depart to the old capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom – Tarnovo. There will be sightseeing and free time. The training presents the beautiful E-’le-ni-no Ho-‘ro.
Duration: 1 day

Stop At: Arbanassi, 5029 Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
and the outstanding town-museum of Arbanasi. In both places there will be sightseeing and free time
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in 3-star hotel in Arbanassi or Veliko Tarnovo

Day 3: Varna town and Aladzha monastery

Stop At: Varna Archaeological Museum, Bul. Maria Louisa 41, Varna 9000 Bulgaria
After breakfast we are going to the Northern part of the Black Sea coast. We will visit Varna – the third biggest town in Bulgaria, also known as the sea capital of the country.
Duration: 1 day

Stop At: Aladzha Monastery, In Naturpark, Varna 9000 Bulgaria
The same day we visit the magnificent Aladzha Monastery – one of the few cave monasteries in Bulgaria. The dance of the day is ’Sbo-ren-ka.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight 3-star hotel in one of the best Black sea resorts Sts. Konstantin & Helen or Albena

Day 4: Sts. Constantine and Helen resort or Albena Black sea resort - second day on the beach

Stop At: Albena Resort, 9620 Albena, Bulgaria
We are not touring – just a day to enjoy the fine sand beach, sea and sun. We will have a repetition of all the dances we learned till the day and get a bonus dance from the area, the easy and enjoyable – ‘Var-nen-sko Ho-’ro.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight 3-star hotel in one of the best Black sea resorts Sts. Konstantin & Helen or Albena


Day 5: Sozopol - the most romantic ancient Black sea town

Stop At: Sozopol Old Town, Apolonia str. 1, Sozopol 8130 Bulgaria
We are moving south to the romantic and artistic ancient town of Sozopol. We’ll have fun along the cobblestone streets of the old town and its bustling beaches. Here we learn the Thracian Ra-che-‘ni-tsa (a bit different from the one you know from day 1 - you’ll have to tell the difference).
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in 3-star hotel in Sozopol

Day 6: Sinemorets - the smallest Black sea town

Stop At: Strandja Nature Park, 1 Yanko Maslinkov St., Sinemorets Bulgaria
In the morning we depart further down south to the small village of Bulgari in The Strandzha Mountains. This is the only place where the barefoot dance on smoldering embers called “nestinari” is still performed as a ritual in its almost authentic form. During the day we will repeat the dances we already know, out in the open air. We will have the opportunity to witness the ritual activities around the celebrations dedicated to Sts. Constantine and Helen and to dance together with local people. In the evening we will have a unique experience watching the authentic nestinari dance.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in 3-star hotel in Sinemorets

Day 7: Eastern part of Rhodope mountain

Stop At: Mezek Thracian Tomb, Mount of Sheynovets, Mezek Bulgaria
Heading towards the town of Ivaylovgrad, we will pass through the Thracian beehive tomb at the village of Mezek. It is the largest and one of the most impressive tombs of Mycenaean type in Bulgaria, famous for the remarkable archaeological find – a bronze sculpture of a wild boar in natural size. We will have the opportunity to taste some outstanding Bulgarian wines at the Katarzhina wine cellar, which will help us learn easily the next dance in our tour from the Rhodope area – ’Svor-na-to Ho-‘ro.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in 3-star hotel in Ivaylovgrad

Day 8: Plovdiv - the cultural capital of Europe in 2019

Stop At: Villa Armira, ул. Пейо Яворов, 6570 Ivaylovgrad, Bulgaria
We get a break from the dance training and visit 3 significant places: an exquisite architectural monument. The first one is from the Roman era – villa Armira.
Duration: 1 day

Stop At: Perperikon, 10 miles from the town of Kurdzhali Bulgaria
The second is the archaeological complex of Perperikon – one of the most ancient monumental megalithic structures, entirely carved into the rocks, where the famous Temple of Dionysius is located;
Duration: 1 day

Stop At: Bachkovo Monastery, 10km south of Asenovgrad on the main road between Assenovgrad and Smolyan, Bachkovo 4251 Bulgaria
And the last for the day is Bachkovo Monastery – one of the largest and oldest East Orthodox monasteries in Europe dated back to the 11th century AD.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in 3-star hotel in Plovdiv

Day 9: Plovdiv - second day in the cultural capital of Europe in 2019

Stop At: Plovdiv Old Town, Plovdiv 4000 Bulgaria
The day is dedicated to Plovdiv – the oldest city in Europe and second biggest Bulgarian town. Remains of ancient, medieval, National Revival and modern culture coexist and are interwoven into the unobtrusive, irresistible and eternal beauty of this city. During the training we will learn a new dance – Pai-‘dush-ko Ho-‘ro.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in 3-star hotel in Plovdiv

Day 10: Pirin mountain - Bezbog, Vihren or Yavorov hut

Stop At: Bezbog - peak in Pirin Mountains, Dobrinishte 2777 Bulgaria
We will enjoy The Pirin Mountains. First we will visit Bansko ski resort and then go up the mountain. There will be walking tours, hiking and open air dance trainings. It is time to start learning some extraordinarily beautiful dances from the Pirin area like Dzhan-‘gu-ri-tsa and ‘Ma-le-shev-sko Ho-‘ro.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in Bezbog, Vihren or Yavorov hut

Day 11: Second day in Pirin mountain - Bezbog, Vihren or Yavorov hut

Stop At: Bezbog - peak in Pirin Mountains, Dobrinishte 2777 Bulgaria
We have the same program as the previous day.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in Bezbog, Vihren or Yavorov hut

Day 12: Koprivshtitsa - charming town-museum from Revival time

Stop At: Municipality Koprivshtitsa, Koprivshtitsa, Lyuben Karavelov St 16, 2077 Средна махала, Koprivshtitsa, Bulgaria
Departure to Koprivstitsa – an authentic village from the Bulgarian National Revival period.

Nestled in the foot of The Sredna Gora Mountains, the village charms with its picturesque ornamented old houses and their large eaves, stone fences and wide wooden gates. Learning Chet-‘vor-no Ho-‘ro.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in holiday houses in Koprivstitsa

Day 13: Roman town Hisarya famous for its mineral springs

Stop At: Thracian Temple Complex Starosel, Selo Starosel Chetinyovata Mogila, Hissarya 4175 Bulgaria
Again, the day will be a mixture of sightseeing and dancing. We will start with Starosel – the Thracian temple complex, which is the oldest ever found Royal Thracian complex with a mausoleum.
Duration: 1 day

Stop At: 4180 Tsentar, Hisarya, Bulgaria
Then we continue to Hisarya – a town founded in 4th – 3rd century BC, famous for its healing mineral waters.
Duration: 1 day

Stop At: Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak - Copy, ul. "Tyulbenska" 8, 6100 Partyulbe, Kazanlak, Bulgaria
Last for the day, we will visit the most significant tombs in The Valley of The Thracian Kings.

The last new dance will be ‘Tri-te ‘Pa-ti.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in 3-star SPA hotel in Hisarya

Day 14: Roman town Hisarya famous for its mineral springs - second SPA day

Stop At: 4180 Tsentar, Hisarya, Bulgaria
Trainings, SPA and relax. Repetition of all dances.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in 3-star SPA hotel in Hisarya

Day 15: Arrival in Sofia and transfer to the airport for the return flights

Stop At: Sofia Airport Transfer, Blv. Cristopher Columbus 1, Sofia 1309 Bulgaria
Arrival in Sofia and transfer to the airport for the return flights
Duration: 10 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.