Explore The Best Of Bulgaria In 7 Days

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Sofia

Pass By: Sofia, Sofia, Sofia Region
Arrival in Sofia and transfer to hotel.

Meals included:
• Dinner: Welcome dinner with traditional folklore program
Accommodation included: Overnight in centrally located hotel in Sofia

Day 2: Sofia - Veliko Turnovo

Stop At: Sofia, Sofia, Sofia Region
Half-day sightseeing tour of Sofia a 7000 year-old city. You will see the Saint Sofia Church, built in the middle of the 6th century under the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, that gave the city its name and countless ruins from ancient Roman times.
Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral, Aleksander Nevski Square, Sofia Bulgaria
You will visit the St.Alexander Nevsky Cathedral - one of the largest Eastern Orthodox churches in the world.
Duration: 15 minutes

Pass By: National Art Gallery, 19 Fevralya St., 1 St Alexander Nevski Sqr, Sofia 1000 Bulgaria
You will pass by the former Royal palace, currently the National Art Gallery.

Stop At: Tsarevets, Tsar Asen Square, Veliko Tarnovo 5000 Bulgaria
The town still keeps the unique atmosphere of ancient times. You will see the ruins of the castle Tsarevets; the St. Forty Martyrs Church, which houses some of the Bulgarian Empire’s most significant historical records.
Duration: 1 hour

Pass By: Samovodska Charshiya Complex, Veliko Tarnovo Bulgaria
During your walk you will pass through the most famous craftsmen street in Veliko Turnovo.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in Veliko Turnovo

Day 3: Gabrovo - Etara - Veliko Turnovo

Stop At: Open Air Ethnographic Museum ETAR, Gabrovo 5309 Bulgaria
Transfer to Gabrovo and visit to Etara Architectural-Ethnographic Complex. It is a unique open-air museum that presents the Bulgarian customs, culture and craftsmanship. You will take a sightseeing tour of Etara – you will see some typical Bulgarian revival houses, a clock tower, and a beautifully decorated house by Saakov featuring 21 windows. You will also visit workshops of Bulgarian craftsmen – cutlers, wood-carvers, fur-dressers, confectioners.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in Veliko Turnovo

Day 4: Arbanassi - Tryavna

Stop At: Arbanasi, Arbanasi, Veliko Tarnovo Province
Transfer to the village of Arbanassi, known for its rich history and large number of historical monuments, such as 17th and 18th century churches and examples of Bulgarian National Revival architecture. Visit to the Nativity church, the five chambers in Arbanasi's oldest surviving church are covered in kaleidoscopic frescoes (dating between 1632 and 1649). After visit to local house originally built in the 17th century, has been beautifully restored in National Revival style.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Arbanasi, Bulgaria
Before lunch - Bulgarian yogurt making and banitza making demonstration by locals. While having lunch the banitza (Bulgarian pastry) will bake and for desert you will have your handmade dish.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Tryavna, Tryavna, Gabrovo Province
After lunch, transfer to Town of Tryavna, a cultural and craft centre during the Bulgarian Revival Period (18th-19th centuries). Sightseeing of the town, including afternoon local style sand coffee.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in Tryavna

Day 5: Tryavna - Rose Valley - Plovdiv

Stop At: Shipka, Shipka, Stara Zagora Province
Following breakfast transfer to Kazanlak. On the way, stop at the gold-domed Shipka Memorial church.
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Museum of Roses, Voynishka Str. 1 Rosarium Park, Kazanlak 6100 Bulgaria
Kazanlak - the capital of the world famous Bulgarian Rose Valley. You will pay a visit to the Rose Museum where you will be shown the original way Bulgarian Rose oil was produced.
Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak, General Radetski St. Parc Tubelto, Kazanlak 6100 Bulgaria
Also on the agenda is the Thracian Kazanlak Tomb dating back to the 4th century BC, under the protection of UNESCO as part of the World Heritage List.
Duration: 20 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in Plovdiv

Day 6: Plovdiv - Sofia

Stop At: Plovdiv Old Town, Plovdiv 4000 Bulgaria
After breakfast, city tour of the Old Town of Plovdiv - you will see well-preserved houses of the National Revival Period /18- 19 century/.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Plovdiv Roman Theatre, Plovdiv Old Town, Plovdiv 4000 Bulgaria
Visit the symbol of Plovdiv - the ancient Roman Amphitheatre.
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Ethnographic Museum, Ul. Doctor Stoyan Chomakov 2, Plovdiv 4000 Bulgaria
During your tour you will enter into the famous Ethnographic Museum.
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Bachkovo Monastery, 10km south of Asenovgrad on the main road between Assenovgrad and Smolyan, Bachkovo 4251 Bulgaria
Transfer to Bachkovo Monastery - an important monument of Christian architecture and one of the largest and oldest Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Europe. You will have the opportunity to see the Cathedral Church of the Virgin Mary (dating from 1604), home of the wonder- working icon of the Virgin Mary Eleusa from 1310.
Duration: 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: Todoroff Winery - enjoy a wine tasting of 3 local wines, followed by delicious lunch in the winery’s restaurant.
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in Sofia

Day 7: Sofia - Rila Monastery - Sofia

Stop At: Rila Monastery, Rila 2643 Bulgaria
Transfer and visit to the Rila Monastery, founded in the 10th century. It is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. The monastery complex houses a rich collection of icons, wall paintings, old-printed books – some 15 000 volumes, etc. The monastery became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. You will take a guided tour of the monastery complex. You will see the gold-plated iconostasis in the main church; the monastery museum, famous for housing Rafail’s Cross; the tower of Hrelyu and the residential part of the complex that consists of chambers, four chapels, an abbot's room and a kitchen (noted for its uncommonly large vessels).
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: Enjoy the local specialty for lunch - trout fish with typical garnish.
• Dinner: Enjoy your farewell dinner (with a twist) while tasting the signature Bulgarian drink - ice cold Rakia.
Accommodation included: Overnight in Sofia

Day 8: Sofia - departure

Pass By: Sofia, Sofia, Sofia Region
Free time until departure airport transfer.

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