Highlights of Bulgaria
Balkans
Bulgaria is a Balkan nation with diverse terrain encompassing the Black Sea coastline, rivers, and a mountainous interior. A cultural melting pot with Greek, Slavic, Ottoman and Persian influences, it has a rich heritage of traditional dance, music, costumes and crafts. Bulgaria rewards exploration: with its vibrant modern cities, long sandy beaches, remote villages and wild, wooded mountain ranges, our eight day action packed itinerary allows you to discover the enchanting delights of this extraordinarily beautiful region of the Balkans.
Itinerary
Arrive in Sofia, Bulgaria’s diverse capital city and uncover its 3,000 year history on a sightseeing tour including the Church of Sveta Nedelya and the Bulevard Vitosha – the city’s shopping district and a real highlight, the magnificent Aleksandar Nevski Cathedral. Sofia is also home to natural springs where locals collect their daily supply of drinking water and the city is still excavating its Roman ruins. Overnight Sofia.
Today’s excursion takes you south to Rila Monastery – Bulgaria’s largest and perhaps most impressive. Set in a wonderful location deep in the Rila Mountains, this beautifully maintained fortress like settlement was founded in 927 AD by a hermit monk and houses a museum dedicated to the monk’s craftsmanship as well as incredible frescoes and artefacts. Return to Sofia in good time for your evening meal. Overnight Sofia
Leave Sofia this morning and head towards Veliko Tarnovo, stopping at neighbouring Arbanasi village where traditional houses showcase the country’s national revival architecture and the Nativity Church. Concealed as a house to evade the Ottoman occupiers it has an interior covered from floor to ceiling in frescoes depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments. Dine in a local house this evening and enjoy homemade Bulgarian dishes. Overnight Veliko Tarnovo
The dramatic medieval fortifications of Veliko Tarnovo are revealed on a tour this morning with views over the Yantra River and a stop in the old town where souvenir hunting amongst its cobbled streets and antique houses is a pleasure. In the valley of the Rusenski Lom River is the UNESCO-listed Ivanovo, where churches, chapels and monasteries carved in the solid rock have been inhabited by monks since the 12th century. Continue to the UNESCO-listed Madara Horseman, a medieval rock relief carved into a plateau depicting a warrior on horseback, the origins of which are a source of debate, and on to the Black Sea coast at Varna. Take a look at what is reputedly the oldest gold treasure in the world at the archaeological museum as well as exploring Bulgaria’s largest coastal city on a walking tour before proceeding to the ancient city of Nessebar on Bulgaria’s Black Sea Coast. Overnight Nessebar
Nessebar is a beautiful resort with well-kept beaches and its main attraction is the old town, dating back to the 6th Century BC making it one of the oldest settlements in Europe. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site offering an enthralling archaeological museum and a host of medieval churches to explore. After the tour relax and explore more of the resort and perhaps take a swim in the Black Sea. Overnight Nessebar.
Head to Kasanlak, the site of a UNESCO-listed Thracian tomb which dates back to the 4th century BC and includes murals depicting the Hellenistic period. Bulgaria is the world’s number one producer of rose oil and you’ll visit a distillery to learn the process of extracting this ‘liquid gold’ which is exported around the globe. Reach historic Plovdiv where a delicious dinner and folklore show can be enjoyed. Overnight Plovdiv
A sightseeing tour of Plovdiv, the oldest continuously-inhabited city in Europe, will show you the Roman amphitheatre which overlooks the city, the Ethnographic Museum and the compact historic centre where highlights include an Ottoman Mosque, St Marina church and Roman ruins. Bulgaria’s second city is also a great location for a spot of shopping amongst an array of fashionable shops. Overnight Plovdiv.
Continue back to Sofia for a private guided retro tram car ride around the city to round off your visit in style before transferring to the airport for your homeward flight.
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