Bulgaria Highlights

Welcome to Sofia, the vibrant capital of Bulgaria! Upon your arrival at the airport, you'll be transferred to your hotel. In the evening, you'll enjoy a delightful dinner in a restaurant located in Sofia's Old Town, where you'll meet your tour guide and fellow travelers. Overnight stay in Sofia.

Today, we'll explore Sofia's iconic landmarks including the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the Rotunda of St. George. We'll also visit the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Serdika. Our journey then takes us to the Rila Monastery and Rozhen Monastery, both significant spiritual and cultural sites. The day concludes with a relaxing dinner at our family-run hotel in Melnik.

We start the day in Melnik, the smallest town in Bulgaria, and visit the historic Kordopulov House. Here, we'll enjoy a taste of Bulgarian wine. We then head to Bansko for a picturesque train ride through the mountains. Our day ends in Plovdiv, the European Capital of Culture 2019, where we'll spend the next two nights.

Our day begins in Plovdiv, one of Europe's oldest settlements. We'll explore the Roman Theater, the Old Town, and the Artisan quarter 'Kapana'. We'll also visit the Batschkovo Monastery, the second largest in Bulgaria. On our way back, we'll stop at a local market for a taste of grilled specialties. In the village of Ustina, we'll sample wines from the 'Thracian Plain'. The evening is yours to enjoy in the old town of Plovdiv.

Today, we journey to the coast, stopping at Tarnicheni to visit the country's oldest rose distillery. We then continue to Kazanlak, the valley of the Thracian kings, to visit the replica of the Thracian tomb. The afternoon is dedicated to the Black Sea coast where we'll explore the old town of Nessebar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We'll enjoy fresh fish from the Black Sea at a family-run harbor restaurant. Depending on the date, we may continue to Burgas for a local cuisine experience. Overnight stay in Nessebar or Burgas.

We start our day with a drive towards Varna, stopping en route to enjoy a panoramic view of the city. In Varna, we'll visit the Archaeological Museum, home to the world's oldest gold treasure. The rest of the day is yours to relax on the beach or explore the lively pedestrian zone. Overnight stay in Varna.

Today, we'll visit the mystical Cape Kaliakra, known for its towering red limestone cliffs. In Baltchik, we'll explore the summer palace and botanical garden of the former Queen Mary, offering stunning views of the sea. Our day concludes in Russe, one of the most beautiful cities in Bulgaria, where we'll spend the night.

We start the day with a short city tour in Russe before heading to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the rock churches of Ivanovo. We then proceed to Veliko Tarnovo, a city known for its unique location on the slopes of the Yantra River. Here, we'll explore the Tsarevets Fortress and the famous Samovodska Charshia, the city's most visited street. Overnight stay in Veliko Tarnovo.

Our day begins with a visit to the Church of the Nativity of Christ in Arbanassi, known for its well-preserved frescoes. We then stop in Golyam Izwor for an authentic insight into Bulgarian village life, including a visit to a 19th-century cell school and a barbecue picnic. Before arriving in Sofia, we'll visit the Boyana Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its late Byzantine art. Our last evening concludes with a farewell dinner featuring a folklore program and Nestinari fire dances. Overnight stay in Sofia.

After an eventful journey through Bulgaria, it's time to bid farewell. You'll be transferred to the airport for your flight back home.