AUTHENTIC BULGARIA

Day 1 – Sofia

Arrival to Sofia. Accommodation at the selected hotel. Overnight.

Day 2 – Sofia & surroundings – UNESCO listed Boiana Church

After breakfast – a panoramic tour around the Bulgarian capital – an 8500 old city called “My Rome” by the emperor Constantine The Great. Visit the most fascinating places of interest: the forum of Ancient Serdica (the old name of the city) with the newest archaeological discoveries from Roman times, which are exhibited next to the Bulgarian presidency.

Next is the St. Nedelya square, where 4 worship buildings of the main religions in Bulgaria are located next to each other. These are the Orthodox church St. Nedelya, the Catholic church, the Synagogue and the Mosque. They form a quadrangle, symbolizing the peace between different religions in Bulgaria.

Our tour continues with the “Alexander I” square where the Royal Palace and the National Theatre are located, “Tzar Osvoboditel” boulevard, the Parliament, the Church of ”St. Sofia” (the name means wisdom), which gave the name of the city, the Sofia University and the “Alexander Nevski” cathedral (one of the biggest Orthodox church on the Balkan peninsula).

Next, we will visit the most remarkable object on the outskirts of Sofia, at the foothills of Vitosha Mountain. The Boyana Church – a medieval Bulgarian Orthodox church situated in the Boyana district, near Sofia. The monument is included in UNESCO World Heritage List. The church is one of the most completely and perfectly preserved monuments of East-European medieval art. The frescoes in the church, painted in 1259, make it one of the most important collections of medieval paintings and are initiating the beginning of the European Renaissance.

In the afternoon – free time to explore Sofia on your own. Walk along the pedestrian Vitosha Boulevard. This is the place in Sofia, where you can feel the spirit and life of the city. There are a lot of boutiques, shops, cosy cafes and restaurants.

Optional: Dinner in a typical Bulgarian folk-style restaurant: excellent cuisine, great selection of wines and folklore show.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3 – Sofia – Arbanassi – Veliko Tarnovo

After breakfast – departure to Arbanassi village. The place is famous for its ancient, richly decorated churches and magnificent architecture. It used to be a residence of the Bulgarian kings. Lunch at a local ethnographical complex, where hosts will cook delicious, homemade meals for you.

Optional: cooking lesson and lunch in a local house where the hostess will greed you and help you prepare traditional Bulgarian meal, followed by homemade lunch

In the afternoon you will see the old capital of Bulgaria – Veliko Tarnovo. Visit to the historical Tsarevets hill with the Fortress, the Patriarchal church, Emperor Baldwin’s Tower and the Wax Silicone figures museum. Walk along the old Trade Street – “Samovodska charshia”, where you will have the opportunity to buy handmade souvenirs.

Accommodation and overnight at the selected hotel.

Day 4 – Veliko Tarnovo – Etara – Kazanlak – Rose Valley – Plovdiv

After breakfast – depart to Etara – a unique open-air museum that reproduces the way of life and occupation of the local people in the 19 ^th century. It is a great attraction for tourists, one of the most visited places in the country.

Set off to Kazanlak - the capital of the Rose valley and Thracian Kings.

The road to Kazanlak passes by Stoletov peak and the Shipka monument. It is a memorial to those who died for the Liberation of Bulgaria during the Battles of Shipka Pass in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78. You will learn more about the crucial battles held at this place, which changed the course of the war and led afterwards to the final victory of the Russo-Bulgarian army against the Ottoman Empire. From the monument's top (over 1100 m above sea level) you can enjoy a wonderful view of North and South Bulgaria.

A city tour of Kazanlak follows. Visit one of the famous Thracian Tombs in Kazanlak, dating back to the 4 ^th c. B.C. It is listed in the world natural and historical heritage of UNESCO.

Departure to a small village where we will visit a family-run rose oil distillery operating since the beginning of the previous century. The hosts will show how the famous Bulgarian rose oil (used in perfumery) is produced.

In the late afternoon, we will reach Plovdiv, the “City of the seven hills’’. Plovdiv is the oldest city in Europe still in existence today. It was called Philippopolis in the IV century B.C. in honour of King Philip II of Macedonia. Today Plovdiv is a cultural centre of Bulgaria and selected as the European Capital of Culture for 2019.

Accommodation and overnight at the selected hotel in Plovdiv.

Day 5 – Plovdiv – Kostandovo carpets factory – Rhodopes mountain train trip – Leshten village

After breakfast – a walking tour of the Old Town of Plovdiv impressive with the houses-museums of the Revival period like the Ancient Theater , the Fortress walls, the oldest church in the city – “ St. Constantine and St. Helena”, etc. We will visit the Bishop’s Basilica of Philipopolis with its impressive mosaics from Roman times – a real masterpiece from the Late Antique art, the Muslim temple Dzhoumaya Mosque and the Roman Stadium on the main street of Plovdiv.

After the sightseeing tour of Plovdiv, we will head to the Rhodope Mountains to visit a unique carpet factory , producing giant carpets of more than 100 m2. The clients of this small family-run factory are world celebrities as Mick Jagger, along with the British Royal family and huge property owners from North America and Europe.

An attractive train trip in the mountain follows. The train is moving on narrow (70 cm) railway lines. You will pass through places, offering unique views of the Rhodopes Mountains.

Note: according to the actual timetable of the train at the moment of travelling, the program of this day could have some changes.

After that - take off for the "Bulgarian Hollywood" - a real "El Dorado" for the fans of the photo safari. These are the villages of Kovachevitsa and Leshten. Here were some of the best Bulgarian historical movies, which were awarded high international prizes. The houses in Leshten are fully equipped inside. Accommodation, dinner and overnight in the unique atmosphere of the ancient houses of Leshten village - architectural reserves, where old houses from the beginning of the 19th c. are preserved.

Day 6 – Leshten village – Wine tasting – Melnik – Sandanski

After breakfast – you can enjoy your morning coffee in the exceptionally calm atmosphere of Leshten village.

Travelling through the picturesque southern parts of Pirin Mountain to reach the most famous wine-growing region in Bulgaria – the region of Struma River valley. Wine tasting in a famous winery this area.

Then we descend to Melnik – the town of the sand pyramids and the smallest one in Bulgaria (once there lived some 18 000 people, and nowadays there are no more than 700-800 inhabitants). This is a unique unforgettable place. Visit of Kordopulova house museum , which is the biggest house from the time of the Bulgarian National Revival, owned by a wealthy local merchant.

Lunch in Melnik.

Arrival in Sandanski – is one of the biggest SPA resorts in the country. The mountain air and the mineral water are also very good for the health - the town is on the outskirts of Pirin – the second highest mountain in Bulgaria. The mountain has about 100 peaks at an altitude of more than 2000 m and is a UNESCO-protected site! Sandanski is also the birthplace of the famous in ancient times Spartacus. Accommodation and overnight in Sandanski.

Free time to enjoy the SPA facilities of the hotel or long along the city’s park and Pedestrian Street. Overnight.

Day 7 – Sandanski – Rila Monastery – Sofia

Breakfast. Departure to Rila Monastery (X c.)- the biggest Bulgarian spiritual centre since the Middle Ages, included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. It’s located in a picturesque mountain area. The Rila Monastery has a rich collection of icons and wall paintings. Its museum keeps a real treasure: a wooden cross of just 81 cm in length, carved with 104 religious scenes and 650 figures.

Visit the monastery and have lunch at the nearby restaurant, famous for its dishes of mountain trout.

In the afternoon - return to Sofia.

Day 8 (B)

After breakfast – free time. Transfer to the airport and flight back home.