Picturesque Bulgaria tour
Summery:
This tour will show you the sentimental Bulgaria, the nature and the small villages, carrying the spirit of picturesque Bulgaria. Beautiful scenery, hospitable villages with architecture of 16th century, globally significant sights. See Bulgarian history in one fantastic tour.
You will visit the villages – Leshten, Kovachevitsa, Melnik, Shiroka Laka, Trigrad, Koprivshtitsa, Bozhentsi, Arbanasi, Ethnographic complex Etara, Tryavna, Bachkovo Monastery, the old Bulgarian capital Veliko Tarnovo, the fascinating Plovdiv, Thracian heritage in Kazanlak, Kings’ Valley and Starosel.
For sure you will have enough time to explore the biggest Bulgarian city Sofia.
You will have the unique feeling of sleeping in typical Bulgarian house from 16th century, of course with all contemporary amenities.
The tour duration is 8 days and 7 nights.
2016 – Fixed starting dates:
|
April |
May |
June |
July |
August |
September |
October |
|
12 26 |
10 24 |
7 21 |
5 19 |
2 16 30 |
13 27 |
11 25 |
Prices:
-
Person in DBL / TRPL – 580 euro
-
Person in SNGL – 690 euro
-
Child 2 – 11.99 y.o. – 290 euro (in room with minimum 2 full paying)
-
Infant 0 – 1.99 y.o. – FREE
* Valid for minimum 2 tourists
Included in the prices:
-
7 BB in high quality 3* centrally located hotels in Sofia, Leshten or Kovachevitsa, Plovdiv, Koprivshtitsa, Veliko Tarnovo
-
2 Urban Adventures tours in Sofia with visiting all main sights in Sofia
-
Tasting of typical Bulgarian food (banitsa, baklava, shopska salad, meze) and beverages (ayran, boza, wine) during Urban Adventures tours
-
Tours of Leshten, Kovachevitsa, Melnik, Shiroka Laka, Trigrad, Koprivshtitsa, Bozhentsi, Tryavna, Arbanasi, Ethnographic complex Etara, Bachkovo Monastery, the old Bulgarian capital Veliko Tarnovo, the fascinating Plovdiv, Thracian heritage in Kazanlak, Kings’ Valley and Starosel
-
English speaking guide
-
All entrances in the sites visited during the tour
-
Arrival and departure transfer
-
Seat in modern vehicle – car, mini-van or mini-bus
Supplements – optional:
-
Lunch – 8 euro per 3 course meal in local restaurant, without beverages
-
Dinner – 11 euro per 3 course meal in the hotel, without beverages
-
Accommodation in 4* and 5* – upon request
Additional nights in Sofia, per person, per night:
-
Hotels 3* – DBL / TRPL – 20 euro / SNGL – 30 euro
-
Hotels 4* / 5* – DBL / TRPL – 45 euro / SNGL – 70 euro
Optional excursions:
-
Full day tour to Boyana church (UNESCO), National Historical Museum, Rila Monastery (UNESCO) – 50 euro
-
Folklore night with dinner in Sofia – 40 euro
-
Wine tasting in Plovdiv area, Brestovitsa – 20 euro
-
Wine tasting in Veliko Tarnovo area, Lyaskovets – 20 euro
Notes:
All dates of departure above are guaranteed.
Zelanos tours guarantees highest quality of the tour.
Picturesque Bulgaria tour
Itinerary
|
Day-1 Arrival at Sofia airport. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Sofia. |
|
Day-2 Driving duration: 4 hours, 270 km  Kovachevitsa village We start the tour from the South-West part of Bulgaria, where we will visit the smallest Bulgarian town Melnik, once it was the centre of the region and the villages Leshten and Kovachevitsa, with spirit and architecture from 16th century. Tonight we will sleep in authentic old times Bulgarian house. Overnight in Kovachevitsa or Leshten. The first written evidences for the Melnik Fortress refer to the beginning of the 11th century. The first settlers on the territory of contemporary Melnik were the Thracians, and more particularly the Thracian tribe Maedi, of which the legendary rebel Spartacus originated. A few centuries later the Romans lived on this ground. This proves the ancient Roman bridge, which is still preserved in the town of Melnik. The village of Kovachevita is an appropriate destination for the admirers of country tourism and relaxation. Besides having the option to walk along the narrow cobblestone streets, and stay in a typical Kovachevitsa house, tourists can taste traditional Bulgarian dishes and enjoy the tranquility of the Rhodopa mountain. The village of Leshten attracts tourists with its authentic look and the old houses, preserved since the Bulgarian Revival (18th – 19th century). |
|
Day-3 Driving duration: 4 hours, 230 km Today we continue through Rhodopi Mountain, surrounded by beautiful scenery and fantastic nature. We will enjoy well preserved village Shiroka Laka, famous with its school for folklore music and dances. We will visit the second biggest monastery in Bulgaria Bachkovo Monastery, built in 11th century. The day ends in Plovdiv. Overnight in Plovdiv.  Shiroka Laka Shiroka laka was founded in the 17th century and has now become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Bulgaria. The village has preserved its architecture from the Bulgarian Revival Period, its musical culture, beautiful landscapes, and rich history. Bachkovo Monastery – the second largest monastery in Bulgaria which dates from the middle ages. The monastery was founded in 1083 by the Georgian Gregoriy Bakuriani, who donated the land. For a long time the monastery was Georgian. |
|
Day-4 Driving duration: 2 hours, 120 km Today we will enjoy the most beautiful Bulgarian towns – Plovdiv and Koprivshtitsa. Overnight in Koprivshtitsa. Plovidv is considered as one of the oldest cities in Europe. Here you will see remains for the Thraci fortress (5th century BC) and well preserved remains from Roman times to our days.  Roman Amphitheatre, Plovdiv The Old Town is a marvelous site, with picturesque churches, the mosque and many houses with architecture, specific atmosphere and the spirit of Bulgarian Revival period. Your guide will show you the fabulous remains from Ancient Roman Empire – Roman Stadium, Roman Forum, Amphitheater. Koprivshtitsa is announced for National Town-Museum. The architecture in Koprivshtitsa reflects the historical development growth of Bulgarian traditional architecture that can still be observed in its various forms at present. |
|
Day-5 Driving duration: 3,5 hours, 180 km Starting early in the morning, we will have enough time to visit the Thracian Tomb in Kazanlak (UNESCO heritage site), Ethnographic Complex “Etar”, Bozhentsi, Tryavna – where still lives the authentiq spirit of medieval Bulgaria.  Ethnographic Complex Etar, Gabrovo Overnight in Veliko Tarnovo. The Architectural And Ethnographic Complex Etar is situated on the outskirts of the town of Gabrovo. It is an open air museum. The Architectural and Ethnographic Complex Etar was established in 1964 and was declared an architectural and ethnographic monument of national significance. The museum contains a total of 50 sites – houses with craft workshops, water installations and other buildings. The only collection in Bulgaria of technical installations driven by water – filling mills, water mills, grindstones, etc., are situated there. 16 houses can be seen on the crafts bazaar (the central commercial street) in the Etar, which are exact copies of buildings existing in the past in Gabrovo and the region. On the crafts street the visitors can watch in real time the work of the craftsmen. Multiple crafts are presented – bell-making (manufacturing of wrought bells for animals), pottery-making, sugar-making (manufacturing of sugar articles), furriery, manufacturing of copper vessels, etc. Bozhentsi – a pretty village in the area of Gabrovo, is one of the most beautiful architectural reserves in Bulgaria. There are a lot of museums there and the atmosphere is unforgettable – history and nature. Tryavna still keeps the spirit of this period even today. The Clock Tower – one of the symbols of Tryavna, stands in the centre of the town. It was built in 1814 and is 21 m high. The tower was declared an architectural-construction monument of culture of national importance |
|
Day-6 Driving duration: 3,5 hours, 290 km  Veliko Tarnovo We have half day tour in the ancient Bulgarian capital Veliko Tarnovo, with the well preserved fortress Tsarevets and the picturesque village Arbanasi. Overnight in Sofia. Veliko Tarnovo is one of the oldest towns in the country, as its history dates back to more than five thousand years ago, which is proven by archaeological excavations. The upsurge of Veliko Tarnovo is related to the period of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185 – 1393). In 1185 the town was declared a capital of the restored Bulgarian State by the brothers Asen and Petar, who declared the end of the Byzantine dominion, which continued for 167 years. After its selection to be a capital, the town developed fast, as within the period 12th – 14th century it was the most unconquerable Bulgarian fortress, as well as a cultural and intellectual center of Bulgaria. The village of Arbanasi is located on a high plateau 4 km from the city of Veliko Tarnovo. It is known that the village existed during the time of the Second Bulgarian State (1185 – 1393). At that time the Bolyari living in the capital Tarnovo used it as a summer residence. According to legend, the Tsar of Tarnovo minted coins here. |
|
Day-7  Sofia, National Theater We have full day dedicated to the Bulgarian capital – 2 walking Urban Adventures (sofiaurbanadventures.com) tours in the program – in the morning and in the afternoon. We will see all major sights of Sofia and during the tours we have 4 stops for tasting typical Bulgarian food (banitsa, baklava, shopska salad, meze) and beverages (ayran, boza, wine). Overnight in Sofia. |
|
Day-8 Transfer to the airport. Departure.  Rila Monastery, Bulgaria *It is great idea to add one more day, with Rila Monastery (UNESCO heritage site) tour for 70 euro. |