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8 Days Bulgaria Tour Package
With a turbulent history that stretches back to the 7th century, a diverse topography of great beauty and an ever-welcoming people who are still in the process of trying to adapt to a capitalist framework, Bulgaria is a land of intriguing contrasts that proves a highly rewarding tour destination. We travel across the Plain of Thrace to meander through the Old Quarter, visit the Roman amphitheatre and see typical 19th century Bulgarian architecture in the streets of Plovdiv and take to the countryside through the world-famous Valley of the Roses, where a mind-boggling 70 per cent of the world’s rose extract is produced. Thracian tombs, domed churches, fortress walls and Czar castles are just a few of the ancient sites that we’ll be exploring en route to the highly revered, 1000-year-old Rila Monastery, wherein we find stunning frescos, and then it’s on to the capital, Sophia, to finish our tour in style. Tour Itinerary Day 1 Arrive in Sofia Arrive in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. A NOTE ON SUITABILITY: Though we do not rate this tour "strenuous", it is a busy programme with numerous city / town walking tours featuring uneven surfaces, inclines and / or stairs. You must be able to spend several hours on your feet per day, walking at a leisurely pace. There may not be porters available in all locations. If you are unsure of your suitability for this trip, please contact one of our destination specialists. Overnight in Sofia. Hotel Rodina or similar. Dinner if required. Day 2 Sofia - Plovdiv Today we travel (private coach) to the ancient city of Plovdiv, situated in the Plain of Thrace. Plovdiv was formerly known as Pulpudeva until Philip II of Macedon's weary horse collapsed under him here at the edge of the Thracian plain in AD 342. Since that was surely an omen, he built Philippolis on the site in the horse's honour. Later the Romans renamed it Trimontium -- the City on Three Hills. For five centuries, under Turkish rule when it was known as Philibe, it suffered much devastation. Today it is a city of great charm, with legacies of a hectic past. Plovdiv has a lovely "stariyat grad," or old town, with Turkish influences and a charming character. Our tour includes the Old Quarter, the Ethnographical Museum, and the Roman Amphitheatre. Within Trimontium, the historic heart of Plovdiv, typical 19th century Bulgarian homes line the streets. Overnight in Plovdiv. Breakfast and dinner. Day 3 Plovdiv - Valley of the Roses - Veliko Turnovo This morning we depart Plovdiv by private coach for the world famous Valley of the Roses. In this valley, 70 percent of the world's "attar", or extract from roses, is produced. Nimble- fingered women and girls do most of the picking, while donkeys are used to carry the petals away. In the town of Kazanlak we visit the Thracian Tomb (fourth and third centuries BC). The Thracians are regarded as the original Bulgarians, a people closely linked with the ancient Greeks. Before our climb over the Shipka Pass we will visit the Shipka Memorial Church. The golden Domes of this Russian-style church rise out of the hillside. After crossing the spectacular Shipka with its majestic vistas and momentous history we visit the open-air Ethnographical Museum of Etura, a recreation of a typical 19th century village. After a tour of the museum we continue on to Veliko Turnovo, once the capital of Bulgaria (1185-1396) and still showing the remains of its past glory -- fortress walls and palaces perched among the steep cliffs of the Yantra Gorge. Clinging to the crags that rise above the River Yantra, this capital of the second Bulgarian Kingdom of the Middle Ages is one of the country's most picturesque sites. It rises on three main hills: fortified Tsarevets; Trapezitsa, where boyars lived; and Sveta Gora, then the centre of a scholarly monastery, now a university site. Overnight in Veliko Turnovo. Breakfast and dinner. Day 4 Veliko Turnovo: Town Tour Today we have a tour of this town laced with history. We will admire the breathtaking views of this picturesque region during our tour of the Tsarevets Citadel (Castle of the Czar). This commanding position was first fortified in the 6th century and had become the royal centre of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom by the end of the 12th century. A short drive away is the hilltop village of Arbanassi, first settled by Albanian immigrants in the 15th century. We will have the opportunity to visit several of the houses in the region dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries. Balance of the day at leisure. Overnight in Veliko Turnovo. Breakfast and dinner. Day 5 Veliko Turnovo - Sofia Today we travel to Sofia (private coach) via the beautiful Danube Plain. En-route we will cross over the Troyan Pass and visit the nearby Troyan Monastery, Bulgaria's third largest. After a lunch break we will continue on the well-preserved 'museum-town' of Koprivshtitsa. It was here that the revolt against the Ottoman occupation began in 1876. A visit here gives us an insight as to how Bulgarians lived a century ago. Our WALK throughout the enchanting town will bring us to many unique houses with wooden columns, painted facades, richly decorated interiors, and lovely gardens. Overnight in Sofia. Breakfast and dinner. Day 6 Sofia - Rila Monastery - Sofia This morning we depart via private coach for the 10th century Rila Monastery, 121 km (75 miles) south of Sofia at the end of a winding road through high rock walls with formations like giant animals waiting to pounce. This most-revered of all Bulgarian monasteries lies nestled in a soft, green wood. Mountains rise all around it; below it the Rilska River races over a stony bed. In the 9th century, twenty-year old Ivan Rilski (John of Rila) fled to this peaceful place seeking escape from the sordidness of the world. Finding a cave in the woods above this present monastery site, he took up the hermit life. Here he fed the animals and the birds and prayed in the stillness to God. In time, like-minded men joined him and they built the first monastery here about a 2.4 km (1.5 mile) from the present site, where, today, you will find his tomb, the little Church of St. Luke, and the cave he inhabited. In the past, pilgrims were not deemed sinless enough to enter the monastery. The Rila Monastery is one of Europe's largest monasteries, located in some of Bulgaria's most beautiful terrain. Sightseeing of the monastery features the unsurpassed frescoes of the Church of the Blessed Virgin. Monks still practice within this five-domed treasure. Also contained within the exquisite fortress-like walls of the monastery is the Historical Museum featuring a collection of objects connected with the monastery's thousand-year history. After lunch we will return to Sofia. Overnight in Sofia. Breakfast and dinner. Day 7 Sofia: City Tour Today we have a sightseeing WALKING / bus tour of Sofia. We feature the Alexander Nevski golden-domed cathedral, the precious icon collection, and 4th century Saint George's Church and the Treasures of the National Museum of History, which is home to the world's oldest gold (4600-4200 BC). In this vast museum we will find important relics from every major site across Bulgaria. The remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure. This evening the tour group may have the chance to attend a folkloric performance at a local restaurant in the capital. Overnight in Sofia. Breakfast and dinner. Day 8 Departure Departure from Sofia. Breakfast. PRIJATNO PATUVANE!!
Save time, money and stress! For reservations: Fill out the vacation planner to be contacted by our Bulgaria vacation specialist. Contact: Travelwizard.com Phone: 1-800-330-8820 or 1-415-446-5252 10/10 |
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