Country
Bulgaria
Duration
15 Days/14 Nights
Travel Type
Escorted Tours
Remarkably hospitable, these two nations still largely rural and endearing, with well-established customs, conceal very diverse landscapes and each has an exceptional cultural heritage whose origins date back to the Thracians.
Inclusions
14-night accommodation at 3* and 4* hotels
40 meals: 14 breakfasts, 13 lunches, 13 dinners
Private car (for 2-3 passengers) or air-conditioned van, minibus or coach for all the above itinerary and program
English/French speaking guide throughout (bilingual guide) (for parties of 2-3 passengers the guide will also drive)
All entrance fees to museums, monasteries and sites included in the program
All Bulgarian and Romanian taxes
Exclusions
Flights – Photographing or filming fees at the visited sites – Optional excursions – Beverages – Porterage – Gratuities to hotel personnel, guides and drivers – Travel insurance – Visa (if needed)
Additional Information
English only or bilingual
These tours can be in English only or bilingual (English and French) depending of the number of participants per tour.
International Flights
We can also add international flights to your package or a stopover in an European city – Please ask your travel agent
1
DAY 1 SOFIA
Arrival in Sofia. Welcome at the airport and transfer to the city. Dominated by the wooded massif of Vitocha, planted in the heart of the chain of the Balkans, Sofia was, during its history, several times destroyed and rebuilt. It became the capital of Bulgaria after the liberation from the Ottoman yoke at the end of the 19th century. Dinner and overnight at the hotel*.
* Dinner on the day of arrival is according to flight’s arrival schedule.
* Dinner on the day of arrival is according to flight’s arrival schedule.
Meals : Dinner
Accommodation : Sofia for 2 nights
Hotel Budapest 3* or similar
2
DAY 2 SOFIA – RILA MONASTERY – SOFIA
Departure to the 10th century Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the largest and the most impressive Bulgarian monastery. Tour of the monastery complex, church and museum with its lavish collection of precious old manuscripts, icons, jewellery, masterpieces of woodcarving, ethnographic exhibition of fabrics and carpets. Back to Sofia.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation : Hotel Budapest 3* or similar
3
DAY 3 SOFIA – PLOVDIV
Sightseeing tour of Sofia, city with 7000 years of history, concentrating numerous cultural and historic monuments from different periods. Visit of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the St. George Rotunda from the 4th century, the St. Sofia Basilica, and the ruins of the ancient city Serdica. Continue to Plovdiv, the second largest Bulgarian city.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation : Plovdiv for 2 nights
Hotel Alafrangite 3* or similar
4
DAY 4 PLOVDIV - BACHKOVO MONASTERY - PLOVDIV
Plovdiv is one of the most ancient cities in Europe and in the world. Sightseeing of the old town of Plovdiv with National Revival architecture and excavations from Roman times. Visit of the ancient Roman theatre with impressive marble statues, decorative columns and arcades. Excursion to the Bachkovo Monastery, one of the richest galleries of traditional Bulgarian religious art with exquisite murals and medieval icons. Back to Plovdiv. Overnight in Plovdiv.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation : Hotel Alafrangite 3* or similar
5
DAY 5 PLOVDIV - KAZANLAK – TRYAVNA - VELIKO TARNOVO
Departure for Kazanlak, the capital of the famous Valley of Roses. Visit the Kazanlak Historical Museum to see the Thracian golden treasures. Continue with one of the UNESCO’s sites, the Thracian Tomb dating back from the 4th century B.C. Visit the replica of the Thracian Tomb. Departure to the town of Tryavna. Walking tour of Tryavna, where vaulted stone bridges, houses, churches and the square with a clock tower preserve the spirit and talent of the artists from Tryavna School of Art from the 17th century. Visit the Woodcarving Museum. Continue to Veliko Tarnovo.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation : Veliko Tarnovo for 2 nights
Hotel Allegro 3* or similar
6
DAY 6 VELIKO TARNOVO - ARBANASSI– VELIKO TARNOVO
Sightseeing tour of Veliko Tarnovo, including a walk on Samovodska Charshiya, traditional arts and crafts street and visit to Tsarevets hill, an impressive sight with medieval fortifications and dramatic architecture. Departure to the museum town of Arbanassi boasting a genuine gallery of religious art in its Church of Nativity. Visit Konstantsalieva house, fine example of 17th century house of a wealthy merchant.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation : Hotel Allegro 3* or similar
7
DAY 7 VELIKO TARNOVO - MADARA - SVESHTARI - RUSE
Departure to Madara. Visit the Madara Rider included in the UNESCO list of World Cultural Heritage. It is an unique relief carved into a 100m high cliff and represents a figure of a knight over a lion. Tour continues to Sveshtari to visit the Sveshtari Thracian Tomb, an UNESCO monument. The unique architectural décor of the tomb includes 10 female figures carved in the walls and painted murals, a remarkable example of the culture of the Thracian people. Arrival in Ruse and walking tour in the city center.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation : Ruse for 1 night
Hotel Dunav Plaza 4* or similar
8
DAY 8 RUSE - IVANOVO - BUCHAREST
Departure to Ivanovo. The Ivanovo medieval rock churches are unique monuments, UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. They consist of churches, chapels and monastic cells, hewn into the craggy gorge of the Roussenski Lom River. Visit of the main church. In the afternoon departure to Bucharest.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation : Bucharest for 1 night
Hotel Minerva 4* or similar
9
DAY 9 BUCHAREST - CURTEA DE ARGES - SIBIU
In the morning panoramic sightseeing tour of Bucharest, then departure to Curtea de Arges, former capital of Wallachia. Visit the Episcopal Church where the Romanian Kings are buried. Drive along the picturesque Olt Valley to Sibiu (on the way stop and visit Cozia Monastery, built by Mircea the Elder, Vlad Dracul’s grandfather), one of the oldest towns in Transylvania, formerly Hermannstadt, founded by the Saxon colonists. Guided walking tour of the medieval town (the Main Square, the Evangelical Church, and the Liars’ Bridge).
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation : Sibiu for 1 night
Hotel Ibis 3* or similar
10
DAY 10 SIBIU - BIERTAN - SIGHISOARA
Morning drive to the heart of Transylvania to visit the secret retreat for the royalties of Europe. The Saxon villages display a remarkable, unspoilt harmony between people and landscape. Drive to Biertan to visit the impressive fortified church, an UNESCO world heritage. Drive on to Sighisoara, birthplace of Vlad the Impaler (Dracula). Walking tour in the medieval citadel (the Upper Town to admire the Clock Tower, the Church on the Hill and more).
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation : Sighisoara for 1 night
Hotel Sighisoara 3* or similar
11
DAY 11 SIGHISOARA - SUCEVITA
After breakfast, continue to Târgu Mures to visit the elegant city centre, well known for its architecture. Drive on to Bistrita, one of the 7 main medieval towns of Siebenbürgen (the German name for Transylvania). Continuation through Tihuta Pass.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation : Sucevita for 1 night
Best Western Bucovina 4* or similar
12
DAY 12 SUCEVITA - MONASTERIES - PIATRA NEAMT
Full day in Bucovina, land of the unique painted monasteries belonging to the UNESCO World Heritage. Visit the Moldovita and Sucevita monasteries with outside frescoes. Then visit the famous monastery of Voronet, the Sistine Chapel of the Orient. Late afternoon drive south to visit the Agapia monastery.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation : Piatra Neamt for 1 night
Grand Hotel Ceahlau 3* or similar
13
DAY 13 PIATRA NEAMT – POIANA BRASOV
Departure across the mountains to Brasov through the spectacular Bicaz Gorges, the Red Lake, Miercurea Ciuc. Visit the beautiful fortified church of Prejmer. Panoramic sightseeing tour and guided walking tour in the historical centre of Brasov (formerly Kronstadt). Founded by the Teutonic knights in 1211 on an ancient Dacian site and settled by the Saxons as one of the seven walled citadels, Brasov exudes a distinct medieval ambiance and has been used as backdrop in many recent period films. Late afternoon arrival in Poiana Brasov.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation : Poiana Brasov for 1 night
Hotel Escalade 4* or similar
14
DAY 14 BRASOV - BRAN - SINAIA - BUCHAREST
Drive on to Bran to visit the famous medieval castle built as a fortress - The Dracula’s Castle, for the citizens of Brasov with view to defence the city. We head to Sinaia following the scenic Prahova Valley. Arrival in Sinaia, called Pearl of the Carpathians due to the beauty of its natural setting and the elegance of its architecture. Visit the summer residence of the first royal couple, King Carol I and Queen Elisabeth, Peles Castle, one of the most beautiful palaces in Europe. Late afternoon drive to Bucharest. Upon arrival visit the outdoor Village Museum. Walking tour in the old city centre and dinner in the most famous restaurant in Bucharest.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation : Bucharest for 1 night
Hotel Minerva 4* or similar
15
DAY 15 BUCHAREST
In the morning free time in central Bucharest for visits and shopping (according to the flight schedule) and transfer to the airport.
Meals : Breakfast
| Prices per person, in CAD$, starting from, Double Occupancy |
|
| Departure dates from SOFIA | LAND ONLY |
|
May 8 |
2999 |
|
July 3 |
3099 |
|
Sept 11 |
2999 |
| Supplements | |
| Single Room | +50 |
Please contact your travel agent for more information or promotions!
**Prices in this document are for information only; they were issued at press time, for the current year. Please note that due to exchange rates and temporary promotions, they can increase or decrease at any time. Contact your travel agent for the price and promotion of the moment The prices indicated exclude the contribution to the Customer Compensation Fund of $3.50 per $1,000 of tourism product or service purchased from a travel agent in Quebec
