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We offer authentic in-depth custom private travel services and small group cultural tours to Eastern and Central Europe, Asia, India, Africa and the Middle East.

Small Group & Custom Private Tours
for individuals, businesses and organizations.

Pre-Extension to Romania Group Tour
Or Join our Bulgaria Tour by Itself

Maximum Group Size: 8 People

Guaranteed Departures 2008*
April 17, April 30, May 9, 19, June 3, 16, 30, Aug 4
Sep 1, 15, 29, Oct 6, 13, 20
* dates of arrival in Sofia; June 3 tour includes Rose Festival

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival in Sofia, Met at airport and transfer to hotel. Overnight Sofia Princess Hotel, 4* (based on availability)

Day 2 Sofia
Morning walking city tour including the 4thc. St. George Rotunda, - a fine monument of Roman architecture, the St. Sophia early Christian basilica , 6th c., which gave the city its name, the Alexander Nevsky Memorial Cathedral with its golden domes, impressive interior, exquisite murals, icons and colorful mosaics.

Also visit the Spanish-Moresque style synagogue and jewish museum as well as the memorial commemorating the "Saving of the Bulgarian Jews." The synagogue, the church Sveta Nedelya, and the only surviving active mosque in town - are all facing each other. Afternoon: Mountain Vitosha tour with visit of 13th century Boyana Church, included in the UNESCO List of World Heritage. Afterwards visit the National History Museum which houses an excellent collection of Bulgarian artifacts.

Afternoon: Mountain Vitosha tour with visit of 13th century Boyana Church, included in the UNESCO List of World Heritage. Afterwards visit the National History Museum which houses an excellent collection of Bulgarian artifacts.

Folklore-style dinner in a tavern with live music/dance program and wine. Overnight Sofia Princess Hotel or Maria Luisa., 4* (B,D)

Day 3 Rila Monastery-Rozhen Monastery-Melnick

Drive to 10th century Rila Monastery (2 hrs) Visit to the colorfully painted Rila Monastery, including the 14th century Hrelyo Tower, the five-domed Birth of the Blessed Virgin Church and the original monastery kitchens from the 19th century. The monastery also houses a rich museum collection of valuable old manuscripts and documents, charters and icons, an ethnographic exhibition of fabrics, jewelry, carpets and wrought iron objects, and a library containing more than 16 000 books. The monastery is also included in the UNESCO List of World Heritage. Four-Five monks still live here. Lunch at local restaurant.

Drive to 12-13th Rozhen Monastery (1.5 hr), with its Blessed Virgin Church, decorated with over 150 biblical scenes.

Afterwards, we drive about 30 minutes to the charming museum town of Melnik, surrounded by strangely shaped sandstone rocks. We visit St. Antonii Church and the Manolev's wine-cellar, dug into sandstone rocks on top of a hill above town, where several types of wines can been tasted and bought-sit outside for a fine view! Traditional dinner at Bolyarka Hotel. Overnight Bolyarka Hotel, 3* (B, L, D)

Day 4 Melnick-Bansko-Plodiv
Morning visit Kordopulova House, local historical museum and time to walk about town. The Kordopulov's house was built in 1758 and it is named after the wine merchant Manolis Kordopulov to whom it once belonged. The curious fact about the house is that it is supposed to be the biggest residential building on the Balkan Peninsula from the Revival Period. The pearl of the house is the reception room having twenty four windows with Venetian stained glass facing the four directions of the world. What also can be seen is fine wood carvings and drawn ornaments on cupboards and ceilings. Another notable thing about the Kordopulov's house is the enormous wine cellar equipped with special canals and ventilation. At present the house is a museum -open daily 8.00 am - 8.00 pm.

Photo:  Melnick, Kordopulva House

Drive to the museum town of Bansko (1.5 hrs) to experience Bulgarian culture and ancient architecture. We'll stroll the cobblestone streets and visit the Holy Trinity Church built in the 19th century and known for its interior wood carvings and murals painted by local artists. Lunch at The Molers, a traditional family owned restaurant.

Drive to Plovdiv (2.5 hr), famous for its Old Town with distinctive revival architecture popular among 18th-19th century merchants. Enroute visit Bachkovo Monastery rising amidst the green slopes of the Rhodopes Mountains. Founded in 1083 by Grigorii Bacuriani - military commander in the Byzantine Empire, it boasts a rich museum collection and library containing valuable manuscripts in a lovely setting. Overnight in Plovdiv at hotel Bulgaria or Hebros, 3* (Hebros is a small (only 6 rooms) and very charming hotel in the heart of Old Town; requires a bit of uphill walking on cobble stone path to get there--but well worth it!. We will select hotel based on availability and composition of people in group; small supplement applies.) Dinner at Hebros, they often have jazz in evenings. (B, L, D)

Day 5 Plodiv
Early Morning: those that wish, may attend Shabbat services at the synagogue and visit with the jewish community at Dor La Dor Club- a place for weekly meetings after Shabbat (time/availability permitting).

Morning city sightseeing includes the old town, the 2nd century Roman Theater, the St. Constantine and Helena Church, The Holy Virgin Church and others. A walk around the Three Hills is like travelling in time. Lunch in the garden of the traditional restaurant Puldih, built fromthe Roman fortified wall in Old Town. After lunch, we will visit workshops of local artisans to learn about Bulgarian crafts, especially pottery. Independent time to stroll the quaint town. In the evening there are often special events at the amphitheatre from late May though September-October. you may elect to attend such an event optional (extra fee) should there be one during your visit. (B, L)

Day 6 Koprivshtitsa-Valley of the Roses-Kazanlak-Shipka-Etar-Veliko Turnovo
Drive north (approx 1.5 hr) to visit the village Koprivshtitsa, known for its international folklore festival which occurs once every five years in August (next one in 2010).

Continue drive through the Valley of the Roses, across Balkan Range to Banya and Kazanlak (approx 1.5 hr).Sightseeing tour in Kazanlak includes: the Tracian Tomb, the Tyulbe (small Islamic mausoleum, 15th century), Museum of the Rose and Rose Oil . The Kazanlak Tomb is a Tracian Tomb from the late 4th - early 3rd century B.C. and is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The funeral objects and frescoes depicting hunting scenes and the funeral suggest that a Tracian king was probably buried here. The frescoes are the finest masterpiece of Tracian art discovered to date. The original tomb is housed in a special building, but there is a replica for tourists.

Continue on to Etar (30 min) in town of Gabrovo to visit the Ethnographic Open-air Village Museum (1/2 hr). Everything surrounding the visitor brings him/her back to the period of Bulgarian Revival with numerous workshops where even today the craftsman work, using the same instruments and techniques. You can talk to the craftsman, watch them work and can even try to make something yourself.

Drive onward to Veliko Turnovo (1 hr), the capital city of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (12-14th c.). Dinner at Hotel. (B, L, D)

Day 7 Full day tour of Veliko Turnovo, Tsarevets and Arbanassi.
Veliko Turnovo: -visit Trapezitsa - where the foundations of 17 medieval churches were discovered and the original Samovodene Market which has been brought back to life and, as in olden times, skillful craftsmen fashion and sell exquisite objects in the small restored workshops.

Tsarevets, the place of the patriarchal church and Tzar's royal palaces, the hill where Bauldwin’s Tower still rises. (Bulgarian Tzar Kaloyan defeated the army of the Latin Emperor Baldwin of Flanders,who was taken prisoner and kept in the tower until his death.)

Arbanassi, a charming medieval village rich with 17th century architecture, was the summer residence of boyars (nobility) of the medieval capital city of Tarnovo. The 300 years old houses from the period of the Bulgarian Renaissance together with the five magnificent churches dating back to 17th century, decorated with unique paintings and wood carving are of great interest.

Photo: Arbanassi Entrance

Photo: Gurko Hotel and Restaurant in Veliko Turnovo

Day 8 D rive to Sofia (3 hrs) for flight home or continue to Romania by 2nd class train (first class train was discontinued) to join our Romania tour. You will be met at Bucharest train station by our guide.(B)

Price: 1185 E (approx $1590) per person based on min 4, max 8 people, single room $125E, supplement $30E for Rose Festival-includes BBQ lunch with wine, traditional music, rose picking. If you continue to Romania tour, add approx $40 (train ticket + arrival transfer)

Includes

Does Not Include

Hotels Location of all of the hotels are easy walking distance to the city center
Sofia: Hotel Princess is a 4 star; modern hotel; great location for strolling; near cafes and shops.

Melnick: Bolyarka and Despot Slav Hotel are quaint traditional hotels, near each other. The ambiance is warm and homey.

Plodiv: Hotel Bulgaria and Dafi hotel are located near each other, in the Old town of Plovdiv, next to the Mosque. They are very good 3-star boutique style hotels.  

Veliko Turnovo: Gurko Hotel and Millenium hotel are small 3-star hotel located 5 minutes walking from the city center.

NOTE: during the summer the days are longer so we can pack more activities into each day’s schedule; in October, some activities will be “time-permitting.”

The Jewish Beit Ha'am in Sofia has a restaurant with kosher food for dinners, open Mon-Thu,closed Fri,Sat. It is possible also to order box lunch. Let us know if you would like to order any meals from them.

(888) 367-6147 - Intl (415) 381-5861
P.O. Box 446 Mill Valley, CA 94941

all text & photos © 1997-07, Barbara Sansone