Highlights of Bulgaria
Highlights of Bulgaria
$1468
Highlights of Bulgaria
8 Days Starting and ending in Sofia, Bulgaria
Visiting: Sofia, Rila Monastery, Melnik, Rozhen Monastery, Dospat Reservoir, Shiroka Laka, The Wonderful Bridges Hotel, Bachkovo Monastery "Uspenie Bogorodichno", Асенова крепост, Plovdiv, Starosel, Koprivshtitsa, Kazanluk, Etarat, Veliko Tarnovo, Arbanasi, Monastery of the Holy Transfiguration of God
Tour operator:
Tour code:
750
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
4 - 8
Age range:
2-99
Special diets catered:
Please advise requests
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Cultural, Gardens & Nature Tours, History, Ruins-Archaeology
Activities:
Tour Overview
An eight day, small group holiday being guided around highlights of Bulgaria's cultural heritage sites, in the heart of the Rhodope Mountains, as well as in the capital city of Sofia, with guided tours throughout. As Bulgaria has had so many cultural influences over the centuries, including Greek, Slavic and Ottoman, this makes for a fascinating tour through history. From magnificent monasteries such as Bachkovo and Rozhen to Roman ruins in Plovdiv, or the heritage village of Shiroka Laka and its surrounding mountainous influences, enjoy an in depth insight into Bulgaria’s past and present.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrival In Sofia
Location: Sofia
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Niky or similar
Meals Included: No Meals
You are met at the airport and transferred to your hotel, followed by a sightseeing tour of the capital. Impressive sites include Alexander Nevski Memorial Church and the Crypt, the beautiful neoclassical building of The National Theatre, Saint Sofia Church and Saint George Rotunda, dating from the fourth century. Pass by the elegant striped facade and ceramic decorations of the mineral baths to reach Banya Basi Mosque and Sofia’s synagogue, designed in an ornate Moorish style by the Austrian architect Friedrich Gruenanger.
Day 2 : Sofia - Rila Monastery - Melnik
Location: Sofia, Rila Monastery, Melnik
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Melnik or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast, you head to one of the most iconic symbols of Bulgaria, Rila Monastery. It was founded in the 10th century by a monk-hermit Saint John of Rila, and was the guardian of the Christian faith and Bulgarian culture through five centuries of Ottoman rule. Rila Monastery is the most important spiritual and literary centre of the Bulgarian National Revival, with an uninterrupted history until the present times. Within the monastery’s walls, four levels of colourful balconies surround the large courtyard, which houses the Church of the Nativity, Bulgaria’s grandest monastery, built between 1834 and 1837. Its outside walls are covered with vivid and detailed frescoes, created by one of the most prominent Bulgarian artists at the time. The museum houses sceptres, old manuscripts and printed books as well as the Rila Cross, a double-sided crucifix showing 104 religious scenes and 650 miniature figures, carved out of whole pieces of wood. After admiring the monastery and its surrounding hills continue to Melnik, tucked beneath sandstone cliffs. Here you can sample some of the country’s finest wines and stroll along the whitewashed Revival-era stone buildings.
Driving: 240km
Day 3 : Melnik - Rozhen Monastery - Dospat Dam - Shiroka Laka
Location: Melnik, Rozhen Monastery, Dospat Reservoir, Shiroka Laka
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Shiroka Laka Spa Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast
After a visit to the nearby Rozhen Monastery, continue to the forested hills of the Rhodope Mountains. On this journey you pass the blue waters of Dospat dam, and then come to at the village of Shiroka Laka. The day comes to a close with a walk across the village’s three arching bridges and through its cobbled lanes, before treating yourself to a spa at the hotel.
Driving: 180km
Day 4 : Shiroka Laka - Wonderful Bridges - Bachkovo Monastery - Asen’S Fortress - Plovdiv
Location: Shiroka Laka, The Wonderful Bridges Hotel, Bachkovo Monastery "Uspenie Bogorodichno", Асенова крепост, Plovdiv
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Ego or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast
Continuing the scenic drive through the Rhodope Mountains, your first stop is the Wonderful Bridges, an impressive natural rock arch framing the surrounding spruce forests. Visit Bachkovo Monastery, founded in 1083, and Asen’s Fortress, which sits precariously on the edge of a cliff where you can, not surprisingly, get some superb views. In the afternoon, you arrive in Plovdiv, one of Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited cities. Here you have free time to explore the winding cobblestone streets of the old town or take it easy at one of the bohemian cafes in the Kapana creative district.
Driving: 130km
Day 5 : Plovdiv - Starosel - Koprivshtitsa
Location: Plovdiv, Starosel, Koprivshtitsa
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Stoichkovata Kashta or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast
Start the day with a sightseeing tour of the old town of Plovdiv exploring the second-century Roman Amphitheatre, Roman Stadium and the Ethnography Museum. Continue on to the Thracian Cult Temple Starosel, followed by a visit to the colourful museum-village of Koprivshtitsa, with fine examples of Bulgarian National Revival architecture.
Day 6 : Koprivshtitsa - Kazanlak - Etara - Veliko Tarnovo
Location: Koprivshtitsa, Kazanluk, Etarat, Veliko Tarnovo
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Studio or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today you head to the Valley of the Thracian Rulers, a name that gathered popularity in the 20th century due to the extremely high concentration and variety of monuments of the Thracian culture in the valley of Kazanlak. It houses the Thracian tomb of Kazanlak, dating back to the Hellenistic period in the late fourth century and early third century. Hidden underneath a grassy mound, this burial site unearthed the remains of a man and woman, along with the skeleton of a horse. It is believed that the buried were of high significance in a Thracian tribe, likely royalty. Proceeding on to Etara’s open-air ethnographic museum, visit bakers, leather workers, potters and weavers, perfect for souvenir shopping. The day ends in Veliko Tarnovo, the capital of medieval Bulgarian rulers.
Driving: 210km
Day 7 : Veliko Tarnovo - Arbanasi - Transfiguration Monastery - Sofia
Location: Veliko Tarnovo, Arbanasi, Monastery of the Holy Transfiguration of God, Sofia
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Niky or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast, there’s a sightseeing tour of Veliko Tarnovo. Visit Tsarevets fortress and head to the historic monastery village of Arbanasi. Before leaving for Sofia, be sure to stop for a visit to Transfiguration Monastery to admire the fantastic views over the surrounding hills.
Driving: 260km
Day 8 : Departures
Location: Sofia
Meals Included: Breakfast
Departure transfer to Sofia airport.
What's Included
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Accommodation
7 overnights in hand-picked 3 and 4-star hotels
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Meals
7 breakfasts
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Wine tasting in Melnik on day 2
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English-speaking guide
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Airport Transfers at Destination
Airport transfers on day 1 and day 8 of the tour
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Transport
All ground transportation during the tour as described in the itinerary
What's Not Included
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Airfare and connecting land transfers
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Meals not listed in the itinerary
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Entrance fees
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Travel insurance
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Personal expenses such as phone calls, extra transfers, tips, etc.
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Any items not specifically mentioned as included in the programme
Check out our Q&As
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Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?
Yes we can, in Sofia, before or after the tour. Please enquire for details.
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Are flights included in this tour?
No, international flights are not included
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Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?
We will have our Tour Leader with you every day
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
All guides are English Speaking
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
No, transfers are not included
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Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?
This will be provided on all documentation
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
The Natural Adventure was founded by people who love hiking and cycling in wild and wonderful places. Places that we want to keep that way. Responsible tourism has, therefore, been at the heart of what we do since the get go.
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Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?
In April 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 crisis, we launched the Support Local Communities Initiative. We have enabled an option when booking a tour for customers to make a donation to support our local partners. 100% of the donations go directly to our local suppliers.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
Whether you’re travelling on your own, as a couple, a group of friends, or a family, our self-guided holidays allow you the freedom to choose your own holiday companions.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Our self guided walking and cycling holidays typically include: Accommodation, Breakfasts, Luggage transfers, Detailed holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions, road notes and maps, 24/7 phone assistance by our local representative and/or our central office
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
We are part of the 'Safe Travels' initiative.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
Yes, as long as you can reach the next location.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Accommodations in double or twin rooms (solo travellers are usually accommodated in single rooms at an extra cost; we never mix and match)
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If possible, and entirely at the discretion of the Tour Operator, a change of the dates may be possible without charging an amendment fee, provided that it is requested at least 30 days before the departure date. In some cases, we will still have to pass to you any non-refundable charges imposed by our suppliers. In all other cases, change of dates will normally be treated as a cancellation.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
All places have been carefully checked by us and their quality is regularly monitored. We have selected accommodations that offer friendly service, clean and comfortable rooms and local flavour.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
The Natural Adventure was founded in the UK in 2009, by Peter Duncan, former UK Chief Scout and BBC Blue Peter presenter, and Alex Pazderski, an avid hiker and acclaimed expedition kayaker. Both natural adventurers and keen explorers of wild places and trails, remote communities and responsible tourism partners, Peter and Alex founded our company inspired by the responsible travel values t
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Low Deposit
The Natural Adventure requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 42 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of the natural adventure charges.
Up to 42 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.