Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Sofia city tour - including Al. Nevski cathedral, Boyana church, National museum of history, etc. Overnight.
Day 2: Drive to Koprivshtitza - one of the few Bulgarian towns preserving the typical features of the original Revival architecture. Continue the trip to the village of Oreshak close to the legendary Troyan Monastery. Drive through one of the most beautiful mountain passes in Bulgaria - Beklemeto or also Vila Trayana (an ancient Roman road). Accommodation in "Papa Bear" guest house - local place, where you can enjoy some typical home cooked food and home made drinks.
Same day we will visit the Troyan Monastery (the third largest and most significant monastery in Bulgaria), The National Arts and Crafts Exhibition (the only place in Bulgaria where master-craftsmen from all over the country display their work) and the private gallery of the famous Veska Hadjiiska - one of the best Bulgarian craftsmen carving wood. Overnight.
Day 3: Departure to Veliko Turnovo - the medieval Bulgarian capital. On the way tour of Bozhentsi (superb examples of 19th century dwellings), The Ethnographic complex "Etara" (open air museum of ancient Bulgarian crafts), Tryavna (St "Archangel Michael" church, the Clock tower, "Daskalova" house and the Icon museum) and the heroic Dryanovo monastery. In the evening we can enjoy the unique "Sound and light" show over the Tzarevetz hill .... Overnight.
Day 4: Veliko Turnovo (the medieval Bulgarian capital) city tour and tour of Arbanassi where you can see some of the most exquisite monuments of Bulgarian art in XIV-XVIII like "The Nativity Church", "St's Archangels Michael and Gavril", "Konstancialieva" house, etc. Drive to the Roman ruins of Nicopolis ad Istrum and then to Ivanovo Rock Monastery - one of the best preserved rock monastery all over Bulgaria. Overnight in Ruse - once called Vienna on the Danube!
Day 5: Drive to The Thracian Tomb in Sveshtari (the most impressive antique sight in Bulgaria), Demir Baba Teke (the tomb of the Alian saint Demir Baba) and visit the Roman town of Abritus on the way. Finally drive to Varna and visit The Madara Horseman (one of the most popular Bulgarian monuments included in the World Register of Historical Sites since 1979) on the way. Overnight.
Day 6: Visit to "The Stone Forest" (incredible natural phenomena over 40 000 000 years old), Cape Kaliakra and The Romanian Queen Castle in Balchik (the summer residence of the Romanian Queen Maria) in the afternoon. Overnight.
Day 7: Varna city tour in the morning including the imposing Cathedral, the Archaeological museum - showing the oldest Golden treasure in the world (over 6000 years), the mysterious "Panagia" church, the Roman baths, etc. Drive to Nessebar (town museum included in World UNESCO heritage). Old town tour. Departure to Jeravna - world architectural monument. Overnight in a typical house.
Day 8: Departure to Plovdiv. On the way we will visit the famous Thracian tomb in Kazanlak (included in UNESCO heritage list) and drive through the beautiful Valley of roses.
The Renaissance town of Old Plovdiv tour in the afternoon, including "Balabanova" house, "Hindiliyan" house, the Roman amphitheatre and the "St. Constantin and Helena" church.
Overnight.
Day 9: A great drive through the mystic Rodopi mountain and visit to the Rila monastery regarded as one of Bulgaria's most important cultural, historical and architectural monuments. Tour of Bansko (cozy town, one of the main ski-centers in Bulgaria) on the way. Overnight.
Day 10: Departure to Sofia.
Please note: The price of my personal walking tours is 10 Euro per hour + fuel consumption for my driving tours (air-conditioned car).
