Bulgaria- Jeep excursion - Short weekend - All-included
(This is the longer, more difficult route, while there are other “softer” routes that can be arranged for the group)
A little longer than two-hour flight away lies the capital of the Balkan, the crossroads between Asia and Europe. A Trip to Bulgaria is a geographic and cultural journey full of experiences to a region taking its first steps into modern Europe. The timing of the trip allows to experience nature in different ways, spring: Thaw and early blooming and the blossoming of a new season, summer: Amazing bloom and rushing water, autumn: Mild weather and autumn colors from yellow to red. This trip offers a unique opportunity to visit picturesque villages where time has stood still, natural sceneries of mountains, lakes, caves and forests, and all within a catching atmosphere of cheerfulness, local folklore, fine food and wine that flows like water.
Itineraries
Day 1 -Thursday — Sofia Arriving in Sofia on Thursday evening. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation in the center of Sofia.
Day 2 – Sofia – Lake Iskar – Rila Ridge – Bansko We’ll leave in the morning right after we sign had organize the jeeps, install the radios and begin our course to the high plain south of the Hoitusha ridge, we’ll view Iskar Lake and continue to the east side of the Rila ridge (Rain Mountain), hosting the Mosle mountain (2925 meters), the highest mountain in Bulgaria, we’ll continue heading up the mountain to the unique Balmakan Dam and have lunch outdoors. We’ll continue with a field-drive on mountain roads going through landscapes dipped in natural beauty, and if we’re lucky we’ll get to taste natural cheese and yogurt at the mountain huts where they are produced. We’ll spend the night in Bansko at a 200-year old family hotel that was restored. We’ll have our dinner at the local restaurant to the sounds of local musicians playing their traditional instruments.
Day 3 – Bansko- the Bears Reserve – Pirin ridge – Melnik
We’ll open our third day after having breakfast, visit and tour the Bears Reserve at Belitsa, a unique reserve unparalleled in Europe, situated to the south of the Rila ridge, if we’re lucky we will participate in feeding the bears. After the visit we’ll go back to granite Pirin ridge (Lightning Mountain), towering also to a height of nearly three thousand meters, take the open cable car to the top of Bezbog (Godless), and if anyone would want to take a magical walking tour through Alpine panorama of mountain lakes, he can do so. Later we’ll take a field drive, as well as a normal drive, to the smallest town in Bulgaria (500 residents) – Melnik, where we will spend the night.
Day 4 – Sunday – Melnik – Rila Monastery – Sofia After breakfast we’ll take a walking tour through Melnik, known for its wines, we’ll visit the Lord House and its unique winery, where we’ll learn about the phenomenon of the “pyramids” typical to this site. We’ll start our journey northward toward Sofia while on the way we can also experience (depending on the age of the travelers and time of year) carting or rafting on the Stroma river, or visit the Rila Monastery, the largest and most famous monastery in Bulgaria and the holy cave where the monk Rilski was secluded deep in the forest. We’ll try to reach Sofia by early afternoon in order to take a short walking tour through the center of Sofia and to allow some free time for shopping and so on. End of trip during evening hours.
Note: There might be some changes in our route due to changes in flights or due to weather conditions, field considerations and guide decisions.
Terms and costs:
Accommodation:
Accommodation in all 3 nights will be in hotels of 3* and 4* (possible upgrade to 4* and 5* hotels for extra charge)
Transportation:
Air conditioned 5-door, 4-people, self-drive Nissan Pathfinder and/or sanyang kyron or the like
Economy:
Full board, dinner and breakfast at the accommodation facilities, lunch in a restaurant or at a picnic area.
Special group price:
Price: __ Euro per individual in a single room (based on minimally 12 passengers) extra per a passenger per night in a single room ___ euros
the price includes:
3 jeep days, 4 per jeep
1 Leading Jeep
Fuel for jeeps
Transfer from the airport
Full board
Airport taxes and security surcharges
Bulgarian Folklore Club.
Entrance to sites along the route
Experienced English and/or Russian and/or Dutch speaking Bulgarian field guide
Tips to local service providers.
Rescue equipment and radios
Kitchen and picnic equipment
Map, water and toilet for all Jeeps
Price excludes:
Flights
Personal expenses
Medical Insurance
Cargo and passengers insurance
Tips to guides ____
* Red asterisk – required to fill in the details