Belle Bulgaria - Quality bus/minibus trip - 7 full days
only closed family/friends group
At a little more than two-hour flight away lies the Balkan capital, the crossroads between Asia and Europe. A trip to Bulgaria is a, geographic and cultural journey full with experiences to a region that takes its first steps into modern Europe. Bulgaria’s sceneries are not one bit lesser than the scenic views of Austria and Switzerland as they appeared some one hundred years ago before they became too tourist-oriented. 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. On this trip we’ll get to know the beautiful Bulgaria which we never knew before and experienced the right combination between natural phenomena, towns and villages, interesting history and culture.
Itineraries
Day 1 -Tel Aviv- Sofia
We’ll spend the first day in Sofia. After an early check at the Hotel in Sofia we’ll go on a light excursion by foot through Sophia town center, the tour will include the beautiful major sites of Bulgaria capital: The Alexander Nievski cathedral, Saint Sophia Chapel, Holocaust Statues Garden, National Theater, King’s Palace, President residence, the rotunda, antiques from the Roman/Byzantine era, the Turkish bath, the indoor market and the synagogue. In the afternoon we’ll be given free time which can be spent individually on resting and/or visiting museums and/or bathing in the pool and/or enjoying treatments at the hotel. In the evening we’ll go out to celebrate in a local authentic folklore with dancing and a Bulgarian meal fit for a king.
Day 2 – Sofia – Rila monastery – Sandanski
After breakfast we’ll get organized and start our trip with a travel to the western side of the Rila ridge, hosting the Moussala mountain (2925 m) , the highest mountain in Bulgaria. We’ll travel on mountain roads through landscapes dipped in natural beauty to the largest and most famous monastery in Bulgraia – the Rila Monastery. We will tour this unique monastery recognized by UNESCO as a cultural heritage site of world significance. We’ll tour the forest and visit a Bulgarian pilgrimage site, a cave with special powers in which a monk sacred to Bulgarians, Ivan Rilski, secluded himself (The monestery is named after this monk). We’ll have our lunch by a magical site next to the Rila River. We’ll take the High Road southward along the Great Stroma River and spend the night at a luxurious spa hotel in the town of Sandanski, named after a Macedonian freedom fighter and local “Robin Hood”. We’ll spend our evening at the hotel facilities and/or a take a walk through the city park along the river
.
Day 3 – Sandanski- Melnik – Gotche Delchev – The Pirirn Ridge – Bansko
After breakfast we’ll continue southward to the smallest town in Bulgaria (500 residents) – Melnick, known for its wines, and visit the house of the Lord and his private winery and get to know the “Pyramids” – special landscape formations characteristic to this site. We will continue our voyage through the Macedonian region of Bulgaria on a beautiful road that runs between the mountains and next to picturesque villages toward the Pirin ridge which reaches the height of nearly three thousand meters, we’ll ride and open cable car to the mountains and (whoever wants to) take a magical walk through an alpine landscape of mountain lakes. We’ll spend the night in a 200-years old family hotel which was restored and have a traditional linch to the sounds the restaurant’s musicians at the ski resort in the developing town of Bansko.
Day 4 – Bansko – Valingrad- The 4-lakes Road – Devin
After breakfast we’ll take a short walk through the historic town center of Bansko and then drive to the third ridge in this series – the Rhodope Ridge – which is considered the most “Bulgarian” ridge and which forms the border between Greece and Bulgaria. We will pass through the Velingrad baths town and from there we’ll will continue to the town of Batak on the shores of Lake Batak, visit the town center and its Church which stands burnt since 1876, and hear the story of the place, including of the Batak Massacre “. This is the start point oif the 4-lakes road between Lake Batak Lake Dosfat, rightly considered one of the most beautiful roads in Bulgaria. On our way to Devin we’ll pass through local villages and mountain roads. We’ll spend the night in the town of Devin, Bulgaria’s main source of mineral water.
Day 5 – Devin – Trigrad Canyon – Shiroka Luka – Betchkovo – Plovdiv
After breakfast we’ll drive through a rural area, stop in front of the remains of a Roman road and dedicate the first hours of the day to the karstic area of the Rhodope ridge, characterized by deep canyons, caves and so on.
We’ll leave our large bus and continue our trip with mini-buses, due to the narrow, winding road. We’ll climb up to the Trigard Canyon, where we will visit a site hosting a unique natural phenomenon known as the “Devil’s Mouth” Cave, that is also known from Greek mythology. After lunch we will visit and tour the houses of the townof Shiroka Leka, the center of Bulgaria’s folk music and learn the moving story of Bulgarian Jewry during the Holocaust. We shall proceed northward on our way to Plovdiv (depending on time limits and the weather), where we’ll visit the Checkbo Monastery and the nearby market. We will continue to the beautiful city of Plovdiv, the second largest city after Sofia. We’ll have our dinner at a local authentic and unique restaurant.
Day 6 – Plovdiv – the Balkan ridge – Etera- and Veliko Tarnovo/Arbanasi
We’ll open our day with a walking tour at both the modern and the ancient center of Plovdiv (if we’ll hold the night tour we’ shall leave right after breakfast) and then say goodbye to this beautiful city and continue northward, while crossing the great Thracian plain and the “Serdana Gura” ridge in the direction to the Balkan ridge (the Balkan’s distance is 550 km west to east) that crosses Bulgaria. On our way we shall cross the “Valley of Roses” and get to know one of the agricultural products unique to Bulgaria. We shall climb to the Shipka Pass and its monument, where the greatest
battle of Bulgaria’s War of Independence took place against the Ottoman rule after 500 years of oppression. We will visit the open museum at Atra that recreates the life, crafts and agriculture of old days and pass by the “Stingy” town of Gabrovo. We’ll spend the night at a hotel in town or at the town of Arbnasi overlooking the ancient capital of Bulgaria Veliko Tarnovo (if we’re lucky we may have the chance to see a laser show on the walls of the city of Czars). We will have dinner at a local restaurant that excels in local cuisine.
Day 7 – Arbnasi/Veliko Tarnovo – the Troyan passage – Koprivshtitsa – Sofia
After breakfast we will visit the walled city of Czars, Tsarevets, from the medieval days in which Bulgaria was an empire headed by a Czar. Later, and before crossing the Balkan Ridge from north to south, we’ll stop on the outskirts of Troyan, and review the special pottery works for which it is known. We’ll cross the Balkan ridge through the Troyan passage (originally built by Emperor Trajan) and watch the monument built at the top of the mountain. We will continue to the village-museum “Koprivshtitsa” which is located on the Serdana Gura ridge, where he the revolt against the Turks which led to the independence of Bulgaria began. This village is known for its artists and unique houses. We will visit the picturesque village and enter at least one of its restored houses. We will continue on our way to Sofia, which we shall reach by late afternoon, get organized in our spa hotel at the town center, where we spent our first night. We will celebrate our last night with a group party at a local etnic restaurant and say goodbye to the “Shopska” salad and all the other delicacies.
Day 8 – Sofia – Home
After breakfast we’ll drive to the airport and take off back to our country.
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 7 nights will be in hotels (most are Spa hotels) of 4* and 5* (Sandanski) ranking, exept for the rural hostels at Bansko and Arbnasi.
Transportation:
Modern, air-conditioned bus/midi-bus (at the canyons area we might drive in mini-buses due to the narrow passages).
Economy:
Dinners and breakfasts at the accommodation sites or at a nearby restaurant, lunches at a restaurant or in a picnic.
Price per passenger:
___ Euro according to the ittnaries and no. of pax (closed group only).
Extra per passenger per single room accommodation – __ Euro.
Price includes:
7-night hotel accommodation
Air conditioned bus/midi-bus + driver per the entire duration (including his expenses on economy and lodging).
Transfer from airport to hotel and from hotel to airport, as well as to the club in Sofia.
Economy – morning and evening.
Bulgarian Folklore Club.
Site entrance fees (not including Laser show if applicable).
English / Russian / Dutch speaking guide
Picnic equipment (table + chairs + gas stove (including coffee, tea, etc.) + cooler and all that’s required).
Tips to local service providers.
Group meeting prior to departure.
Price excludes:
Flights
Lunches (some in restaurants and some in picnics)
Personal expenses
Tips to guides and porters
Medical + Cargo insurance
Changes in the prices of flights, airport taxes, etc.
* Red asterisk – required to fill in the details