Belle Bulgaria - star trip Sofia- 6 options
Just two-hour flight away lies Sofia, Bulgaria capital. A trip to Bulgaria is a, geographic and cultural journey full with experiences to a region that takes slow steps into modern Europe. This trip offers a unique opportunity to visit picturesque villages where time has stood still, natural sceneries of mountains, lakes, and forests, and all within a catching atmosphere of cheerfulness, local folklore, fine food and wine that that is cheaper than 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. This star trip is accessible for disabled passengers.
Remark: there are many alternatives of trips to give you the option to choose, at star trip the order of days is flexible and can be changed according to the weather and your will.
Star trip from Sofia- 6 alternatives for disabled:
SOUTH OF SOFIA
Day 1 (280 km)- Sofia- Western Rila Ridge- Rila monastery (most important site in Bulgaria, Tasting Mikizi )- Sapreva Bania (The only Geyser in Bulgaria).
Day 2* (50 km) – Vitosha Ridge (ever green mountain of Sofia, overview the city)- Sites as: golden bridges (stone river), Boyana church (frescos be ahead the Renaissance epoch) or instead: Bell’s Garden (dedicated for children of the world), Folklore Restaurant etc.
East To Sofia
Day 3 (230km) – Sofia- driving through villages or highway– Panagyurishte (Thracian gold treasure) – Koprivshtisa (picturesque village museum)- Sofia.
Day 4* (290 km) – Sofia- Plovdiv (the second largest city after Sofia, Jewish Quarter and synagogue, city garden, city center pedestrian )- Sofia.
West to Sofia
Day 5* (240 km) – Sofia– Vitosha West (view point, Golden Bridges)- Kyustendil (Peshev Museum, Vice parlament chairman who saved the Bulgarian Jews at the Holocaust , city center, pedestrian- Sofia.
Sofia Tour: city sites or/and culture tour with tastings
Day 6 (20 km) – light excursion by foot and wheelchairs through Sofia 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 (now city museum, the indoor market and the synagogue.
Remark: at every route the no. of km is written.
* Red asterisk – required to fill in the details
Sofia & Thessaloniki - 2 stars Trip –Van with lift
Private trip (2 wheel chairs+pax), 7 nights (4 nights Sofia, 3 nights Thessaloniki)
In order not to change hotel every night the trip is built as 2 stars trip. Sofia is perfect base for trips in the Balkan as it’s located close to Skopje and Thessaloniki (3 hours drive) and Belgrad (4 hours). The trip is flexible and number of days can be modified to the passengers wish.
(Remark: Passengers with different Preferences can get another plan as we are proud of our tailor made trips).
Day 1- Tel-Aviv- light excursion at Sofia town center
Regular flight (El-Al) take off generally at 07:00 landing at Sofia at 09:45.
The 1st day we’ll spend at Sofia after a very short night and sleeping hours. After quick check in and getting the accessible rooms and regular rooms we’ll go out for light excursion at the center of Sofia.
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 (now city museum, the indoor market and the synagogue. along the tour we’ll have lunch break. At afternoon a free time for rest or pool or treatment at hotel spa. Dinner at the hotel 4/5*.
Day 2- Sofia – Samokov – Sapreva Bania
After breakfast, we’ll drive with our special accessible van out of Sofia. The way is passing Vitosha ridge at it’s eastern side, curving with Iskar river curves and passing Iskar reservoir till we reach Samokov town. At Samokov we”ll be acquainted with Arie family story and it’s house located next to the ruins of the synagogue.Our next step is Heading west at the north side of Rila Ridge, hosting the Moussala mountain (2925 m) , the highest mountain in Bulgaria. We’ll visit town Sapareva Bania which host the only Geyser in Bulgaria. We’ll return to Sofia from another way this time bypassing the Vitosha ridge from it’s west side. Overnight stay at our hotel.
Day 3- Vitosha Ridge and sites
After breakfast at the hotel we’ll drive nearby to the “ever green mountain of Sofia- The Vitosha (peak 2290 m) and it’s nature reserve. We’ll visit the natural phenomenon called “golden bridges” (stone river). We’ll stroll shortly with our wheel chairs breathing the clean mountainous air. Descending from mountain we’ll stop to taste some Banitsa and drink Airan. We”ll visit Boyana church, recognized by UNESCO as a cultural heritage site of world significance, (it’s frescos are older than the Renaissance epoch). If we are still in shape and it’s not too late we can visit the National Museum of history nearby the president residency or the movie studios in Boyana. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 4– Sofia- Western Rila Ridge – Rila monastery– Thessaloniki
After breakfast we’ll get organized and start our trip with a travel to the western side of the Rila ridge. 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 have our lunch by a magical site next to the Rila River. We’ll take the High Road southward along the Great Struma River , pass the border towards Thessaloniki, Arriving and getting organized at the hotel. Dinner at the tavern with Greek music drinking Ouzo. Overnight stay at Thessaloniki.
Day 5– Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki is the second largest city of in Greece after Athens and it is totally different from it, much more cosmopolitan and richer. Its Jewish history is also fascinating and it spreads over centuries as we shall see on our tour in the city. After breakfast we will go for a sightseeing tour through this special city named after the sister of Alexander the Great . the city is full with sites- Archaeological Mmonument (the Agora, Gallerius archetc.) , the beach and the round white tower, which is the symbol of the city, the remains of the tombs, the synagogue and the Jewish Museum , memorial statue, the Aristotle square and the Citadel above the city that offers a delightful view of the city. We’ll be given time to visit the markets of Modiano (rebuild these days) and Valali. Greek dinner at the tavern with the sounds of bouzouki and drinking ouzo. Overnight stay at our hotel.
Day 6- Thessaloniki – Pella- Vergina –Thessaloniki
This day is dedicated to Alexander the great and his royal family .It’s a fascinating story for all those who are history fans (there are alternative routes for those who prefer nature and other sites like Meteora monasteries but it’s demanding longer drive). We’ll start the day at the archeological site of Pella, Alexander’s birthplace, with impressive museum. We will continue at the foothills of the Hormion Mountains till we’ll reach the village of Vergina, hosting the complete, impressive and exciting tomb of Philip 2, the father of Alexander the Great. Vergina is the first capital of ancient Macedonia and the site in which archaeologists found the Macedonian Emblem – a sun with 16 rays known as the star of Vergina. After this visit we will return to Thessaloniki. It’s our last night at the hotel. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 7- Thessaloniki – Sandanski – Sofia
After breakfast and before leaving Thessaloniki we’ll do sightseeing tour with our van get some impression of the rich people houses (age more than 100 years) most of them Jews from Spanish origin. We’ll continue traveling to the Macedonian region of Bulgaria through the Kulata border crossing. In Bulgaria – we’ll visit the City of Sandanski (named after the Macedonian hero who fought the Ottomans), which is also the birthplace of the proud slave Spartacus (we’ll see his statue at the entrance to the city). We shall visit the nice pedestrian street, a preferable destination for the Greek citizens coming (especially at weekends) to make shopping and buy merchandise at very good prices. We’ll drive along the Strumal River to Sofia to celebrate our last night in Bulgaria.
Day 8 – Sofia -Tel Aviv
In the morning, after breakfast, we’ll drive to the airport for our departure back home.
Note: There might be some changes in our route due to changes in flights or due to weather conditions, field considerations and guide decisions.
* Red asterisk – required to fill in the details