Sofia – Rila Monastery – Plovdiv – Nessebar – Varna – Balchik – Veliko Tarnovo – Arbanassi – Sofia

Day 1

Arrival at the Sofia Airport. Transfer to the hotel, short rest or we will pick you up directly from your hotel. Walking tour in the center – visit to the Saint Nedelya Church, the Statue of St Sofia – the symbol of the city, the Parliament square, the Presidency, the National Theater, the Ruins of Serdica and the Rotonda St George 4th c. AC, the Russian Church, the St. Sophia early Christian basilica, which has given the city its name, the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral – the biggest and the most beautiful on the Balkan Peninsula, the Monument of Alexander II – Tzar Liberator (1902), the Parliament. In the afternoon – time at leisure. Dinner. Overnight. 

Day 2

Full day tour to the Rila Monastery – the richest historical and architectural monument of the Orthodox enclave, founded in 10th century and transformed to the most important spiritual and cultural center of Bulgaria. The Rila Monastery is located in 1147 meters altitude in the middle of the fragrant coniferous forests of Rila Mountain. It is a complex of cultural, dwelling and farming buildings which take about 8800 square meters. The Rila Monastery has an unique architecture and is recognized by UNESCO as part of the world heritage list. Departure to Plovdiv. Accommodation. Overnight.

Day 3

Sightseeing tour of Plovdiv – Visit to the Old Town. It is declared an architectural museum reserve with over 150 monuments of culture. Its magnificent houses are turned into museums, galleries, workshops, restaurants. There are also parlours and studios of painters and wood-carvers. Visit to the Ancient Roman Amphitheater (2nd century A.C) and the Roman Stadium. Departure to Bachkovo Monastery. Erected in a magnificent locality along the reaches of the Assenitsa River (20 km south of Plovdiv), the Bachkovo monastery ranks second after the Rila Monastery both with regard to size, and to architectural, artistic and literary significance. The complex and its neighborhoods have grown into a developed tourist sight where dozens of small shops, stalls, and restaurants stand on both sides of the walkway to the gates and appeal with their variety to visitors. One can find here everything that grows or is being manufactured in the Rhodopi mountain – rare herbs, home-made jams of wild fruit, yogurt and white cheese made of sheep or buffalo’s milk, woolen carpets, etc. Continue to Sofia. Overnight. 

Day 4

Departure to Nessebar – one of the oldest towns in Europe. An undoubted jewel of Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast. We will visit the Old town – An architecture – historical and archaeological reserve with ancient archaeological remains of various periods, original churches from the 5th – 17th centuries and more than hundred authentic Revival houses – it is included in the list of UNESCO. Time will pass too quickly here as you hunt for souvenirs in the gift shops, explore churches and museums and enjoy the country’s great-value, appetizing cuisine at the traditional mehanas. Overnight.

Day 5

Departure to Varna – During the Second Bulgarian state, Varna was one of the most important trading and craft centers in the country. Now a day it is the biggest sea port and one of the favorite holiday places. Numerous hotels, restaurants and night clubs make it a preferable seaside centre. Summer is fresh and pleasant because of the breezes. Here the wide beach strip attracts thousands of tourists. The city lies in the bay of Varna and is 11 km long. The city’s structure resembles an amphitheatre as it follows the curves of the Bay of Varna. We will make tour of the town – The city center, the Cathedral, the Archaeological museum where is being kept the oldest gold treasure in the world dating back 4000 years B.C., the Roman baths, the Ethnographic museum. Overnight.

Day 6

A trip to Aladga Monastery – situated only 16 km from Varna. The name of Aladzha Monastery comes from the Turkish word for colorful (”aladzha”) due most probably to the bright colors of its wall paintings, dating back to the early Middle Ages. The monks’ cells, common rooms and sanctuaries, dug directly into the limestone rock and situated on two levels high above the ground, were connected via an external staircase. The entire monastery is considered to date back from the 12th century AC. Continue to Balchik. Visit of the Palace of the Romanian Queen. Optional: Visit of the Botanical Garden. Back to Varna. Overnight.

Day 7

Departure to Veliko Tarnovo – capital city of The Second Bulgarian Kingdom. City tour and visit of the medieval fortress of Tsarevets, the old Marketplace “Samovodska Tcharshia”, the churches St. Demetrius (12th c.), Holy Forty Martyrs, built in 1230 by Tsar Ivan Assen II, and St. Peter and Paul (14th c.). Only 4 km from Veliko Turnovo is located Arbanassi, a charming village with an eventful history and fascinating architecture. Thirty six of its 80 houses and the five local churches have been declared for national monuments of culture. Overnight.

Day 8

Departure to Sofia. Accommodation. Overnight - or Transfer to Sofia Airport..