Zet Travel > Discover Bulgaria > Experience Bulgaria
Experience Bulgaria
Hightlights: A presentation of the most significant Bulgarian treasures included in the UNESCO World Heritage and 24 Wonders of Bulgaria. Along the way you will also have a chance to experience the country's local life and traditions.
6 Days - 5 nights: With private tours
Day 1: Airport Sofia
Meet and grit at the airport and transfer to the hotel.
After check in, we will leave the hotel and get better acquainted with Sofia: the capital city of Bulgaria and one of the oldest cities in Europe, the history of Serdica-Sredets-Sofia can be traced back some 7000 years ago - prehistoric settlements were excavated in the centre of the present city - near the royal palace, as well as in outer districts such as Slatina and Obelia. The well preserved town walls (especially their substructures) from antiquity date back before the 7th century BC, when Thracians established their city next to the most important and highly respected mineral spring, still functioning today. Sofia has had several names in the different periods of its existence, and remnants of the city's millenary history can still be seen today alongside modern landmarks.
City tour of Sofia with an English speaking guide includes:
Return to the hotel in Sofia.
Day 02: Tour "Rila Monastery'
After breakfast, we will head out of the city towards Rila Monastery.
The Monastery of Saint Ivan of Rila, better known as the Rila Monastery is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. It is situated in the southwestern Rila Mountains, in the deep valley of the Rilska River. The monastery is named after its founder, the hermit Ivan of Rila (876 - 946 AD).Founded in the 10th century, the Rila Monastery is regarded as one of Bulgaria's most important cultural, historical and architectural monuments and is a key tourist attraction for both Bulgaria and Southeastern Europe. The monastery is depicted on the reverse of the 1 lev banknote, issued in 1999.
Tour of Rila monastery with an English speaking guide includes:
Return to the hotel in Sofia.
Day 03: Plovdiv
After breakfast, we will head out of Sofia, for the day.
Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia with a population of 338,153 inhabitants according to Census 2011. Plovdiv's history spans some 6,000 years, with traces of a Neolithic settlement dating to roughly 4000 BC; it is one of the oldest cities in Europe. Known in the West for most of its history by the Greek name Philippopolis, it was originally a Thracian settlement before becoming a major Roman city. In the Middle Ages, it retained its strategic regional importance, changing hands between the Byzantine and Bulgarian Empires. It came under Ottoman rule in the 14th century. In 1878, Plovdiv was made the capital of the autonomous Ottoman region of Eastern Rumelia; in 1885, it became part of Bulgaria with the unification of that region and the Principality of Bulgaria.
City tour of Plovdiv with an English speaking guide includes:
Return to the hotel in Sofia.
Day 04: Sofia - Veliko Tarnovo
After breakfast, we will drive to Veliko Tarnovo in north central Bulgaria. Often referred to as the "City of the Tsars", Veliko Tarnovo is located on the Yantra River and is famous as the historical capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire, attracting many tourists with its unique architecture. The old city is situated on three hills, Tsarevets, Trapezitsa and Sveta Gora raising amidst the meanders of the Yantra. Tsarevets housed the palaces of the Bulgarian Emperors and the Patriarchate with the Patriarchal Cathedral, as well as a number of administrative and residential edifices surrounded by thick walls. Trapezitsa was known for its many churches and as the main residence of the nobility. In the Middle Ages it was among the main European centres of culture and gave its name to the architecture of the Tarnovo Artistic School, painting of the Tarnovo Artistic School and literature. We will then head to Etara and visit the Etar Architectural-Ethnographic Complex, an open-air museum located on the northern edge of the Bulgarka Nature Park. It presents the Bulgarian customs, culture and craftsmanship. It spans over an area of 7 ha and contains a total of 50 objects, including water installations and houses with craftsmen's workshops attached.
After a full day we will head back to the hotel in Veliko Tarnovo
Day 05: Tour "Arbanasi"
After breakfast we will head to The village of Arbanasi, set on a high plateau between the larger towns of Veliko Tarnovo and Gorna Oryahovitsa. It is known for the rich history and large number of historical monuments, such as 17th and 18th century churches and examples of Bulgarian National Revival architecture, which have turned it into a popular tourist destination. The village's name comes from the Albanian word Arbërës or Arbanas, which means "land worker". From this root word, the Turkish arnavut, was used to denote Albanians and other people that came from parts of Macedonia and Albania that had a large Albanian population, regardless of nationality.
Return to the hotel in Veliko Tarnovo.
Day 06: Veliko Tarnovo - Sofia
After breakfast, clients will be transferred back to Sofia city center or airport, according to the travel plans.
| Hotels |
Per Person in Double
|
P.P. in single |
||
|
Min 2 persons |
Min 8 persons |
Min 2 persons |
Min 8 persons |
|
|
3* Hotels |
708 |
338 |
822 |
427 |
|
4* Hotels |
747 |
350 |
833 |
439 |
|
5* Hotels |
758 |
362 |
850 |
458 |
Inclusive of:
Rate do not include:
Available until: 30.06.2012
Guides in other languages- On request
