Bulgaria in the heritage list of UNESCO (8 days)
There are nine sites in Bulgaria under the aegis of UNESCO. During this eight-day excursion you will explore Thracian necropolises , ancient cities, Bulgarian medieval and renaissance churches and monasteries. All of them are supreme achievements not only of Bulgarian, but of the whole human civilization. Whether conscious of this fact or not, tourists favour these sites above all. We will do our best to make you present their value well and to make you proud of them.
Price:
from € 1450
Day 1. Upon your arrival at Sofia Airport you will be greeted by our representative and transferred to your hotel in the city center.
Day 2. After breakfast, your Bulgarian UNESCO tour will start with the Boyana Church and its fascinating murals. Later you will be get on the road to Veliko Tarnovo – the capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (12-14th century) and a rich trading center during the Ottoman occupation. In the afternoon, you will visit Tsarevets fortress and “Samovodskata charshia” (craftsmen’s street bazaar), and explore the old quarters of the town on foot. Overnight in Veliko Tarnovo.
Day 3. The sightseeing begins with the Church of the Nativity, situated in the nearby museum village of Arbanassi. The itinerary continues with sightseeing in the rest of Arbanassi and later takes you across the Dobrudzha Plain to the miraculous 13th-century rock-hewn churches of Ivanovo (UNESCO) located in the gorges of Rusenski Lom Nature Park. Complementing the impressive frescoes, the area offers breathtaking views. From here we continue to another UNESCO site: the Geti Tomb at Sveshtari. This is your chance to get a glimpse of a culture, which co-existed with ancient Greece. Overnight stay in the town of Silistra.
Day 4. Srebarna Lake (UNESCO) is a managed biosphere reserve. While admiring its beauty, you will learn about the reserve and its key role in the protection of its endangered species, especially the Dalmatian Pelican. You will leave the banks of the Danube, crossing the wheat and sunflower fields of eastern Dobrudzha to gaze at an awe-inspiring archaeological symbol of Bulgaria: the Madara Horseman. Carved in vertical rock on the Shumen Plateau, this early medieval monument symbolizes the triumph of Bulgarian military power in the early years of the country’s history. You continue to the town of Nessebar (UNESCO). Overnight stay in Nessebar.
Day 5. After an early breakfast, we set off to the Old Town of Nessebar, situated on a peninsula connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus. Too early in the day to be overwhelmed by the crowds, the atmosphere in this centuries-old fortress city resembles an isolated, authentic, and tranquil world. Greek, Roman, Ottoman, and Bulgarian people have left traces of their civilizations in the old town. Just before the spirit of the Old City gives way to the bustle of crowds of tourists, we leave for the valley of the Thracian kings. The Thracian Tomb of Kazanluk (UNESCO), located in the heart of the prime rose-growing region (the roses are used for rose oil production) again bears witness to the highly developed Thracian culture and arts. The city of Plovdiv warmly welcomes visitors and enthrals them with its turbulent history dating back to the era of the Trojan War. We tour the cultural sights. Dinner and overnight stay in Plovdiv.
Day 6. From Plovdiv, we cross the Rhodope Mountains to arrive at the foothills of the Pirin Mountains at the all-seasons resort of Bansko. The mountains are indescribably attractive and we waste no time in starting to explore them on foot. The vehicle will take us to the alpine zone, from where we will trek for an hour among the gorgeous Bunderitsa Lakes. Don’t forget your camera to document the natural beauty of the glacial lakes and the surrounding sea of rugged peaks. On the way back to Bansko we will stop at the Baikusheva Mura, a 1300-year-old Bosnian pine tree, as old as the Bulgarian nation itself. Bansko is a town of great contrast. It has a cosy center with buildings from the Bulgarian revival period surrounded by modern architectural structures. Sightseeing in the center, followed by dinner with tasty local specialities.
Day 7. The most frequented UNESCO site in Bulgaria is the Rila Monastery, famous for its vivid murals, its major historical significance, its striking location in the Rila Mountains, and the wealth of exhibits in its museum. Along with a good look at this monastery, the biggest in Bulgaria, we will have a short walk in a centuries-old beech forest to the legendary cave of Saint Ivan of Rila. We return to Sofia to pay due attention to its center. Overnight in Sofia.
Day 8. Breakfast. Private transfer to the airport in good time for your flight.
Day 2. After breakfast, your Bulgarian UNESCO tour will start with the Boyana Church and its fascinating murals. Later you will be get on the road to Veliko Tarnovo – the capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (12-14th century) and a rich trading center during the Ottoman occupation. In the afternoon, you will visit Tsarevets fortress and “Samovodskata charshia” (craftsmen’s street bazaar), and explore the old quarters of the town on foot. Overnight in Veliko Tarnovo.
Day 3. The sightseeing begins with the Church of the Nativity, situated in the nearby museum village of Arbanassi. The itinerary continues with sightseeing in the rest of Arbanassi and later takes you across the Dobrudzha Plain to the miraculous 13th-century rock-hewn churches of Ivanovo (UNESCO) located in the gorges of Rusenski Lom Nature Park. Complementing the impressive frescoes, the area offers breathtaking views. From here we continue to another UNESCO site: the Geti Tomb at Sveshtari. This is your chance to get a glimpse of a culture, which co-existed with ancient Greece. Overnight stay in the town of Silistra.
Day 4. Srebarna Lake (UNESCO) is a managed biosphere reserve. While admiring its beauty, you will learn about the reserve and its key role in the protection of its endangered species, especially the Dalmatian Pelican. You will leave the banks of the Danube, crossing the wheat and sunflower fields of eastern Dobrudzha to gaze at an awe-inspiring archaeological symbol of Bulgaria: the Madara Horseman. Carved in vertical rock on the Shumen Plateau, this early medieval monument symbolizes the triumph of Bulgarian military power in the early years of the country’s history. You continue to the town of Nessebar (UNESCO). Overnight stay in Nessebar.
Day 5. After an early breakfast, we set off to the Old Town of Nessebar, situated on a peninsula connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus. Too early in the day to be overwhelmed by the crowds, the atmosphere in this centuries-old fortress city resembles an isolated, authentic, and tranquil world. Greek, Roman, Ottoman, and Bulgarian people have left traces of their civilizations in the old town. Just before the spirit of the Old City gives way to the bustle of crowds of tourists, we leave for the valley of the Thracian kings. The Thracian Tomb of Kazanluk (UNESCO), located in the heart of the prime rose-growing region (the roses are used for rose oil production) again bears witness to the highly developed Thracian culture and arts. The city of Plovdiv warmly welcomes visitors and enthrals them with its turbulent history dating back to the era of the Trojan War. We tour the cultural sights. Dinner and overnight stay in Plovdiv.
Day 6. From Plovdiv, we cross the Rhodope Mountains to arrive at the foothills of the Pirin Mountains at the all-seasons resort of Bansko. The mountains are indescribably attractive and we waste no time in starting to explore them on foot. The vehicle will take us to the alpine zone, from where we will trek for an hour among the gorgeous Bunderitsa Lakes. Don’t forget your camera to document the natural beauty of the glacial lakes and the surrounding sea of rugged peaks. On the way back to Bansko we will stop at the Baikusheva Mura, a 1300-year-old Bosnian pine tree, as old as the Bulgarian nation itself. Bansko is a town of great contrast. It has a cosy center with buildings from the Bulgarian revival period surrounded by modern architectural structures. Sightseeing in the center, followed by dinner with tasty local specialities.
Day 7. The most frequented UNESCO site in Bulgaria is the Rila Monastery, famous for its vivid murals, its major historical significance, its striking location in the Rila Mountains, and the wealth of exhibits in its museum. Along with a good look at this monastery, the biggest in Bulgaria, we will have a short walk in a centuries-old beech forest to the legendary cave of Saint Ivan of Rila. We return to Sofia to pay due attention to its center. Overnight in Sofia.
Day 8. Breakfast. Private transfer to the airport in good time for your flight.
Price:
2-3 pers. – 1450 Euro per person in twin/dbl room;
4-7 pers. – 1050 Euro per person in twin/dbl room;
Single room supplement: 210 euros
Best period: April-October
The price includes: transfers from/to Sofia airport and private transfers throughout the tour; an English-speaking guide; accommodation on a BB basis in a 3-star hotel; entry fees; VAT and all local taxes
The price does not include: tips, other meals, alcoholic drinks and personal expenses
