BULGARIA FOR ARCHAEOLOGISTS: ANCIENT HISTORY, WRITTEN IN GOLD
Day 1 BUCHAREST - ROUSSE
14:20 (or 16:55) Arrival to Rousse from Romania. Our guide will meet you at the station and assist for a transfer to hotel. Check in. After short break for refreshment, enjoy a walking tour of Rousse, the largest river port in Bulgaria and one of the cities with years-long European cultural traditions. Rousse has been even referred to as “ Little Vienna” in the past, for its Neoclassicism style of buildings. Stunning and brilliant Austrian style architecture abounds, particularly around the city’s main square which features the Statue of Liberty, erected in honour of the Russian Liberators (1878). Dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight at hotel.
Day 2 ROUSSE - Ivanovo Rock churches - Sveshtari - VELIKO TARNOVO
After breakfast drive to visit the archaeological reserve Ivanovo Rock churches (13th-14th c), listed in the UNESCO 's List of World Heritage. Six of the monastery churches and chapels preserve frescoes from 13th-14th C. Admire the famous frescoes at the "Holly Mother" church, created in the middle of the 14th c by an anonymous Bulgarian author. Tour proceeds to Sveshtari. Visit the Thracian Royal Tomb, on the List of UNESCO Cultural Heritage sites, which is one of the most sensational discoveries during the past decade, dating back to the 4th-3rd century B.C.
You will reach Veliko Tarnovo by the evening. Dinner and overnight at a 3* hotel downtown Veliko Tarnovo.
Day 3 VELIKO TARNOVO – Shipka - KAZANLAK
The capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (XII-XIV c) is situated on three hills, mirrored in the waters of the Yantra River winding down below. Tzarevets Hill is a genuine outdoor museum with its royal buildings, churches, fortress walls, towers, and the restored Ascension patriarchal church. Enjoy a half-day city sightseeing tour, including visits to Tzarevets Royal Hill. Proceed to Kazanlak, the main city of the Rose Valley. Start your afternoon tour with a visit to the Thracian beehive tomb (original), a unique monument of the Thracian Culture included in UNESCO's List of World Heritage. The region around Kazanlak is dotted with dozens of Thracian burial mounds, that is why it is also known as the Valley of the Thracian Kings. Here, in summer 2004 Prof. Kitov and a team of fellow archaeologists unearthed an ancient gold funeral mask that they say is as important a discovery as the treasures of Agamemnon and Tutankhamen. This extremely precious discovery is displayed in the local museum.
Dinner and overnight in Kazanlak.
Day 4 KAZANLAK –Stara Zagora - PLOVDIV
Following breakfast, proceed to the Svetitsa and Seuthus III Thracian mounds. Leave the Valley of the Thracian Kings, heading Southeast to Stara Zagora. In Stara Zagora you will visit extremely interesting, well preserved Neolithic dwelling, used by the people who settled over here at the end of the 7th and the beginning of the 6th Millennium B.C. You will see an oven and stone grinders and some early Neolithic earthenware.
Proceed to Plovdiv, the second largest city of Bulgaria. It is one of the oldest and most colorful towns in Bulgaria. No one can tell exactly when the foundation stone was laid here, although it must have been over 5000 years ago. Spend some time at leisure, walking along the pedestrian downtown streets. Dinner in a restaurant in the Old town, where they often have jazz music in the evening. Overnight at hotel in Plovdiv.
Day 5 PLOVDIV – Starosel – PLOVDIV
Morning sightseeing tour of Plovdiv, including the Old City, visit the Archaeological museum and the Roman Theatre / 2nd c. A.D./. Stroll the narrow cobbled streets and admire the peaceful atmosphere of the Old town. Proceed with a tour to the Thracian Temple center at Starosel. In August 2000, archaeologists made another sensational discovery, finding a temple/grave, dating back to the V – IV c A.D. Gold-plated artifacts were found in the tomb, it is believed that they belonged to the Thracian ruler, possibly Sitalkes I. Back to Plovdiv for overnight.
OPTIONAL - 2-day EXTENSION : PLOVDIV – Kardjali – PERPERIKON - TATUL
Day 6 PLOVDIV – Rila monastery - SOFIA
Following breakfast, drive to the famous Rila monastery. Tour the largest monastery in the Balkans. With its unrivalled architecture and murals, you’ll understand why this marvel is included in the List of World Cultural Heritage. Lunch in a local restaurant.
Overnight in Sofia.
Day 7 SOFIA
After breakfast, sightseeing of Sofia, a city with 7000-year long history. Your Sofia highlights include the National Archaeological Museum, displaying the gold and silver Thracian treasures, and the Boyana Church, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site, one of Bulgaria's most significant historical treasures dating back to the 13th century. Other points of interest during the tour will be the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Rotunda of St George, roman ruins downtown Sofia.Farewell dinner in a local folk-style restaurant, with folk show and wine. Overnight in Sofia.
Day 8 SOFIA
After breakfast, our guide and driver will see you off to the airport, where tour ends.
2008 TOUR PRICE:
1,320 EUR per person for a party of 2-3. Single room supplement – 130.
995 EUR per person for a party of 4.
SERVICES INCLUDED:
Accommodation at:
- 1 overnight at a 3-star hotel in Rousse, Hotel Anna Palace,or similar
- 1 overnight at a 3-star hotel in Veliko Tarnovo; Allegro or similar,
- 1 overnight at a 3-star hotel in Kazanlak, hotel Palace,
- 2 overnight at a 3-star hotel in Plovdiv, hotel Dafi or similar,
- 2 overnight at a 3-star hotel in Sofia, Sveta Sofia/Lion/Niky, or similar,
- 7 breakfasts,
- 4 dinners,
- 1 lunch,
- 1 dinner with folk show & drinks,
- transfers upon arrival and departure,
- transportation by modern a/c car, according to above programme,
- entrance fees to museums and sites,
- English - speaking guide-escort throughout the tour;
Supplements:
1) Accommodation upgrade to 4-star hotels in Rousse, V.Tarnovo, Plovdiv and Sofia:
Per person - 80 EUR in double room, 135 EUR in single room
2) 2-day EXTENSION: PLOVDIV – Kardjali – PERPERIKON - TATUL
190 EUR per person for a party of 2-3.
160 EUR per person for a party of 4.
NOTE! This extension is recommended for people in good physical shape, fit to climb the rocks at Perperikon
Rock sanctuary.
EXCLUDED: - Air fare, - airport tax, - additional meals, - tips for guide, driver, hotel and restaurant staff,- items not specially mentioned above and/or in the itinerary,insurance, porterage.
RECOMMENDED PERIOD: April - June and September - October
