Bulgaria for Beginners

5-day/4-night tour of Sofia, Plovdiv, Rila monastery, an excellent introduction to the well-known sites of Bulgaria. Highlights include visits to 2 World Cultural Heritage Sites - Rila Monastery and  Boyana Church /13 c AD/.

Day 1          SOFIA
Arrival at Sofia airport. Our guide will meet you and assist for a transfer to hotel. Short familiarization tour of your  hotel’s vicinity,showing places of interest,shops,post-office, etc.Dinner and overnight in Sofia.

Day 2         SOFIA
After breakfast  - sightseeing tour of Sofia, a city with 7000-year long history. Enjoy the sightseeing tour of Sofia, a pleasant city of boulevards and open spaces and see the city’s most important places of worship – Alexander Nevski Memorial Church and St. George Rotunda. Walk along the main streets and see the most important landmarks in the city centre -  St.Nedelya Square and St. Nedelya Church, St. Petka of the Saddlers,  the Synagogue,  the Central Baths,  the Mosque, the underpass outside the President's Office, Alexander Battenberg Square, the National Theatre, the former Royal Palace, the Russian Church, St. Sophia Church and the Monument to the Unknown Soldier. Your guide will make you feel the atmosphere of this city which history dates back to the ancient times. Visit the National History museum.Tour proceeds with panoramic sightseeing of the National Library, Sofia University, Borissova Garden, and the National Palace of Culture. Drive back to the hotel. Dinner and overnight in Sofia.

Day 3             SOFIA -Rila monastery - PLOVDIV
After breakfast drive to Rila Monastery. Rila monastery is located some 120 km to the south of Sofia, in the heart of the Rila Mountain. Founded in the 10th century, it has been the biggest spiritual and cultural centre in Bulgaria for hundreds of years. On a number of occasions it was destroyed and burnt down, only to rise again like a phoenix from the ashes.The visitor’s first sight of Rila monastery huge towering walls gives the impression of a fortress. However, a step through the archway produces a wonderful surprise. Visiting the Monastery is a must. The Monastery’s unrivalled architecture and murals will captivate you. The Rila monastery is the largest in the Balkans and included in the List of World Cultural Heritage. Tour of the monastery includes a visit to the Monastery Church, which is of particular artistic value, for it was adorned by the foremost 19-century masters of the Samokov, Bansko and Debar schools of painting and woodcarving. In the afternoon proceed to Plovdiv via Borovets mountain resort. Overnight at hotel in Plovdiv.

Day 4         PLOVDIV – Batchkovo monastery - PLOVDIV
Following breakfast depart to Plovdiv. Bulgaria’s second ranking town, Plovdiv, is a worthy rival to Sofia. Its location astride the river Maritsa, and its six hills, which are prominent features on the Thracian plane, indicates the strategic significance of the city. It is one of the oldest and most colourful towns in Bulgaria. No one can tell exactly when the foundation stone was laid here, although it must have been over 5000 years ago. Old Plovdiv on Trimontium hill is the centre of Bulgarian national revival architecture at its height. You will enjoy a tour including a visit to the Old Town, the 2000yrs old Roman Theatre; the Byzantine and medieval fortifications, the 15th century mosque. Walk along the narrow cobbled streets and admire the silence and tranquillity of this historic town. In the afternoon drive to Batchkovo Monastery – tour of the monastery, founded in the 11^th century. Backhovo Monastery is valuable primarily for its ossuary and its church, in which 11^th to 14^th century frescoes are preserved.  Late afternoon drive back to Plovdiv. Dinner in a tavern in the Old city. Overnight at hotel in Plovdiv.

Day 5      PLOVDIV- SOFIA
After breakfast you will be transferred to Sofia airport, to catch your connecting flight.  

2008 TOUR PRICE IN EUR:
580 EUR per person for a group of two to three people. Price based on double occupancy. Single supplement is 75 EUR.
470 EUR per person for a party of four people.

 RATES INCLUDE:

• 2 overnights in Sofia at the 3-star hotel Lion, Niky or similar,

• 2 overnights in Plovdiv at the 3-star Dafi hotel , or similar,

• buffet breakfast,

• 2 dinners,

• 2 lunches,

• transfers upon arrival and departure,

• transportation by car or minibus, according to above programme,

• English-speaking guide throughout the tour,

• entrance fees according to above programme,

RATES DO NOT INCLUDE:

• air fare,

• additional meals,

• tips,

• items not specially mentioned above and/or in the itinerary,

• insurance,

• Porterage at airport and hotels.
  

VALIDITY:	THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
Note:	Supplements :
	Accommodation in Plovdiv (2 nights) during the periods of the Trade Fair: May 11– 17,2008 and September 28 -October 4,2008 : Per person in single room - 70 EUR Per person in double room - 30 EUR