Day 1    SOFIA AIRPORT – SOFIA HOTEL
Our guide will meet you at the airport and escort for a transfer to your downtown hotel. Orientation tour on the way to the hotel. Overnight in Sofia.   

Day 2    SOFIA
Walk downtown and see St. George Rotunda, Alexander Nevski Memorial Church, 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. Visit the Archeological museum and admire the Thracian gold treasures. Bulgarian archaeologists found recently a mask to rival Agamemnon's own.  Prof Kitov, who made the latest archeological discoveries in the Valley of the Thracian Kings said. "It proves that it's not just the ancient Egyptians or Greeks that were great peoples. The Thracians were a magnificent civilisation too. “ Special dinner with folklore performance, local cuisine and wine. Overnight in Sofia.

Day 3    SOFIA  - Koprivshtica - Beklemeto Pass – Troyan – BELI OSAM
After breakfast depart to Koprivshtica -  a museum town of Bulgarian National Revival architecture, a town where the past seems to come alive. Situated at an altitude of some 3,000 feet above sea level amid lovely meadows and pine forests, the town has long had a magnetic appeal for tourists. Tour of the town (mainly on foot) includes visit to the beautiful old Bulgarian-style houses of Oslekov, Debeljanov, and Kableshkov, which will fascinate you not only with their original architecture but also with their interior 19-century decoration and furnishing. Every single house here is part and parcel of Bulgaria’s history. It was here that the first shot of the April Uprising against Ottoman rule rang out in 1876. Although drenched in blood, the uprising resounded in all of Europe. It is a miracle that Koprivshtica itself was spared destruction and survives in its original appearance.
Cross the Balkan range at Troyan-Karnare (Beklemeto) Pass and enjoy some breathtaking views over the Thracian Valley.
Home-made dinner and overnight in a guest house in Beli Osam, a small village near Troyan.

Day 4    BELI OSAM  - Troyan/Apriltzi  -  BELI OSAM
Stay with the family and explore the Bulgarian village life-style. Visit the neighbouring Troyan monastery, the third largest in Bulgaria. Dinner and overnight in a guest house in Beli Osam.

Day 5    BELI OSAM - Sevlievo  - Gabrovo – TRYAVNA
Following breakfast, drive to Tryavna, with a stop over in Sevlievo and Gabrovo.
Tryavna still preserves the spirit and talent of the 17th century artists in the field of woodcarving and icon painting. Discover Tryavna on foot, a visit to Daskalov’s House (1804), museum of woodcarving is a must.  Dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight in Tryavna in a family-run guesthouse.

Day 6     TRYAVNA AND SURROUNDINGS
Drive to Gabrovo/Etara open-air ethnographic museum; Bozhenci museum village. Back to Tryavna for overnight.

Day 7    TRYAVNA –Arbanassi – VELIKO TARNOVO
Full day tour to Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi museum village. Veliko Tarnovo is Bulgaria’s Mediaeval capital city. Picturesquely situated on the three hills circled by the Yantra River, Veliko Tarnovo still preserves the typical 19th century architecture with its houses perched one above the other along the sloping hills.  Enjoy a half-day city tour, including visits to the  - Tzarevets Royal Hill, Samovodska market place (charshiya); Arbanassi museum village.  Dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight in Veliko Tarnovo.
   
Day 8    VELIKO TARNOVO – VARNA
En route to Varna you will visit Madara Horesman – on the UNESCO Cultural Heritage List. In the Treasury of the historical museum in Preslav you will see the richest collection of mediaeval seals.Dinner on your own. Overnight in Varna area.

Day 9    VARNA – NESSEBAR
After breakfast you will discover the ancient sites of Varna and the Museum of History, displaying the oldest man-made gold (45000-42000 B.C.) Tour proceeds to the museum town of Nessebar, picturesquely situated on a small rocky peninsula. Stop for an overnight in a town, which is another UNESCO' s World Cultural Heritage site. Different civilizations have left their marks jealously guarded today on the tiny peninsula. Dinner on your own.Overnight in Nessebar, or neighbouring Sunny Beach resort.

Day 10    NESSEBAR – Sliven - the Rose Valley – KALOFER/KAZANLAK
After breakfast depart to Kazanlak, the main city of the Rose Valley. Visit the Thracian beehive tomb (replica) in Kazanlak, a unique monument of the Thracian Culture, included in UNESCO 's List of World Cultural Heritage.
Dinner and overnight in the Rose Valley, in a 3-* hotel in Kazanlak.

Day 11    KALOFER/KAZANLAK - PLOVDIV
Following breakfast, drive south to the Thracian Valley and Plovdiv.
Afternoon at leisure. Drive to a local winery in the vicinity of Plovdiv and enjoy a wine tasting session. Overnight  in Plovdiv.

Day 12    PLOVDIV
Morning sightseeing tour of Plovdiv, including the Old City, visit the Roman Theatre / 2nd c. A.D./ and the Ethnographic museum. Stroll the narrow cobbled streets and admire the peaceful athmosphere of the Old town. In the afternoon departure to Batchkovo monastery. The ossuary contains some murals of great value. The building itself was built in the 11th c A.D. and painted during the 11th -12th centuries. In the Refectory you can see the murals of the Last Judgement, painted in the 11th c., which is the oldest non-canonical painting in Bulgaria. Dinner in a local restaurant in the Old Town. Overnight at hotel in Plovdiv.

Day 13    PLOVDIV –Velingrad – Yundola – Bansko – SANDANSKI/MELNIK
Drive through the Western Rhodope Mountains, via Velingrad to Bansko museum town.
This quiet small town with 17th c. old architecture is situated at the foot of the Pirin mountain National Park, included in the List of World Natural Heritage. Enjoy a walking sightseeing tour of Bansko.
Proceed to the museum town of Melnik and taste the famous Melnik red wine. Scenically located at the foothills of sandstone pyramids, this smallest town in Bulgaria is famous for its ancient architecture and red wine. Walking sightseeing tour, visit one of the old houses, masterpiece of early 17th c. local architecture. Dinner in a local restaurant, home-made cuisine.
Overnight in MELNIK / or SANDANSKI. Melnik – Sandanski – 20 km (1/2 hrs).
Note:    Accommodation option : 4-* SPA hotel Sandanski /supplement for the overnight/
   
Day 14    SANDANSKI/MELNIK– Rila monastery  - SOFIA
After breakfast, drive to Sofia, en route visiting 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 – fresh trout menu. Dinner on your own. Overnight in Sofia.
 
Day 15    SOFIA – SOFIA AIRPORT
Your guide and driver will see you off at the airport, where the tour ends


2008 TOUR PRICE IN EUR: 
1,640 EUR per person for a group of two to three people. Price based on double occupancy. Single supplement is 170 EUR.
1,200 EUR per person for a party of four people.

ABOVE RATES INCLUDE:

• 3 overnights in Sofia, at the 3-* downtown hotel,  Niky, or St. Sofia,
• 2 overnights staying with a family in Beli Osam- the region of Troyan,
• 2 overnights in Tryavna,at a family-run guest house,
• 1 overnight in Veliko Tarnovo, at a 3-* hotel,
• 1 overnight in Varna, at a 3-* hotel  in Varna region,
• 1 overnight in Nessebar at a 3-* hotel,
• 1 overnight at a 3-* hotel in Kazanlak, in the Valley of Roses,
• 2 overnights in Plovdiv, at a 3-* Dafi hotel,
• 1 overnight in Melnik, at a 3-*  Despot Slav, or similar,
• 14 breakfasts,
• 1 lunch,
• 8 dinners,
• Transportation by  private car/van, as per programme,incl. Driver’s expenses, fuel, taxes,
• Airport pick-up and drop-off transfers.
• Entrance fees to museums and sites, as per programme,
• English-speaking guide-escort throughout the tour;