+359 878 95 64 14
Bulgaria Tour Authentic Bulgaria
DAY BY DAY ITINERARY for the Bulgaria Tour Authentic Bulgaria
Day 1 – Arrive at the Sofia airport. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight.
B Overnight in hotel St George ***
Day 2 – Sofia – the Rila monastery – Melnik
In the morning – short tour by car of Sofia. Visit the St Alexander Nevski cathedral – the biggest in Bulgaria and the Balkan Peninsula. Departure to the Rila Monastery – the richest historical and architectural monument of the Orthodox enclave, founded in 10th century and transformed to the most important spiritual and cultural center of Bulgaria. The Monastery’s unrivalled architecture and murals will captivate you. In the monastery visit the Ethnographic museum – very rich with its carpets and rugs exhibition, jewelry, customs, buckles. Also you will visit four rooms decorated according to the typical styles of decoration of four regions of Bulgaria. Departure to the village of Melnik. Overnight.
B Accommodation in Melnik in family hotel Despot Slav***
Sofia – the Rila monastery – 130 km – 2 hours
The Rila monastery – Melnik – 120 km – 2 hours
Day 3 – Melnik – Dolen – Trigrad gorge – Trigrad
In the morning visit the Rozhen monastery situated 6 km from Melnik. Visit the Kordopulova house – the oldest Revival house in Bulgaria built in 1754. Departure to the little town of Trigrad. On the way pass through the village of Dolen – one of the villages where the old Bulgarian houses still exist in its original conditions, the time here has stopped long ago. Continue to the Trigrad gorge. The gorge itself is 6-7 kilometres long. At its bottom flows Trigrad River, which high waters created the vertical walls of the gorge, between 100-300 meters high, millions of years ago. At the foot of the highest cliffs of the gorge is the artificial entrance of Devil’s Throat Cave – the most popular tourist destination in the area. Devil’s Throat is famous with the 42 meters high underground waterfall inside it. An artificial tunnel leads to the so called Noisy Hall, where the waters of Trigrad River drop down through the natural entrance of the cave. The hall itself is impressive with its size. Waters of the river disappear through some small cracks inside the hall and flow as a karst spring on the surface again 500 metres away, at the bottom of the gorge. Arrive in Trigrad. Accommodation. Overnight.
B Accommodation in Trigrad in guest house Zora (or similar)
Melnik – Trigrad – 150 km – 3 hours 15 mins
Day 4 – Trigrad – Smolyan – Ardino – Glavatartsi – the “Womb” cave –Perperikon – the village of Madrets
Today you will admire the beauty of the Rhodopi mountain. After breakfast departure to the East Rhodоpi through the town of Smolyan and Ardino. First stop for a morning coffe is th evillage of Shiroka Laka.
Continue to the heart of the Rhodopi mountain. Stop at the Eagle’s rocks – a Thracian shrine dating to the 6th – 4th c. BC used for rituals and funerals. It is a big rock with around 90 niches cut in it. Presumably the Thracians kept here clay vessels and plaques related to the cult to the dead people. Under the rocks there are traces from other ancient facilities. Proceed to the Womb cave. Have some one an a half hour hike from the road to the cave. This significant Thracian shrine, a Temple of the Mother Goddess, relating to the feminine principle and the notion of fertility, was discovered only in 2001. In the late afternoon get to the village of Madrets where you will spend the overnight in a guest house run by local family.
B, D Accommodation in « Pri Sevda i Feti » guest house
Day 5 – Madrets – Plovdiv
In the morning visit the archaeologic complex of Perperikon, the largest megalith complex on the Balkans. Archaeologists have uncovered a giant multi-story palace and an imposing fortress built around the hill, with walls as thick as 2.8 m. Temples and quarters of residential buildings were also constructed in the fortress. Departure to Plovdiv – the second largest town of Bulgaria, an area since the time of Philip, King of Macedonia, father of Alexander The Great. Its unique location on these ancient crossroads has stimulated cultural and political influences from East and West civilizations and yet maintained its unique cultural identity. The most impressive building of Roman time that has come to us rising above the city is the Antique Amphitheatre by Emperor Mark Avrelii during the 2nd c. A.D. Its magnificent arcade adorned with marble statues is simply breath-taking. Visit the Ethographic museum housed in the biggest and the most beautiful house of the Old town – the Kuyumdzhioglu’s HouseThe Roman Stadium is also constructed during the II century and reproduces the layout in Delphi, Greece. Within the centre of the ancient major town of the Roman province of Thrace remains of stone paved streets, foundations of buildings and columns and ancient fortress walls and gates reside.
B Accommodation in Plovdiv in hotel « At the Renaissance Square » – an old Renaissance house turned into hotel
Day 6 – Plovdiv – Zheravna
In the morning take the road to one of the most picturesque villages in Bulgaria – Zheravna. Here you will admire 200 years old houses, cobble stone streets, stone walls surrounding yards with beautiful flowers and fruit trees. Today the village is an architectural reserve. It has been used as a natural decor for many Bulgarian and foreign movies. Not only you will feel like you are back to the 19th century, but here you will feel the warmness and hospitality of the Bulgarians.
Departure to Kotel. Visit the « Galatanskoto » School where you will admire a unique exposition of Bulgarian carpets and rugs. Here the visitor will see the most versicoloured carpets woven by the local master craftsmen. The exposition presents the development of the patterns and their complexity throughout the years starting from the most simple to the most complicated typical local patterns. The excibits are 150-200 years old, but they have not lost their glittering and saturated colours. Typical for the local rugs and carpets are the lucent colors and the geometrical figures. Next visit is the « Kiorpeva » house where has been represented the upholster of a house from the Renaissance period. The house was built in 1848 – 1852. Return to Zheravna. Accommodation. Overnight.
B Accommodation in Zheravna in Iovina Kashta
Day 7 – Zheravna – Madara – Sveshatry – Varna – two UNESCO sites in one day
In the morning deaprture to the Madara Horseman (UNESCO) – a bas-relief cut in a rock some 23 meters above the ground dating to the beginning of the 8th century.
The relief depicts a horseman in a natural pose with a sword in his hand. At the feet of the horse is a lion, and behind the rider is depicted his hunting dog. One legend has it that a Roman emperor was hunting on the plateau when he fell off the cliff and died. His relatives memorialized him by engaging a master to carve his image on the cliff. Continue to the Sveshtary Tomb (UNESCO) dating to the 4th – 3rd century BC. The tomb has a unique architectural decor, with polychrome half-human, half-plant caryatids and painted murals. It is a remarkable reminder of the culture of the Getes, a Thracian people who were in contact with the Hellenistic and Hyperborean worlds, according to ancient geographers. Departure to Varna. Drop off in your hotel. End of service.
The trajectory of the tour please see here: https://goo.gl/maps/SGZirMX99Up
PRICE INCLUDES:
ACCOMMODATION
TRANSFERS AND TRANSPORTATION
TOURS / GUIDES / FOOD
PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
Additional private expenses of a client
All that is not mentioned in section “Price includes”
Travel insurance package
Other meals than stated
Photo/video fees at sites and museums
Bank, credit card and pay pal fees
Our vehicles:
Our company is owner of the vehicles that we provide for the tours of our clients. All of them are very comfortable and fully insured. We are aware that your safety is most important, that is why we regularly renovate our car park. Our vehicles pass technical check every month and all of them have perfect air conditioners.
You can see our fleet here.
Confirmation
The travel arrangement and full-day or half-day tours will be officially booked once we have received a 30% deposit payment. After that you will receive a booking confirmation via e-mail. We kindly ask you to pay the balance not later than 7 days prior to your arrival, unless the booking is made 1 week prior to your arrival or if there is not an agreement for paying cash upon arrival.
Once we have received the payment, we will send the following to your e-mail address: the invoice, the vouchers (if you have booked self guided tour), and all the other necessary travel-related documents and information.
For visa regime and customs restrictions
Please use the following link
Cancellation Policy
The customer can cancel the travel arrangement and full-day or half-day tour at any moment; however, Easy Bulgaria Travel shall keep a certain portion of the paid amount which will depend on the cancellation period, and which is specified as follows:
21 days prior to departure – no cancellation fee will be applied
21 to 14 days prior to departure – 30 % of the price of a travel arrangement or tour
14 to 7 days prior to departure – 50 % of the price of a travel arrangement or tour
7 to 3 days prior to departure – 80 % of the price of a travel arrangement or tour
3 to 0 days prior to departure – 100 % of the price of a travel arrangement or tour
After the departure or no-show – 100 % of the price of a travel arrangement or tour
In cases of extraordinary circumstances (like flood, fire, earthquaqe or other), Easy Bulgaria Travel Ltd reserves the right to change itineraries. Easy Bulgaria Travel Ltd will certainly always try to meet customers’ requests and return all the funds that were not spent for the purpose of same travel arrangement or a tour.
Easy Bulgaria Travel Ltd wishes you a very pleasant stay in Bulgaria and will be extremely happy to be your host and to show you the beauty of our country!
Regards,
Pavlina
Veliko Tarnovo – hotel Gurko
Hotel and Tavern Complex Gurko is situated on Gurko Street in the Old town where you can see lots of traditional Bulgarian buildings from the XVIII and XIX century. The amphitheatrical position of all houses around creates a fascinating picture in the same heart of Veliko Tarnovo. As an important part of this landscape, Hotel Gurko provides romance and comfort by the banks of the river, overlooking the Sveta Gora Hill and Four-Horseman monument. Being in the immediate vicinity of the famous Samovodska Street, where you can enjoy the various small workshops that present typical Bulgarian crafts, makes it comfortable for the tourists during their holiday. At the same time the hotel is just a few minutes away from the centre and well-known Carevec Hill, where you can watch unique “Sound and Light Show”, which presents the history of the town.
Room Size: 30 m²
Bed Options: 1 queen or 2 twin
– air conditioning
– free WiFi
– flat-screen TV with cable channels
– minibar
– bathroom with a shower or bath, free toiletries and a hairdryer
Room Facilities: Air conditioning, Hardwood/Parquet floors, Wardrobe/Closet, Hairdryer, Free toiletries, Toilet, Bathroom, Bathtub or shower, Cable channels, Flat-screen TV, Minibar, Wake-up service, Towels, Linens
Free WiFi is available in all rooms.
Plovdiv – hotel Odeon
Centrally located in Plovdiv, Hotel Odeon offers colourfully designed accommodation just 50 m from the Main Square and 150 m away from the Roman Theatre Plovdiv. Free Wi-Fi is provided.
Air-conditioned rooms and apartments feature carpeted floors and stylish decorations in baroque-inspired classical style. A refrigerator and cable TV are provided. The private bathroom comes with a hairdryer.
The Odeon Hotel’s restaurant features oakwood furniture, painted glass murals, a fireplace and precious paintings. The restaurant serves vegetable dishes, traditional Bulgarian and international cuisine, as well as a wide selection of wines. Special vegan menus are available on request.
Room Size: 20 m²
Bed Options: 2 twin or 1 king
Colorful room featuring a private bathroom with a shower. Cable TV, a seating area and a sofa are provided. Each room of this type is individually decorated.
Room Facilities: Air conditioning, Iron, Desk, Ironing facilities, Sitting area, Carpeted, Sofa, Mosquito net, Wardrobe/Closet, Fold-up bed, Sofa bed, Shower, Hairdryer, Free toiletries, Toilet,
Bathroom, Bathtub or shower, TV, Telephone, Cable channels, Tea/Coffee maker, Refrigerator, Electric kettle, Wake-up service
Zheravna – Yovina Kashta
In guest house ”Yovina House Jeravna” you will find peace, quiet, clean nature and hospitality. The perfect place to escape from the big-city stress and reload a lot of energy and strength. The beauty of nature and traditional Bulgarian culture will turn the time spent with us in an unforgettable experience. The meeting with the spirit of Jeravna will diversify and enrich your free time. Delicious traditional dishes in an atmosphere of regenerating silence, interfered only by the whisper of legends and stories, help you forget the quickened pace of everyday life.
Yovina House Zheravna has maintained ethnographic look and revival atmosphere that will return back in time, but will not rob your vacation of convenience and luxury. The colours of the stripped rugs and comfort of wood claddings and carvings will give you pleasure, which will combine with hospitality and attention to each guest. The house has 5 rooms totally 11 guests can be hosted. Each room is equipped with bathroom and hairdryer, satellite TV, local heating and free WiFi. There is a small restaurant where we serve delicious traditional dishes. The floors are covered with Kotlenski carpets woven by hand of grandmother Mika Zafirina. The house has a spacious summer garden on two levels, own parking for 4 cars, barbecue terrace.