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Bulgaria

Treasures of Bulgaria: Ancient Ruins, Roses and Revival

Program No. 19207RJ
If you are looking for a place to explore off-the-tourist paths, then join us in Bulgaria, a nation rich with ancient wonders, natural beauty and people eager to show you their land.
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Start
Small Group
Length
12 days
Rating (4.9)
Activity Level
Starts at
3,399
Flights start at
1,150

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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
12 days
11 nights
What's Included
25 meals ( 10B, 8L, 7D )
2 expert-led lectures
14 expert-led field trips
1 hands-on experience
1 performance
An experienced Group Leader
10 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 2:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
After checking in to the hotel and getting your room, take some time to freshen up and relax before our Orientation session. Orientation: 5:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will learn from the Group Leader and a series of local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips. Program-related travel and transfers will be via private motorcoach. Periods in the schedule designated as "Free time" and "At leisure" offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 8.5 miles, under 1 hour riding time. Walking up to 1 mile and standing up to 2 hours; indoors, pavement, stairs in museum. Extent and duration of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After breakfast, we will hear a lecture by a local expert on “Bulgaria Today." Next, we will board the motorcoach and go on an expert-led city field trip in Sofia including the National History Museum, where magnificent Thracian treasures of ancient gold are on display, and the Boyana Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Boyana Church is one of the most important and valuable antiquities, of exceptional historical and artistic significance. It is situated at the foot of the mountain of Vitosha. The oldest part of the church dates back to the early 11th century. In 1295, the second part of the church was built and the rest was added in the middle of the 19th century.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Our walking field trip continues in the downtown area to see some of the city’s most significant landmarks: St. Alexander Nevski memorial church; St. Sophia’s Basilica; St. George's rotunda (4th century); and Roman Serdica fortifications dating from the 3rd-5th century. Then, we’ll enjoy some time in town to explore independently. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities, which can be found in the first Information Packet. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 211 miles, approximately 5.5 hours driving time over course of the day; walking about a quarter of a mile and standing up to 1.5 hours; cobblestones and some stairs.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
Following check-out, we’ll depart Sofia for Plovdiv. En route we will visit the Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the majestic Rila Mountains. The monastery is an original national museum with a history that dates back to the 10th century. The present building was built in the mid-19th century (1816–1848). Located amidst gorgeous mountain scenery, it is considered the highest achievement of Bulgarian monumental architecture of the National Revival period.
Lunch:
At a restaurant in the mountains.
Afternoon:
We’ll continue our scenic drive through the Rila Mountains. Arriving in Plovdiv, we will check in at the hotel and settle in.
Dinner:
In the hotel dining room.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Walking over 1 mile, approximately 3 hours; standing for up to 3.5 hours total; the streets in the Old Town in Plovdiv are mainly made of cobblestone. It can be difficult to walk on, as the stones are sometimes big and have gaps between them. It is also hilly, and has many stairs.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
Plovdiv is majestic! The ancient city of Plovdiv has an astonishing historical and cultural heritage, an amazing Old Town, and has applied to the UNESCO List of World Cultural Heritage. We will begin our morning with an expert-led walking field trip to the fabulous Roman Theatre (built in the 2nd century during the time of Emperor Trajan); a National Revival House museum in the old town; and view the permanent exhibition of Ziatyu Boyadzhiev, a most authentic and original 20th-century painter.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We visit the amazing Bishop’s Basilica of Philippopolis (4th-6th century) with exceptional architecture, design and decoration, and beautiful Roman mosaic floors, covered with two layers of Roman mosaics with total area of over 2000 square meters. The archaeological research, conservation and restoration of the Basilica were supported jointly by America for Bulgaria Foundation and Plovdiv Municipality. In the afternoon, enjoy some time in town to explore independently. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Dinner:
On your own to explore local fare.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 68 miles, approximately 2 hours riding time. Walking up to a mile, approximately 1/2 hour; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
After checking out of the hotel, we will begin our transfer to Kazanlak. We will take a picturesque drive through the famous Valley of Roses to explore the town of Kazanlak. The Valley of Roses is the home of the exquisite Bulgarian rose oil, also known as “attar of roses,” and is Bulgaria’s major center of rose oil production. We’ll visit a rose oil distillery in the area to learn about centuries-long traditions of rose oil production and its modern development.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
The area around Kazanlak became famous for recent breathtaking archaeological finds dating back to the golden times of the Thracian city of Seuthopolis, and therefore has been named the Valley of the Thracian Kings. Here we’ll learn about Thracian history and culture and will visit the replica site of the world-famous 4th century BCE Thracian tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Upon arrival in Kazanlak, we will check in at the hotel before taking a walk in town with the Group Leader, including a visit to the beautiful History Museum Iskra, housing the latest breathtaking archaeological discoveries from the Valley of the Thracian Rulers. We will see the bronze head of Seuthes III, King of Odryssoi, the founder of Seuthopolis; an incredibly beautiful gold wreath; and many other gold and silver artifacts from the late 4th century BCE. Afterwards, we will enjoy a private choir performance by local non-professional singers. Before dinner, we will have a little time to walk around or simply relax.
Dinner:
At the hotel, we’ll enjoy an exclusive performance of Bulgarian folk dancing during dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 198 miles, approximately 5 hours riding time. Walking up to a mile over 2 hours, standing about 1.5 hours; cobblestones and pavement.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
After checking out of the hotel, we will depart for Varna. En route, we will stop to visit Nessebar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nessebar, which was once ancient Messambria, is another renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site in Bulgaria. It is particularly beautiful both in its location on a headland by the sea, and because of its many brightly painted 18th- and 19th- century CE traditional timber houses and cobbled streets. It is also famous for the impressive remains of fortifications and for the well-preserved late Byzantine churches (built in the period from the 11th-14th centuries at the time of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom).
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will begin our expert-led field trip in the Old Town of Nessebar, adventuring through the Archaeology Museum and St. Stefan Church. After, we will continue our transfer to Varna. Upon arrival, we will check in at the hotel and settle in.
Dinner:
In the hotel dining room.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Walking up to a mile, under 1/2 hour; standing up to 1.5 hours; stairs and pavement. Extent and duration of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
During our stay in Varna, we will visit the fabulous Archaeology Museum with an expert to see the renowned collection of the world’s oldest manufactured gold. It was excavated in a prehistoric necropolis close to the city dating back to 4600-4200 BC. Varna civilization was a highly developed civilization, the most ancient civilization of Europe, which was even older than the Mesopotamian and the Egypt civilizations. That civilization still keeps its secrets and sacred knowledge.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 214 miles, approximately 5.5 hours riding time. Walking over 1 mile, approximately 1 hour; standing for about 3 hours; ascents, descents, and stairs (during rain, stairs may be slippery).
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
We will check out of the hotel and begin our motorcoach transfer to Veliko Tarnovo. En route we will visit some of the most remarkable sites of northeastern Bulgaria, including the outstanding 8th century rock-cut relief of Madara Horse Rider, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the only one of this kind in Europe. The sacred rocks of the Madara plateau and the caves inside them were a major spiritual center during the period of the First Bulgarian State (681-1085 CE). In 2008, this site was declared the national symbol of Bulgaria, based on the results of a national survey.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant en route.
Afternoon:
We will continue our drive to visit the fascinating Thracian tomb of Sveshtari, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dating back to the 4th-3rd centuries BCE, the tomb is an incredible monument of Thracian art and architecture. Upon arrival in Veliko Tarnovo, we will check in at the hotel and take some time to freshen up before dinner.
Dinner:
In the hotel dining room.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving over 6 miles, approximately 1/2 hour riding time. Walking up to 1 mile, approximately 30 minutes; standing up to 2.5 hours; cobblestones, pavement, ascents, descents, and stairs.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
The scenery of Veliko Turnovo is breathtaking. Perched on steep hills overlooking the Yantra River, Veliko Turnovo is one of the most picturesque Bulgarian towns. The glory of Veliko Turnovo comes from the middle ages. It was a capital city of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (1185 – 1396), where arts, culture and spiritual life flourished. During the time of the Bulgarian National Revival (18th – 19th century) it was an important center of education, crafts and trade, and played the major role in the establishment of modern Bulgaria after the liberation from Ottoman domination in 1878, being the birth-place of the First Bulgarian Constitution. This morning we will enjoy an optional expert-led city excursion through the medieval fortress on Tsarevets Hill.
Lunch:
On your own.
Afternoon:
We will explore the nearby village-museum of Arbanasi, famous for its traditional architecture, and beautifully decorated churches and monasteries, dating from the 17th to 18th centuries. We will visit the most beautifully decorated St. Nativity Church. It was painted in 1597 and 1638. The Church is famous with its fascinating scene, “Circle of Life.” After that, we will have a lesson on how to make Bulgarian yogurt (Kiselo Mlyako). Bulgarian yogurt is one of the symbols of Bulgaria. Since ancient times, it has been connected with health and longevity. Bulgaria produces the healthiest yogurt in Europe. A local will show us how to make this authentic yogurt, and we will eat the healthy homemade yogurt with banitza (a cheese pastry). Then we’ll enjoy a short walking field trip in the Old Town, where we will have some time to explore independently before dinner.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 168 miles, approximately 4.5 hours riding time. Walking under 1/2 mile, standing up to 1 hour; cobblestones.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
After check-out, we will begin our transfer by motorcoach back to Sofia. En route, with the Group Leader, we will visit the ethnographic and architectural reserve of Etara, which is a beautiful museum-village with numerous artisan workshops. It is a unique open-air museum of traditional architecture and ethnography, reflecting the atmosphere of a typical Bulgarian town of the 18th-19th centuries.
Lunch:
At a restaurant en route.
Afternoon:
As we arrive and check in to our hotel in Sofia, take some time to settle in and prepare for dinner.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 12:00 Noon. See your program's “Getting There” information regarding transfers.
Breakfast:
At the hotel. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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