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Activity note: Check-in available from 2:00 p.m.
Dinner: Welcome Dinner at the hotel. Unless otherwise noted, dinners on this program are a 3-course set menu. Please note that water is included in the program cost at all meals.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 8.5 miles (13 km), approximately 45 minutes 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: Hotel dining room. On this program, breakfasts will offer a typical European style breakfast buffet with breads, cheeses, cold-cuts, yogurt, fruit, cereals, juice, milk, coffee, tea and water.
Morning: Expert-led city excursion 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. Unless otherwise noted, lunches on this program are a 3-course set menu.
Afternoon: Our walking excursion 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 enjoy some free time in town. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. 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. Later in the afternoon, hear a lecture on "Bulgaria Today."
Dinner: Explore local fare on your own.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 211 miles (340 km), 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: Hotel dining room.
Morning: Depart Sofia for Plovdiv. En route we 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: Continue our scenic drive through the Rila Mountains via the town of Samokov, where we will stop for a short walk. Arrive in Plovdiv and settle in at the hotel.
Dinner: Hotel dining room.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Walking approximately 1.25 miles, approximately 3 hours; Standing for up to 2.5 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: 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 take an expert-led city excursion to the fabulous Roman Theatre (built in the 2nd century during the time of Emperor Trajan); the Klianti house-museum in the Old Town; and the permanent exhibition of Zlatyu Boyadziev, 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 c. with exceptional architecture, design and decoration, and beautiful Roman mosaic floors, covered with two layers of Roman mosaics with total area of over 2000 sq.m. 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 free time in town. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. 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: Explore local fare on your own.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 68 miles (110 km) for approximately 2 hours; Walking up to a mile, approximately 30 minutes, and standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast: Hotel dining room.
Morning: Transfer to Kazanlak. We 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. 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 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.
Lunch: At a local restaurant.
Afternoon: Arrive in Kazanlak and settle in to the hotel, before taking a sightseeing walk in town, including a visit to the beautiful History Museum Iskra, housing the latest breathtaking archaeological discoveries from the Valley of the Thracian kings. 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 4 BC - 3 BC. Afterwards, we will enjoy a private choir performance by local non-professional singers. Before dinner, you will have a little time to walk around, shop for rose products, or have a coffee.
Dinner: At the hotel. Enjoy Bulgarian folk dancing.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 198 miles (320 km), approximately 5 hours; Walking up to a mile over 2 hours, standing about 1.5 hours; cobblestones and pavement.
Breakfast: Hotel dining room.
Morning: We depart for Varna. En route 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 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 11th - 14th centuries at the time of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom).
Lunch: At a local restaurant.
Afternoon: Take an expert-led excursion in the Old Town of Nessebar. Visit the Archaeology Museum and St. Stefan Church. Depart for Varna, arrive and settle in at the hotel.
Dinner: Hotel dining room.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Walking up to a mile, approximately 15 minutes, 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: Hotel dining room.
Morning: During our stay in Varna we visit the fabulous Archaeology Museum 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: Explore local fare on your own.
Afternoon: Free time in town. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. 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: At a local restaurant.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 214 miles (345 km), approximately 5.5 hours; Walking up to 1.25 miles over approximately 1 hour, standing for about 3 hours; ascents, descents, and stairs (during rain, stairs may be slippery)
Breakfast: Hotel dining room.
Morning: Transfer to Veliko Tarnovo. En route we 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). 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 continue our drive to visit the fascinating Thracian tomb of Sveshtari, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dating back to the 4th-3rd centuries BC, the tomb is an incredible monument of Thracian art and architecture. Arrive in Veliko Tarnovo and settle in at the hotel.
Dinner: Hotel dining room.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 6.25 miles, approximately 30 minutes; Walking up to 1 mile, approximately 30 minutes, standing up to 2.5 hours; cobblestones, pavement, ascents, descents, and stairs.
Breakfast: 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 expert-led city excursion through the medieval fortress on Tsarevets Hill and the Museum of the National Revival, where the First Bulgarian Constitution was adopted in 1879.
Lunch: Explore local fare on your own.
Afternoon: We 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 is connected with health and longevity. Bulgaria produces the healthiest yogurt in Europe. A local Bulgarian woman will show us how to make this authentic yogurt, and we will eat the healthy homemade yogurt with banitza (a cheese pastry). Then enjoy a short walking excursion in the Old Town where you will have some free time to explore before dinner.
Dinner: At a local restaurant.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 168 miles (270 km), approximately 4.5 hours; walking about .25 mile, standing up to 1 hour; cobblestones
Breakfast: Hotel dining room.
Morning: Transfer to Sofia. En route 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: Arrive in Sofia and settle in at your hotel.
Dinner: Farewell Dinner at the hotel.
Evening: At leisure.
Breakfast: Hotel dining room.
Morning: Transfer to Sofia Airport for departure flights. This concludes our program. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures.