1 DAY
Arrival at Sofia International Airport. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation at the hotel. Dinner. Overnight in Sofia.

2 DAY
Breakfast. Full day trip to the Rila Monastery. It is the largest and the most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria, built in the 10th century. Visit to the monastery church “Nativity of the Virgin”. One of its greatest valuables is the wooden iconostasis, some 14th and 15th century icons, wall paintings, made by the famous artist Zahari Zograph. Walk around the monastery – the Hrelyo Tower, the old kitchen, the History Museum. Drive to the town of Bansko – one of the best mountain ski resorts in the country. Although it has inherited century-long history, in recent years it gains popularity with the annual Jazz Festival. Visit to the “St. Trinity” Church, which is the largest, most interesting and rich in the Pirin area. The ceiling features a sky with stars; the icon screen of Master Velyan Ognev is a big fantasy in wood. Of great value is the icon collection of the town. Accommodation and welcome dinner, overnight in Bansko.

3 DAY
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Melnik. Walking tour of the smallest town in Bulgaria, resting amidst gently rounded hills covered with vineyards and orchards and the incredible sand pyramids that look like the Colorado Grand Canyon. Visit to the Rozhen Monastery /13th/ – one of the biggest monasteries in the Pirin Mountain, well preserved until today. The monastery reached its peak in the 19th century, when it became a regional centre of Orthodox Cristianity and owned a lot of land in the area. In the afternoon departure for Sofia. Accommodation at the hotel. Dinner and overnight.

4 DAY
Breakfast. Drive to the Bachkovo Monastery. The monastery dates back to the 11th century and is one of the most important and well preserved bulgarian monasteries. It is known and appreciated for the unique combination of Bysantine, Georgian and Bulgarian culture, united by the common faith. Visit to the monastery church of the Virgin Mary /dating from 1604/, which treasures the wonder-working icon of the Virgin Mary Eleusa from 1310. Walk around the monastery. Drive to Plovdiv. Accommodation at the hotel. Free time for walk in the Old Town of Plovdiv. Dinner and overnight.

5 DAY
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to the town of Shipka and the Shipka Monastery. Visit to the Shipka Memorial Church, designed in a 17th century Moscow style. It has been raised in memory of the Russian, Ukranian and Bulgarian soldiers, who gave their lives for the liberation of Bulgaria during the Russian-Turkish war 1877-1878. Drive to the Sokolski Monastery /built in 1833/ and tour of the monastery. The monastery chapel treasures icons painted by Zahari Zograf. The eight-spout fountain constructed by Kolyo Ficheto is in the middle of the monastery courtyard. Drive to the Dryanovo Monastery “St. Archangel Michael”. During the April revolt in 1876 it was the scene of a heroic battle between the Bulgarian revolutionaries and the numerous Turkish army. Tour of the monastery. Drive to Veliko Tarnovo in the late afternoon. Accommodation, dinner and overnight in Veliko Tarnovo.

6 DAY
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to the Preobrazhenski Monastery. Tour of the monastery. It is a remarkable example of the Bulgarian Revival Art. When the monastery was reconstructed in 1825, the master builder Nikola Fichev did the construction of the church, while the great painter Zahari Zograf is the author of the wall paintings of the same church. The icons in the smaller church, painted by the famous Stanislav Dospevski, are also of high artistic value. Drive to the town of Ruse, located ot the right bank of the Danube River. Walking tour of the city and free time. Drive to the village of Ivanovo. Sightseeing of the unique Ivanovo Rock Monasteries, included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. It is noted for the beautiful and well preserved medieval frescoes. The monastery complex owes much of its fame of 13th and 14th century paintings in 5 of the rock churches, fine examples of the Bulgarian Medieval Art. Drive back to Veliko Tarnovo. After dinner – the show “Tsarevets in sounds and lights” /upon request/. Overnight in Veliko Tarnovo.

7 DAY
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to the Troyan Monastery, located in the village of Oreshak and tour of the monastery. The miraculous icon “Three-handed Virgin” is kept in the church of the monastery. Drive to the Glozhene Monastery and tour of the monastery. In the afternoon departure for Sofia. Accommodation at the hotel. Farewell dinner at a traditional restaurant with folklore music and dances. Overnight in Sofia.

8 DAY
After breakfast visit to the Dragalevski Monastery, located in the foothills of Vitosha Mountain. Transfer to the airport and departure.

SUPPLEMENTS:
Single room supplement – 110 EUR;
Dinner at a traditional restaurant with folklore music and dances – 25 EUR.

THE PRICE INCLUDES:
Arrival and departure transfers;
7 nights accommodation at hotels in Sofia 3*, Bansko 3*, Plovdiv 3*, Veliko Tarnovo 3*;
Meals on HB basis included – breakfast and dinner;
Air-conditioned motor coach throughout;
All excursions;
Professional tour-guiding;
Special lectures on bus during long rides;
All entry taxes and service charges.
THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
Personal expenses and entry taxes for museums visited individually;
The “Tsarevets in Sounds and Lights” show is subject to extra confirmation and supplement;
Dinner at a traditional restaurant with folklore music and dances.

DISCOUNTS:
Children up to 12 years – 96 EUR;
3rd person in a DBL room – 13 EUR.

SPECIAL RESERVATION CONDITIONS:
The hotel reservations are guaranteed as a rule, when they are made more than 21 days prior to arrival. For requests made less than 21 days prior to arrival, additional confirmation of hotel reservations is needed. Additional confirmation of hotel reservations is needed at National Holidays/Events and Official Orthodox Holidays, such as Christmas, New Year, Easter, Rose Festival /1st week of June/, 6th May, 6th September, 22nd September, etc. For early group reservations /min. 6 rooms/, a 4-star hotel can be provided in Sofia and Plovdiv at the same rate.

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