BEST of BULGARIAN HISTORY… with FriendsTravel.com

9 Night European Luxury Travel Tour

Day 1: SOFIA.

Arrive Sofia and transfer to a city center hotel. After some time to nap (depending on flight arrival time), freshen up and recover from our overnight flight we will gather for a festive welcome dinner.

Day 2: KOPRIVSHTITSA / KAZANLAK.

After breakfast departure to the museum town of Koprivshtitsa for a walking tour with a local guide. Then continue to Kazanlak, the capital of the famous Bulgarian rose-oil production, for a visit to the unique Museum of Roses; and then on to the Kazanlak Thracian tomb, a UNESCO designated site and one of the best preserved monuments of Thracian art in Bulgaria. Dinner and overnight.

Day 3: ETARA / Veliko TARNOVO / ARBANASSI.

Today we visit the open-air ethnographic museum at Etara; the only open-air museum on the Balkan Peninsula. Proceeding afterwards to the town of Veliko Tarnovo – the former Bulgarian capital where we will enjoy a guided city tour. Dinner and overnight.

Day 4: ARBANASSI / IVANOVO ROCK CHURCHES / ROUSSE.

A morning walking tour of the architectural reserve of Arbanassi and a visit to the Ivanovo Rock Church (UNESCO site), dug into the ground with hidden cupolas. The church hides a genuine art gallery with over 3,500 stunningly realistic figures and Biblical scenes painted by unknown artists throughout the ages. Dinner and overnight in Rousse, the largest Bulgarian port on the Danube River.

Day 5: ROUSSE / SVESHTARI TOMB / MADARA HORSEMAN / VARNA.

We leave Rousse this morning, traveling to the Sveshtari Tomb and to see the Madara Horseman (both are UNESCO designated sites) before continuing to Varna – the “marine capital” of Bulgaria. Dinner and overnight.

Day 6: VARNA / NESSEBAR / BOURGAS.

After breakfast a guided city tour of Varna before proceeding to the UNESCO town of Nessebar where we will enjoy a walking tour of the Old Town. Dinner and overnight in Nessebar or Burgas.

Day 7: NESSEBAR / PLOVDIV.

Departure to Plovdiv, the second largest city in Bulgaria where will have a guided tour of the Old Town; dinner and overnight.

Day 8: PLOVDIV / BATCHKOVO MONASTERY / BOROVETS.

Today visit the Batchkovo Monastery, one of the largest and most beautiful monasteries in Bulgaria. Later, continuing to the famous Bulgarian mountain resort of Borovets for dinner and overnight.

Day 9: BOROVETS / RILA MONASTERY / BOYANA CHURCH / SOFIA.

After breakfast a half day tour to Rila Monastery (UNESCO site). Then, on the way back to Sofia visit Boyana Church (another UNESCO designated site). Dinner and overnight in Sofia.

Day 10: DEPART.

Breakfast and transfer to Sofia Airport.  Limo transfers can be pre-arranged.

FriendsTravel.com will arrange your First Class, Business Class or Coach airfares at out special rates.

From your hometown to/from Europe for this exciting journey.

EMAIL  FriendsTravel@earthlink.net   and JESS Kalinowsky will respond within 24 hours.

FriendsTravel.com