Escorted Tours 2021

26 DAY 1: ARRIVAL SOFIA Welcome to Bulgarian capital, Sofia! Meet with your tour director to get all the information about the tour. DAY 2: SOFIA & RILA MONASTERY B, L Bulgaria is definitely one of the monuments of Communism architecture and its capital Sofia will definitely prove it. Your guide will take you by unique Boyana Church, Aleksandar Nevski Ca- thedral, the Parliament, the Russian church, the Presidential Palace that will absolutely leave an impression. Visit of the Museum of Socialist Art where you will see the city’s collection of Social Realist propaganda statues, including the giant one of Vladimir Lenin that stood where the Saint Sofia statue stands today. In the afternoon visit the famous Rila monastery also known as Treasury of Bulgaria in the bosom of Rila Mountain, where the rivers Drushlyavitsa and Rilska join. In the evening return to Sofia for overnight. DAY 3: PLOVDIV B Drive to Plovdiv, the second largest city in Bul- garia and one of the oldest cities in Europe. Start with a walk in the Old Town which is situated on 3 hills and is an architectural reserve with lovely examples of Bulgarian Renaissance architecture. Visit Kîyumdzioglu House with city’s Ethnographic museum, Roman Amphitheatre that is still used as the cultural heart of Plovdiv. Accommodation in hotel and free afternoon to enjoy the charm- ing pedestrian street with 19th and 20th century houses, parks and fountains as well as lively cafes and cosy restaurants. DAY 4: KAZANLAK – VELIKO TARNOVO B, L Enjoy the morning ride through the valley of roses and visit its center, the town of Kazanluk. Besides protected age-old forests and nature reserves in its vicinity, Kazanluk is also on UNESCO’s list due to best preserved tombs of Thracians and muse- um of Roses. Free time for lunch and then to medi- eval capital and cultural center of the Second Bul- garian Empire, Veliko Tarnovo. Accommodation in hotel and some free time to refresh before taking a guide tour of the Old Town area with delightful handcraft shops with typical icon paintings, tex- tile arts, woodcarvings and even demonstrations of traditional crafts such as metalworking. You will have some free time savor a cup of Turkish coffee brewed over hot sand, just as it was done in times long past. DAY 5: ARBANASSI – RUSE – BUCHAREST B, L Day will start with a short drive to village of Arba- nassi, an architectural gem of the 1600s and 1700s built by the patronage of an Ottoman sultan. This is where rich and powerful merchants of the past lived out their lives. Catch a glimpse of the Kon- stantsalieva House, home of one of the wealthiest merchants of the 18th century and discover the Nativity Church, built at a time when Christian ar- chitecture in Bulgaria was heavily restricted by the Ottomans. Continue your trip to Romania and just before crossing the border and Danube river, stop in port town of Ruse with its charming pedestrian area for lunch. Arrival to Bucharest in later after- noon, accommodation and free time. DAY 6: BUCHAREST B If we are talking about Communist monuments, then Ceausescu’s Romania is surely highly ranked on that list and your guided tour of its capital Ro- mania will confirm that. The parliament building is one of the biggest buildings in the world, right next to American Pentagon. Your guide will take you Arch of Victory, Revolution square and even the Princely home to give you a nice introduction in Romania and its history. Afternoon will be free for individual museum visits and your own explor- ing. Overnight in Bucharest. DAY 7: SINAIA – BRAN – BRASOV B, L Magical days ahead as we head to Transylvania. You will start with town of Sinaia and one of the most beautiful European castles – Peles. Built in German renaissance style, the castle is holding numerous arts from woodcarvings, ceramics and tapestry. After that, finally time for mysterious count Dracula! In Bran, you will visit the castle that Bram Stoker forever marked as Count Dracula’s home in his stories. In 1918, the castle was given As it is not easy to choose between those two iconic countries of Eastern Europe, we decided to join them in one tour for you! Admire the great nature of Bulgaria and discover the mysteries of Romania. romania & bulgaria 10 DAYS/ 9 NIGHTS