BULGARIAN WINE …. OR HOW TO RESIST OLD AGE 2002

TOUR PROGRAMME
8 days/7 overnights

Day 1 SOFIA 
Arrival in Sofia . Guide meets you at the airport and assists for a transfer to hotel. Dinner with tasting of wines from the region of Northern Bulgaria.Overnight in Sofia. 

Day 2 SOFIA
Morning sightseeing tour of Sofia, a city with 7000-year long history. Enjoy the sightseeing tour of Sofia, a pleasant city of boulevards and open spaces and see the city’s most important places of worship – Alexander Nevski Memorial Church (to be included in UNESCO 's List of Cultural Heritage shortly) and St. George Rotunda. Walk along the main streets and see the most important landmarks in the city centre - St.Nedelya Square and St. Nedelya Church, St. Petka of the Saddlers, theSynagogue, the Central Baths, the Mosque, the underpass outside the President's Office, Alexander Battenberg Square, the National Theatre, the former Royal Palace, the Russian Church, St. Sophia Church and the Monument to the Unknown Soldier. Your guide will make you feel the atmosphere of this city which history dates back to the ancient times. Tour proceeds with panoramic sightseeing of the National Library, Sofia University, Borissova Garden, and the National Palace of Culture. Lunch in a local restaurant. 
In the afternoon visit the national History museum.
Dinner with folklore show at a tavern located at the foot of the Vitosha mountain. Overnight in Sofia.

Day 3 SOFIA - Rila Monastery - Melnik - SANDANSKI
After breakfast drive to Rila monastery (UNESCO 's List of Cultural Heritage). Tour of the monastery. Rila monastery is located some 120 km to the south of Sofia, in the heart of the Rila Mountain. Founded in the 10th century, it has been the biggest spiritual and cultural centre in Bulgaria for hundreds of years. 
The visitor’s first sight of Rila monastery huge towering walls gives the impression of a fortress. However, a step through the archway produces a wonderful surprise. Visiting the Monastery is a must. The Monastery’s unrivalled architecture and murals will captivate you. The Rila monastery is the largest in the Balkans and included in the List of World Cultural Heritage. Tour of the monastery includes a visit to the Monastery Church, which is of particular artistic value, for it was adorned by the foremost 19-century masters of the Samokov, Bansko and Debar schools of painting and woodcarving. Lunch.
In the afternoon – departure to Sandanski. Check in. Drive to Damyanitza winery and taste the local wines. Drive to the museum town of Melnik and see the mystery of the sandstone pyramids. Sandstone is the best environment for the production and maturing of the world-famous Melnik red wine. Dinner in a local tavern. Overnight at hotel in Sandanski.

Day 4 SANDANSKI - Velingrad - Peshtera - PLOVDIV.

After breakfast depart to Velingrad, drive in a beautiful mountaneous region, where you will see the Pirin and Rila mountains to the north, and the Rhodope mountain to the east. Lunch en route. Visit a winery in the region of Plovdiv, wine tasting of local wines. Proceed to Plovdiv. Check in. Dinner at a restaurant in the Old city. Overnight at hotel in Plovdiv.

Day 5 PLOVDIV – Kazanlak – Etara – VELIKO TARNOVO
After breakfast sightseeing tour of Plovdiv, including the Old City, Archeological museum, Roman Theatre. Drive to Kazanlak. Visit the replica of the Thracian Tomb. Lunch in Kazanlak. Drive north, cross the Shipka Pass. Visit Etara Ethnographical museum. Check in hotel Veliko Tarnovo in Veliko Tarnovo. Dinner and overnight. 

Day 6 VELIKO TARNOVO – Arbanassi – Suhindol - VELIKO TARNOVO
Sity sightseeing of Veliko Tarnovo with Tzarevets, and Arbanassi museum village. Lunch. 
Depart to the winery in Suhindol. Wine tasting in Suhindol. Back to V.Tarnovo for dinner and overnight.

Day 7 VELIKO TARNOVO – Sevlievo – Lovetch – Pleven – SOFIA
After breakfast depart to Lovetch via Sevlievo, visit the Old town Varosha. Drive to Pleven. City tour, including a visit to the Pleven’s Panorama museum. Lunch with wine tasting of local wines. Drive to Sofia. Dinner and overnight in Sofia.

Day 8 Sofia - departure
Breakfast. Free morning for last minute shopping. Lunch. Transfer to the airport for departure.

END OF SERVICES.

PACKAGE RATES INCLUDE: 
Accommodation at:

• 3 overnights at a 3-star hotel in Sofia,
• 1 overnight at a 4-star hotel in Sandanski,
• 1 overnight at a 3-star hotel in Plovdiv
• 2 overnights at a 4-star hotel in V.Tarnovo
• 7 lunches
• 1 dinner with folklore show
• 6 dinners
• 4 wine tasting sessions
• transfers upon arrival and departure
• transportation by bus, according to above programme
• entrance fees to museums and sites
• English - speaking guide-escort throughout the tour
• 1 free of charge tour leader,single occupancy

RATES DO NOT INCLUDE:

• air fare, additional meals, items not specially mentioned above and/or in the itinerary
• insurance, porterage at airport and hotels; tips.