COUNTRY ROADS&MUSEUM VILLAGES OF BULGARIA 2002

8 days/7 nights


1st day SOFIA
Arrive at Sofia airport. Guide meets and assists for a transfer to hotel.Check in hotel. Dinner in a local restaurant .Overnight at hotel in SOFIA.

2nd day SOFIA - Lovetch- GABROVO/KMETOVTZI
After breakfast enjoy a city sightseeing of Sofia, a city of boulevards and open spaces and see the city’s most important places of worship - Alexander Nevski Memorial Cathedral and St. George Rotunda. Departure to Gabrovo via Lovetch, stroll through the Varosha architectural and historic reserve in the old part of the town, having preserved the best building traditions typical of the National Revival period. You will see the covered bridge built by the self-taught master builder Kolyo Fitcheto. Lunch in a local restaurant. Departure to Gabrovo and Kmetovtzi, visiting Bozentzi museum village. Check in hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Kmetovtzi.

3rd day KMETOVTZI-V. Tarnovo–Arbanassi-Etara-KMETOVTZI
Full day tour, starting with a visit to the Etara outdoor ethnographic museum village, where 18th-19th century crafts and lifestyle come alive in front of the visitors' eyes. Proceed to Veliko Tarnovo - sightseeing of the Mediaeval capital of Bulgaria picturesquely situated on three hills,circled by the Yantra River. Its houses, perched one above the other on the slopes of the hills, still preserve the typical 19th century architecture. Visit the fortress on Tsarevets Hill and Patriarchal Church. Lunch in a local restaurant. Departure for the museum village of Arbanassi, rich in old churches, monasteries and old Bulgarian houses. 

4th day KMETOVTZI - Shipka pass- KAZANLAK
After breakfast depart to Kazanlak via Shipka Pass. Check in a hotel in Kazanlak. Lunch. In the afternoon - sightseeing tour of the city of Kazanlak -the centre of the famous Rose Valley and visit the replica of the Thracian Tomb / 4th-3rd c. B.C../, entrance to the Ethnographic reserve in Kazanlak. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Kazanlak.

5th day KAZANLAK - PLOVDIV
After breakfast departure to Plovdiv - a town dominating the Thracian Plain, a thousand years older than Sofia which has preserved many treasures from its long history. Check in Lunch. Afternoon sightseeing tour of Plovdiv, including the Old City museum town, visit the Roman Theatre / 2nd c. A.D./ Dinner in a local restaurant in the Old Town. Overnight at hotel in Plovdiv.

6th day PLOVDIV - Borovets - Rila Monastery – BANSKO
After breakfast drive to Rila Monastery - the largest in the Balkans, included in the List of World Cultural Heritage, which will captivate you with its unrivalled architecture and murals. Tour of the monastery. 
Lunch in a local restaurant. 
Proceed to Bansko museum town. This quiet small town with 17th c. old architecture is situated at the foot of the Pirin mountain National Park, included in the List of World Natural Heritage. Everything is special in Bansko – traditional costumes, the local folklore singing and adncing, wonderful cuisine, and the people. Walking sightseeing tour of Bansko.
Accommodation at hotel. Dinner in a tavern with folklore music. Overnight at hotel in Bansko.

7th day BANSKO –Melnik - SOFIA
Breakfast. Drive south to the museum town of Melnik. Scenically located at the foothills of sandstone pyramids, this smallest town in Bulgaria is famous with its ancient architecture and red wine. Walking sightseeing tour, visit one of the old houses, masterpiece of early 17th c. local architecture. Lunch in a local restaurant. 
After some time for free walks and taking pictures, depart to Sofia.
Check in hotel in Sofia. Dinner and overnight.

8th day SOFIA
Breakfast. Time at leisure for last minute shopping. Transfer to the aiport for departure.
End of services

RATES ARE BASED ON FULL BOARD AND INCLUDE:
ACCOMMODATION

• 2 overnights in Sofia at a 3-star hotel 
• 2 overnights in Gabrovo/Kmetovtzi at 3-star htl Fenerite
• 1 overnight in Kazanlak at 3-star
• 1 overnight in Plovdiv at a 3-star hotel
• 1 overnight in Bansko at a 3-star hotel
• buffet breakfast
• 6 lunches
• 6 dinners
• 1 dinner in Bansko with folklore music
• transfers upon arrival and departure
• transportation by car, minibus, air-conditioned midibus or coach, according to above
• programme
• English- speaking guide throughout the tour
• entrance fees according to above programme
• 1 free of charge tour leader single occupancy

RATES DO NOT INCLUDE:

• air fare, - airport tax,- additional meals,- tips for guide, driver, hotel and restaurant staff
• items not specially mentioned above and/or in the itinerary, - porterage at airport and hotels
• insurance

SUGGESTED TIPS:
for guide - 15.- USD per day; - for driver - 10.- USD per day