Authentic Bulgaria Tour - 12 Days

Authentic Bulgaria Tour

This tour offers you to explore the real Bulgaria with its tiny villages hidden in the mountains. You will meet ordinary people and will have the chance to experience two home hosted meals. We have created this tour especially to show the corners of the country that are still virgin and undiscovered (we still have few). You will enjoy beautiful scenery and old houses, mountain roads, cobblestone streets and delicious Bulgarian food.

The culture of Bulgaria is the product of its geography and its rich historical past. Biggest influence today we have from the period of the Ottoman Empire. Along with many Turkish words that we still use in our vocabulary, our cuisine is also very similar to the one of Turkey and the Middle East. We also have many similarities in the superstitious beliefs, in the music and in the architecture. Another aspect is the patriarchal customs in the Bulgarian families. Not less intriguing is that until few years ago, the women covered their heads and the arranged marriages were not rare.

Today Bulgaria is a modern country orientated towards the Western culture. Nevertheless, in our folklore, customs and crafts many of them are still alive. We celebrate the religious feasts in our own way and it gives the charm and the uniqueness of the local traditions.

Why the Authentic Bulgaria Tour with us?

  • Take the unique chance to see Bulgaria in-depth and to discover its culture
  • Visit beautiful virgin areas and remote villages where you will get in touch to the authenticity of the country
  • Enjoy accommodation in small hotels and guest houses full of character
  • Taste the delicious home made Bulgarian traditional food
  • Take the unique chance to interact with locals
  • Benefit of the complete flexibility of having the tour tailored to your requirements
  • Have the freedom to alter the program, even while you are on the tour
  • Enjoy the most experienced guides in Bulgaria

Authentic Bulgaria Tour is a journey through the Bulgarian development throughout the centuries. You will fully dive in the rural life and the way the locals live today. It is just a fantastic way to get back to the past and to feel the simple life that people lived in the past.

Trust our experience and enquire your tour today! We will gladly send you a customized program in order you fully enjoy your adventure!

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Overview

DURATION: 12 days/11 overnights

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AUTHENTIC BULGARIA TOUR:

  • the Rila monastery
  • the Melnik pyramids
  • the Trigrad gorge
  • the Roman theater
  • The Madara horseman
  • The Sveshtary tomb
  • The Tsarevets fortress

PAYMENT OPTIONS FOR THE AUTHENTIC BULGARIA TOUR:

This tour can be paid by credit card, paypal or bank transfer.

Downpayment

You can choose one of the following payment modes:

  • Bank transfer to our Bulgarian account – a surcharge of 7 euro will be applied
  • Bank transfer to our Revolut British account – no charges from our side will be applied
  • Paying by credit card on line via our site – a supplement fee of 2% will be applied for VISA and Master Card
  • Paypal – a supplementary fee of 4% will be applied

Balance payment

For the payment of the balance you can choose one of the forecited modes including cash on spot upon arrival. You can pay in USD, Euro, AUD, Your currency (no matter what it is) or Bulgarian lev (BGN).

CANCELLATION POLICY FOR THE AUTHENTIC BULGARIA TOUR:

  • 30 days prior to date of activity – Free cancellation
  • 30 to 21 days prior to date of activity – 30% Cancellation Fee (70% reimbursement)
  • 21 to 14 days of activity – 50% Cancellation Fee (50% reimbursement)
  • 14 to 7 days prior to date of activity – 70% Cancellation Fee (30% reimbursement)
  • 7 days prior to date of activity, on the day of the activity and for now show – 100% cancellation Fee (No reimbursement).

Itinerary

Day 1
Day 1 – Arrival day

Arrive in Sofia. Transfer to your hotel. The reminder of the day – time at leisure. Overnight.

Accommodation in Sofia at Rosslyn Thracia Hotel **** (two nights)
https://thracia.rosslyn-hotels.com/

Day 2
Day 2 – Full Day sightseeing tour of Sofia

In the morning visit the Boyana Church (Unesco site). Admire its beautiful frescoes dating to 1259. In the National Museum of History you will get acquainted with the rich history of Bulgaria. Here is the Gold Thracian Treasure dating to the 4th c. BC. Return to the central part. Continue with a walking sightseeing tour of Sofia. Visit the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral – the biggest and the most beautiful on the Balkan Peninsula, the Monument of Alexander II – Tzar Liberator, the Parliament, The Statue of St Sofia – the symbol of the city, the Presidency, the National Theater, the Ruins of Serdica and the Rotunda St George 4th c. AC, the Synagogue, the Russian Church, the St. Sophia early Christian basilica, which has given the city its name. Finish the tour at around 2 pm at your hotel. Afternoon at leisure – time to enjoy and to further explore the central part of Sofia.

Day 3
Day 3 – Sofia - The Rila Monastery - Melnik - the Rozhen village

Departure to the Rila Monastery – the richest historical and architectural monument of the Orthodox enclave, founded in 10th century and transformed to the most important spiritual and cultural center of Bulgaria. The Monastery’s unrivalled architecture and murals will captivate you. In the monastery visit the Ethnographic museum – very rich with its carpets and rugs exhibition, jewelry, customs, buckles. Also you will visit four rooms decorated according to the typical styles of decoration of four regions of Bulgaria. Departure to the village of Melnik. Overnight.

B Accommodation in the village of Rozhena in Winery Estate “Zlaten Rozhen” or hotel Melnik *** in Melnik

Day 4
Day 4 - Rozhen – Dolen – Gela Village

In the morning visit the Rozhen monastery situated 6 km from Melnik. Visit the Kordopulova house – the oldest Revival house in Bulgaria built in 1754. Departure to the little town of Trigrad. On the way pass through the village of Dolen – one of the villages where the old Bulgarian houses still exist in its original conditions, the time here has stopped long ago. Have lunch in a local house. Continue to the Trigrad gorge. The gorge itself is 6-7 kilometers long. At its bottom flows Trigrad River, which high waters created the vertical walls of the gorge, between 100-300 meters high, millions of years ago. At the foot of the highest cliffs of the gorge is the artificial entrance of Devil’s Throat Cave – the most popular tourist destination in the area. Devil’s Throat is famous with the 42 meters high underground waterfall inside it. An artificial tunnel leads to the so called Noisy Hall, where the waters of Trigrad River drop down through the natural entrance of the cave. The hall itself is impressive with its size. Waters of the river disappear through some small cracks inside the hall and flow as a karst spring on the surface again 500 meters away, at the bottom of the gorge. Arrive in Trigrad. Accommodation. Overnight.
B L Accommodation in Trigrad in hotel Arkan Han ***
Melnik – Trigrad – 150 km – 3 hours 15 mins

Day 5
Day 5 - Trigrad - Plovdiv

Departure to Plovdiv. On the way – pass by the Vacha dam. Take a boat for a short ride of 40 mins to admire the beauty of the dam and the surrounding mountain. Continue to Plovdiv – the second largest town of Bulgaria, an area since the time of Philip, King of Macedonia, father of Alexander The Great. Its unique location on these ancient crossroads has stimulated cultural and political influences from East and West civilizations and yet maintained its unique cultural identity. The most impressive building of Roman time that has come to us rising above the city is the Antique Amphitheatre by Emperor Mark Avrelii during the 2nd c. A.D. Its magnificent arcade adorned with marble statues is simply breath-taking. Visit the Ethnographic museum housed in the biggest and the most beautiful house of the Old town – the Kuyumdzhioglu’s House. The Roman Stadium is also constructed during the II century and reproduces the layout in Delphi, Greece. Within the center of the ancient major town of the Roman province of Thrace remains of stone paved streets, foundations of buildings and columns and ancient fortress walls and gates reside.
B Accommodation in Plovdiv in family hotel “At the Renaissance Square” (two nights)

Day 6
Day 6 - Plovdiv – Hissarya - Koprivshtitsa - Starosel - Plovdiv

In the morning departure to Hissarya where you will see absolutely well preserved fortress wall dating to the Roman period – 4th century. Visit the Roman tomb dating to the same period. Hissarya is also one of the most popular balneological resorts renowned for its more than 20 springs of curative mineral water. Continue to Koprivshtitsa. The village of Koprivshtitsa boasts a large number of architectural monuments from the Revival period, 383 in all, most of which have been restored to their original appearance. Collections of ethnographical treasures, old weapons, National Revival works of art, fine fretwork, household weaves and embroidery, national costumes and typical Bulgarian jewelry has also been preserved. Departure to Plovdiv. On the way visit the Thracian tomb of Starosel – an original tomb dating to the 4th BC. Arrive in Plovdiv in the late afternoon.

Day 7
Day 7 - Plovdiv – Perperikon - Zheravna

This morning after breakfast leave to the Rhodopi mountain. Visit the archaeological complex of Perperikon, the largest megalith complex on the Balkans. Archaeologists have uncovered a giant multi-story palace and an imposing fortress built around the hill, with walls as thick as 2.8 m. Temples and quarters of residential buildings were also constructed in the fortress. Continue to one of the most picturesque villages in Bulgaria – Zheravna. Here you will admire 200 years old houses, cobble stone streets, stone walls surrounding yards with beautiful flowers and fruit trees. Today the village is an architectural reserve. It has been used as a natural décor for many Bulgarian and foreign movies. Not only you will feel like you are back to the 19th century, but here you will feel the warmness and hospitality of the Bulgarians. Accommodation. Overnight.
B L Accommodation in Zheravna in Yovina Kashta Guest House

Day 8
Day 8 – Zheravna – Nesebar - Varna - the village of Kuylevcha

After breakfast departure to Nessebar (UNESCO) – an undoubted jewel of Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, historical and archaeological reserve with ancient archaeological remains of various periods, original churches from the 5th – 17th centuries and more than hundred authentic Revival houses. Proceed to Varna. In the Archaeological museum admire the Oldest man-worked Gold in the world discover in Varna in 1972 dated between 4600 – 4200 BC. Departure to the village of Kyulevtcha next to the Madara Horseman in the foothills of the mountain.
B Accommodation in Eco Bulgara complex – http://www.villabulgaraeco.com/index.php?language=english

Day 9
Day 9  - Kuylevcha - Madara - Sveshtary Tomb - Rousse - the village of Mechka

Visit two UNESCO sites in one day. In the morning visit the Madara Horseman (UNESCO) – a bas-relief cut in a rock some 23 meters above the ground dating to the beginning of the 8th century. The relief depicts a horseman in a natural pose with a sword in his hand. At the feet of the horse is a lion, and behind the rider is depicted his hunting dog. One legend has it that a Roman emperor was hunting on the plateau when he fell off the cliff and died. His relatives memorialized him by engaging a master to carve his image on the cliff.
Continue to the Sveshtary Thracian tomb (UNESCO) dating to the 4th – 3rd century BC. The tomb has a unique architectural décor, with polychrome half-human, half-plant caryatids and painted murals. It is a remarkable reminder of the culture of the Getes, a Thracian people who were in contact with the Hellenistic and Hyperborean worlds, according to ancient geographers. Continue to the Seven Generations winery in the village of Mechka 22 km from Rousse wit ha beautiful view towards the Danube river.
B Accommodation in the Seven Generations Winery **** – https://sevengenerations.bg/page/homepage

Day 10
Day 10 – Mechka - Ivanovo - Veliko Tarnovo

First visit today is the nearby complex of the Ivanovo rock church (UNESCO). Admire beautiful paintings from the 14th century. Arriving in Veliko Tarnovo you will be captured by the beauty of the setting of the town. Old houses perched on the rocks and two Mediaeval fortress preserve the glorious past of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (1186 – 1396). Visit the Tsarevets and the Trapezitsa fortresses. In the village of Arbanassi is located the richest decorated church in Bulgaria of « The Nativity of Christ » called the Sistine Chapel on the Balkans. In the evening enjoy a home hosted dinner in the village of Arbanassi. Accommodation. Overnight.

B Accommodation in Veliko Tarnovo in hotel Gurko *** http://www.hotel-gurko.com/index_en.php

Day 11
Veliko Tarnovo - Kazanlak - Sofia

In the morning departure to the Balkan Range mountain. Before crossing the Shipka pass visit the Etara open air museum where have been presented 22 crafts that people used in the 18th and 19th century. Start climbing the Shipka pass. On the top of the mountain admire beautiful view towards the valleys of the Northern and Southern Bulgaria.
Take the road to Kazanlak known also as the Valley of Roses or the Valley of the Thracian Kings.
In the region of Kazanlak visit two Thracian tombs dating to the 4th century BC – one of them original – The Golyamata Kosmatka and the second one included in the list of UNESCO – the Kazanlak Tomb. You will visit its copy as the original has been closed for the public. Continue to Sofia.
Arrive in Sofia in the early evening. Accommodation. Overnight.
B Accommodation in Sofia at Rosslyn Thracia Hotel **** (centrally located)
https://thracia.rosslyn-hotels.com/

Day 12
Departure Day

Transfer to the Sofia airport. Say good bye to your guide and Bulgaria. End of service.

Price Includes:

  • 11 breakfasts, 2 lunches
  • 11 nights hotel accommodation
  • Airport transfers on arrival and departure
  • Comfortable air-conditioned vehicles
  • WI-FI on board
  • Professional tour guide
  • Admission fees allover

Price doesn't Include:

  • Meals and drinks
  • Personal expenses
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Optional activity costs
  • Pay pal and bank fees

Sofia – the Rila monastery – Melnik – Dolen – Plovdiv – Hissarya – Koprivshtitsa – Starosel – Plovdiv – Zheravna – Nesebar – Varna – Kuylevcha – Madara – Sveshtary – Rousse – Mechka – Veliko Tarnovo – Kazanlak – Sofia

You can send your enquiry via the form below.

Authentic Bulgaria Tour