01 Day

Arrival in Sofia. Transfer to hotel. Overnight in Sofia.

02 Day

Breakfast. City tour of Sofia including the St. Nedelya Sq.,the Rotunda “St George 4^th c”, The Presidency, National Theatre, The City Garden, Russian Church St. Nicolas, Parliament Square, Alexander Nevski Memorial Cathedral with the most valuable collection of Bulgarian Icons (13-19^th c), St. Sofia Church (6^th c). Time at leisure. Overnight in Sofia.

Sightseeing during the day:

Sofia - Roads from all parts of the world have been meeting here nearly 7 000 years. Peoples have come and gone, civilizations have advanced and declined, but the city has remained. More than 250 historic, archaeological and architectural landmarks in the city which the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great once called "My Rome".

Our tour includes: National Archaeological Museum, National Theatre, Russian Church St. Nikola, Parliament Square, Alexander Nevski Memorial Cathedral with the most valuable collection of Bulgarian Icons (13-19^th c), St. Sofia Church (6^th c), St. George Rotunda (4^th c), National Palace of Culture.

03 Day

Breakfast. Morning departure towards Koprivshtitsa town situated in the heart of Sredna gora mountain range. Tour in the town famous for the numerous museums, old stone bridges and walls, wooden yard gates, more than 120-year-old buildings and courtyards in their typical colours. Continue to Veliko Tarnovo - the capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. Time at leisure. Overnight in Veliko Tarnovo.

Sightseeing during the day:

Koprivshitsa is one of the few thoroughly preserved architectural ensembles of the Revival Priod. The entrance fee permits visits in all 6 houses in Koprivshitsa - Oslekov`s House /the most famous architectural and ethnographic site of the town/, the House of Georgi Benkovski /the leader of the April Uprising/, The house of Luben Karavelov /acquaints us with the revolutionary and journalistic activities of Luben Karavelov/, the House of Todor Kableshkov /exhibits the activity of 25-years "old-young" man who organized the rebellion in the town, the author of the famous Blood-stained letter, etc./, Lyutov`s House / hosts exposition on the subject of "Treasury of Bulgarian Construction Genius"/, The House of the famous Bulgarian writer Dimcho Develyanov. So, you can enter in all houses or visit few of them following their interests.

04 Day

Breakfast. Tour of Veliko Tarnovo town with visit of the medieval fortress of Tsarevets, the old Marketplace Samovodska Tcharshia and other landmarks. In the afternoon arrival at the village of Arbanassi. Visit the “Nativity” church and Konstantsaliev’s house. Overnight in Veliko Turnovo.

Sightseeing during the day:

Veliko Tarnovo -  One of the most picturesque Bulgarian towns. Known under the name of Tsarevgrad Turnov (i.e. King's Town) and Turnovgrad. In the town and its outskirts traces have been uncovered of life dating back to the late Palaeolithic, Neolithic, Chalcolithic, the Bronze and the Iron Ages. After the foundation of the SecondBulgarianKingdom (1186), the town becomes its capital. In 1393 the town is conquered by the Turks and burned down. During the years of Ottoman rule it is a fortress of the Bulgarian national spirit and one of the centres of the struggle for liberation. In 1879 the Constituent National Assembly has its first session here and adopts the Constitution of Turnovo - the first constitution of the Bulgarian state liberated in 1878.

Arbanassi - Austere houses that resemble minor fortresses on the outside with high, solid walls and heavy gates, iron, rids and secret hiding-places, but which are spacious and comfortable, richly decorated and furnished on the inside.

05 Day

Breakfast. Departure towards Etara – Bulgaria’s open-air museum of authentic traditional crafts, created to preserve for the coming generations the appearance and the spirit of the old time Bulgarian mountain villages and the manufacturing traditions of the region. Visit the Memorial Church of Shipka, erected after Bulgaria’s Liberation from Turkish rule as a monument of both Russian and Bulgarian soldiers who died in the fierce battles here. The tour continues with visit of the Thracian Tomb in Kazanluk (UNESCO site).

Departure towards Plovdiv. Overnight in Plovdiv.

Sightseeing during the day:

Gabrovo - It is situated in the immediate proximity of the geographical centre of Bulgaria and itself is a centre of humour and jokes. It originated during the Middle Ages as a strategic settlement, which poblation guarded the Balkan mountain passes. At the end of 12th century due to the proximity of the town to the Bulgarian state capital Turnovo, the handcrafts and trade developed here as crafts related to the maintainance and guard of the passes through the Balkan mountain - blacksmiths, armour and weapon smiths, etc. During the 19th century over 26 crafts were practiced here. The good quality of the Gabrovo made articles was known all over the world and even beyond it. There is a street in Bucharest now still named "Gabroveni". The quick economic growth and the national revival were the reason for the opening of the first Bulgarian secular school in 1835. Gabrovocontinued to develop as the biggest textile centre of Bulgaria after the liberation and it was by no accident that it was nicknamed "The Bulgarian Manchester". The town is known for its beautiful revival houses, churches, bridges, drinking-fountains, a clock tower, etc. The town has been famous for the stinginess and sharpwittedness of its inhabitants from time immemorial due to which the unique in the world House of Humour and Satire is located there.

The open air ethnographic museum "Etar"- was built in the middle of 20th century in the vicinity of the town of Gabrovo, an old industrial centre of Bulgaria. It was created to preserve for the coming generations the appearance and the spirit of the old time Bulgarian mountain villages and the manufacturing traditions of the region. The museum was built on the two sides of a small river and all the buildings and sites have their authentic appearance, the same as they had during the 19th century. The buildings are differentiated into three groups:

1. Workshops using simple machines moved by the running water of the river, most of them are unique and unknown in Europe.

2. The second group of buildings forms the trade and manufacture street (charshia). There are 15 examples of houses, where manufacturing workshops and small shops are situated on the first floor and the museum items are situated on the second floor.

3. The third group of buildings has public functions: a clock tower, bridges, stone water fountain and gravestones.

Shipka Memorial Church - Only 12 km north of Kazanluk, near the small town of Shipka, is the Shipka Memorial Church. It was erected after Bulgaria?s Liberation from Turkish rule as a monument to both Russian and Bulgarian soldiers that died in the fierce battles here. The golden domes and the green and pink coloured facade loom against the mountains and attract the attention of the travellers in the Shipka Pass.

The Thracian Tomb in Kazanluk - It was built in 3^rd c., discovered in 1944 and inscribed into UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979. The Kazanluk Tomb in south Bulgaria is of the beehive type and famous for its beautiful wall paintings. A corridor, 2m long, 1.10m wide and 2.20m high leads to a domed tomb, which is 3.25m high and has a diameter of 2.65m at the base. The unique murals, done in wet fresco and tempera, show battles and scenes from daily life. The pictures are realistically, showing many details of clothing and armour.

06 Day

Breakfast. Tour of the Old Town of the city of Plovdiv - imposing open-air museum situated on the three hills of the ancient Trimontium. Visit the Ancient Theatre (a well-preserved Roman amphitheatre), Ethnographic museum and other interesting sites. Departure towards Bachkovo Monastery - one of the oldest monasteries in the Bulgarian lands and the second biggest in the country. It is mainly known for its original architecture, rich collections of old icons, jewelry, coins and church plate. Return to Plovdiv. Overnight.

Sightseeing during the day:

Plovdiv - The Ancient Theatre, the most impressive edifice of Roman time, was excavated during reinforcement works at the southern fortress wall. It offered almost 7 000 seats once. Nowadays it is used for staging opera and theatre festivals, concerts, municipal celebrations, etc. The present-day downtown section of Plovdiv lies on the ruins of an enormous Roman Stadium, which had a length of 180 m and was intended for 30 000 spectators. The contests held here were similar to the Greek Olympic Games and dated back to the rule of Emperor Septimus Severus (193 - 211 AD). An Ancient Forum was found next to today's Trimontium Hotel. Clearly visible here is the difference in the building structure of the Thracian agora made of sandstone and the Roman marble ruins. The beautiful houses in Old Plovdiv are dated back to the period of the Bulgarian National Revival. Many of them have been proclaimed for cultural monuments revealing the genius of the Bulgarian builders.

Bachkovo monastery - One of the oldest monasteries in the Bulgarian lands, it rises in the picturesque Chaya river valley, 29 km south of Plovdiv. Founded in 1083, Bachkovo Monastery is chiefly known for its original architecture, rich collections of old icons, jewelry, coins and church plate. The library preserves many valuable incunabula and old manuscripts. Its most remarkable feature, however, are the paintings that are seen everywhere - in the church and ossuary, where the figure of the Bulgarian Tsar Ivan Alexander is discernible among the 11th and 14th century murals, in the refectory (1601), in the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin main church (1604), and in the Holy Trinity and St. Nicholas church (1840), which contain some of the first murals painted by the celebrated National Revival artist Zahari Zograph.

07 Day

Breakfast. Departure to Rila Monastery - the most famous and the most fascinating monastery in Bulgaria, under UNESCO protection. Tour of the monastery and visit to the Monastery church, museum and kitchen "Magernitsa". Evening arrival in Sofia. Overnight.

Sightseeing during the day:

Rila Monastery /UNESCO site/ - It can briefly described as a combination nonumental architecture an rich history. It was founded in the X century by Ivan Rilski and used to be the primary spiritual and cultural center of Bulgaria and the whole ortodox enclave. The library contains 16000 volumes including 134 manuscripts from 15th to 19th century, numerous incunabula and documents. The monastery's unquestionable authority influenced the Turkish sultants who confirmed the rights granted by the Bulgarian kings by special firmans. Retaining the names of the donors and the exact date of donation, they represent an original chronicle of the national consciousness, of those pure patriotic feelings and hopes which were inspired throughout centuries in every Bulgarian by the Rila Monastery - the country's largest spiritual and cultural temple.

08 Day

Breakfast. Free time and departure transfer.