Duration
8 days / 7 nights

Model Program
DAY 1 SOFIA
Arrival in Sofia. Accommodation at the hotel. Overnight.

DAY 2 SOFIA-KOPRIVSHTITZA-HISSAR-PLOVDIV
Departure to Koprivshtitza- the town is related to the history and the culture of Bulgaria. It is a native town of the most famous Bulgarian revolutionaries from the National Revival Period. One of the most lyrical poets in Bulgarian literaturewas born there- Dimcho Debelyanov. In 1876 the April Rebellion revolted, first in Koprivshtitza. It had an important meaning for the Liberation of Bulgaria. There are many samples of Bulgarian Renaissance houses in the town. Today, Koprivshtiza is an architectural and historical preserve and keeps the spirit of the glory heroes from the past.
At the afternoon departure to Hissar; walking tour of the town which is popular with the most preserved fortress wall from the time of the Roman Empire. Even in Antiquity Hissar was famous with its mineral springs.
Departure to Plovdiv. Accommodation at the hotel. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 3 PLOVDIV-KAZANLAK
Walking tour in the Old Town of Plovdiv: visit the Renaissance houses in Plovdiv- the richest for those times; visit the Roman Theatre and the “St. St. Konstantin and Helena” Church. Departure to Kazanlak. Accommodation at the hotel. Afternoon walking tour with visits of the Thracian tomb from IV B.C., an UNESCO monument and the Historical museum Iskra, where the golden treasures from the Thracian tomb Goljama Kosmatka are exhibited. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 4 ETARA-BOZHENTZI-TRYAVNA-VELIKO TURNOVO
Departure to the open air Ethnographic Museum Etara which represents the traditional Bulgarian crafts. Visit Bozhentzi, a village preserved almost all of its look from Bulgarian Renaissance Period. Traveling to Tryavna- this small town has the unique view of the city life from the Renaissance with the Clock tower, the church, the square with the work-shops of the craftsmen. Visit the Icon Painting Museum. Proceed to Veliko Tarnovo. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 5 TRANSFIGURATION MONASTERY-ARBANASSI-V.TURNOVO
Departure to the Transfiguration Monastery which is situated near the city of Veliko Tarnovo. The monastery is built in unreachable place and impresses with its unique mural paintings, made of Zahari Zograf. Traveling to Arbanassi. Walking tour in the village with visit of “Nativity of Christ” Church. Back to Veliko Tarnovo. Afternoon walking tour visiting the Old town, the street of old crafts- Samovodska Charshiya and Tsarevets fortress. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 6 SOFIA
Departure to Sofia. Accommodation at the hotel. In the afternoon sighseeing tour of Sofia. Walking in the city center with different historical and architectural monuments from different times. See the St.George Rotunda, the ruins of Serdica, the National theatre, the former Royal Palace /presently the National Art gallery/, the Russian Church, The Alexander Nevsky Memorial Church and the Icon museum. Dinner. Overnight.

DAY 7 SOFIA-RILA MONASTERY-SOFIA
Excursion to the Rila Monastery/10th c./, included in the UNESCO List of World Cultural Heritage, the largest and the most impressive Bulgarian monastery. Tour of the monastery complex, church and museum with its lavish collection of precious old manuscripts, icons, jewelry, masterpieces of woodcarving, an ethnographic exhibition of fabrics and carpets.
Back to Sofia. Dinner with Bulgarian folk show. Overnight.

DAY 8 SOFIA
Breakfast at the hotel.Departure.