The Seven Wonders of Bulgaria
Choosing this itinerary you will visit the most valuable tourist places of interest in the country created by the ancient and medieval architectures and artists. Nine Bulgarian sites are included in the UNESCO world heritage list - two of them natural and seven historical monuments.Our trip includes: Boyana Church 13c.; Rila Monastery14-19 c.; Kazanlak Thracian Tomb 3 c.B.C.; Madara Horsman 7 c.; Ivanovo Rock Churches 11-13 c.; Sveshtari Thracian Tomb 4-3c. B.C.; Museum town of Nessebar.

Duration
9 days/ 8 nights

Itinerary
Day 1 ARRIVAL IN SOFIA, SOFIA CITY TOUR
Arrival in Sofia by …………AT …. The guide meets the group. A transfer to Sofia Princess Hotel 4*. Accommodation. A city tour of Sofia with visit of the churches St. Sophia, St. Petka and the St. George Rotunda (4th c.), The Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevski and The Crypt icon museum. Back to the hotel. Welcome dinner (1/3 bottle of wine per person included) in local restaurant. Overnight.
Day 2 SOFIA - RILA MONASTERY - PLOVDIV
Breakfast. Drive to the Rila Monastery - picturesque located in the heart of Rila Mountains. It is the most famous monument of Bulgarian culture, spiritual centre of Bulgarians for more than 10 centuries. The icons, iconostasis and murals are samples of the outstanding Bulgarian renaissance art schools from the National Revival period. The interior is a beautiful interlace of colonnades arches, wooden staircases and verandas. The museum keeps a rich collection of books, manuscripts and icons. Lunch at Zodiak restaurant next to Rilska River. Transfer to the city of Plovdiv - Bulgaria’s second largest town, famous for the International fair which is held every May and September. Plovdiv is an extraordinary combination of monuments from different époques - from Philip II Macedonian until the present days. Dinner & overnight at Trimontium Princess 4*.

Day 3 PLOVDIV – SLIVEN - BOURGAS
Breakfast. City tour of the Old town of Plovdiv with visit of the Roman amphitheatre and Ethnographic museum. In the afternoon - departure for Bourgas. Crossing the picturesque Thracian valley. Arrival in Bourgas; accommodation at Bulgaria hotel 4*. Dinner & overnight.

Day 4 BOURGAS - NESSEBAR – VARNA
Breakfast. The road proceeds to The Museum Town of Nessebar, picturesque situated on small peninsula. It preserves the ruins of more than 40 medieval churches with murals and carvings, ceramic ornaments. The town is remarkable with its splendid houses – each of them a masterpiece of the Bulgarian architecture. The unique atmosphere of Nessebar is an unforgettable experience. Sightseeing tour of Nessebar with a visit of Hristos Pantocrator Church and St. Stefan church. Drive along the sea cost to the “summer capital city‿ of Bulgaria – the city of Varna. Panoramic tour of Varna and visit of the Archeological museum. Accommodation & dinner at “Odessos‿ hotel 3* (sea view).

Day 5 VARNA – MADARA - SHOUMEN
Breakfast. Visit of Aladja monastery. Departure to the Village of Madara for a visit of The Madara Horseman - 7th century AD, an impressive bas-relief, carved out of the sheer rock, unique in Europe. Arrival in the town of Shoumen. Accommodation at Shoumen hotel 4*. Sightseeing of Shoumen with visit of the Tombul mosque – remarkable monument of the Ottoman architecture. Dinner in the village of Osmar. This is the place where the traditional Bulgarian hospitality, the gentle character of the people and the merry-making habits of the Bulgarians all meet. The famous bitter Osmar pelin wine originates here. Overnight.

Day 6 SHOUMEN – SVESHTARI – ROUSSE

Breakfast. Departure to the town of Razgrad and then to The Sveshtari tomb which is the best preserved and beautiful Thracian tomb yet discovered in Bulgaria, located 7 km from the town of Isperih. Discovered during excavations of a sepulchral mound, it dates back to the first half of the 3rd century BC. The funeral rites, the building technique, the architectural design and the rich decoration, distinguished for Hellenistic models, provide evidence that a Thracian ruler has been buried there. Transfer to the city of Rousse - the biggest and most beautiful Bulgarian city on the Danube River. Spending the night in Rousse.
Accommodation at Danube Plaza hotel 4*. Dinner & overnight.

Day 7 ROUSSE - IVANOVO - VELIKO TURNOVO - TRIAVNA

Breakfast. Visit Ivanovo Rock Churches and cells, carved into the rock high above the canyon of the Roussenski Lom River, with 13th and 14th century murals of great artistic interest. Departure for Veliko Turnovo - the ex-capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (12-14century), one of the most picturesque cities in Bulgaria situated up on several hills on both sides of Yantra River. The houses are perched one above the other on the steep slopes making an incredible panorama. A stroll in the old part between the small shops and narrow streets with visit of Tzarevetz Hill with the remains of the fortress, the ex-royal palace and Patriarch church. Transfer to the museum town of Triavna, famous with the exceptional masterpieces of Bulgarian Revival architecture and handicrafts – 18-19 centuries. Visit to the Museum of woodcarving and icon-painting in Daskalova house. Accommodation, dinner and overnight at Seasons hotel 3*.

Day 8 TRIAVNA - KAZANLUK - KOPRIVSHTITZA – SOFIA

Breakfast. Crossing the Balkan mountains by the magnificent Shipka pass. Visit of the Russian memorial church. Stopover in Kazanluk and visit of The Thracian Tomb - the best preserved monument of Thracian art in Bulgaria dated 4th–3rd century B.C. The Tomb is not large, but it inspires the imagination with the beautiful ornaments and murals. Departure for the museum town of Koprivshtitza – one of the unique Bulgarian towns presenting the original architectural heritage from the Bulgarian Revival period. Transfer for Sofia. Arrival in the late evening. Accommodation and dinner at Sofia Princess Hotel. Overnight.

DAY 9 SOFIA – DEPARTURE
Breakfast. Check out from the hotel. Visit to Boyana Church, dated 1259, known for its 13th century murals, famous for their exceptional realism.
Transfer to Sofia AP for the flight home at 14:30 by AZ.

OPTIONAL: The tour could be prolonged with 2 days for visiting the two natural sites recognized by UNESCO for their incredible biodiversity and beauty: Pirin national park (overnight in Bansko) and Sreburna biosphere reserve (second overnight in Rousse.)