BULGARIAN BEAUTIES

You will enjoy the Rose festival, you will also visit UNESCO listed sights and monuments and some of the most beautiful museum towns and villages in Bulgaria.

A round trip in Bulgaria in the beginning of June is a unique chance to visit :
- must see historical and cultural highlights from ancient and medieval Bulgaria included in The UNESCO World Heritage list
- rose picking folk ritual in the picturesque Rose valley and enjoy the festive activities in the town of Kazanlak or Karlovo
- the Christian orthodox churches and monasteries – the guardians of the Bulgarian spirit and national identity.

One of the best itineraries:
BULGARIAN BEAUTIES
12 days/ 11 nights

02 – 13 June 2006

Duration
02 – 13 June 2006

Itinerary
Day 1 ARRIVAL IN SOFIA. SOFIA CITY TOUR
02Jun’06 Arrival in Sofia by …... The guide meets the group. Transfer to Sofia Princess Hotel 4*. Accommodation. Panoramic city tour of Sofia. The walking tour starts from St. Nedelya square and includes visits of the most remarkable historical buildings and monuments in downtown: the St. George Rotunda (4th c.), the Presidency, the Archeological museum, the former King Palace – nowadays home of the Ethnographic museum and Art gallery, the National Theater, the beautifully ornate Russian church, St. Sophia church, The Cathedral St. Alexander Nevski. Visit of the Crypt icon museum.
Back to the hotel. Welcome dinner and folklore show at local restaurant. Overnight.

Day 2 SOFIA - KOPRIVSHTITSA – TROYAN
03Jun’06 Breakfast. Departure to Koprivshtitza - the best preserved architectural museum town in Bulgaria. The small town with cobble-paved streets and picturesque colourful houses from the 17-18th century is situated among spacious meadows and quiet forests with bracing air in the heart of Sredna Gora mountain, 110 km southeast of Sofia. More than 380 of Koprivshtitsa's houses date from the National Revival era - six of them turned into museums. Koprivshtitsa also occupies an important place in the Bulgarian folk music calendar with its international festival of musicians and dancers from all over the world. Lunch in a typical restaurant with traditional Bulgarian dishes. Transfer to the town of Troyan crossing the Balkan mountains by the magnificent Troyan pass. Troyan is a typical Bulgarian town where the specific Bulgarian souvenir pottery and one of the country's most popular plum brandy are produced. Visiting the Troyan monastery which nowadays is to be the 3rd biggest monastery in Bulgaria. It must have been in existence long before the l5th century, as legends suggest. In 1835 was built a wonderful main church, painted by the famous Bulgarian artist Zahari Zograph in the middle of the 19th century.
Accommodation and dinner at Troyan Plaza hotel 4*.

Day 3 TROYAN – ROSE FESTIVAL IN KAZANLAK – NESSEBAR
04 Jun’06 06.00 - Early breakfast. Departure to the Rose valley. 08:15 a.m. Rose picking ritual in a rose field near Kazanlak. Rose distillation ritual with folklore dances and music; Tasting of original rose products – brandy, liquor and jam; Tasting herbal oils (mint, rose, lavender) in the Rose museum.
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. The tourists will enjoy the parade along the streets of the town. Lunch (BBQ with a folklore show (a souvenir – rose oil 1g per person and local alcohol drinks are included) in Kazanlak. Visit of Ostrusha Tomb (the original), located near Kazanlak. Transfer to Nessebar. Accommodation and dinner at Festa Panorama hotel 4* in the town of Nessebar.

Day 4 NESSEBAR – VARNA
05 Jun’06 Breakfast. Sightseeing tour of 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 to the “summer capital city� of Bulgaria – the city of Varna. Panoramic tour of Varna and visit of the Archeological museum where the oldest gold in Europe is kept. Lunch at a local restaurant.
* Optional tour of the botanical garden in the town of Balchik – 80 km return.
Accommodation at Varna hotel 4* in Varna downtown, next to the Cathedral. Dinner and overnight.

Day 5 VARNA– MADARA – SHOUMEN - ROUSSE
06 Jun’06 Breakfast. Departure to the village of Madara for visit of The Madara Horseman - 7th century AD, an impressive bas-relief, carved out of the sheer rock, unique in Europe. Drive to the town of Shoumen for a panoramic tour and lunch. * Optional visit of The Sveshtary Thracian Tomb (40 km from the main road Shoumen – Rousse) . Its incredible architecture amazes both with its wealth of sculptural ornaments - the caryatides below the vault, rosettes, stylizes ox heads, garlands, colonnades, as well as the ritual of heroization painted in vibrant colours. It is a remarkable monument of Thracian art - the biggest sensation of ancient archaeology in the recent years. Arrival in the city of Rousse – the biggest and most beautiful Bulgarian city on the Danube River. Accommodation at Danube Plaza hotel 4*. Dinner & overnight.

Day 6 ROUSSE – IVANOVO – VELIKO TURNOVO
07 Jun’06 Breakfast. Drive to Veliko Turnovo - the former capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (1185-1396) and a symbol of the national Bulgarian spirit. En route visit of Ivanovo Rock Churches and cells, carved into the rock high above the picturesque canyon of the Roussenski Lom river, with 13th and 14th century murals of great artistic interest. Arrival in the village of Arbanassi - the royal residence during The Second Bulgarian Kingdom. Sightseeing with visit of the oldest and richly decorated Nativity Church (1637-1649) and The Konstantsaliev House, presenting 19th century Arbanassi lifestyle. Lunch in local restaurant. Transfer to Veliko Turnovo. Accommodation at Premier Hotel 4*. Sightseeing tour of the most outstanding landmarks of the town: the medieval fortress of Tsarevets - the ramparts, the Baldwin Tower, the royal Palace and Patriarchate. Tarnovo is also a National revival city.
The houses here seem to grow out of the steep slopes of the river making an incredible panorama. Some of the finest architectural examples from this period can be found during the romantic stroll in the old town.
Back to the hotel for dinner and overnight. * Optional – Sound &Light show.

Day 7 VELIKO TURNOVO – TRYAVNA – PLOVDIV
08 Jun’06 Breakfast. Transfer to the museum town of Tryavna, famous with the exceptional masterpieces of Bulgarian Revival architecture and handicrafts – 18-19 centuries. Visit to the Museum of woodcarving and icon-painting. Crossing the Balkan mountains by the historical Shipka pass. Visit of the Russian Memorial church. Lunch at local restaurant.
Transfer to the city of Plovdiv – the Bulgarian second largest city and one of the most romantic places in Europe. It is famous with 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. Guided tour of the Old town – a reserve of Bulgarian National Revival architecture (19-th century), visit of The Ethnographical museum and Roman amphitheatre.
Accommodation, dinner and overnight at Trimontium Princess hotel 4*.

Day 8 PLOVDIV – BACHKOVO MONASTERY – DEVIN
09 Jun’06 Breakfast. Departure to the town of Devin. En route visiting the Bachkovo monastery - located in a picturesque valley South-West from Plovdiv city. It was founded in 11th century. This is the second biggest Bulgarian monastery, chiefly known for its original architecture, rich collections of old icons, jewelry, coins and church plate. The Holy Trinity and St. Nicholas church (1840) contain some of the first murals painted by the celebrated National Revival artist Zahari Zograph. The road passes through the magnificent Rhodope mountain which fascinates with its beautiful nature.
Lunch at a local restaurant in the town of Shiroka luka - a village – museum, an architectural and ethnographic reserve, well known for its original Rhodope style, musical traditions and history.

Arriving in the town of Devin – small town in the Rhodope mountain with soft climate and famous for its mineral springs. For the last several years, many luxurious spa hotels have been built in the town.
Accommodation , dinner and overnight at Devin Spa hotel 4*.

Day 9 DEVIN – TRIGRAD – BANSKO
10 Jun’06 Breakfast. Departure to the town of Bansko. En route visiting Trigrad. The village of Trigrad with its awesome gorge and caves, is the natural attraction in the southwestern Rhodopes, 30 km south of Devin. The Trigrad Gorge is one of the most spectacular vistas in Bulgaria, its sheer walls overhanging the foaming Trigradska river, which disappears into the fantastic Devil's Throat cave - one of the phenomena in the Trigrad Gorge, formed as a result of the collapse of earth layers. A legend says it was here that Orpheus went under earth to the kingdom of Hades to save his beloved Euridika. The wild karst terrain surrounding the sprawling village of Trigrad, abounds in caves - 102 found so far. One of them, Yagodinska cave is also of great interest - the “pearl in the crown� of the Rhodope mountain. Visitors enter the cave through an artificially dug opening, while the natural entrance is 30 m above. Electric lights make the mysterious formations: draperies, pipe-like stalactites, cave pearls, “leopard’s skin� and hanging stalactone visible along with many others. Some of the formations inside resemble the well- known "Santa Claus", "Snow-White and The Seven Dwarfs", "Virgin Mary and her newborn child". Every year the local speleologist club selebrates the New Year Eve.
Lunch at a local restaurant in the village of Trigrad.
Arrival in Bansko resort - one of the biggest mountain resorts in Bulgaria with a long winter to take advantage of its modern, well developed skiing and sport facilities. Having been a birth place to many national intellectuals and a witness of dramatic history during the centuries, Bansko is a museum town of special architectural and cultural value. The 19-sentury atmosphere of Bansko downtown, the famous Bansko style cuisine, modern hotels and walking tours to the Pirin mountains attract tourists all year round
Accommodation, dinner and overnight at Orphey hotel 4*.

Day 10 BANSKO – MELNIK – SANDANSKI
11 Jun’06 Breakfast. Drive to the town of Melnik - Bulgaria's smallest town, 20 km southeast of Sandanski, is famous for its robust red wine, impressive houses and natural surroundings. Nestled amidst the southwestern fold of Pirin mountain, Melnik combines memories of a prosperous past and unique in its kind countryside with whimsical sand pyramids and sandstone towers. The original Revival architecture of the Melnik houses with their famous sand wine-cellars, the ruins of the old-time splendour such as the 13th century Boyar House, and the remains of numerous churches, are the reason for Melnik to become an architectural reserve. You can still enjoy the justly famed Melnik wine once traded as far as Western Europe in the numerous taverns and hotels. Visit of the oldest underground wine cellar. Lunch in local restaurant. Visit of Rojen monastery. Drive to the resort town of Sandanski – famous with the unique microclimate and mineral springs. Accommodation at Sandanski hotel 4*. Dinner and overnight.

Day11 SANDANSKI - RILA MONASTERY - SOFIA
12 Jun’06 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. Transfwer to Sofia. Accommodation at Sofia Princess Hotel. Farewell dinner at local restaurant in the foot of Vitosha mountain. Overnight.

Day 12 SOFIA CITY TOUR AND DEPARTURE
13 Jun’06 Breakfast. City tour of Sofia. A Visit to The National Museum of History with its genuine treasures of ancient arts. A visit of Boyana Church dated 1259, known for its 13th century murals, famous for their exceptional realism.
Transfer to Sofia Airport for departure. End of services.