Tour Overview
Bulgaria and Romania tour
Through New Europe – beyond the two Riverbanks of The Danube
13 days/12 nights tour in Bulgaria and Romania
Day 1
Arrival at Bucharest. Transfer from the airport and accommodation in 4* hotel. Dinner and overnight.
Day 2 Bucharest – the Little Paris
After breakfast – city tour of the Romanian capital – the Palace of Parliament (the second largest building in the world after the Pentagon in USA), the Royal Palace, the University’s Library, the City-Hall and other interesting sights of the city also called “the little Paris” because of the similar architecture style of the buildings. Dinner and overnight.
Day 3 Through the Carpathian mountains
After breakfast – departure through the Carpathian mountains to Sibiu and the Oltului Valley – the most spectacular river valley in Romania. Visit Horezu and learn how to make Romanian pottery. Visit also of the local monastery. Departure to the biggest medieval city in Romania – Sibiu = European Capital of Culture 2007. Accommodation, dinner and overnight in 4* hotel in Sibiu.
Day 4 Surrounding Sibiu: Multicultural and ecumenical life.
After breakfast visit to the old part of the town with the Clock tower and the old style houses. Afterwards we invite you to explore the villages surrounding Sibiu, located at the bottom of the Cindrel Mountains. First, we will visit Cisnadie, where we will see one of the most beautiful fortified churches in Transylvania. Next, we will head towards Cisnadioara where we will visit the Evangelic Church and the medieval fortress. Our next stop will be at the open air village museum in the Dumbrava Forest- the largest open air museum in Romania with over 330 types of village houses. The museum is built on a 200 ha surface. Next we will head to Cristian – a village where the most inhabitants used to be Landlers. Next we head to Sibiel, a typical Romanian village where we will visit the glass painted icons museum. Traditional dinner at a Romanian peasant family in Sibiel. Return to Sibiu. Dinner and overnight.
Day 5 The Birthhouse of Vlad Dracula
After breakfast we drive to Malancrav and Biertan. Both curch-castels are over 750 yers old. Biertan is also an UNESCO – Monument and it was the Evangelic Bishop Residence until 17th century. In Medias we will visit the Castle of the town and also the medieval town. In Medias was Herman Obert – the father of rocket flight – born. Follows visit of one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Romania – Sighisoara. Visit of the Citadel – a 12th century Saxon edifice located in the historic center of the city. Still occupied, the citadel is listed as a World Heritage Site. Dinner in the famous restaurant «Vlad Drakula», located in the same house where the popular character of the British writer Bram Stoker was born. Accommodation and overnight in 4* hotel in the medieval town (UNESCO Heritage) in Sighisoara.
Day 6 Dracula’s Castle
After breakfast – departure to Transylvania. We will visit Bran village, where the world famous Dracula castle is located. It is the most curious part of the trip in Romania, which attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world. Lunch in Brasov. In the afternoon city – tour Brasov – a medieval city, founded in 12-th century. Sightseeing tour of the really good preserved historical city center with the big square, the old city-hall, and the Black Church – the main Gothic style monument in the country. Accommodation in a 4* hotel in Poiana Brasov mountain resort.
Day 7 The summer residence of the Romanian royal family
After breakfast – Departure to the mountain resort Sinaia, also called “the pearl of the Carpathian Mountains”. Visit to the Peles Castle, constructed in 1873 as a summer residence of the Romanian royal family. You can see a rich collection of old furniture, carpets, weapons and armors. In the yard of the castle we will have also lunch.
In the afternoon we will cross the Danube river which is the natural border between Bulgaria and Romania. Set off to Ruse – the first Bulgarian city with European appearance, also called the “little Vienna”. Accommodation and overnight in 4* hotel in Ruse.
Day 8 The rock churches of Ivanovo
After breakfast – panoramic tour around Ruse follows: the Monument of Liberty, the Pantheon of National Revival Heroes, Dohodno Zdanie Building, the National Museum of Railway Transport and others.
Departure to the Rusenski Lom River Valley. Visit Rock Churches of Ivanovo (XII-XIV c) – an UNESCO object, famous for its unique frescoes. Then we will drive to the old capital of Bulgaria – Veliko Tarnovo. Accommodation, dinner and overnight in 4* hotel.
Day 9 The Capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom
After breakfast – city tour of Veliko Tarnovo with visit to the historical hill Tsarevets with the Fortress, the Patriarchal church and the Emperor Baldwin’s Tower. You will walk along the old Trade Street – Samovodska charshia.
Next is visit of Arbanassi village, famous for its ancient rich decorated churches and magnificent architecture. It used to be a residence of the Bulgarian kings. Visit of a private guest house in Arbanassi, where we will have delicious homemade meals for lunch.
In the afternoon – free time. Overnight in the hotel.
Day 10 The Valley of the Roses and the Thracian Kings
After breakfast – departure to Gabrovo – the capital of humor. Visit to the “House of the humor” with its exhibition of caricatures, carnival masks, costumes and other attractions, which will cheer you up. Next follows a visit of “Etara” – a unique open air museum recreating the way of life of the Bulgarians in the 19th c. It is a great attraction for tourists, one of the most visited places in the country.
Departure to Kazanlak – the capital of the Rose valley. The road to Kazanlak passes by Shipka peak, where is situated the monument of the Bulgaria’s liberators from the 19th C. There is a wonderful view to North and South Bulgaria from the monument’s top – over 1100 m above sea level. You will learn more details about the crucial battles, which changed the course of the Russian-Turkish war in 1877-78. On your way to Kazanlak, in the village of Shipka is the Russian church, where concerts with Church Slavonic music are often performed. In Kazanlak you will visit the Museum of Rose, where you can see how the famous Bulgarian rose oil (used in the perfumery) is made. Next is the Thracian Kazanlak tomb dating back to the 4th c. B.C. It is listed in the world natural and historical heritage of UNESCO. In the Historical museum you will see the recently golden mask of the Thracian king Theres and the bronze head of the King Seuthes III. Late in the afternoon – a drive to Plovdiv, accommodation, dinner and overnight in 4* hotel.
Day 11 The Antique Plovdiv
After breakfast – city tour of Plovdiv, founded in IV century B.C. by King Philip of Macedonia. Visit to the old part of the town with the Ethnographical Museum, the St. Constantine and Elena church, the Antique Theatre and the Roman Stadium.
In the afternoon – departure for Rila Monastery, founded in 10th c. The biggest Bulgarian medieval spiritual centre with rich collection of icons, wall-paintings, old-printed books – some 15 000 volumes. The monastery is a monument in the UNESCO list of world heritage and is situated in the highest mountain on the Balkans – Rila Mountain. Guided tour round the monastery. Departure for Sofia. Accommodation, dinner and overnight in 4* hotel.
Day 12 A 8500 years Old City
After breakfast – panoramic tour round Sofia (a 8500 years old city!) and visit to the most interesting historical sights: the Alexander Nevski Cathedral, the Royal Palace, the St. Sofia Church, which had given the name of the city, and the historical and cultural center of the capital.
After breakfast – city tour around Sofia. The Bulgarian capital is a 8500 years old city called “My Rome” by the Emperor Constantine the Great. Visit to the most interesting historical sights: the National Museum of History, the Boyana Church – one of the few complete and perfectly preserved mediaeval monuments testifying to the significant contribution of Bulgarian monumental painting to European culture in the Middle Ages. The church is located in the foot of Vitosha mountan and is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Back to the city center where we will see the Ancient Serdica, the rotunda church St. George (dated IV century AC), the mineral springs, the antique Roman theatre dated III-IV-th century (the time of the Emperor Constantine the Great) and the St. Nedelya sqare, where 4 temples from different religions are located next to each other: The Catholic church, The Ortodox church, The Synagogue and The Mosque are forming quadrangle, which symbolize the peace between religions in Bulgaria. Next is the Alexander I square where the Royal Palace and the National Theatre are located, “Tzar Osvoboditel” boulevard, the Parliament, the Church of “St. Sofia” (the name means wisdom), which had given the name of the city, the Sofia University and the “Alexander Nevski” cathedral (the biggest Orthodox temple on the Balkan peninsula).
Dinner and overnight in the hotel.
Day 13
After breakfast – transfer to the airport and flight back home.
What is included:
- Accommodation for 12 nights in best available hotels 4*.
- 12 breakfasts and 9 dinners and 3 lunches. The lunches and dinners includes 3-cource meal with mineral water
- Lunch-picnic in Kazanluk with folklore program and drinks included (for the Rose Festival tour)
- Entertainment program in Kazanlak (for the Rose Festival tour)
- Parking fees, road and border taxes.
- All entrance fees for the museums, sites and churches.
- Professional tour guide speaking your language* throughout (1 for Bulgaria and 1 for Romania)
* for some languages a supplement may be applied - Porterage in the hotels.
- Gratuities
