10 minute read
Romania and Bulgaria Treasure
Day 1. Homeland - Bucharest Welcome to Romania. It’s home to one of Europe’s biggest squares and its Palace of Parliament is the second largest building in the world. It’s worth arriving into the city a few day s early to explore. Perhaps take a tour of the Palace of Parliament, check out the Museum of the Romanian Peasant.
Day 2. Bucharest -Veliko Tarnovo Travel into Bulgaria and on to the picturesque town of Veliko Tarnovo. Because of its importance during the second Bulgarian empire, the city was chosen as the place where the Bulgarian constitution was written in 1879 and where the official proclamation of Bulgaria as an independent state was made.
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Day 3. Veliko Tarnovo This morning join your leader for a visit to Veliko Tarnovo’s imposing Tsarevets Fortress which overlooks the city. This once-magnificent fortress was first built in the 7th century and the ruined citadel is a delight to wander through. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the City of Tsars. Wander through the Old Quarter with its preserved Renaissance houses and handicraft workshops before relaxing in one of the town’s cafes or ‘vinarnas’.
Day 4. Veliko Tarnovo - Plovdiv Travel from Veliko Tarnovo to Plovdiv.Join a local guide for a tour of the main sights and some insight into the town’s history. The most remarkable sight is the ancient Roman theatre, accidentally ‘discovered’ after a landslide exposed the site in the early 1970s. From here, wander up to the site of the former hilltop fortress of Nebet Tepe, where you can enjoy excellent views of the city. Head back down to visit the 15th-century Dzhumaya Mosque, still in use today .
Day 5. Plovdiv Today is a free day , so why not embark on an aimless wander through Plovdiv’s narrow alleyways to see traditional coppersmiths, farriers and potters at work, or browse through the myriads of antique shops lining the streets. Alternatively head out of town and check out the underground crypt at Bachkovo Monastery or discover one of the many hot springs in the Plovdiv region.
Day 6. Plovdiv - Bansko Journey on to the small town of Bansko. Down its cobbled streets, many of its stone houses have been transformed into charming ‘mehanes’ . Wander through pl. Vazrazhdane and check out the frescoes of the Church of Sveta Troitsa, or the paintings in the Rilski Convent.
Day 7. Bansko - Gorno Draglishte - Bansko This morning venture up into the Pirin Mountains. After a short ride on a chairlift stretch your legs with a hike into the eastern slopes of the mountains, with Mt Vihren, the range’s highest peak at almost 3,000m, visible to the west. In the afternoon transfer from Bansko to the small village of Gorno Draglishte. After visiting the village, return to Bansko.
Day 8. Bansko - Rila - Sofia Today journey into the Rila Mountains, where you’ll visit the impressive Rila Monastery. Then it’s on to Sofia. You’ve got the rest of the day to wander, so maybe begin with a browse around the cured meats and cheese of the Central Market Hall, then take a walk through the city and see the gold-domed Alexander Nevski Church. Discover artefacts from the many empires of old that have occupied the city at the National Archaeological Museum. In the evening why not meet for a last dinner with your group.
Day 9. Sofia - Homeland All good things come to an end, and this morning your adventure officially comes to a close.
Services
8 nights of accommodation in 4* Hotels with HB English speaking guide Bus/Mini-bus at your disposal Festive dinner Traditional dance and music show Wine tasting 1 SGL room free of charge for the foreign tour leader
Minimum of turists 10+1 15+1 20+1 25+1 30+1 35+1 40+1 45+1 Price per person (place in DBL/HB) 695€ 580€ 525€ 490€ 470€ 450€ 440€ 430€ SGL Supplement 130€ 130€ 130€ 130€ 130€ 130€ 130€ 130€
8 Lunches Supplement 95€ 95€ 95€ 95€ 95€ 95€ 95€ 95€
On The Balkans Road
Day 1. Homeland-Bucharest Meeting at the airport. Flight to Bucharest. You’ll be meeting your tour guide and you’ll be transferred to the hotel.
Day 2. Bucharest - Ruse - Pleven Panoramic tour of the Romanian capital, Bucharest. Visit of the Village Museum and the Patriarchate Church then photo stop at the colossal Palace of Parliament. Walk in the old town and stop in Curtea Veche . Departure for Bulgaria via Ruse and arrival at Pleven.
Day 3. Pleven - Sofia Road to the Bulgarian capital, Sofia. Panoramic tour the pleasant capital backed by Mount Vitosha: the old Royal palace , the national theater, wide boulevards, buildings, monuments of the Stalinist era, a yellow paved city center to walk on foot. Visit of the Alexander Nevsky’s cathedral and Hagia Sophia. Free time in town.
Day 4. Sofia - Skopje - Ohrid Entry into the former Yugoslav Republic of North Macedonia. Panoramic tour of its capital, Skopje crossed by the Vardar River, important crossroad of the Balkans between Aegean and Danube, Adriatic and Black Sea: The National Theater, The Stone Bridge, The Memorial House in honor of Mother Teresa, Nobel Peace Laureate born here in 1910, then visit of Carsija, the old town market. Road to Ohrid. Lunch during the visit. Accommodation for two nights.
Day 5. Ohrid - Tirana - Ohrid Panoramic tour of Ohrid classified UNESCO and panoramic view of the old town and the lake from the fortress Samuel, symbol of the city. Visit of the remarkable Byzantine church of the 13th century Saint John of Kaneo. Entry into Albania. Panoramic tour of the capital Tirana: the Skanderberg square, the Palace of Culture, the mosque Et’Hem Bey. Visit of the National Museum of History or the House of Leaves, a museum created in 2017 and dedicated to the intelligence services during the communist period. Return to Ohrid.
Day 6. Ohrid - Thessaloniki Entrance to Greece. Panoramic tour of Thessaloniki, capital of the Macedonia region
and main Balkan port located on Via Egnatia, the Aristotelous square, the Ladadika district, the seafront and the White Tower. Visit of the complex of the palace of the Roman emperor Galley, classified UNESCO: the Arc of Galley and the Saint George Rotunda with mosaics on a gold background, masterpiece of the Paleochristian art. Free time.
Day 7. Thessaloniki - Rila -Plovdiv Return to Bulgaria and road to Rila at 1147 m altitude. Visit of the magnificent UNESCOlisted monastery, one of the most beautiful of the orthodox world, high place of Bulgarian spirituality and history. You will continue to Plovdiv, European capital of culture in 2019, before Rome and Athens, founded by Philip of Macedonia in the heart of the great ancient Thracian civilization.
Day 8. Plovdiv - Velik - Tarnovo Pedestrian panoramic walk of Plovdiv, architectural open-air museum, stop in front of the Djoumaya mosque, the Lamartine house and the Roman theater then visit of the ethnographic museum. Free time in the old town. Crossing the Great Balkan and road to Veliko Tarnovo, historical capital of the Bulgarian kingdom.
Day 9. Veliko Tarnovo - Bucharest Pedestrian panoramic walk of Veliko Tarnovo, visit of the hill of Tsarevets and stroll through the very picturesque shopping streets and Samodvoska. Free time in the old town. Road to the village of Arbanassi, listed museum, famous for its old houses of the seventeenth century and visit of the Church of the Nativity. Then return to Bucharest. Enjoy a traditional dance and muisc show during the dinner.
Day 10. Bucharest-Homeland
Services
9 nights of accommodation in 4* Hotels with HB English speaking guide Bus/Mini-bus at your disposal 2 festive dinners Traditional dance and music show 1 SGL room free of charge for the foreign tour leader
Minimum of turists 10+1 15+1 20+1 25+1 30+1 35+1 40+1 45+1 Price per person (place in DBL/HB) 795€ 670€ 610€ 570€ 540€ 525€ 510€ 500€ SGL Supplement 145€ 145€ 145€ 145€ 145€ 145€ 145€ 145€
9 Lunches Supplement 110€ 110€ 110€ 110€ 110€ 110€ 110€ 110€
Romania Holiday, The Beauty Of Yesterday
Day 1. Homeland - Bucharest - Piatra Neamt Arrive in Bucharest. On arrival you will be accompanied by English speaking guide. Transfer to Piatra Neamt.
Day 2. Piatra Neamt - Gura Humorului After breakfast the tour starts with a trip to Bucovina, the “Monastic Archipelago”, housing the painted churches. On the way stop for visits at Agapia and Varatec monasteries. In the afternoon visit Voronet Monastery: founded in 1488 by Stephen the Great. It is the most accomplished sample of artistic achievement in Moldavian architecture and painting, known as the oriental Sistine Chapel. Dinner and accomodation in Gura Humorului
Day 3. Gura Humorului - Moldovita - Sucevita - Viseul de Sus Today you will visit some of the world-famous painted monasteries: Moldovita (UNESCO) dates back to 1532 and has the aspect of a fortress, with imposing towers and high, thick walls. Sucevita, the last and the most magnificent monastic achievement among the painted monasteries in Bucovina. In the afternoon drive to Maramures, the land of traditions and wooden churches via the stunning, remote and beautiful Prislop Pass. Dinner and accommodation in Viseu de Sus.
Day 4. Viseul de Sus - Sighetu Marmatiei Today you will experience the steam train from Viseu to Paltin Station, through the Vaser Valley. A picnic / BBQ lunch is laid on at Paltin. In the late afternoon drive to Sighetu Marmatiei. Dinner and accommodation in Sighetu Marmatiei.
Day 5. Sighetu Marmatiei - Iza Valley - Bistrita After breakfast leave for a visit to Sapanta with its unique Merry Cemetery, famous for its colourful tombstones with paintings describing the deceased. The visit continues with Ieud and Rozavlea Churches, then Barsana Monastery. The day conculdes with a drive through southern Maramures via Nasaud and through the mountain pass to Bistrita. You will have a short visit of Bistrita before dinner.
Day 6. Bistrita - Targu Mures - Sighisoara After breakfast drive to Targu Mures. Targu Mures’ top attraction: the Culture Palace. In the afternoon a gentle drive south to the incomparable Sighisoara. After check-in at your hotel a walking visit to Sighisoara, one of the most beautiful and best-preserved mediaeval
towns in Europe. It is also the birthplace of Vlad Dracula, also known as Vlad Tepes, who inspired Bram Stoker’s fictional creation, Count Dracula. Landmarks of Sighisoara are the famous Clock Tower. The Church on the Hill is a beautiful Gothic church which dominates the hill at the southern end of the citadel. Dinner and accommodation in Sighisoara
Day 7. Sighisoara - Sibiu - Sighisoara After breakfast head to Sibiu. A visit of the mediaeval centre of Sibiu: the Great Square is the site of the Roman-Catholic church and the Brukenthal Palace. The square is linked to the Little Square by a passage beneath the Council Tower. The third square, Huet Square, is dominated by the Evangelical Cathedral. Return to Sighisoara.
Day 8. Sighisoara - Brasov - Bran - Predeal After breakfast it is a short drive to Viscri. In the afternoon you continue your tour with a visit of Brasov, considered the heart of Romania. During your Brasov tour you will visit the magnificent Black Church - the largest Gothic-style church between Vienna and Istanbul, and stroll around the old Council Square, lined with beautiful red roofed merchant houses. You can also admire the Black and White Towers, the Ekaterina’s Gate, the Schei Gate and Rope Street - the narrowest street in Europe. Dinner and accommodation in Predeal
Day 9. Predeal - Sinaia - Azuga - Predeal After breakfast you will visit Bran Castle. Continue your trip to Sinaia. After lunch, visit Peles Castle, a masterpiece of German new-Renaissance. End your day with a wine tasting in Azuga and return to Predeal for a traditional dance and music show during the dinner.
Day 10. Predeal - Homeland Transfer to Bucharest International Airport for your flight home .
Services
9 nights of accommodation in 4* Hotels with HB English speaking guide Bus/Mini-bus at your disposal Festive dinner Traditional dance and music show Steam train tour BBQ lunch in the mountains, drinks included Wine tasting 1 SGL room free of charge for the foreign tour leader
Minimum of turists 10+1 15+1 20+1 25+1 30+1 35+1 40+1 45+1 Price per person (place in DBL/HB) 790€ 670€ 605€ 560€ 535€ 520€ 505€ 590€ SGL Supplement 145€ 145€ 145€ 145€ 145€ 145€ 145€ 145€
9 Lunches Supplement 110€ 110€ 110€ 110€ 110€ 110€ 110€ 110€
