• Excursions
  • Bulgaria
Bulgarian museum towns tour
Departure from: , 9 days. Sofia(2) → Melnik (1) → Kovachevitsa (1) → Plovdiv (1) → Zheravna (1) → Veliko Turnovo (1) → Tryavna (1) → Koprivshtitsa (1)
  • Theme: Sightseeing tour, Historical tour
    Language: Chinese, English, Русский
  • Duration: 8 nights / 9 days
    Carried out: from 01.10.2017 to 31.12.2019, everyday
  • End City/Point: Sofia
  • Plan of stay: Sofia - 2 days / 1 night (s)
    Melnik - 1 day / 1 night (s)
    Kovachevitsa - 1 day / 1 night (s)
    Plovdiv - 1 day / 1 night (s)
    Zheravna - 1 day / 1 night (s)
    Veliko Turnovo - 1 day / 1 night (s)
    Tryavna - 1 day / 1 night (s)
    Koprivshtitsa - 1 day
    Includes:
    accommodation, transfer, meal, excursions
Description

Bulgarian museum towns provide the unique opportunity to feel and experience a lifestyle from the Bulgarian National Revival period. About 8,000 houses and buildings have been preserved in the country along with thousands of frescos, icons and works of the woodcarving art.

Sofia Day 1

Meet and greet by your guide at the airport, transfer to the hotel. Panoramic city tour including National Ethnographic Museum, National Theatre, Russian Church St. Nikola, Parliament Square, Alexander Nevski Memorial Cathedral , St. Sofia Church (6th c), St. George Rotunda (4th c), National Palace of Culture. Dinner in local restaurant with live music.
Overnight in Sofia (D)

Hotel for 1 night (s):
RAMADA SOFIA 4* or similar
Meal:
Dinner in hotel
Transfer:
From Sofia Airport to hotel
Excursions:
Panoramic city tour of Sofia
ATTRACTIONS BY ROUTE:
  • Alexander Nevski cathedral
  • Mineral baths
  • National theatre
  • Russian church
  • St. George Rotunda
  • St. Sofia church
  • Ethnographic Museum Plovdiv
Melnik Day 2

After breakfast departure to the 10th century AD Rila Monastery, the biggest and most spectacular in Bulgaria, one of Europe’s oldest and included in UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage List.
Departure for Rupite. Rupite owes its popularity to the mineral springs, the extinct volcano Kojuh-mountain, and the fact that it is the birthplace of the Bulgarian prophet Vanga. It is known that Vanga has lost her sight in early childhood, after which her unique abilities appear. The prophetess believes that this area has a unique energy, and the water from the springs is really curative. Vanga's world fame attracts thousands of believers and curious every year. On the territory of the region is the church "St. Petka Bulgarska", which was built in 1994 with the money of the prophet Vanga, two years before her death.
Continue to Melnik – the smallest town in Bulgaria, known for the good wine and picturesque sandstone pyramids. Take a walk and enjoy lovely houses perched on the slopes of steep sandstone rocks. See the ethnographic house of Kordopulov dating back to the 17th century and sample the delicious local wine in the house’s cellar. Continue to the nearby Rozhen Monastery where you will find magnificent murals from 16th, 17th and 18th century and impressive wood carving work. Dinner in local restaurant with wine tasting.
Overnight in Melnik (B, L, D)

Hotel for 1 night (s):
HOTEL MELNIK 3* or similar
Meal:
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Transfer:
Sofia –> Rila monastery –> Rupite -> Melnik -> Rozhen monastery –> Melnik (280 km - 4h 30 min)
Excursions:
Rila Monastery or Rupite or Melnik or House of Kordopulov or Rozhen Monastery
ATTRACTIONS BY ROUTE:
  • Rila Monastery
  • Melnik
  • House of Kordopulov
  • Rozhen Monastery
Kovachevitsa Day 3

Morning departure to Bansko museum town. A walk through the old quarter, see the houses, looking as fortresses, as well as the tower-clock. The tour continues via the Rhodopi Mountains to the picturesque museum village of Kovachevitsa with impressive architecture. The atmosphere is so charming with the narrow cobbled little streets, stone walls of the houses rising extraordinarily high, grayish slabs covering the roofs, tranquility, countless swallows perching along the electric lines, goats climbing up the fences, fireflies in summertime. Visit to Leshten mountain village – a pretty post-card architectural and ethnographic reserve with thirty traditional homes. See the remains from the roman city “Nikopolis ad Nestrum”, founded by the emperor Trayan, celebrating the victory over the Dacians in 2nd AC.
Overnight in Leshten or Kovatchevitsa (B, L, D)

Hotel for 1 night (s):
HOTEL LESHTEN 3* or similar
Meal:
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Transfer:
Melnik –> Bansko -> Leshten -> Kovachevitsa (180 km – 3h 30 min)
Excursions:
Bansko or Kovachevitsa or Leshten or “Nikopolis ad Nestrum”
ATTRACTIONS BY ROUTE:
  • Bansko
  • Bansko - Holy Trinity Church
  • Leshten
  • Kovachevitsa
Plovdiv Day 4

Departure towards Shiroka Luka museum-village and architecture and ethnographic reserve, well known for its original Rhodopi architectural style, musical traditions and history. Continue to Bachkovo Monastery - one of the oldest monasteries in the Bulgarian lands and the second biggest in the country. It is mainly known for its original architecture, rich collections of old icons, jewelry, coins and church plate. Continue to Plovdiv.
Dinner and overnight in Plovdiv (B, L, D)

Hotel for 1 night (s):
Meal:
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Transfer:
Leshten –> Shiroka luka –> Bachkovo –> Plovdiv (205 km – 4h 30 min)
Excursions:
Shiroka Luka or Bachkovo Monastery
ATTRACTIONS BY ROUTE:
  • Bachkovo Monastery
Zheravna Day 5

Breakfast. Tour of the Old Town of Plovdiv – an imposing open-air museum situated on the three hills of the ancient Trimontium with its remarkable examples of houses of the National Revival Period. Visit the Roman amphitheatre, Ethnographic museum Church of St. Constantine and Helena, Lamartine’s House and Jumaya Mosque. Continue to Zheravna - architectural and museum reserve with well-preserved and restored houses with decorations and exquisite wood-carvings from the Bulgarian Revival Period, narrow cobblestone alleys and lots of drinking fountains. Visit the museum houses of Yordan Yovkov and Sava Filaret, the Church and Zlatna Oresha Complex.
Dinner and overnight in Zheravna (B, L, D)

Hotel for 1 night (s):
ECOHOUSE ZHERAVNA 3* or similar
Meal:
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Transfer:
Plovdiv –> Zheravna (220 km – 2h 30 min)
Excursions:
Old Town of Plovdiv or Zheravna
ATTRACTIONS BY ROUTE:
  • Plovdiv - Old town
  • Plovdiv - Roman amphitheater
  • Plovdiv
Veliko Turnovo Day 6

Morning departure to Kotel – a town from the National Revival period. Visit the Ethnographic Museum, the Old water mill and the Inn. Passing through Stara Planina, will reach Elena – a beautiful town known for the typical local cuisine, situated in the skirts of the woody Elena Balkan range, in the nice valley of Elena river. Visit the most sacred place in Elena - the old church “Saint Nikola” and the native house of Ilarion Makariopolski. Continue to Veliko Turnovo.
Dinner and overnight in Veliko Turnovo (B, L, D)

Hotel for 1 night (s):
HOTEL MERIDIAN BOLYARSKI 4* or similar
Meal:
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Transfer:
Zheravna –> Kotel –> Elena –> Veliko Turnovo (120 km – 2h)
Excursions:
Old water mill or Elena
ATTRACTIONS BY ROUTE:
Tryavna Day 7

Morning sightseeing tour of Veliko Turnovo, the medieval Bulgarian capital. Visit Tsarevets Holy Hill and take a walk along Samovodene market with its original workshops from the National Revival. Then visit the museum village Arbanassi with the Church of Nativity (unique frescoes dating 16-17th c. AD) and Konstanzaliev’s House. The tour continues to the Bozhentsi architectural village keeping the 19th c. AD romantic atmosphere of the National Revival Period. Visit the Old coffee house, the Church of Prophet Elijah (1839), the school from 1872, the museum.
Continue for dinner and overnight in Tryavna (B, L, D)

Hotel for 1 night (s):
HOTEL SESONI 3* or similar
Meal:
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Transfer:
Veliko Turnvovo –> Arbanassi –> Bozhenci -> Tryavna (85 km – 2 h)
Excursions:
Veliko Turnovo or Tsarevets Holy Hill or Samovodene market or Arbanassi or Church of Nativity or Konstanzaliev’s House
ATTRACTIONS BY ROUTE:
  • Arbanasi - Nativity church
  • Arbanassi - Konstantsalieva house
  • Tsarevets Fortress
  • Veliko Turnovo
  • Samovodene
Koprivshtitsa Day 8

Morning sightseeing tour of Tryavna - famous for the skill and artistry of its former builders, wood carvers and painters. Tryavna's narrow streets are evocative of the 19th century and there are 140 protected National-Revival buildings. Masterpieces of the Revival architecture are the St Archangel Michael Church, the Clock tower, the Tryavna Museum School of Painting, the Slaveykov Museum, the Daskalov House and the Museum of Icon-painting and Woodcarving. Visit Etura architectural-ethnographic open-air museum and continue to Koprivshtica - the best preserved architectural reserve in Bulgaria. Visit The Oslekov, Kableshkov and Lyutov houses , which are fine examples of the work of art.
Dinner and overnight in Koprivshtitsa (B, L, D)

Hotel for 1 night (s):
TODORINI HOUSES 3* or similar
Meal:
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Transfer:
Tryavna –> Etara –> Koprivshtitsa (165 km – 3 h)
Excursions:
Tryavna or Slaveykov Museum or Museum of Icon-painting and Woodcarving or The Oslekov, Kableshkov and Lyutov houses
ATTRACTIONS BY ROUTE:
  • Etara
  • Koprivshtica
Sofia Day 9

Morning departure to Sofia and transfer for your flight to the airport.

Meal:
Breakfast
Transfer:
Koprivshtitsa –> Sofia (110 km – 2h)
Important to know

Booking is available min for 2 pax.
The direction of the program and the sequence of excursions and walks (day of the tour, departure time) can be changed. This tour program is not an official program and can not serve as a basis for reclamation. It is possible to make changes to the tour program and the sequence of its carrying out.

Prices and policies
Standard price
Included in the price
• Accommodation at hotels and family hotels as follows:

    - Sofia Hotel Ramada 4* or similar in Sofia – 1 BB;
    - Hotel Melnik 3* or similar in Melnik – 1 НВ;
    - Hotel Leshten or similar – 1 НВ;
    - Ecohouse Zheravna or similar – 1 HB;
    - Ramada Trimontium Plovdiv 4* or similar in Plovdiv – 1 HB;
    - Hotel Meridian Bolyarski 4* or similar in V. Turnovo or Arbanassi – 1 HB;
    - Hotel Sesoni 3* - Tryavna or similar – 1 HB;
    - Todorini houses - Koprivshtica or similar – 1 HB.

• 8 Breakfasts at the hotels;
• 7 Lunches at local restaurants;
• 6 dinners at the hotels;
• One dinner at local restaurant with live music;
• One dinner at local restaurant with wine tasting;
• Professional Guide throughout the whole tour;
• Transfers and transportation by deluxe A/C coach/ mini-coach;
• Entrance fees for the museums and sights, included in the tour.
Price not included
• Flight tickets to/from Bulgaria;
• Visa to Bulgaria;
• Drinks during lunches and dinners;
• Personal expenses.

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