JOIN-IN GROUP TOUR WITH GUARANTEED DEPARTURES

The program includes 13 nights on HB basis – 2 nights in Sofia (Bulgaria), 1 night in Plovdiv (Bulgaria), 2 nights in Kazanlak or surroundings (Bulgaria), 5 nights in Istanbul (Turkey), 2 nights in Cappadocia (Turkey) and 1 night in Ankara (Turkey); transfer with an air-conditioned minivan, minibus or coach; professional guide throughout the entire trip.

PROGRAM

DAY 1 WEDNESDAY, 27.05.2020: Arrival at Sofia airport. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation at the hotel. Dinner. Overnight stay in Sofia.

DAY 2 THURSDAY, 28.05.2020: Breakfast. Sightseeing tour of Sofia – St. Nedelya Cathedral, St. George Rotunda, Russian Church of St. Nicolas, St. Sophia Church, St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Ivan Vazov National Theater. Lunch. A visit to the National Museum of History and the Boyana Church. The Boyana Church is included in the UNESCO List of World Cultural Heritage and has preserved frescoes of an unknown artist, which date back to the year 1259. The frescoes impress with the spirituality and expressiveness of their images, created 7 years before the birth of Giotto di Bondone, considered the first Renaissance artist. Dinner. Overnight stay in Sofia.

DAY 3 FRIDAY, 29.05.2020: Breakfast. Departure for Rila Monastery – the biggest monastery in Bulgaria, founded in the 10th century by the monk and hermit St. John of Rila, patron and protector of Bulgaria. The monastery served as the center for cultural and spiritual life of the Bulgarian people, during the centuries of foreign enslavement. Visit to the monastery, the main church and the monastery museum. Lunch. Departure for Plovdiv – one of Europe’s most ancient cities, older than Athens, Rome and Constantinople. Arrival. Accommodation at the hotel. Dinner. Overnight stay in Plovdiv.

DAY 4 SATURDAY, 30.05.2020: Breakfast. Sightseeing tour of Plovdiv – a tour of the old town which consists of one of the most spectacular ensembles of town houses from the period of the Bulgarian National Revival. Visit to the Saints Constantine and Helena Church, Roman Theatre, Regional Ethnographic Museum. Lunch. Departure for Kazanlak – the capital of the Rose Valley. Arrival. Visit to the Rose Museum, which has unique exhibits relevant to the production of rose oil from the year 1660 until today; visit to Iskra Museum of History (the most recently discovered gold, silver and bronze findings from the Thracian mounds are on display in the new treasury) and to the Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak. The tomb is part of a great Thracian necropolis that dates back to the 4th century BC. It has been part of the UNESCO List of World Cultural Heritage since 1979. Accommodation at the hotel. Dinner. Overnight stay in Kazanlak.

DAY 5 SUNDAY, 31.05.2020: Breakfast. Visit to the rose fields where rose picking rituals take place. All tourists will be welcomed by young girls wearing typical national costumes and live folklore music. The girls will then accompany tourists into the rose gardens showing them personally how the rose buds are picked. For that purpose each one of them is caring a wicker basket. Baskets will be distributed among tourists too so they can pick some rose buds by themselves. 15-20 min free time in the gardens is provided for that purpose. A visit to the rose-distillery. Tourists will be welcomed at the entrance with homemade bread and salt which is a typical Bulgarian tradition. A specialist will then introduce visitors to the old way to extract oil from roses, the modern way of extracting oil in the rosedistillery. The whole tour will end-up with a short folklore program (about 15 – 20 min). Carnival parade of the Rose festival. Official lunch with traditional folklore program. Dinner and overnight in Kazanlak.

DAY 6 MONDAY, 01.06.2020: Breakfast. Departure to Istanbul. On the road – visit of Edirne - the Selimiye Mosque, Turkey’s prettiest mosque, completed from 1568 until 1574. It is considered to be the masterpiece of Mimar Sinan – turkey’s most famous architect. Arrival in Istanbul, accomodation in the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay in Istanbul.

DAY 7 TUESDAY, 02.06.2020: Breakfast. Early in the morning – departure to Cappadocia. On the way a short stopover on the salt lake Tuz which is the second largest lake in Turkey. Accommodation at the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

DAY 8 WEDNESDAY, 03.06.2020: Breakfast. Departure to the town of Uchisar. On the way short stopover in the Valley of Doves who got its name from the multiple dove cages dug out in the rocks from locals. Visit of the natural fortress Uchisar Rock-Castle – steep rock cliff resembling castle as if born in the imagination of some unknown architect surrealist and which is the symbol of Cappadocia, and from where tourists will enjoy unforgettable panoramic view all over the valley. In the rock at 25 different levels multiple monasteries, churches and dwellings were dug out during the centuries that give the whole structure a beehive looks. Visit the famous Goreme Open Air Museum and see the best examples of Byzantine art in Cappadocia in rock-hewn churches with frescoes and paintings (10th to 13th century). Short stopover in Pasabag Valley or “The Vineyards of the Pasha”. Visit of Avanos – charming little town situated along the banks of Kazalarmak river famous for its pottery and wine production and the Red valley of Dervent with its world famous rock formations. Time at leisure in the town of Urgup famous for its carpets, pottery, jewelery and leather manufacturing and the annual Wine festival. Return to hotel. Dinner. Possibility for visiting a typical restaurant with folklore program (additional payment required – 25 Euro per person). Overnight stay.

DAY 9 THURSDAY, 04.06.2020: Breakfast. Early in the morning – possibility to organize a flight over the entire Cappadocia with hot air balloon (additional payment required – 140 Euro per person). Visit to Kaymakli Underground City (carved in sheer rock in V century B.C. on 9 levels at depth of 75 m.), one of the most interesting underground settlements in Cappadocia. Early Christians used the place to hide from their persecutors in the dawn of Christianity. Departure to Ihlara valley. Walking tour in the valley and visit to the rock-hewn churches. In the early afternoon – departure to Ankara. In the evening – arrival, accommodation in the hotel and overnight stay.

DAY 10 FRIDAY, 05.06.2020: Breakfast. Sightseeing tour of Ankara – visit to the Citadel of Ankara from where tourists will enjoy a remarkable view over the city, the Museum of Anatolian civilizations, Kemal Ataturk’s museum. Departure to Istanbul. In the evening - arrival in Istanbul, accomodation in the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay in Istanbul.

DAY 11 SATURDAY, 06.06.2020: Breakfast. Sightseeing tour of Istanbul’s historical center, former Constantinople: visit to the Blue Mosque, the only mosque in the world with six minarets; the Hippodrome square with an Egyptian obelisk; the Column of Constantine, the Serpent Column and the Fountain of Kaiser Wilhelm II. A visit to St Sophia Church, the royal church of the Byzantine Empire in Constantinople. It was built in just 5 years, from 532 to 537, by emperor Justinian, who wanted to build the biggest and greatest temple in the world. St Sophia Church is considered to be the brightest example of byzantine architecture and because of its size and the engineering successes surrounding it, it is considered to be one of the grandest buildings of the Antiquity. 1000 years after its completion St Sophia Church remains the biggest temple in the world and even today is the world’s fourth largest temple. In 1453 St Sophia Church is turned into a mosque by the ottoman conquerors. Dinner and overnight stay in Istanbul.

DAY 12 SUNDAY, 07.06.2020: Breakfast. Panoramic tour of Istanbul – the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus, a tour of the Asian part of the city. Visit of Dolmabahce Palace, official residence of the sultans since its completion from 1853 until 1922) or for shopping. Dinner at a restaurant offering evening entertainment program with oriental dances. Overnight stay in Istanbul.

DAY 13 MONDAY, 08.06.2020: Breakfast. Free time in Istanbul for shopping or just walking around. Possibility to organize a cruise on the Bosphorus or a boat-excursion to the Princes’ Islands with additional payment. Dinner. Overnight stay in Istanbul.

DAY 14 TUESDAY, 09.06.2020: Breakfast. Transfer to Istanbul airport. Departure.

Price per person in double room on HB basis
Group 30/35 pax – 1364 EUR
Group 36/40 pax – 1323 EUR
Group 41/45 pax – 1270 EUR
Group 46/50 pax – 1242 EUR

Single supplement, price per 3rd adult in dbl room, CHD prices – on request

Price includes:

• 13 nights - 2 nights in Sofia (Bulgaria), 1 night in Plovdiv (Bulgaria), 2 nights in Kazanlak or surroundings (Bulgaria), 5 nights in Istanbul (Turkey), 2 nights in Cappadocia (Turkey), and 1 night in Ankara (Turkey) - on HB basis in 3 or 4 star hotels, including dinner in a restaurant offering evening entertainment program with oriental dances in Istanbul;

• All entrance fees for museums, listed in the program (National Museum of History and Boyana Church in Sofia; Rila Monastery Museum; Saints Constantine and Helena Church, Roman Theater and Regional Ethnographic Museum in Plovdiv; Iskra Museum of History and Thracian Tomb in Kazanlak; St Sofia church and Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul; Kaymaklı Underground City, Goreme Open Air Museum, Uchisar Rock- Castle, Ihlara Valley in Cappadocia);

• Half day program in the rose fields with official lunch and visit of the Carnival parade of the Rose festival;

• All transfers and transport in a luxurious coach (air-conditioning, video, mini-bar);

• English speaking guide throughout the entire trip;

The price is valid for a join-in group tour of 10 participants. On the above mentioned dates you can join an existing group and take advantage of prices and services of group travel.

Rual Travel can provide prices on request for groups of more or less than 10 persons. For any inquiries please contact us on the following e-mail - rual@incomingbulgaria.com