JOIN-IN GROUP TOUR WITH GUARANTEED DEPARTURES

The program includes 11 nights on HB basis – 2 nights in Sofia (Bulgaria), 1 night in Plovdiv (Bulgaria), 1 night in Kazanlak or surroundings (Bulgaria), 2 nights in Veliko Tarnovo (Bulgaria), 1 night in Ruse (Bulgaria), 2 nights in Brashov or Poiana Braşov (Romania), 2 nights in Bucharest (Romania); transfer with an air-conditioned minivan, minibus or coach; professional guide throughout the entire trip.

PROGRAM

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

DAY 2 - 28.05.2020 (THURSDAY): 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. 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 - 29.05.2020 (FRIDAY): 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. 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 - 30.05.2020 (SATURDAY): 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. Departure for Kazanlak – the capital of the Rose Valley. Arrival. Visit 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 or surroundings.

DAY 5 - 31.05.2020 (SUNDAY): Breakfast. Visit to the rose fields where rose picking rituals take place. Carnival parade of the Rose festival 2015. Official lunch with traditional folklore program. Time at leisure. Departure to Veliko Tarnovo or Arbanasi. Arrival, accommodation, dinner and overnight stay in Veliko Tarnovo or Arbanasi.

DAY 6 - 01.06.2020 (MONDAY): Breakfast. Sightseeing in Veliko Tarnovo –Tsarevets hill,
Samovodska Charshia. A visit to the historical village of Arbanasi - the Konstantsaliev’s House – one of the biggest and most lavishly decorated houses of the Bulgarian National Revival and at the Church of the Nativity of Christ, the oldest church in Arbanasi, unique with its frescoes. Dinner and overnight stay in Veliko Tarnovo or Arbanasi.

DAY 7 - 02.06.2020 (TUESDAY): Breakfast. Departure for Ruse. On the way – visit to Ivanovo Rock-Hewn Churches, included in UNESCO’s list of World Cultural Heritage. Arrival in Ruse and sightseeing tour of the city - Ruse (the fifth biggest city in Bulgaria) is also known as the “Little Vienna”, because of the architecture of its monuments in baroque, rococo, secession and neoclassicism styles. In the center of Ruse one can find the most beautiful city houses in Bulgaria, built after the Liberation (1878). Accommodation in hotel, dinner and overnight stay in Ruse.

DAY 8 - 03.06.2020 (WEDNESDAY): Breakfast. Departure for Braşov – a picturesque medieval town in Transylvania. On the way – stopover in Sinaia – mountain city and resort, also known as “The Pearl of the Carpathians” because of the surrounding magnificent mountain views. Walking tour to the center of the city. Visit to Peleş Castle – former summer residence of the Romanian Kings. Arrival in Braşov or in Poiana Braşov, accommodation in hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

DAY 9 - 04.06.2020 (THURSDAY): Breakfast. Visit to the Bran Castle, also known as Dracula’s Castle – the hunting residence of count Vlad Dracula. It is an impressive medieval fortress, built from 1377 until 1382 on a 60 m high rock. Sightseeing tour of Braşov – Municipal Square with the City Hall and the Assumption Cathedral; Black Church – the biggest gothic church in Eastern Europe etc. Dinner and overnight stay in Braşov or in Poiana Braşov.

DAY 10 - 05.06.2020 (FRIDAY): Departure for Bucharest, the capital of Romania. It is the biggest city in southeastern Europe, also known as the “Little Paris” because of its artistic culture and beautiful architecture, influenced by the Paris Haussmann-style. In between the two World Wars French architects have built dozens of beautiful and elegant buildings in Bucharest in “fin du siècle” style. Panoramic tour of Bucharest: Triumphal Arch, a replica of the one in Paris; the temple of music Athene (Opera) - a concert and festival center of Bucharest, remarkable with its style and 30 m high dome, the Patriarchal cathedral and Palace – spiritual center of the town, remarkable with the combination of classical style and baroque elements; the University; the Victory Square, the Royal Palace. Accommodation in hotel, dinner and overnight stay in Bucharest.

DAY 11 - 06.06.2020 (SATURDAY): Breakfast. Guided tour of the Parliament buildings in Bucharest – the second largest administrative building in the world after the Pentagon, built on 45 000m2 with 20 000 construction workers during the Chaushesku government. Dinner and overnight stay in Bucharest.

DAY 12 - 07.06.2020 (SUNDAY): Breakfast. Transfer to Bucharest international airport. Departure. End of services.

Price per person in double room on HB basis
Group 30/35 pax – 1087 EUR
Group 36/40 pax – 1037 EUR
Group 41/45 pax – 1018 EUR
Group 46/50 pax – 968 EUR

Single supplement, price per 3rd adult in dbl room, CHD prices – on request7

Price includes:

• 11 nights (3 nights in Sofia – Bulgaria, 1 night in Plovdiv – Bulgaria, 1 night in Kazanlak or surroundings - Bulgaria, 2 nights in Veliko Tarnovo or Arbanasi – Bulgaria, 2 nights in Brasov or Poiana Brasov – Romania, 2 nights in Bucharest - Romania) on HB basis in 3 or 4 star hotels;

• All entrance fees for museums, listed in the program (National Museum of History and Boyana Church in Sofia - Bulgaria; Rila monastery museum - Bulgaria; Thracian Tomb in Kazanlak - Bulgaria; Saints Constantine and Helena Church, Roman Theater and Regional Ethnographic Museum in Plovdiv - Bulgaria; Tsarevets hill in Veliko Tarnovo - Bulgaria; Konstantsaliev’s House and the Church of the Nativity of Christ in Arbanasi - Bulgaria; Ivanovo rock-hewn churches - Bulgaria; Peleş Castle, Bran Castle, the Black Church in Brasov and Parliament buildings in Bucharest -

Romania). The Show “Sound and Light” is not included in the price and will require additional payment;

• 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