The program includes 7 nights FB basis - 3 nights in Sofia (Bulgaria), 1 night in Blagoevgrad (Bulgaria), 3 nights in Ohrid (Republic of Macedonia); transfer in an air-conditioned coach; English speaking guide throughout the entire trip.

PROGRAM

DAY 1: Arrival at the Sofia airport. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation at the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay in Sofia.

DAY 2: Breakfast. A guided visit to the National Museum of History and the Boyana Church, which is included in the UNESCO List of World Cultural Heritage. It 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. Lunch. 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. Dinner. Overnight stay in Sofia.

DAY 3: Breakfast. Departure for Rila Monastery. Arrival at Rila Monastery. The Rila Monastery is 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 of cultural and spiritual life of the Bulgarian people, during the centuries of foreign enslavement. The tour includes a visit to the monastery, the main church and the monastery museum. Lunch. Departure to Blagoevgrad. Arrival. Accommodation at the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay in Blagoevgrad.

DAY 4: Breakfast. Sightseeing tour of Blagoevgrad : visit to the center of the town, the old quarter Varosha preserving the spirit of the Bulgarian National Revival and the church Virgin Mary. Lunch. Departure for Ohrid (Republic of Macedonia). The city of Ohrid is the tourist capital of Republic of Macedonia, situated on the bank of a lake with the same name at an altitude of 700 m and surrounded by mountains. Lake Ohrid is one of the oldest lakes in the world along with lakes Titicaca and Baikal. Both the lake and Ohrid town are under the protection of UNESCO as a site of rare environmental, scientific and cultural significance. Arrival. Accommodation at the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay in Ohrid (Republic of Macedonia).

DAY 5: Breakfast. Sightseeing tour of Ohrid’s old town, inscribed in the UNESCO’s List of World Heritage: monument of St Clement; St.Sophia church, one of the most important monuments of Republic of Macedonia, built during the First Bulgarian Empire; Church of St. John Kaneo; Tsar Samuel’s fortress, build-up in the Antiquity and throughly redone by the Bulgarian Tsar Samuel in the late Xth and early XIth century, when Ohrid was proclaimed the capital city of the Bulgarian state; St. Pantelejmon - the oldest Slav monastery, where the relics of St. Clement are kept (St. Clement was disciple of the Holy brothers St. Cyril and St. Methodius and creator of the final version of the Cyrillic alphabet which is in use until today); Ancient Theatre; St. Bogorodica Perivlepta church. Lunch. Free time for shopping. Dinner in a typical restaurant with a folklore program. Overnight stay in Ohrid (Republic of Macedonia).

DAY 6: Breakfast. Visit of St. Naum Monastery founded in Xth century by St. Naum who was disciple of the Holy brothers St. Cyril and St. Methodius, and who together with St. Clement was sent to Ohrid by the Bulgarian Tsar Simeon. St. Clement and St. Naum founded a cultural centre in Ohrid for spreading the newly created Cyrillic alphabet, for translating religious texts on Bulgarian and educating clergymen and intellectuals. Ohrid's school was the place where bigger part of the ancient Bulgarian literature was created. The monastery stands on the bank of the lake just few meters from the Albanian border, in an exceptional natural frame. Lunch. Free time. Dinner and overnight stay in Ohrid.

DAY 7: Breakfast. Departure for Sofia. On the way – stop at Skopje - the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia. Lunch. Sightseeing tour of Skopje: the monument and the house of Mother Teresa; the Stone Bridge - monumental construction in the centre of the city connecting the modern Skopje to the Oriental part of the town, Daud Pasha Amam – monument of the Islamic architecture from the XV century, the church St. Spas, one of the most famous landmarks in the city; the Fortress Kale which stand on the top of a hill above the old town. Continuing the road to Sofia. Arrival. Accommodation at the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay in Sofia.

DAY 8: Breakfast. Transfer to the airport. Departure

Price per person in double room on FB basis - 665 EUR

Single supplement – 120 euro

Price includes:
• 7 nights (3 nights in Sofia - Bulgaria, 1 night in Blagoevgrad – Bulgaria, 3 nights in Ohrid - Macedonia on FB basis in 3 and 4 star hotels, including the dinner in a typical restaurant with a folklore program
• All entrance fees for museums, listed in the program (National Museum of History and Boyana Church in Sofia; Rila monastery Museum; tsar Samuel’s fortress, St. Bogorodica Perivlepta church in Ohrid; St. Naum Monastery; St. Spas (Saint-Sauveur) church in Skopje);
• All transfers and transport in a luxurious coach or mini-bus (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