Transport: rental car

The program includes 7 nights on BB basis in 3-star hotel– 2 nights in Sofia, 1 night near the Rila Monastery, 1 night in Bansko, 1 night in Plovdiv, 1 night in Veliko Tarnovo or Arbanasi, 1 night near Troyan Monastery; rental car for the whole period.

PROGRAM

DAY 1: Arrival at Sofia airport. Meeting at Sofia airport by a representative of Rual Travel who will supply the clients with a map of Bulgaria, a map of Sofia and some documentation about the trip.
Pick up the rental car. Overnight stay in Sofia.

DAY 2: Breakfast. Sightseeing of Sofia. Departure to 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. Visit to the monastery, the main church and the monastery museum. Overnight stay near Rila Monastery.

DAY 3: Breakfast. Departure for Melnik, a picturesque town at the foot of Pirin Mountain. Melnik is famous for its wine cellars. Visit of Melnik and of Rozhen Monastery – the biggest cloister in the Pirin area, founded in the 13th century. Departure to Bansko – the centre of the Bulgarian way of life from the Revival period and a famous ski resort today. Visit of Bansko. Overnight stay in Bansko.

DAY 4: Breakfast. Departure for Plovdiv – one of Europe’s most ancient cities, older than Athens, Rome and Constantinople. On the way – a stop at Bachkovo Monastery. Situated at the foot of the Rhodope Mountains. It is the second largest Bulgarian monastery, founded in the 11th century, keeping frescoes from 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Visit of Bachkovo monastery. Arrival in Plovdiv. Sightseeing tour of Plovdiv. Overnight stay in Plovdiv.

DAY 5: Breakfast. Departure for Veliko Tarnovo – the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1187-1396). On the way – stop in the village of Bozhentsi. This village is one of the prettiest in Bulgaria with its houses from the National Revival period (end of XVIII – beginning of XIX century). Visit of the village of Boshentzi. Continuing our road to Dryanovo monastery. Visit to Dryanovo Monastery, established in the 13th century and situated in the picturesque gorge of Dryanovo River. A visit to the historical village of Arbanasi. Overnight stay in Veliko Tarnovo or Arbanasi.

DAY 6: Breakfast. Sightseeing tour of Veliko Tarnovo. Departure to Troyan Monastery - the third largest monastery in Bulgaria, founded in the 17th century. In 1847 the monks requested that the famous Bulgarian artist Zahari Zograf work on the decoration of the monastery. Visit to the monastery. Overnight stay near the Troyan Monastery.

DAY 7: Breakfast. Departure for Sofia. Arrival in Sofia. Visit to 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. Time at leisure in Sofia. Overnight stay in Sofia.

DAY 8: Breakfast. Drop off the car on the airport. Departure.

Price per person based on one car service:
2 persons: price per person in dbl room BB: 389 EUR
3 persons: price per person in dbl/trpl room BB: 319 EUR
4 persons: price per person in dbl/trpl room BB: 289 EUR
Single supplement: 115 EUR

These rates are not valid for the period 20.05. – 15.06. (rose picking in the Valley of roses and Rose festival in Kazanlak).
Rates for the period 20.05. – 15.06. – on request

Price includes:
• 7 nights (2 nights in Sofia, 1 near the Rila Monastery, 1 in Bansko, 1 in Plovdiv, 1 in Veliko Turnovo or Arbanasi and 1 near the Troyan Monastery) on BB basis in guesthouse, family hotel or farmhouse;
• Rental car for the whole period (car group A).

Requirements for renting a vehicle: To rent any vehicle a tourist will need valid driver's license for the chosen vehicle (international driver's license for non-European citizens), ID card or international passport and credit card.

The length of the whole trip is approximately 1000 km.