Romania & Bulgaria

ROMANIA & BULGARIA

Sofia – Rila -Arbanassi – Veliko Tarnovo – Bucharest – Sibiu – Sighisoara – Gura Humorului – Brasov – Sinaia
– 14 days from $3025 per person –

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ITINERARY:

Day 1 Sofia – Arrival
Arrival in Sofia – the capital of Bulgaria. Accommodation and overnight in Sofia. (D)

Day 2 Sofia
Sightseeing tour of Sofia – a city with 7000 years long history, concentrating numerous cultural and historic monuments from different periods. Visits of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the St. George Rotunda from the 4th century, the St.Sofia Basilica, the Ruins of Serdica. Overnight in Sofia.

Day 3 Sofia – Rila Monastery – Plovdiv
Departure to the Rila Monastery/10th c/, UNESCO World Heritage site, the largest and the most impressive Bulgarian monastery. Tour of the monastery complex, church and museum with its lavish collection of precious old manuscripts, icons, jewellery, masterpieces of woodcarving, ethnographic exhibition of fabrics and carpets. Continue to Plovdiv – a city ranking second in importance after Sofia, passing through the highest Bulgarian mountain – Rila. Overnight in Plovdiv. (B, L, D)

Day 4 Plovdiv – Bachkovo Monastery – Kazanlak
Plovdiv is one of the most ancient towns in Europe, older than Rome. Sightseeingof the Old town of Plovdiv with National Revival architecture and excavations from Roman times. Visit of the ancient Roman theatre with impressive marble statues, decorative columns and arcades. Excursion to the Bachkovo Monastery /11th c/ – one of the richest galleries of traditional Bulgarian religiousart with exquisite murals and medieval icons. Departure for Kazanlak, the capital of the famous Valley of Roses. Overnight in Kazanlak. B, L, D)

Day 5 Kazanlak-Shipka Pass-Tryavna-Veliko Tarnovo
Visit the recently discovered Thracian golden treasures in Kazanlak Historical Museum. Continue with one of the UNESCO’s sites – the Thracian Tomb dating back from the 4th c.BC. Visit the replica of The Thracian Tomb. Departure to the town of Tryavna via the historical Shipka Pass. Walking tour of Tryavna, where vaulted stone bridges, houses, churches and square with a clock tower preserve the spirit and talent of the artists from Tryavna School of Art from the 17thcentury. Visit the Woodcarving Museum of Tryavna. Continue to Veliko Tarnovo. Overnight in Veliko Tarnovo. (B, L, D)

Day 6 Veliko Turnovo –Arbanassi
Sightseeing of Veliko Turnovo, including a walk on Samovodska Charshiya – traditional arts and crafts street and visit to Tsarevets hill – an impressive sight with medieval fortifications and dramatic architecture. Departure to the museum town of Arbanassi boasting a genuine gallery of religious art in its Church of Nativity. Visit Konstantsalieva house – fine example of 17th century house of a wealthy merchant. Overnight in Veliko Tarnovo. (B, L, D)

Day 7 Veliko Turnovo – Ivanovo – Rousse
Departure to Ivanovo. Ivanovo medieval rock churches are unique monuments, UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. They consist of churches, chapels and monastic cells, hewn into the craggy gorge of the Roussenski Lom River. Visit of the main church. Arrival in Rousse. In the afternoon visit to the Museum of Rouse Town Lifestyle and the Regional Historical Museum. Overnight in Rousse.(B, L, D)

Day 8 Rousse – Bucharest
Morning walking tour of Rousse – one of the key cultural and economic centers of the country and the seat of Bulgarian shipping in the beginning 20 century. In the afternoon departure to Bucharest. Dinner and overnight in Bucharest. (B, L, D)

Day 9 Bucharest – Curtea De Arges – Sibiu
In the morning panoramic sightseeing tour of Bucharest with a stop at the Cathedral of the Patriarchate, then departure to Curtea de Arges, former capital of Wallachia. Visit the Episcopal Church where the Romanian Kings are buried. Lunch en route. Drive along the picturesque Olt Valley to Cozia Monastery (visit) and Sibiu, one of the oldest towns in Transylvania – formerly Hermannstadt – founded by the Saxon colonists. Guided walking tour of the medieval town (the Main Square, the Evangelical Church, the Liars’ Bridge etc.). Dinner and overnight in Sibiu. (B, L, D)

Day 10 Sibiu – Biertan – Sighisoara
Morning drive to the heart of Transylvania to visit the secret retreat for the royalties of Europe. The Saxon villages display a remarkable, unspoiled harmony between people and landscape. Drive to Biertan to visit the impressive fortified church- – UNESCO world heritage. Lunch in a traditional house. Drive on to Sighisoara, birthplace of Vlad the Impaler (“Dracula”). Visit the medieval citadel (the “Upper Town”): the Clock Tower, the Church on the Hill. Dinner and overnight in Sighisoara (B, L, D)

Day 11 Sighisoara – Gura Humorului
After breakfast, continue to Târgu Mures – visit of the elegant city centre well known for its architecture. Drive on to Bistrita – one of the 7 main medieval towns of “Siebenbürgen” (the German name for Transylvania). Continuation through Tihuta Pass.Typical dinner and overnight in Gura Humorului. (B, L, D)

Day 12 Gura Humorului – Monasteries – Piatra Neamt
Full day in Bucovina – land of the unique painted monasteries belonging to the UNESCO World Heritage. Visit the Moldovita and Sucevita monasteries with outside frescoes. Lunch en route, and then visit the famous monastery of Voronet, “the Sistine Chapel of the Orient”. Late afternoon drive south to visit the Agapia monastery. Dinner and overnight in Piatra Neamt.(B, L, D)

Day 13 Piatra Neamt – Brasov Or Poiana Brasov
Departure across the mountains to Brasov through the spectacular Bicaz Gorges – the Red Lake – Miercurea Ciuc. Lunch en-route. Visit the beautiful fortified church of Prejmer. Late afternoon arrival in Brasov or Poiana Brasov. Check-in at a 3-star hotel. Dinner in a typical restaurant. (B, L, D)

Day 14 Brasov – Bran – Bucharest
Panoramic sightseeing tour and guided walking tour in the historical centre of Brasov (formerly Kronstadt), including a visit to the Black Church, then departure to Bran for a visit to “Dracula’s Castle”. Drive across the mountains to Sinaia. Lunch. Visit the Sinaia Monastery (1695) and the fabulous Peles Castle – former summer residence of the Royal family. Late afternoon drive to Bucharest. Upon arrival visit the outdoor Village Museum. Farewell dinner in a typical restaurant. (B, L, D)

Day 15 Bucharest – departure
the morning free time in central Bucharest for visits and shopping (subject to the flight schedule) and transfer to the airport. End of our services.(B)

Rates in CAD per person in double occupancy

INCLUDED :
Accommodation 14 nights as per the above program at tourist class hotels (3*);
Full board meals /breakfast, lunch, dinner/ throughout the program, dinner on the day of arrival is subject to flight schedule;
Private car (for 2-3 pax) or air-conditioned van, minibus or coach for all the above itinerary and program;
Bilingual guide (EN/SP or EN/FR) throughout (for parties of 2-3 pax the guide will also drive);
All entrance fees to museums, monasteries and sites included in the program;
All Bulgarian and Romanian taxes.

EXCLUDED :

International flight from Canada
Personal expenses
Entrance fees to various sites, except the ones mentioned in ” Included”
Beverages and other meals not mentioned above
Tips
Everything that is not mentioned in the paragraph “Included”