Discover Bulgaria And Romania - 10 Days

Arrival in Sofia. Transfer from the airport to your hotel. Enjoy a comprehensive city tour of Sofia and get to know the highlights of the capital. Among the most impressive sites are the Alexander Nevski Cathedral dominating the city, the round church of St. George, which is the best preserved Byzantine building, the Russian church st. Nikolas, St. Petka church, Banya Bashi Mosque, the ruins of ancient Serdica and some more. Visit Boyana church – listed in UNESCO World Heritage List. Overnight.

After breakfast depart to Rila mountains (the highest on the Balkan peninsula) to see one of Bulgaria’s most famous tourist sites – Rila monastery. This monastery is a sanctuary of Bulgarian literature and spiritual life. Founded in the middle of the 10th century by St. Ivan of Rila it played a key role in preserving Bulgarian culture and language during the centuries. It is included in the UNESCO world heritage list. We shall see the monastery church with its amazing frescos painted by the most famous Bulgarian finest artists from 19th c. and the monastery museum housing a rich collection of exhibits connected with the history of the monastery and the spread of Christianity on the Bulgarian lands. Proceed to Plovdiv. Overnight.

Today we invite you to explore Bulgaria’s second largest city – Plovdiv. This is a city with millennium old history. It has preserved ruins from Roman, Ottoman and Bulgarian Revival period. During our city tour you will see the Roman Forum and Stadium as well as the Roman amphitheatre dating back to the 2nd AD; the house of Hindliyan –national monument of culture, impressive with its artistic decoration, with many well preserved original murals. Walk along the tiny cobbled streets of the old town surrounded by beautiful Revival houses and churches. Proceed for a visit of Bachkovo monastery - one of the oldest Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Europe. The Cathedral Church of the Virgin Mary (dating from 1604) is the place where a valuable icon of the Virgin Mary Eleusa from 1310 is kept (brought from Georgia). After lunch drive to villa Yustina and have a wine tasting of the best wines in the region. Continue to Kazanluk – the centre of The Valley of Roses and The Valley of The Thracian Kings. En route visit a rose distillery where you can see how the famous Bulgarian rose oil is produced and taste rose made liquor and rose made jam. Overnight In Kazanluk.

In the morning visit one of the many Thracian Tombs discovered in the area. Cross the Shipka pass famous for its historical significance. Arrive at Etara open-air museum representing the life style of the Bulgarians from the 18th and 19th centuries. Drive to Tryavna and have a walking tour in the center of this charming town to see the Clock Tower and the Wood-carving museum. Continue to Arbanassi and visit the Nativity church whose murals from the 17th and 18th centuries are considered real masterpiece and Konstancalieva museum house. Arrive in Veliko Turnovo – the medieval capital of Bulgaria. Visit Tsarevets fortress where the Bulgarian kings once lived. Walk along the oldest merchant street in the town called Samovodska Charshia. There guests can see masters who pursue their crafts according to old traditions. Overnight in Veliko Tarnovo.

Today we leave Bulgaria behind and head to Romania. En route stopover at another UNESCO listed site - Ivanovo rock hewn churches (near Russe). Continue to the border town of Russe where we change guide and coach. Proceed to Bucharest, The Romanian capital once nicknamed “The Little Paris of The East”. Visit village museum which displays traditional households from all regions in Romania. Overnight in Bucharest.

In the morning, enjoy a city tour of Bucharest. Get acquainted with the Romanian capital city, once called the “Little Paris of the East”. During the tour you will see the Arch of Triumph, the Revolution Square, the Romanian Athenaeum, the National Art Museum and the Revolution Square. Inside visit to the Parliament Palace, the second largest building in the world after the Pentagon. After the tour, depart for Sibiu through the beautiful Olt Valley and visit en route Cozia Monastery, a real jewel of Romanian architecture. Overnight in Sibiu

After breakfast, enjoy a walking tour of Sibiu, the European Capital of Culture in 2007. During the tour you will see the Large Square, the Huet Square, the Brukenthal Museum, the Liars' Bridge and other important city landmarks. Drive on to Alba Iulia, one of the oldest settlements in Romania, for a walking tour of the old citadel that has been recently restored and has become one of the greatest tourist attractions in the country. In the afternoon, proceed to Sighisoara, the best preserved medieval citadel in this part of Europe and also part of UNESCO World Heritage List. Overnight.

After breakfast, enjoy a walking tour of the old citadel including visit to the famous Clock Tower Museum. Drive on to Biertan to visit the fortified church, which is also part of UNESCO. Proceed to Brasov, fairy tale town founded in the 12th century by the Saxon settlers and enjoy a city tour including visit to St Nicholas Church and First Romanian School, which hosts an impressive collection of rare books, many of them hand-copied right there. Overnight in Brasov

In the morning, depart for Bran to visit the castle made famous by Bram Stoker's novel as the residence of the vampire count, Dracula. Drive on to Sinaia, one of the most beautiful mountain resorts in Romania, also known as the “Pearl of the Carpathians” for visit to Peles Castle, an exquisite piece of architecture which served as the summer residence of the former Romanian Royal family. In the afternoon, proceed to Bucharest for overnight

After breakfast departure to Bucharest airport for your flight back home