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Day 1 SOFIA
Arrival at Sofia International Airport. Transfer to the hotel. Welcome drink. In the afternoon, sightseeing tour of the most impressive sights of Sofia - the capital of Bulgaria, one of the oldest cities in Europe, with 7,000 years of history. Visits of the Ruins of Serdica - St. George Rotunda (4th century), St. Sofia Church (6th century), St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (1912) and its Crypt in the basement, with the richest collection of ancient icons in the world; the Russian church St. Nicholas (1913), the National Theatre (1907) and many more historic sites. Overnight in Sofia.

Day 2 SOFIA - RILA MONASTERY - SANDANSKI (250 km)
After breakfast, departure to Rila Monastery (10th century), included in the UNESCO List of World Heritage, the biggest in Bulgaria and on the Balkan Peninsula. Tour of the monastery complex with its lavish collection. Drive further to the town of Sandanski - famous Bulgarian spa resort with an ideal climate of sunshine and low humidity. Home-land of Spartacus - the famous Roman gladiator, later a leader of the biggest slave uprising in Antiquity. Overnight in Sandanski or Melnik. (B)

Day 3 SANDANSKI - MELNIK - ROZHEN MONASTERY - KOVACHEVITSA - LESHTEN - BANSKO
After breakfast, departure to Rozhen Monastery (1217) situated nearby. The church of the monastery endows its visitors with its picturesque woodcarving altar. Drive away to the museum town of Melnik - the smallest Bulgarian town (300 inhabitants), located amidst a natural fortress of majestic sandstone pyramids, famous with its red and white wines. Melnik red wine is said to be one of Winston Churchill's favorites. Visit to the „Kordopulova" house, which has a real underground wine production installation. Lunch in a local tavern tasting famous Melnik wines. After lunch, drive further to the town of Gotse Delchev for a trip to Kovachevitsa and Leshten - 300-year old mountain villages, which are simply out of this world - so very detached from the modern-day surroundings. Late in the afternoon, drive away to the town of Bansko - situated in the foothills of Pirin National Park (UNESCO site). Overnight in Bansko. (B, L)

Day 4 BANSKO - VILLAGE OF DOBURSKO - VELINGRAD - PLOVDIV (210 km)
After breakfast, a trip to the village of Dobursko (15 km from Razlog) - visit of the St. St. Theodor Trifon and Theodor Stratilat Church (1614) with unique frescoes, murals and iconostasis. Drive back to Bansko. The town of Bansko has a clearly marked National Revival Period. Sightseeing tour of Bansko with its cobbled lanes and stout timber framed houses. Visit to the Holy Trinity Church with its phenomenal iconostasis, murals and icons. Drive further to the town of Plovdiv across the magnificent nature of the Rhodopes Mountain. Stopover in Velingrad - spa resort remarkable with its 80 sources of mineral water. Natural landmarks are the karst spring and the Kleptuza lake. Overnight in Plovdiv. (B)

Day 5 PLOVDIV - BACHKOVO MONASTERY (28 km)
Morning sightseeing tour of the ancient Phillipopolis, with its 300 historical sights in the Old City, including Roman Amphitheatre (2nd century) and Ethnographic museum. Departure to Bachkovo Monastery - the second largest monastery in Bulgaria. Tour of the monastery. Founded in 1083 it impresses with monumental architecture, invaluable icons, murals and frescoes (11th-14th century). Overnight in Plovdiv. (B)

Day 6 PLOVDIV - KAZANLUK - VELIKO TURNOVO (220 km)
After breakfast departure for Kazanluk - small town located in the world's only Valley of Roses. Visits to the famous Rose Museum and the Thracian Tomb (4th century) - UNESCO site. Masterpiece of the Thracian architecture and painting. Further on is Shipka Cathedral Drive further to Etura architectural and ethnographic complex - the unique in South-Eastern Europe open-air museum. Stopover for a visit to the ethnographic reserve - the village of Bozhenzi. Departure for Veliko Turnovo - capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (12th -14th century). Veliko Turnovo is the town with the most glorious historical past in Bulgaria. Overnight in Veliko Turnovo or Arbanassi. (B)

Day 7 VELIKO TURNOVO - SOFIA (250 km)
After breakfast sightseeing tour of Veliko Turnovo - with its stone houses perched over the banks of the Yantra River. Visits of the Tzarevets Hill with ruins from the King's Palace and the mediaeval fortress and tour of the old town. Drive further for a visit of the Arbanassi village (4 km away from Veliko Turnovo). Its flourishing as a trade and craftsmen's center was between 16th -18th century. Tour of the village including visits of Konstanzliev's house (19th century) with museum collection and Church of Nativity (17th century). Brief tour of the two monasteries in the village - St. Nicola and Holy Virgin. Departure for Sofia. Farewell dinner in a folk restaurant with performance - excellent cuisine, rich selection of wines and folklore programme, features the unique dance on glowing embers. (B, D)

Day 8 SOFIA
After breakfast - time for leisure and shopping. Departure for Sofia International Airport.

GROUP - minimum 10 PAX

Price per person in double room: 480.00 EUR

INCLUDES:

• accommodation at 3- and 4-star hotels for 7 nights
• welcome drink
• farewell dinner in a special folk style restaurant
• lunch with wine tasting
• professional guide services throughout the itinerary
• entrance fees
• transport with luxury car or minibus A/C