Immersive 8-day Bulgaria photo tour
On this journey through Bulgaria, you’ll get to know the secrets of its ancient kingdoms as well as its busy modern life.
Explore the capital of Sofia with its thriving markets and ancient architecture. Then head into the mountains by road and rail to wander through quiet villages and meet the locals. Along the way, you’ll enjoy authentic local cuisine, tasting the flavors of the regions through cooking classes. You will also have plenty of opportunities to photograph Bulgaria’s unique heritage, landscapes and its friendly people.
Services
Included:
- 7 nights accommodation in 4 star hotels & boutique guesthouses
- Daily breakfast, 2 lunches
- Land transfers as per the itinerary
- Train journey via Narrow Gauge mountain train
- All parking, road taxes & fees
- Activities & admission fees to sites as per the itinerary
- Professional English-speaking guide on excursions
Excluded:
- International flights
- Porterage
Optional:
- Standard lunch / 3-course meal with bread and water
- Standard dinner / 3-course meal with bread and water
- Dinner at a Folklore restaurant in Sofia with drinks included
- Wine tasting at authentic old house in Plovdiv and dinner
Itinerary at a Glance
Sofia
Arrival in Bulgaria
Sofia
Sofia City Tour
Sofia - Rilski Manastir - Bansko
The Rila Monastery
Bansko - Kostandovo - Plovdiv
Train Ride to Plovdiv
Plovdiv - Kazanlak - Tryavna
The Valley of Roses
Trayavna - Etara - Veliko Tarnovo
Bulgarian Arts Tour
Veliko Tarnovo - Arbanasi - Sofia
Bulgarian Cooking Class
Sofia
Airport Transfer
Detailed Itinerary
Sofia
Day 1: Arrival in Bulgaria
Today you arrive in Sofia, the capital city of Bulgaria. You will be welcomed at the airport for a comfortable transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to relax and settle in.
Sofia
Day 2: Sofia City Tour
After breakfast, you’ll begin a guided tour around Sofia visiting some fascinating places and important religious buildings. Explore the Alexander Nevski Cathedral, the St. Sofia Church and the ancient Roman Forum. Later visit the Boyana church – a medieval Bulgarian Orthodox church included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This church is one of the most well-preserved monuments of eastern-European medieval art. The frescoes in the church were painted in 1259 and in part mark the beginning of the European Renaissance. The afternoon is free for you to visit the local markets and explore the city centre with your camera at the ready.
Sofia - Rilski Manastir - Bansko
Day 3: The Rila Monastery
Today we’ll head out of the city to visit the Rila Monastery, founded in the 10th Century. This is the largest Bulgarian medieval spiritual centre with a rich collection of icons and wall paintings and a collection of around 15,000 antique books. Enjoy a fascinating guided tour around this UNESCO-protected monastery. Later, tuck into a delicious lunch combined with a cooking class at one of the typical houses in the Dolno Draglishte village. In the afternoon we depart for Bansko – the fastest-growing winter resort in Bulgaria. Nestled in the mountains, it offers many possibilities for cultural exploration, nature walks, and winter sports.
Bansko - Kostandovo - Plovdiv
Day 4: Train Ride to Plovdiv
Early in the morning, we set off by local mountain train through the beautiful Rhodopes Mountains. Our first stop is at Kostandovo village to visit a unique carpet factory, producing giant carpets of more than 100 m2. The clients of this small family-run factory include world-famous celebrities, such as Queen Elizabeth II and Mick Jagger. In the afternoon we arrive at Plovdiv our destination for the night.
Plovdiv - Kazanlak - Tryavna
Day 5: The Valley of Roses
Today you’ll take a tour of Plovdiv old town, the oldest city in Europe still in existence today. It was called Philippopolis in the 4th Century B.C. in honour of King Philip II of Macedonia. Today the city is the cultural centre of Bulgaria and was selected as the European Capital of Culture for 2019. We will visit the Ethnographical Museum, St. Constantine and Elena Churches and the newly-opened museum in situ – Bishop’s Basilica with two-storey original mosaics and a Roman Stadium. The tour continues to the Valley of Roses where we visit an authentic rose oil distillery with more than 100 years of history. Next, we stop at the town of Kazanlak and visit the Kazanlak tomb before continuing on to Tryavna.
Trayavna - Etara - Veliko Tarnovo
Day 6: Bulgarian Arts Tour
Tryavna is a picturesque town and a centre for Bulgarian wood carving and icon painting. Today we’ll visit several sites of interest in the town, including Shipka church and the Daskalova House with its beautiful wood-carved ceilings. When possible we’ll call in at the Tryavna Art School and see the students learning their craft. Next stop is Shipka church and then continue towards Etara Open Air Museum to find out more about Bulgarian crafts from the 19th century. In the afternoon we travel to Veliko Tarnovo – the capital of the second Bulgarian Kingdom where we’ll take a sightseeing tour visiting the Tsarevets Fortress.
Veliko Tarnovo - Arbanasi - Sofia
Day 7: Bulgarian Cooking Class
After breakfast transfer to the village of Arbanassi, famous for its richly-decorated churches and magnificent architecture. This used to be the residence of the Bulgarian kings and there is a wealth of splendid architecture to experience. Lunch will be combined with a cooking class and in the afternoon we depart for Sofia.
Sofia
Day 8: Airport Transfer
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight back home.
