Authentic Bulgaria Tour

Authentic Bulgaria Tour is a program, that I designed few years ago when I realized how beautiful and undiscovered the Bulgarian countryside was. My idea was to give the chance to my clients to indulge in the magic of the rural part of the country. I included unique features such as home hosted meals, first hand crafts and interaction with locals. I think that this is the best way to get familiar with the every day life of the locals. In most of the places included in the program, the people rarely see foreigners. That is why, they are happy and even a bit shy to communicate. You will get a big smile from an old man or will collect plums from a plumtree on the street. This is the uniqueness of the experience called Authentic Bulgaria.

Why the Authentic Bulgaria Tour?

  • Take the unique chance to see Bulgaria in-depth and to discover its culture
  • Visit beautiful virgin areas and remote villages where you can still see the authentic features of the Bulgarians
  • Enjoy accommodation in small hotels and guest houses full of character
  • Taste the delicious home made Bulgarian traditional food
  • Take the unique chance to interact with locals
  • Experience the narrow-gauge train
  • Benefit of the complete flexibility of having the tour tailored to your requirements
  • Have the freedom to alter the program, even while you are on the tour
  • Enjoy the most experienced guides in Bulgaria

If you choose any of my tours, you can also:

  • Adjust the number of the days of the tour according to your availability
  • Decide if you would prefer to stay in hotels, guest houses or home hosted accommodation
  • Ask for further customization of the tour, related to your particular interests
  • Include wine tasting
  • Have some time for hiking or trekking
  • Attend available events or festivals
  • Ask for available concerts or other cultural performances in the places where you stay
  • Have a cooking class organized exclusively for you

My other tours including visits to villages and dedicated to the Bulgarian traditions, customs and crafts:

Bulgaria Tour History and Traditions

Rural Bulgaria Tour

Best of Bulgaria Tour

Check testimonials about my great service in Trip Advisor.

Overview

DURATION: 10 days/9 nights

HIGHTLIGHTS OF THE AUTHENTIC BULGARIA TOUR

  • the Rila monastery
  • the Narrow Gauge Train
  • the Roman theater in Plovdiv
  • The Madara Horseman
  • The Sveshtary tomb
  • The Tsarevets fortress
  • The Snezhanka tower
  • Interaction with locals
  • Home hosted meals

HOW TO PAY FOR THE AUTHENTIC BULGARIA TOUR

For this tour you can pay on line by credit card, paypal or bank transfer.

Upon booking we require 30% downpayment.

Downpayment:

You can choose one of the following payment modes:

  • Bank transfer to our Bulgarian account – a surcharge of 7 euro will be applied
  • Bank transfer to our Revolut British account – no charges from our side will be applied
  • Paying by credit card on line via our site – a supplement fee of 2% will be applied for VISA and Master Card
  • Paypal – a supplementary fee of 4% will be applied

Balance payment

For the payment of the balance you can choose one of the forecited modes including cash on spot upon arrival. You can pay in USD, Euro, AUD, Your currency (no matter what it is) or Bulgarian lev (BGN).

CANCELLATION POLICY FOR THE AUTHENTIC BULGARIA TOUR

  • 30 days prior to date of activity – Free cancellation
  • 30 to 21 days prior to date of activity – 30% Cancellation Fee (70% reimbursement)
  • 21 to 14 days of activity – 50% Cancellation Fee (50% reimbursement)
  • 14 to 7 days prior to date of activity – 70% Cancellation Fee (30% reimbursement)
  • 7 days prior to date of activity, on the day of the activity and for now show – 100% cancellation Fee (No reim
Day 1
Day 1

<p>Arrive in Sofia. Transfer to your hotel. The reminder of the day – time at leisure. Overnight.</p>

Day 2
Day 2

<p>Sofia – Sightseeing tour of Sofia – Boyana church (UNESCO) – Rila monastery (UNESCO) – Bansko</p><p>In the morning taka a sightseeing tour of Sofia. Visit the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral – the biggest and the most beautiful on the Balkan Peninsula, the Monument of Alexander II – Tzar Liberator, the Parliament, The Statue of St Sofia – the symbol of the city, the Presidency, the National Theater, the Ruins of Serdica and the Rotonda St George 4th c. AC, the Synagogue, the Russian Church, the St. Sophia early Christian basilica, which has given the city its name. Drive to the Boyana Church (UNESCO). Admire its beautiful paintings from 1259. </p><p>Departure to the Rila Monastery (UNESCO) – the richest historical and architectural monument of the Orthodox enclave, founded in 10th century and transformed to the most important spiritual and cultural center of Bulgaria. The Monastery’s unrivalled architecture and murals will captivate you. In the monastery visit the Ethnographic museum – very rich with its carpets and rugs exhibition, jewelry, customs, buckles. Also you will visit four rooms decorated according to the typical styles of decoration of four regions of Bulgaria. Departure to Bansko. Have diner in the village of Gorno Draglishte. The hostess will demonstrate preparation of yogurt and a local salty pastry called “banitsa”. Have a home hosted diner prepared for you by the hostess. Overnight.</p><p>B Accommodation in Bansko</p>

Day 3
Day 3

<p>Gorno Draglishte – The Narrow Gauge train – Yundola – Sarnitsa</p><p>In the morning visit the Velyanova house, built in the beginning of the 19th century, one of the first Renaissence houses in the area, beautiful and well preserved until now-a-days. At 10 :49 take the narrow gauge train from Razlog to Avramovo – the highest train station in Bulgaria – 1400 meters above sea level. The train passes through the picturesque pass of Yundola. The guide will pick you up from the train station at Avramovo at 12:42 pm and you will continue to village of Gela. On the way – pass by the Dospat dam. Admire beautiful views and have lunch on its shore. Continue to the village of Gela. Pass by the Devil`s throat cave, one of the most mystical caves in Bulgaria. Upon request: take an off road to the Eagle`s eyes spot and see a breathtaking view over the surrounding high mountain peaks. </p><p>Accommodation in a guest house in the village of Gela or Shiroka Laka.</p>

Day 4
Day 4

<p></p><p>Departure to Pамporovo. get up to the Snezhanka tower 1926 meters. From here you will admire 360 degrees view towards the majestic Rhodopes mountain. Continue to the village of Vievo. have lunch in a local family`s house. They will be happy to take you around the village and to interact with you. Head to Plovdiv. Stop at the second largest monastery in Bulgaria – the Bachkovo monastery. It was founded in 1083 and until today is one of the biggest nests of the Christianity in Bulgaria. Before arriving in Plovdiv visit the Assens fortress. </p><p>B Accommodation in Plovdiv in family hotel “At the Renaissance Square” or Villa Antica (two nights)</p><p></p><p></p><p></p>

Day 5
Day 5

<p>Plovdiv</p><p></p><p>In the morning take a sightseeing tour of Plovdiv. Visit the most impressive building of Roman time that has come to us rising above the city is the Antique Amphitheatre by Emperor Mark Avrelii during the 2nd c. A.D. Its magnificent arcade adorned with marble statues is simply breath-taking. Visit the Ethographic museum housed in the biggest and the most beautiful house of the Old town – the Kuyumdzhioglu’s House. The Roman Stadium is also constructed during the II century and reproduces the layout in Delphi, Greece. Within the centre of the ancient major town of the Roman province of Thrace remains of stone paved streets, foundations of buildings and columns and ancient fortress walls and gates reside. After lunch visit the Roman house « Eirene » where you will admire extremely well preserved mozaics “in situ”, originals from the 4th century. Last visit for today is the Small Bishop’s Basilica dated to the late 5th century and today is one of the Plovdiv’s landmarks with its mozaic floor with geometrical motifs and a small chapel and a baptistery. Relinder of the day – time to explore the art quarter « Kapana » and have coffee in one of its little cafés. Overnight.</p>

Day 6
Day 6

<p>Plovdiv – Kazanlak – Zheravna</p><p>After breakfast departure to Kazanlak. Visit the Golyamata Kosmatka Thracian tomb – an original Thracian tomb dating to the 4th century BC. Next visit is the Kazanlak Thracian tomb dating to the 4th century BC (UNESCO). You will visit the copy as the original has been closed for visitors.</p><p></p><p>Continue to one of the most picturesque villages in Bulgaria – Zheravna. Here you will admire 200 years old houses, cobble stone streets, stone walls surrounding yards with beautiful flowers and fruit trees. Today the village is an architectural reserve. It has been used as a natural decor for many Bulgarian and foreign movies. </p><p>Visit the building of the school, constructed in 1867, houses a picture gallery that comprises more than 450 paintings of Bulgarian and foreign artists. Every year it hosts travelling exhibitions of artists and ethnographical exhibitions from museums around the country. Visitors of the House of Rusi Chorbadzhi (House of Master Rusi) can see an interesting exhibition where the different crafts practiced in Zheravna during the Bulgarian Revival Period are demonstrated. The enormous hand loom and the skillfully-weaved delicate linen fabrics produced by the women of Zheravna are particularly impressive. In Zheravna was born and raised one of the most renown Bulgarian writers – Yordan Yovkov. His books have been translated in more than 20 languages.</p><p>Accommodation. Overnight.</p><p></p><p>B Accommodation in Zheravna in a Guest House</p>

Day 7
Day 7

<p>Zheravna – Nessebar – Varna</p><p>After breakfast departure to Nessebar (UNESCO) – an undoubted jewel of Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, historical and archaeological reserve with ancient archaeological remains of various periods, original churches from the 5th – 17th centuries and more than hundred authentic Revival houses. Proceed to Varna. In the Archaeological museum admire the Oldest Manworked Gold in the world discover in Varna in 1972 dated between 4600 – 4200 BC. In the afternoon walk along the main pedestrian street that will take you down to the sea side where you can have some local fish for diner. </p><p>B Accommodation in Varna in hotel Boutique HI</p>

Day 8
Day 8

<p>Varna – Madara (UNESCO) – Sveshtary (UNESCO) – Ruse – Mechka village</p><p>After breakfast departure to the Madara Horseman (UNESCO) – a bas-relief cut in a rock some 23 meters above the ground dating to the beginning of the 8th century. The relief depicts a horseman in a natural pose with a sword in his hand. At the feet of the horse is a lion, and behind the rider is depicted his hunting dog. One legend has it that a Byzantine emperor was hunting on the plateau when he fell off the cliff and died. His relatives memorialized him by engaging a master to carve his image on the cliff. </p><p> Continue to the Sveshtary Thracian tomb (UNESCO) dating to the 4th – 3rd century BC (closed on Mondays and Tuesdays). The tomb has a unique architectural decor, with polychrome half-human, half-plant caryatids and painted murals. It is a remarkable reminder of the culture of the Getes, a Thracian people who were in contact with the Hellenistic and Hyperborean worlds, according to ancient geographers. Continue to Rousse – the biggest border town of Bulgaria situated on the Danube river. Have a walk in the central part and admire the beautiful buildings from the 19th century. Rousse in also called “the Little Vienna” for its Vienniese architecture. Head to the Seven Generations winery in the village of Mechka 22 km from Rousse with a beautiful view towards the Danube river.</p><p>B Accommodation in the Seven Generations Winery **** – https://sevengenerations.bg/page/homepage</p>

Day 9
Day 9

<p>Mechka – Ivanovo (UNESCO) – Veliko Tarnovo</p><p></p><p>First visit today is the nearby complex of the Ivanovo rock church (UNESCO). Admire beautiful paintings from the 14th century. Arriving in Veliko Tarnovo you will be captured by the beauty of the setting of the town. Old houses perched on the rocks and two Mediaeval fortress preserve the glorious past of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (1186 – 1396). Visit the Tsarevets and the Trapezitsa fortresses. In the village of Arbanassi is situated the richestly decorated church in Bulgaria of « The Nativity of Christ » called the Sistine Chapel on the Balkans. Accommodation. Overnight.</p><p></p><p>B Accommodation in Veliko Tarnovo in hotel Gurko ***</p>

Day 10
Day 10

<p>Veliko Tarnovo – Sofia</p><p>In the morning departure to Sofia. Drop off at the Sofia airport for your departure flight. End of service.</p>

Price Includes:

  • 9 nights accommodation in the stated hotels and guest houses
  • 3 home hosted meals - 2 diners and 1 lunch
  • Services of a professional English speaking tour guide (driving) to accompany you throughout
  • Fully insured sedan, van or minibus (depending on the size of the group)
  • Fuel and parking fees
  • All sightseeing tours &amp; cultural connections
  • Guide’s expenses
  • All transfers
  • Admissions to museums, sites, churches as per itinerary
  • VAT and local tax
  • Porterage at hotels
  • Map of Bulgaria.
  • You’ll visit 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: The Rila monastery, The old town of Nessebar, Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak, Boyana Church

Price doesn't Include:

  • Other meals than stated
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Photo/video fees at sites and museums

You can book this tour by contacting us via the contact form below or sending a mail to Pavlina@easybulgariatravel.com.

We will respond within 24 hours. For faster communication you can give us a call or WhatsApp us at 00359878956414.

Feel free to contact us for a free quote or any other assistance.

You can send your enquiry via the form below.

Authentic Bulgaria Tour

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