1st day   Sofia - arrival          D
Arrival in Sofia – the capital of Bulgaria. Meet and assist at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Early accommodation. Time for lunch (optional – supplement 15 € per person for 3 courses menu). Then meet with your guide for sightseeing tour of Sofia (4 h). Visits of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the St. George Roman Rotunda from the 4th century, the St. Sofia Basilica, and the Ruins of Ancient Serdica. Dinner in a traditional restaurant, accompanied with live folklore show. Overnight in Sofia.

2nd day:  Sofia           B, L
Breakfast at the hotel. Half day tour including visit of the National Museum of History and Boyana Church, containing one the most important collections of medieval paintings (1259). Lunch in a traditional restaurant in the foothills of Mount Vitosha. Afternoon visit the Museum “Earth and people”. Free time for visit of some galleries and art shops. Overnight in Sofia.

Option: Night club – entrance and 1 drink – from 15 €

3rd day:  Sofia           B
Breakfast at the hotel. Visiting several galleries and museums (we suggest you to combine them by location): The National Art Gallery; Ethnographic Museum and Archeological museum. Time for lunch and visit other galleries and museums: The Gallery of Foreign Art and the Gallery of Icons on the Crypt of Alexander Nevski Cathedral. Depends on the time your guide will offer you to visit some private galleries and art shops. Overnight in Sofia.

Option: Opera, concert or some other cultural event depends on the cultural program for the period – approximate price 12 – 15 € pp

4th day:  Sofia – Rilla Monastery - Sofia        B, L
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to the Rilla 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. Lunch in a local restaurant. We can suggest a delicious combination of fresh fish food joined with a Bulgarian glass of wine. Return to Sofia. Overnight in Sofia.

Option: dinner – at about 20 – 25 € per person

5th day:  Sofia – Bachkovo Monastery – Plovdiv – Sofia       B, L
After breakfast departure to Bachkovo Monastery /11th c/ - one of the richest galleries of traditional Bulgarian religious art with exquisite murals and medieval icons. Visit the monastery. Continue to Plovdiv. Lunch. Sightseeing of the Old town of Plovdiv with its 3,000 years long history, National Revival architecture and excavations from Roman times. Visit of the ancient Odeon, Roman stadium, Ancient Greek Amphitheatre with impressive marble statues, decorative columns and arcades, Old town with remains of the medieval walls and Renaissance complex including St. Constantine and Helena church and Ethnographic museum.

Option: visit the house-museum of Zlatio Boyadjiev (famous Bulgarian painter)

Late afternoon return to Sofia. Overnight in Sofia.

Option: dinner – at about 20 – 25 € per person

6th day:  Sofia – Koprivshtitsa – Sofia         B, L
Breakfast at the hotel. One day tour to Koprivshtitsa, one of the famous museum towns in Bulgaria, declared national historical and architectural reserve where one can feel the spirit of the Bulgarian Renaissance – the narrow streets, stone walls, picturesque houses with a rich decoration. Visit the 3 museums-houses and the local church. Lunch in traditional restaurant where you have the chance to taste a national Bulgarian cuisine (3 course menu). Return to Sofia. Overnight in Sofia.

Option: dinner – at about 20 – 25 € per person

7th day:  Sofia - departure         B
Breakfast at the hotel. Free time for some shopping and visits of souvenir and antique shops. Transfer to the Airport. END OF THE PROGRAM

The prices include:
• VIP Meet & Assist service upon Arrival and Departure;
• Hotel accommodation on BB basis for 6 nights in 3*/4*/5* hotel in Sofia /mentioned below or similar/;
• 4 lunches in chosen restaurants;
• 1 dinner in a traditional Bulgarian restaurant with a life folklore show;
• All transfer in deluxe vehicle throughout;
• Sightseeing tour of Sofia – visit of the Cathedral Alexander Nevski, the St. George Roman Rotunda, the St. Sofia Basilica, the Ruins of Ancient Serdica, the National Historical Museum, the Boyana Church, the Museum “Earth and people”, the National Art Gallery, the Ethnographic Museum, the Archeological Museum, the Gallery of Foreign Art, the Gallery of Icons on the Crypt of the Cathedral Alexander Nevski.
• Excursion to Rilla Monastery – visit of the monastery complex, church and museum;
• Excursion to Bachkovo Monastery;
• Sightseeing tour of Plovdiv – visit of the Old Town of Plovdiv: the ancient Odeon, Roman stadium, Ancient Greek Amphitheatre, the Church”St. Constantine and Helena”, the Ethnographic museum;
• Excursion to Koprivshtitsa – visit of 3 museum-houses;
• French or English speaking guide services.

The prices exclude:
• Air tickets to/from Sofia;
• Optional activities and services not included in the program;
• Extension of the program;
• Personal expenses, tips for driver and guide.

Recommended hotels in Sofia:
Category Hotel WEB
3* Hemus www,hemushotels.com
4* Central Park www.centralparkhotel.bg
5* Radisson SAS www.radissonblu.com

The key locations of the tour:

The highlights of Sofia - founded over 7,000 years ago around numerous hot and cold mineral springs, which are still available today, Sofia has flourished and declined around a variety of civilizations. It is one of the oldest settlements in Europe and numerous archaeological, cultural and historical monuments from its rich Thracian, Byzantine, Roman, Slav and Turkish history have been preserved among the modern edifices, the blend of the new and the old lending a charming quality to the capital. www.sofia.bg/en
National Historical Museum
The 22 000 exhibits show the development of the social, cultural and political life on the territory of Bulgaria. Amongst the most spectacular exhibits are the unique gold treasures from Panagyurishte and the Thracian silver from Rogozen, as well as silver and bronze jewellery from the Bronze Age. www.historymuseum.org
Boyana Church
It consists of three buildings. The Eastern Church was built during the 10th century.  The second church was built during the 13th century, and the frescoes dates back to 1259, making it one of the most important medieval collections of medieval paintings. www.boyanachurch.org

RILA MONASTERY (10th century) - the largest monastery on the Balkans. It is a genuine treasure house of artworks, valuable frescoes and historical documents. www.rilamonastery.pmg-blg.com;
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhNQvsgFmJ0&feature=related

Plovdiv - is situated among the two banks of the river Maritza. Plovdiv is the second largest city in Bulgaria. The Old city, the Roman amphitheatre, remains of the Roman stadium and many other fascinating things are waiting for you. www.plovdiv.org; www.oldplovdiv.com/en/;
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGHPr0rRaUI&feature=related

Koprivshtitsa- located 120 km east of Sofia; Koprivshtitsa is one of the famous museum-towns in Bulgaria, declared national historical and architectural reserve. In this town one can still feel the spirit of the Bulgarian National Revival. Narrow cobbled streets, arch-like bridges, stone fountains, high stone walls with big gates leading to picturesque houses create an inimitable romantic atmosphere. Every house here is a masterpiece: blue, yellow, red houses with verandas, bay windows and eaves, rooms decorated with wood carvings, lit up by brightly coloured rugs and cushions, its cobblestone streets, winding between high white stone walls and gardens full of greenery. www.eng.koprivshtitza.com

Contact  : MIEL LTD