AMAZING BULGARIA 10 DAYS

Your Bulgarian adventure begins in Sofia, the nation’s lively capital. A private transfer takes you from the airport to your hotel, where you can settle in and unwind after your journey.

This morning, explore Sofia’s storied past on a city tour. Once dubbed “My Rome” by Emperor Constantine, the city offers a rich mosaic of Roman ruins, Ottoman mosques, and modern monuments layered over 7,000 years of history.
In the afternoon, travel to Veliko Tarnovo, dramatically perched across hills above the Yantra River. Known as Bulgaria’s medieval capital, the city enchants with cobbled streets and fortress ruins.
Visit Tsarevets Fortress, where emperors once ruled and where the infamous Baldwin’s Tower recalls the capture of a Fourth Crusade leader.

Walk through Veliko Tarnovo’s atmospheric old quarter, with its narrow cobblestone lanes and artisan shops. Sample local wines at Samovodska Charshia, the city’s historic market street.
Then journey east to the coast and arrive in Varna, Bulgaria’s maritime capital. With roots dating back to the ancient Thracians and Greeks, Varna’s treasures include the world’s oldest gold artifacts, Roman baths, a sprawling Sea Garden, and an iconic cathedral. Overnight in Varna.

Travel south along the Black Sea to UNESCO-listed Nessebar, an ancient town with roots in Thracian and Greek civilizations. Walk among centuries-old churches, fortified walls, and ruins of temples to Zeus and Demeter.
Enjoy free time for lunch in the charming Old Town before continuing to Pomorie, famed for its winemaking and salt production since antiquity. Experience a wine tasting before checking in at your hotel in Pomorie or Nessebar, depending on the season.

Leaving the coast, journey into the heart of Bulgaria. In Stara Zagora, visit the impressive Neolithic Dwellings Museum and Roman ruins.
Later, continue to Kazanlak, nestled in the famed Valley of Roses and Valley of the Thracian Kings. Discover the replica of the Kazanlak Thracian Tomb, a UNESCO site. The region’s rose oil is legendary, once accounting for three-quarters of the world’s production. Overnight in Kazanlak.

Begin with a visit to Shipka Memorial Church before heading to the village of Skobelevo. At Damascena Ethnographic Complex, learn about rose oil distillation and enjoy rose-based treats.
Continue to Plovdiv, one of Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited cities—older than Athens and Rome. Explore its beautifully preserved Old Town, celebrated by UNESCO for its architecture. Overnight in Plovdiv.

Head into the Rhodope Mountains to visit Bachkovo Monastery, Bulgaria’s second-largest, with origins in the 11th century. En route, view the remains of Asen’s Fortress, guarding the road to Orpheus’s mythical homeland.
Later, enjoy a wine tasting in the village of Brestovitsa, then return to Plovdiv for a second night.

Travel southwest to the museum town of Bansko, nestled at the base of the Pirin Mountains. Enjoy optional lunch at a local tavern.
In the afternoon, follow the Struma River Valley to Melnik, Bulgaria’s smallest town, surrounded by striking sandstone cliffs. Stop at Villa Melnik winery for a tasting of the famed local varietal once favored by Winston Churchill. Overnight in a traditional Melnik hotel.

Visit the impressive 19th-century Kordopulov House and its historic wine cellar. Then head into the Rila Mountains to explore the UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery, a jewel of Bulgarian Orthodox heritage.
Later, return to Sofia and check in at your hotel. Enjoy a farewell dinner accompanied by folklore music and, weather permitting, a Nestinari fire-dancing performance.

Enjoy breakfast and some final free time in Sofia before your departure. Private transfer to the airport concludes your unforgettable Bulgarian journey.