The program includes 7 nights full board accommodation: 3 nights in Sofia, 2 nights in Ruse, 1 night in Sinaia and 1 night in Braşov or Poiana Braşov (Romania); transfer in an air-conditioned bus; English speaking guide throughout the entire trip.

PROGRAM

DAY 1: Arrival at the Sofia airport. Transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay in Sofia.

DAY 2: Breakfast. Departure for Ruse. On the way – sightseeing tour of Pleven. A visit to Pleven Panorama, the only such monument on the Balkan Peninsula, built in honor of the 100th anniversary of Bulgaria’s Liberation from the Ottoman Empire. The battles near Pleven during the Russo-Turkish Liberation war (1877-1878), that brought the end of the 500 year Turkish enslavement, were vital for the outcome of the war. The five-month-long siege by the liberation troops ended when the city was finally taken after three epic attacks. The Pleven Panorama is built on a hill near Skobelev Park, where during the Third Assault on Pleven one of the war’s most bloody battles took place. In the Panorama are recreated events from the Russo-Turkish war and the epic battles for Pleven. The perfect combination of historical facts and their artistically-emotional recreation on the Panorama canvas leaves an unforgettable impression. Lunch. Continuing our road to Ruse, the fifth biggest city in Bulgaria and the biggest Bulgarian port-city on the Danube river. Ruse is also known as the “Little Vienna”, because of the architecture of its monuments in baroque, rococo, secession and neoclassicism styles. In the center of Ruse one can find the most beautiful city houses in Bulgaria, built after the Liberation (1878). Accommodation at the hotel. Dinner. Overnight stay in Ruse.

DAY 3: Breakfast. A tour on foot of the central part of Ruse. It impresses with the unique architecture from the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. Lunch. Departure for Transylvania (Romania) – one of Europe’s most interesting regions with a fascinating mixture of cultures and civilizations. Arrival in the late afternoon in Sinaia – mountain city and resort, also known as “The Pearl of the Carpathians” because of the surrounding magnificent mountain views. Walking tour to the center of the city. Hotel accommodation. Dinner. Overnight stay in Sinaia.

DAY 4: Breakfast. Visit to Peleş Castle – former summer residence of the Romanian Kings. Lunch. Visit to the Bran Castle, also known as Dracula’s Castle – the hunting residence of count Vlad Dracula. It is an impressive medieval fortress, built from 1377 until 1382 on a 60 m high rock. Departure for Braşov – a picturesque medieval town in Transylvania. Tour of the city – Municipal Square with the City Hall and the Assumption Cathedral; Black Church – the biggest gothic church in Eastern Europe etc. Hotel accommodation in Braşov or in Poiana Braşov. Dinner. Overnight stay in in Braşov or in Poiana Braşov.

DAY 5: Breakfast. Departure for Bucharest, the capital of Romania. It is the biggest city in southeastern Europe, also known as the “Little Paris” because of its artistic culture and beautiful architecture, influenced by the Paris Haussmann-style. In between the two World Wars French architects have built dozens of beautiful and elegant buildings in Bucharest in “fin du siècle” style. Panoramic tour of the city: Triumphal Arch, a replica of the one in Paris; the temple of music Athene (Opera) - a concert and festival center of Bucharest, remarkable with its style and 30 m high dome. The tour will continue with the National Theater, the Parliament – the second largest administrative building in the world after the Pentagon, built on 45 000m2 with 20 000 construction workers during the Chaushesku government; the Patriarchal cathedral and Palace – spiritual center of the town, remarkable with the combination of classical style and baroque elements; the University; the Victory Square, the Royal Palace. Lunch. Free time. About 17:00 o’clock – departure for Bulgaria. In the late afternoon arrival in Ruse. Hotel accommodation. Dinner. Overnight stay in Ruse.

DAY 6:Breakfast. Departure for Sofia. Arrival. Lunch. Sightseeing tour of Sofia – St. Nedelya Cathedral, St. George Rotunda, Russian Church of St. Nicolas, St. Sophia Church, St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Ivan Vazov National Theater. Dinner. Overnight stay in Sofia.

DAY 7: Breakfast. A visit to the National Art Gallery – a museum of art and sculpture, which holds pieces of Bulgaria’s most famous artists from the 19th and 20th century. Lunch. A visit to the Boyana Church, which is included in the UNESCO List of World Cultural Heritage. It has preserved frescoes of an unknown artist, which date back to the year 1259. The frescoes impress with the spirituality and expressiveness of their images, created 7 years before the birth of Giotto di Bondone, considered the first Renaissance artist. Free time. Dinner at a typical Bulgarian restaurant with a folklore program. Overnight stay in Sofia.

DAY 8: Breakfast. Transfer to the airport. Departure

Price per person in double room on FB basis - 669 EUR

Single supplement – 110 EUR

Price includes:

• 7 nights (3 nights in Sofia, 2 nights in Ruse, 1 night in Sinaia and 1 night in Braşov or Poiana Braşov) on FB basis (including the dinner in a typical Bulgarian restaurant with a folklore program);

• All entrance fees for museums, listed in the program (Panorama “Pleven Epopee 1877” in Pleven, Dracula Castle and Peleş Castle in Romania, National Art Gallery and Boyana Church in Sofia);

• All transfers and transport in a luxurious bus or mini-bus (air-conditioning, video, mini-bar);

• English speaking guide throughout the entire trip.

The price is valid for a join-in group tour of 10 participants. On the above mentioned dates you can join an existing group and take advantage of prices and services of group travel.

Rual Travel can provide prices on request for groups of more or less than 10 persons. For any inquiries please contact us on the following e-mail - rual@incomingbulgaria.com