Monasteries tour Bulgaria and Romania

                                                                                                                            10 days / 9 nights

Day 1:

Sofia

Arrival at Sofia Airport and transfer to a hotel. Check in.

Breakfast. Walking city tour of Sofia. Panoramic city tour including: the National Archaeological Museum, the National Theatre, Russian Church St. Nikola, the Parliament Square, the St. Alexander Nevski Memorial Cathedral with the most valuable collection of Bulgarian Icons (13-19th c.), St. Sofia Church (6th c.), St. George Rotunda (4th c.), and the National Palace of Culture. In the afternoon – visit to the Boyana Church and Dragalevski Monastery.

Accommodation in Sofia.

Day 2:

Sofia – Rila – Plovdiv (320 km)

Breakfast. Departure for the Rila Monastery. Tour of the monastery and visit to the monastery church museum and kitchen, known as Magernitza. The tour continues to Plovdiv. Overnight in Plovdiv.

Day 3:

Plovdiv – Kazanlak – Veliko Tarnovo (170 km)

Breakfast. Tour of the Old Town of Plovdiv. Visit to the Ancient Theatre (a well-preserved Roman amphitheatre), the Ethnographic Museum, and other interesting sites. In the afternoon: visit to the Bachkovo Monastery. Continue to Kazanlak. Departure for Veliko Tarnovo. Overnight in the medieval Bulgarian capital.

Day 4:

Veliko Tarnovo – Tsarevets – Arbanassi – Veliko Tarnovo (12 km)

Breakfast. Tour of Veliko Tarnovo town with visit to the medieval fortress of Tsarevets; the Old Marketplace, Samovodska Tcharshia; and other landmarks. In the afternoon: arrival in the village of Arbanassi. Visit to the Nativity Church and Konstantsaliev’s House. Visit the Petropavlovski Monastery. Overnight in Veliko Tarnovo.

 Day 5:

Veliko Tarnovo – Ruse – Bucharest (180 km)

Breakfast. Departure towards the Ivanovo Rock Monasteries. Tour of the complex. Continue via Ruse to Bucharest..

Drop off the group in the hotel in Bucharest. Dinner at Caru cu Bere traditional restaurant, show included.

Caru cu Bere is one of the most famous restaurants in Bucharest, where guests are invited in order to experience a neo-Gothic décor. Its facades, columns, vaults and chandelier, its wooden stairs and furniture all preserve the tone of this style. At the beginning of the past century, this was the meeting place of writers and politicians.

Day 6:

Bucharest – Sinaia – Brasov (165 km)

Breakfast, panoramic city tour of Bucharest with a first stop at the Patriarchy Complex to learn something about Orthodox Church and orthodoxy. Panoramic tour of the Palace of Parliament without visit, Constitution Square, Revolution Square, Arch of Triumph.

Departure to Brasov. On the way we make a stop at Sinaia to visit Sinaia Monastery and Peles Castle. Home to the splendid Peles Castle, Sinaia is located at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains. Although the Sinaia monastery has existed here since the 17th century, Sinaia becomes famous at the end of the 19th century, when it became the summer residence of the first king of Romania, Carol I, which popularized the town. Visit the Peles Castle, a fine example of German Renaissance style of architecture, with elaborately-decorated rooms.

Accommodation and dinner at a 5* hotel in Brasov.

Day 7:

Brasov – Gura Humorului (350 km)

Early breakfast and departure to Gura Humorului. On the way we visit Neamt Monastery, Humor Monastery and Voronet Monastery. The last one was surnamed the Sistine Chapel of the East due to its western wall paintings called “the last judgment”.

Accommodation and dinner at a 4* hotel in Gura Humorului.

Day 8:

Gura Humorului – Bicaz Gorges – Sighisoara (320 km)

Breakfast and departure towards Moldovita (the first outdoor painted monastery in the area, awarded with the greatest UNESCO trophy – Golden Apple) and Sucevita Monasteries. Departure to Sighisoara via Bicaz Gorges and Red Lake.

Arrival in Sighisoara, late panoramic tour, accommodation and dinner at a 3* Hotel.

Day 9:

Sighisoara – Bucharest (280 km)

After breakfast we visit more Sighisoara, the best preserved medieval citadel in Europe and then we depart to Bucharest.

Accommodation and dinner at a 5* hotel in Bucharest.

Day 10:

Bucharest

Breakfast, free time and transfer to the airport.

The package price includes:

· Transportation with air-conditioned vehicle /according to the tourist number/;

· Accommodation at 3, 4, 5 star hotels in standard rooms;

· English /Italian/Spanish/French/German speaking guide throughout the entire tour

· Entrance fees;

· 1 FOC in single room;

· Full board basis;

· Border and road taxes;

The price excludes: Portages and tips;

Suggested Hotels:

· Sofia - Hotel Hilton 5* (if the tour is during the period July – 10^th of September), if not the accommodation will be at Hotel Central Park 4* (or similar)

· Plovdiv: Hotel Trimontsium princess 4* (or similar)

· Veliko Tarnovo –Rachev Bolyarski Hotel  or Grand Hotel Yantra 4* (or similar)

· Bucharest –Howard Johnson Hotel  5* (or similar)

· Brasov – Aro Palace Hotel 5* (or similar)

· Gura Humorului – Best Western Bucovina Hotel 4* (or similar)

· Sighisoara – Sighisoara Hotel3* (or similar)