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Day 1: Arrival in Bucharest. Transfer from International Airport Bucharest Otopeni to hotel in Bucharest. Sightseeing tour of Bucharest. Festive welcome dinner at Terasa Doamnei restaurant with folklore dancers and music from different areas of Romania. Overnight in hotel 4* (Continental or similar) in Bucharest.

Day 2: Breakfast. Leaving Bucharest to Curtea de Arges, visit of a Byzantine monastery, covered by legends. Drive forward along the Olt valley. Visit Cozia monastery (14th century). Arrival in Sibiu. Accommodation at hotel 3* (Continental or similar) in Sibiu. Short walking tour in the old town. Dinner in the historical building of the “Emperor of Romans” Hotel. Overnight.

Day 3: Breakfast. Visit the Bruckenthal palace and museum, former residence of the governor of Transylvania, Samuel von Bruckenthal, nowadays one of the most important Art museums from Romania. Drive through Saxon Transylvania. Visit Biertan “Citadel of Faith”, with 3 rows of walls (fortified church, included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List). Arrival in Sighisoara mediaeval fortress (the only one fortress fully inhabited in Europe, included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List). Lunch in the house where the legendary “Dracula” was born. Visit the Tower Museum. Sightseeing tour of the citadel. Continue to Brasov, also a mediaeval center. Accommodation in Sinaia, at 4* hotel (Anda or similar). Overnight.

Day 4: Breakfast. Visit the Peles Castle, built in neo-Renaissance style between 1875-1883, former summer residence of King Carol I of Romania, the most impressive castle in Romania. Departure to Bucharest along the Prahova Valley. Lunch in Bucharest. Departure to Bulgaria. Border cross. Arrival in Russe. Coffee-break in the central part of the city and departure to the mediaeval capital city of Bulgaria – Veliko Turnovo. Accommodation and dinner at 3* hotel in Veliko Turnovo. Overnight.

Day 5: Breakfast. Tour to see the Royal Tsarevets Hill and the museum village of Arbanassi. Lunch. Proceed to Gabrovo and Etura open-air etnographic complex. Crossing the Balkan range via Shipka memorial peak with wonderful panoramic view of the Central and highest part of the range and stop to see the memorial church in the village of Shipka. Arrival in Plovdiv. – the capital city of Philip the 2nd. Accommodation at 3* hotel in Plovdiv. Overnight.

Day 6: Breakfast. City tour in the Old Plovdiv to see the old houses and the Roman Amphitheatre. Lunch and proceed to the museum town of Bansko at the foothills of Pirin Mountain. Accommodation at 3* hotel in Bansko. Overnight.

Day 7: Breakfast. Departure to Rila Monastery (UNESCO World Heritage), crossing Rila Mountains. Tour in the monastery. Lunch. Departure to Sofia. Short tour in the central part of the city. Accommodation at 3* hotel in Sofia. Overnight.

Day 8: Breakfast. Continue with the tour of Sofia and transfer to Sofia Airport for your flight home. Departure.

Total distance: ~ 1600 km.

Daily distances: 50 km (day 1); 285 km (day 2); 220km (day 3); 230 km (day 4); 280 km (day 5); 220 km (day 6); 230 km (day 7); 80 km (day 8).

Included objectives:
· Bucharest - the Palace of Parliament (second largest building in the world), the Village Museum, the Archbishop’ Palace
· Curtea de Arges - the monastery (16th century)
· Cozia – the monastery (14th century)
· Sibiu - the historical centre, the Liar’s Bridge, the Big Square
· Sighisoara - the Tower Museum;
· Sighisoara - the mediaeval citadel (the only citadel still inhabited in Europe; firstly mentioned in 1208 under the name “Castrum Sex”); Objectives: the Cover Stairs, the Guilds’ Tower (9), Vlad Dracul House, the Church on the Hill;
· UNESCO Monuments: Biertan fortified church, Sighisoara Stronghold
· Brasov Mediaeval City – Schei District (Architectural reservation), St. Nicholas Church, the Old Town Council Square, the Black Church
· Sinaia - Peles Castle, the summer residence of the King Carol I of Romania, built in neo-renaissance German style in 1875 - 1883.
· Shipka Memorial Peak in Balcani Mountains and Shipka memorial Church
· Valley of Roses (with the Festival of Roses in Kazanluk)
· National Park Bansko in Pirin Mountain
· Rila National Park – the highest mountain in Balcani Peninsula
· Rila Monastery – UNESCO Monument, 10th century
· Struma Valley
· Sofia: 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.), National Palace of Culture, National Theatre
· Veliko Turnovo - Tsarevets Royal Hill,
· Arbanassi Museum Village - 1 house, 1 church from 14th c
· Etura open air etnographic complex,
· Plovdiv: Old Plovdiv with the Roman Amphiteatre and the National-revival houses (Nedkovich House, Hindlian House)
· Bansko: 2 houses from the national-revival period