Guided Tours - Best of Romania and Bulgaria
11 days/10 nights
Program:
Day 1: Arrival in
Bucharest
Arrive in Bucharest and check into the Hilton hotel
in the heart of the town. This evening meet with the Tour Manager and
enjoy dinner in local restaurant.
Accommodation at ATHENEE PALACE HILTON hotel, in Bucharest (D)
Day 2:
Explore Bucharest in a city tour
Get acquainted with the
Romanian capital, once nicknamed "Little Paris". During the tour you will
visit the Parliament Palace, the second largest building in the world
after the Pentagon and the open air Village Museum. Your tour will bring
you also to the Romanian Athenaeum, the Metropolitan Church, the Opera
House, the National Military Club, the Military Academy and the Triumphal
Arch. The rest of the day is free.
Accommodation at ATHENEE PALACE HILTON hotel, in Bucharest (B)
Day 3: Bucharest - Cozia - Sibiel (300 km)
After breakfast, depart
for Sibiu, once the richest town in Transylvania. Your route crosses the
Transylvanian Alps through the scenic Olt river valley; along the way
you’ll visit the Cozia monastery built in 1386. Arrive in the picturesque
village of Sibiel where you enjoy a hearty Romanian dinner at a local home
with overnight stay (B,D)
Day 4: Sibiel - Biertan - Sighisoara - Brasov (300 km)
In the morning
enjoy a comprehensive walking tour of Sibiu including the visit to the
Cathedral, where the son of Vlad the Impaler (another of Dracula's
monikers) was assassinated. You also stop at the Brukenthal Art Gallery
before continuing to the Saxon village of Biertan where you visit the
fortress church that is one of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites.
The church hosts the largest wing altar in Romania and was used as the
residence of the Lutheran bishop of Transylvania for over 300 years. Your
next stop is Sighisoara the best-preserved medieval fortified town in
Romania and the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler. After arrival, you proceed
on a walking tour of the town and visit the famous Clock Tower Museum with
its Torture and Weapons Rooms and stop in the house in which Dracula (Vlad
the Impaler) was born in 1432. Later, arrive in Brasov in time for dinner
and overnight at the CURTEA BRASOVEANA hotel, situated in the medieval old
town (B,D)
Day 5: Brasov - Bran - Brasov (200 km)
After breakfast depart to the
small village of Bran, where you visit the spectacular Bran Castle, made
famous by Bram Stoker's novel as the residence of the vampire count. The
castle that today is popularly referred as the "Dracula's Castle" was
built on the top of a steep rock by the prince Mircea the Old in 1377 to
protect the border between Valachia and Transylvania. The day continues in
the fairytales town of Brasov, founded in the 12th century. Sightseeing
includes the Black Church where you can admire the collection of ottoman
prayer rugs dating from 16th-18th centuries. At the museum dedicated to
the first Romanian school in Transylvania, Professor Olteanu presents an
engaging and informative talk about Romania, past and present.
Accommodation and dinner in Brasov, CURTEA BRASOVEANA hotel
(B,D)
Day
6: Brasov - Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria (370 km)
After breakfast you
will visit the marvelous Peles Castle, once the summer residence of the
Romanian royal family. Then you will start driving south, cross the Danube
riverand continue in Bulgaria to the medieval Veliko Tarnovo, former
capital of the Bulgarian Empire.
Day 7:
Veliko Tarnovo (100 km)
After breakfast this you'll have a
morning tour of Veliko Turnovo. See the medieval quarter of the town and
the historical Tsarevets Hill, where remains from the former capital’s
glory can still be seen. Proceed to the picturesque village of Arbanassi.
The village was originally founded by Albanians and it grew rich after
Sultan Suleyman I gave it to one of his sons-in-law in early 1538, thus
exempting the bustling town from the harsh Ottoman taxation. In this
typical medieval Bulgarian town of stone houses and red tiles roofs, we
visit the Church of Nativity, the most richly decorated church in
Bulgaria. Its interior is completely covered with colorful frescoes
painted in the first part of 1600s.
Accommodation at YANTRA hotel, in Veliko Tarnovo (B)
Day 8: Veliko Tarnovo - Etara - Kazanlik - Plovdiv (200 km)
Departure towards
Plovdiv. On The way stop for a short visit of Etara
open-air museum, representative for its architecture, the life style and
the economic past of Gabrovo region during the Revival period. Cross the
Balkan mountains through the Shipka Pass, famous for its historical significance.
Later on you will stop in Kazanlik to see the UNESCO listed
Thracian Tomb with its Hellenistic frescoes from the 3rd century BC.
Just arrived in Plovdiv, have a walk in the old town with its cobbled streets
and typical national revival architecture. Visit the Ethnographic Museum,
the Roman Amphitheatre, the Church of St. Konstantine and Elena
- one of the oldest churches in Bulgaria.
Accommodation at TRIMONTIUM hotel, in Plovdiv (B,L)
Day 9: Plovdiv - Rila Monastery- Sofia
(300 km)
Leave Plovdiv in the morning and drive across
the mountains to the Rila Monastery - one of the greatest centers of
scholarship and religion in Bulgaria during the National Revival Period.
Founded in the middle of the 10th century it played a key role in
preserving Bulgarian culture and language during the centuries. It is
included in the UNESCO world heritage list. See the monastery church with
its amazing frescos painted by the most famous Bulgarian finest artists
from 19th c. and the monastery museum. Proceed to Sofia and overnight at
HILTON hotel (B)
Day 10: Explore Sofia
In the
morning discover the Bulgarian capital during a walking city tour
including Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, St. Nicholas Russian Church and the
Rotonda of St. George Church- the oldest building in Sofia, the National
Theatre. Afternoon at leisure and Farewell dinner in the evening.
Accommodation at HILTON hotel, in Sofia
(B, D)
*Similar category hotel may be used
depending on availability
The price is inclusive
of:
* 10 nights accommodation in the mentioned locations
* 20 buffet breakfast, 1 lunch and 6 dinners – without drinks
*
Transportation in A/C modern sedan cars/ minibus/coach
* Entrance fees
at the sites mentioned in the program
* Porterage in/out
hotels
The arrival and departure transfers are not included, but can be arranged upon request.
2009 Departures |
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Start Date |
End Date |
Per Person/Double |
Single |
| 24 April | 04 May | $ 2,999 | $ 3,559 |
| 15 May | 25 May | $ 2,999 | $ 3,559 |
| 19 June | 29 June | $ 2,999 | $ 3,559 |
| 31 July | 9 August | $ 2,999 | $ 3,559 |
| 11 September | 21 September | $ 2,999 | $ 3,559 |
| 25 September | 5 October | $ 2,999 | $ 3,559 |
| 16 October | 26 October | $ 2,999 | $ 3,559 |
Please contact us at tours@traveltimeny.com for more information.
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