10-Day Bulgaria Tour Packages
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10 Days in Bulgaria, incl. Sofia and Plovdiv
A fascinating 10-day circuit weaves through 7 Bulgarian cities, from Sofia's Roman ruins to Varna's ancient baths. Three UNESCO sites including Nessebar, Rila Monastery, and Plovdiv's Old Town showcase cultural richness. Local experiences include wine tastings at Villa Melnik, rose production at Damascena complex, and traditional Nestinari fire dancing.
- Day 1
Sofia
Start your Bulgarian adventure in Sofia, a city Constantine the Great called "My Rome." Get a private transfer from Sofia Airport to your hotel. Book an afternoon arrival if you can to avoid the morning traffic congestion.
- Day 2
Sofia to Veliko Tarnovo
Explore 7,000-year-old Sofia in the morning before traveling to Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria's medieval capital. Visit Tsarevets Fortress, perched on four hills overlooking the Yantra River. The fortress walls and Baldwin's Tower showcase Bulgaria's historic victory over the 4th Crusade in 1205. A recent visitor noted: "Bulgaria has good roads and very attractive towns and villages. There is a lot to see."
- Day 3
Veliko Tarnovo to Varna
Take a morning walk through Veliko Tarnovo's cobblestone streets and visit Samovodska Charshia for wine tasting. Travel to Varna, a coastal gem that houses the world's oldest gold treasure from the 5th millennium BC. Explore the Roman baths and Sea Garden. Leave early to beat summer traffic on coastal routes.
- Day 4
Varna to Nessebar/Pomorie
Visit Nessebar, a UNESCO site founded in 510 BC. This ancient town sits on a peninsula linked to the mainland by a narrow strip. Have lunch in Old Nessebar before going to Pomorie for wine tasting. Check wine tasting schedules between Varna and Pomorie as they vary by day and season.
- Day 5
Nessebar to Kazanlak
See Europe's best-preserved Neolithic dwellings in Stara Zagora. Move on to Kazanlak in the Valley of Roses, once producing 75% of global rose oil. Visit the Thracian tomb, a UNESCO site. You'll see a replica since access to the original is restricted for preservation.
- Day 6
Kazanlak to Plovdiv
Stop at Shipka Church and sample rose brandy at Damascena Ethnographic complex. Continue to Plovdiv, Europe's oldest continuously inhabited city and 2022's Best Cultural Destination. A visitor shared: "I particularly enjoyed learning about the wine culture and the history of this proud nation." Take an evening walk through UNESCO-listed Old Plovdiv.
- Day 7
Plovdiv and Bachkovo
Take a day trip to Bachkovo Monastery, Bulgaria's second-largest monastery from the 11th century. Visit Assenova Fortress and stop for wine tasting in Brestovisa village. Return to Plovdiv for the night. Wear sturdy shoes for the old town's slippery cobblestones.
- Day 8
Plovdiv to Melnik
Visit Bansko museum town near Pirin Mountain National Park. Head to Melnik, Bulgaria's tiniest town, known for sandstone pyramids and wine cellars. Try the Broad Leaf Melnik wine at Villa Melnik, reportedly Winston Churchill's favorite.
- Day 9
Melnik to Sofia via Rila Monastery
See Kordopulov House, the Balkans' largest 19th-century home. Visit the UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery at 1,100m elevation. Return to Sofia for a final dinner with folklore music and Nestinari fire dancing (seasonal, May-October).
- Day 10
Sofia Departure
Use your free morning to shop or explore. Late flights? Visit the National History Museum or take the cable car up Vitosha Mountain.
10 Days in Bulgaria, incl. Sofia and Plovdiv
Bulgaria's finest attractions unfold over 10 days featuring Sofia's Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Plovdiv's Roman ruins, and UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery. Five major cities plus traditional villages Kovachevitsa and Melnik offer diverse perspectives. Luxurious stays at Hotel Sense and Zornitza Estate include exclusive culinary and cultural experiences.
- Days 1-2
Sofia
Begin in Bulgaria's capital city. Visit Alexander Nevsky Cathedral before 9 AM to avoid crowds and see the golden domes in perfect morning light. Explore the Yellow Pavements area mid-morning when the cafes are lively. For lunch try a Soviet-themed restaurant but book ahead for 1 PM as they get busy.
- Days 2-3
Plovdiv
It's a 2-hour drive from Sofia to Plovdiv, known as Europe's oldest continuously inhabited city. Walk carefully on the Old Town's cobblestone streets which can be slippery. The Roman Theater offers beautiful sunset views over the city but has steep steps. Book a hotel in the Kapana district where you can spend your evenings trying local wines at nearby bars.
- Day 4
Gela
The mountain drive to Gela takes about 2.5 hours. Bring a physical map since GPS isn't reliable in this area. If you're visiting in July try to catch the National Bagpipe Festival. Book the foraging experience ahead and pack hiking shoes as trails often get muddy.
- Day 5
Kovachevitsa
Getting to Kovachevitsa involves winding mountain roads. Book Maria Jekova's cooking class well in advance. Bring warm clothing as mountain temperatures can drop unexpectedly.
- Days 6-8
Zornitza Family Estate & Melnik
Start early to photograph Melnik's sand pyramids in morning light. Visit Kordopulov House right when it opens at 9 AM before tour groups arrive. Book your spa treatments at Zornitza Estate a day ahead. Wear good shoes for the BBQ dinner location which involves walking on uneven ground.
- Days 9-10
Rila Monastery & Sofia
Get to Rila Monastery before 11 AM to beat the crowds. Plan extra time for the drive back to Sofia especially on weekends when traffic can extend the usual 2.5-hour journey. Book a later flight to avoid rushing.
9 Days in Bulgaria, incl. Sofia and Stara Planina Mountains
A challenging 9-day mountain expedition takes you through Bulgaria's highest peaks from Sofia through Apriltsi to Koprivshtitsa. Summit Botev Peak, trek through Central Balkan National Park, and tackle Mount Kupen's wire-roped sections while staying in authentic mountain huts.
- Day 1
Sofia: Arrive before 2 PM to explore the capital.
Visit Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and enjoy dinner around Vitosha Boulevard. Pack carefully for your upcoming trek since mountain temperatures can change quickly, even in summer.
- Day 2
Sofia to Apriltsi: Take a 3-hour morning transfer to Apriltsi in the Vidima district.
The 2-hour hike to Pleven Hut is steep. You'll want trekking poles for this climb. Start before noon to arrive while it's still light. The trail follows green blazes but watch your step after rain.
- Day 3
Botev Peak Summit: Set out for Bulgaria's highest Balkan peak (2,376m).
Leave by 7 AM to avoid afternoon thunderstorms. The 6-hour round trip is straightforward but tough with 800m elevation gain. Bring layers and a windbreaker since the final stretch can get windy.
- Day 4
Trek to Ambaritsa: A demanding 7-hour trek across multiple peaks.
You'll need good balance and solid hiking boots for the wire-rope sections near Kupen Peak. Pack at least 2 liters of water. The morning light on Botev's north face makes for great photos.
- Day 5
Dobrila Hut: A 4-hour ridge walk with no tree cover.
Bring sun protection. Watch for trail markers carefully near Levski Peak if fog rolls in. Dobrila Hut is simple but offers hot meals. Remember to bring Bulgarian lev.
- Day 6
Beklemeto Pass: An easier day through forests and meadows.
Stop at the Liberty Arch monument. The descent to Beklemeto is gentler on your knees than previous days.
- Day 7
Echo Hut Trek: A Central Balkan National Park highlight.
Look for protected edelweiss flowers in rocky areas during July-August. Start early for this 5-hour uphill trek.
- Day 8
Koprivshtitsa: Walk down through forests to Rozino Village.
Take the 2-hour train to Koprivshtitsa. Check train schedules ahead of time. Explore the town's cobblestone streets and Revival architecture. Visit the local history museum before it closes at 5 PM.
- Day 9
Return to Sofia: Morning transfer to Sofia (2 hours).
Book afternoon flights to account for mountain road delays.
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What people love about 10-day Bulgaria tours
- Legends of Emperors and Crusaders , Wines, Traditional Cuisine. Museum Towns and Villages
This was a very good tour. We had an excellent guide and saw many interesting places. Bulgaria is a beautiful country which now has good roads and very attractive towns and villages. There is a lot to see. We stayed in several four star hotels, mostly for one night. For the most part they were good, although one hotel did not have a lift, which was a nuisance and another, where we stayed for two nights, had hardly any guests the first night. The room was good and the staff were friendly, but it provided a very poor breakfast the first morning and really was below par. The receptionist was new and had not been trained to use the software properly. My fellow traveller was put in a room with no chair. The receptionist (who was a pleasure to speak to and was extremely helpful) and him (he was 88) had to manouvre a chair into his room from another bedroom. This really is not what I would expect from a four star hotel. The second night, they had a tour group, so there were more people and it provided a proper breakfast. On balance I was very impressed with this tour and with the tour guide. I would certainly consider using Tour Radar again. They were very prompt to deal with email queries as well.
- Peaks & Lakes of the Pirin and Rila Mountains
At the end of August, my son went on a guided hike of the Rila and Pirin mountains in Bulgaria with Traventuria Ltd. Here is an account of the tour from his perspective: Tour guide: Alexander Serafimov (Alex). Alex was an absolutely fantastic tour guide. He was knowledgeable about the mountains both in terms of flora and fauna. His English was immaculate (first language Bulgarian) but he also proved his multi-lingual abilities plenty of times on the tour! Overall, the best tour guide I have ever had. The tour at a glance: the tour went through both the Rila and Pirin mountain ranges, of which I completed 3 of the main peaks (Polizhan, Musala and Vihren) as well as the beautiful 7 Rila Lakes. We were a small group (6 individuals, all English speaking). It was without doubt the most enthralling journey each day, with the scenery changing ever so often. Lush forests, rocky mountains and sharp faces met us each day. Also note, that this particular hike is challenging and requires a great deal of fitness. In total, the tour lasted 7 days. Extras: There were many extras that were thrown in that we did not even know we would be getting! 1. Guided tour through Bansko and Sofia with Alex, again very knowledgeable especially about the history of these places. 2. Almost every night we had dinner at a different restaurant and one night we had a traditional Bulgarian experience where we sang and danced through the streets of a small village! The restaurant decision is left in the hands of the tour guide by Traventuria and Alex did a great job of picking the best and most diverse places. 3. Cable cars, chair lifts, transfers all included without extra charge. 4. A goodie bag at the start of the tour. Importantly, none of these things came at any extra cost. Overall: Traventuria was extremely well organised from the start. Alex was a star of a guide. The trek through the mountains was breathtaking. A must for any trekking enthusiast.
- Eastern Europe Express
best guide you can have...he cares about the people in his group
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