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- Operator
- Destination Services Bulgaria
- Explorer
- Curated to ignite your sense of adventure
- Private Tour
- Travel exclusively with your friends and family
- Self-guided
- Independent exploration, backed by expert advice and support
- Guided in English
- Other languages on offer: German, French
- Age range 2 to 99

Highlights
- Explore Sofia's vibrant city center on your own
- Visit UNESCO sites: Boyana Church and Rila Monastery
- Discover the medieval capital, Veliko Tarnovo
- Stroll through Nessebar's ancient cobbled streets
- Witness the Nestinari fire dance in a folklore night
Itinerary
- Introduction
- Day 1 ARRIVAL SOFIA / CAR HIRE PICK-UP (10km – 30min)
- Day 2 SOFIA
- Day 3 SOFIA – VELIKO TARNOVO (270km – 4hrs)
- Day 4 VELIKO TARNOVO – VARNA (310km – 4.5h)
- Day 5 VARNA
- Day 6 VARNA – BALCHIK – KALIAKRA – VARNA (160km – 2.5hrs)
- Day 7 VARNA – NESSEBAR – BURGAS (140km – 2.5hrs)
- Day 8 BURGAS – KAZANLAK – PLOVDIV (300km – 4hrs)
- Day 9 PLOVDIV – BANSKO (160km – 3hrs)
- Day 10 BANSKO – RILA – SOFIA (210km – 3.5hrs)
- Day 11 CAR HIRE DROP-OFF / DEPARTURE SOFIA (10km – 30min)
What's Included
- Accommodation
- Guide
- Meals
- Additional Services
- Transport
- Free eSIMTourRadar offers the lead traveler (the person who booked) a free 1GB eSIM for the trip. The eSIM is redeemable only through the TourRadar app 72 hours before departure.
What's Not Included
- Flights
- Insurance
- Optional
- Additional Services
Customer Photos

Operated by
Destination Services Bulgaria
Number of tours
7
Age Range
2 to 99 years old
Response time
10 hours
Response rate
100%
Destination Services Bulgaria is the leading incoming tour operator in...
Read moreCustomer Reviews
- Overall RatingExcellent
- ItineraryExcellent
- GuideExcellent
- TransportExcellent
- AccommodationGood
- FoodExcellent
- David· August 31st, 2023We really enjoyed the excellent communication from Emiliana and we found every detail of the organisation to be perfect. We had a delightful day with our very knowledgeable and engaging guide from Varna. We thought all the hotels were well placed and comfortable. The hire car was very good and all arrangements for it went smoothly. We very much appreciated the suggested place to visit and did our best to cover all of them. We also enjoyed the meals arranged for us. In short, we loved Bulgaria and would happily recommend your company to anyone.Show moreDestination Services Bulgaria commented on this reviewDear David and Caroline, we are very happy that you enjoyed your stay in our beautiful country! Wish you health and many more adventures! Destination Services Bulgaria TeamTrip date: August 2023
- Alexandra· May 29th, 2023This tour was amazing. Emiliana connects with...Show moreDestination Services Bulgaria commented on this reviewThank you, Alexandra and Luis, it was pleasure! We are more than happy that you have a great trip!Trip date: May 2023
Dates & Availability
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- -20%From Wednesday9 Jul, 2025To Saturday19 Jul, 2025English, German, French +2 moreFilling FastThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureMultiple Room TypesFrom:$2,678NZ $2,142
- -20%From Thursday10 Jul, 2025To Sunday20 Jul, 2025English, German, French +2 moreFilling FastThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureMultiple Room TypesFrom:$2,678NZ $2,142
- -20%From Friday11 Jul, 2025To Monday21 Jul, 2025English, German, French +2 moreFilling FastThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureMultiple Room TypesFrom:$2,678NZ $2,142
- -20%From Saturday12 Jul, 2025To Tuesday22 Jul, 2025English, German, French +2 moreFilling FastThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureMultiple Room TypesFrom:$2,678NZ $2,142
- -20%From Sunday13 Jul, 2025To Wednesday23 Jul, 2025English, German, French +2 moreFilling FastThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureMultiple Room TypesFrom:$2,678NZ $2,142
- -20%From Monday14 Jul, 2025To Thursday24 Jul, 2025English, German, French +2 moreFilling FastThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureMultiple Room TypesFrom:$2,678NZ $2,142
- -20%From Tuesday15 Jul, 2025To Friday25 Jul, 2025English, German, French +2 moreFilling FastThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureMultiple Room TypesFrom:$2,678NZ $2,142
- -20%From Wednesday16 Jul, 2025To Saturday26 Jul, 2025English, German, French +2 moreFilling FastThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureMultiple Room TypesFrom:$2,678NZ $2,142
- -20%From Thursday17 Jul, 2025To Sunday27 Jul, 2025English, German, French +2 moreFilling FastThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureMultiple Room TypesFrom:$2,678NZ $2,142
- -20%From Friday18 Jul, 2025To Monday28 Jul, 2025English, German, French +2 moreFilling FastThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureMultiple Room TypesFrom:$2,678NZ $2,142
What our customers ask about this tour
The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.- A
Abigail
Asked on March 24th, 2025What is the difference between vehicle category B and C? Could you please provide more information on the vehicles available for each category, so that they our travelers can decide which category would suit them best?
- Destination Services BulgariaOperator•Written March 2025
Category B: ECONOMY - Citroen C3 or similar 2022 / 2023; Manual transmission. Category C: COMPACT - Opel Mokka or similar 2024; Manual transmission
- V
Volker
Asked on March 18th, 2025Are optional excursions included in the itinerary?
- Destination Services BulgariaOperator•Written March 2025
Optional excursions are marked in your itinerary, and entrance fees for museums and sites can usually be paid at the venue.
- M
María José
Asked on March 8th, 2025Can you provide advice on meals during the tour?
- Destination Services BulgariaOperator•Written March 2025
Local dining experiences are recommended, and restaurants will often feature traditional Bulgarian cuisine.
- F
Florina-Andreea
Asked on February 26th, 2025How do we handle payment for the rental car?
- Destination Services BulgariaOperator•Written February 2025
Rental car payments are usually taken care of as part of the package, but check for any additional overages or services upon pick-up.
- M
Mette Janna
Asked on January 26th, 2025What transport options are included for moving between tour locations?
- Destination Services BulgariaOperator•Written January 2025
Transportation between locations is handled with the rental car you've reserved as part of the self-drive arrangement.
- J
Judy
Asked on November 18th, 2024We are interested in the Go Local : Best of Bulgaria,Self-drive Tour. Can this tour be extended to 13 days by adding an extra night in both Veliko Tarnovo and Plovdiv? If so, what is the additional cost? Also what type of vehicle is included in the car hire? We will probably be arriving by bus, so can the car be picked up in Sofia city or at a hotel in Sofia? We may wish to extend our time in Sofia after the tour, but may not need the car. Can it be returned to an office in Sofia? Also can extra night's accommodation only be booked in Sofia through this tour company?
- Destination Services BulgariaOperator•Written November 2024
We are pleased to send you the following special quote as per your private requirements: 1. Additional overnight in Veliko Tarnovo, Hotel Panorama or similar: 140EUR per person per night, including accommodation in DBL room, BB basis and one additional day of the rent-a-car category B. 2. Additional overnight in Plovdiv, Grand Hotel Plovdiv or similar: 140EUR per person per night, including accommodation in DBL room, BB basis and one additional day of the rent-a-car category B. 3. Pre/ Post-night in Sofia (Hotel Budapest or similar), Double Room, Standard Hotel Category 76 EUR per person per night on BB Basis. 4. It is possible to pick up/ drop off the rent-a-car from your hotel. The supplement is 25 EUR per service, payable at the rent-a-car agency. 5. If you chooce car B category, the vehicle is Citroen C3 manual or similar. If you chooce car C category, the vehicle is Toyota Corolla manual or similar or similar.
- R
Renske
Asked on September 19th, 2024What should I include in my packing list for Bulgaria?
- Destination Services BulgariaOperator•Written September 2024
Pack for varying weather conditions, including layers for warmth and coolness, as well as comfortable walking shoes.
- M
Maud
Asked on September 5th, 2024How can I check the parking situation for our tour locations?
- Destination Services BulgariaOperator•Written September 2024
Parking is usually manageable in smaller cities, while larger cities have paid parking zones. Each hotel can also provide specific information.
- B
Bridie
Asked on August 30th, 2024What kind of currency should I use in Bulgaria?
- Destination Services BulgariaOperator•Written August 2024
In Bulgaria, it is recommended to use BGN; euros are accepted in tourist areas but not generally throughout the country.
- J
Julie
Asked on June 2nd, 2024We are interested in two of your Bulgaria tours. 1. Go local, Best of Bulgaria and 2. Self drive, Bulgaria. Not quite sure of the difference between them? We are happy to self-drive and don't need a guide every day, but a couple of day trips are fine. Also we would be happy to add a day or two to the middle of the trip and an extra day in Sophia, I see is possible.
- Destination Services BulgariaOperator•Written June 2024
The main difference between the two routes is the duration. Go local: Best of Bulgaria is longer and includes more days on the beach area and some included services. It is dependig of your wish, you can read the programms and decide. And yes, pre- and post-overnights are possible. Another difference is the start-end airport. Go local is from/to Sofia and Explore Bulgaria is from/to Varna or Burgas airport. So, you need to decide which flights you are going to use.
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Good to Know
Tour ID: 234131