Itinerary
- Day 1
Sofia
You'll arrive in Sofia and get settled at your hotel, then around 3:00 p.m. a guided tour takes you through Bulgaria's capital. On the itinerary are Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Russian Church, the Mosque, and the Stalinist architecture scattered throughout the city's squares and avenues. The rest of your evening is free to wander around on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast buffet)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ramada Sofia), Hotel (Astoria Grand)
Included Activities
- City tour of Sofia including Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Russian Church, Mosque, and Stalinist architecture squares and avenues
Landmarks/POIs Alexander Nevsky Cathedral Russian Church 
- Day 2
Sofia to Plovdiv
Starting early, you head out to Bachkovo Monastery, Bulgaria's second most important monastery from the eleventh century. There you'll walk through its three churches in a quiet setting. After that, you travel to Plovdiv for lunch, and then a guide shows you around one of Europe's oldest cities. The tour includes entry to the Roman Amphitheatre, the Old Pharmacy, and the Armenian House.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast buffet), Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ramada Plovdiv Trimontium), Hotel (Radisson Plovdiv)
Included Activities
- Visit to Bachkovo Monastery
- City tour of Plovdiv with admission to Roman Amphitheatre, the Old Pharmacy, and the Armenian House
Landmarks/POIs Bachkovo Monastery Roman Amphitheatre 
- Day 3
Veliko Tarnovo
You'll drive through the Balkan Mountains and into the Rose Valley, stopping in Kazanlak to see the replica Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and learn about rose production. Next comes the Shipka Memorial Church, a monument from the Russo-Turkish War, followed by time at Etar village and its ethnographic museum. After lunch, you head to Arbanasi, an ancient trading city known for its fortress-like houses, to visit the Nativity Church. By evening you arrive in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria's former capital, where the medieval center overlooks a canyon.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast buffet), Lunch (Lunch in Etar)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Bolyarski Meridian), Hotel (Panorama), Hotel (Gurko)
Included Activities
- Admission to replica of Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak
- Visit to Shipka Memorial Church
- Exploration of Etar ethnographic museum village
- Admission to Nativity Church in Arbanasi
Landmarks/POIs Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak Shipka Memorial Church Etar Nativity Church 
- Day 4
Veliko Tarnovo to Bucharest
The day involves travel toward Romania, with a stop at Basarbovski Monastery, an impressive pilgrimage site carved into rock. You'll cross the border and the Danube River, reaching Bucharest around 1:00 p.m. A panoramic tour of the historic center follows, including the Palace of Parliament. You have free time later to explore the city at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast buffet), Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Doubletree By Hilton Bucharest Unirii Square), Hotel (Mercure Bucarest City Center), Hotel (Park Inn By Radisson Bucharest)
Included Activities
- Visit to Basarbovski Monastery
- Panoramic city tour of Bucharest including historic center and Palace of Parliament
Landmarks/POIs Basarbovski Monastery Palace of Parliament 
- Day 5
Bucharest
After breakfast, your tour concludes and you depart with memories from your time in Bulgaria and Romania.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast buffet)
