From
NZ $1,324

Best of Bulgaria Roundtrip

8 days
Start and end in Sofia
4.4
18 traveler reviews
From
NZ $1,324
Find this price
+ $192 Local Payment
Save and compare this adventure
Payment plan $397 now + easy payments of $232 Learn More

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Plan your adventure:
In-depth Cultural
Immerse yourself in rich history and local traditions
Fully Guided
An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
Guided in English
Group Size 4 - 10
Age range 6 to 85
Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Highlights

  • Explore Sofia's ancient sites and cathedrals
  • Visit Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Discover the Yagodina Cave's stunning formations
  • Tour Plovdiv, one of Europe's oldest cities
  • Experience traditional crafts in Etura village

Itinerary

Expand All
  1. Introduction
  1. Day 1 Sofia
  2. Day 2 Sofia - Rila Monastery – Rupite - Melnik
  3. Day 3 Melnik - Ribnovo - Dobrinishte
  4. Day 4 Dobrinishte - The Rhodope narrow gauge railway to Velingrad – Plovdiv
  5. Day 5 Plovdiv
  6. Day 6 Plovdiv - Kazanluk - Buzludzha - Etura - V. Tarnovo
  7. Day 7 Veliko Tarnovo - Tsarevets - Free time in Veliko Tarnovo
  8. Day 8 Transfer Veliko Tarnovo - Sofia.
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What's Included

Expand All
  • Accommodation
  • Guide
  • Meals
  • Additional Services
  • Transport
  • Free eSIM
    TourRadar 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

Penguin Travel

Number of tours

41

Age Range

18 to 80 years old

Response time

within 1 day

Response rate

100%

Established in 1989 in the heart of Copenhagen (Denmark), Penguin Travel rose...

Read more

Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

Customer Reviews

  • Overall Rating
    Excellent
    4.4
  • Itinerary
    Excellent
    4.5
  • Guide
    Excellent
    4.7
  • Transport
    Excellent
    4.3
  • Accommodation
    Good
    3.8
  • Food
    Good
    3.7
  • 4.4
  • Most Recent
  • Most Popular
  • Highest First
  • Lowest First
  • EZ
    · May 4th, 2025
    Did not go as on hospital
    Show more
    Trip date: May 2025
  • NF
    · August 19th, 2024
    Great, varied tBulgaria our with an excellent, knowledgeable tour guide Lubo. Good accommodation and good tour van. Despite intensive tours, plenty of free time
    Show more
    Trip date: August 2024
  • MZ
    · September 7th, 2023
    Good trip, tour guide very knowledgeable on history, art and culture of Bulgaria and all other balkan states.
    Show more
    Penguin Travel commented on this review
    Thank you for your feedback, Mauro. We are looking forward to having you on another trip with Penguin Travel in the future.
    Trip date: August 2023
  • Best of Bulgaria Roundtrip reviewer 4
    · May 14th, 2023
    Was a really good trip The guide Nadya was brilliant , great driver , learnt so much about Bulgaria
    Show more
    Penguin Travel commented on this review
    Hello, David. We are happy to hear you enjoyed your trip and appreciate your feedback. We are looking forward to having you on another trip with Penguin Travel in the future.
    Trip date: May 2023
  • Best of Bulgaria Roundtrip reviewer 5
    · October 9th, 2022
    It was really a good road trip atound Bulgaria. Our guide Lubo is excellent. A real gem. Very knowledgeable, always does his best when answrring out questions and he goes above and beyond, bringing us to interesting historical sites and monuments that are not mentioned in the itinerary to make the experience wholesome. The 4 of us in the group enjoyed ourselves. Will highly recommend this tour.
    Show more
    Trip date: October 2022
  • MP
    · July 7th, 2022
    Overall, it was a good , memorable experience. Something new I experienced and to remember for the rest of my life. Every thing went well. No mechanical breakdowns of the tour van; not getting lost during the tour despite mountainous road trips; no accidents or getting sick and the tour guide and driver, Rado did his best to give us important historical and background information of the tour sites and places even though he is soft spoken. Aside from this, he was a patient guy, never got angry when we were late or behind during walking tours due to photo taking. He was helpful with the luggage in putting and arranging them in the van. And he is an excellent driver. He knows the directions well. The time given to us every morning to start the trip is adequate and acceptable. Except for a few occasions, we had to leave around 9 every morning giving us enough rest and sleep from the previous day. The downsides of the tour are : Most hotels have no lifts / elevators. So be prepared to carry your own luggage upstairs. Some hotels don't offer much amenities like hair dryers, refrigerators. But most are located in areas where you can access the village towns and cities easily especially the restaurants, groceries and souvenir shops. My most memorable experience of this trip is climbing the wet steep long stairs of a huge, partly lighted cave to exit to the other end. It was a thrill! This trip is really adventure, history and culture. An eye opening! You will learn a lot about Bulgaria. You will not regret it.
    Show more
    Trip date: June 2022
  • JT
    · September 17th, 2019
    Lots of steps and hotels without elevators making it difficult for the older travelers. ]Also hotels were not central. Little to no free time. Sites were good but again difficult to reach because of the terrain.
    Show more
    Trip date: September 2019
  • Best of Bulgaria Roundtrip reviewer 8
    · September 16th, 2019
    The best thing about our tour was our guide, Emil - helpful, knowledgeable and a very good sense of humour. The itinerary is good and quite varied. Emil also took us to the Tombs of the Thracian Kings which are not on the official tour, presumably because they have been opened to the public fairly recently, and were a highlight of the tour for us. On the not quite so good side, you do spend quite a lot of time travelling from one attraction to another and, apart from the occasional gorge or panorama, the scenery is not riveting. Also, the tour is rated as being suitable for people of up to 85 years - most of the accommodation did not have a lift and two or three of the attractions involve a steeper climb or stairs, which were a problem for one older woman in our group.Overall, if you would like to visit Bulgaria, we think this tour is a good option.
    Show more
    Trip date: September 2019
  • KK
    · June 13th, 2019
    Vera was amazing—hard working, determined to please the guests, personable, expert, and truly dedicated to excellence. She is a gem. I will recommend her tours!!
    Show more
    Best of Bulgaria Roundtrip customer review photo 1Best of Bulgaria Roundtrip customer review photo 2Best of Bulgaria Roundtrip customer review photo 3Best of Bulgaria Roundtrip customer review photo 4Best of Bulgaria Roundtrip customer review photo 5Best of Bulgaria Roundtrip customer review photo 6
    Trip date: May 2019
  • AE
    · May 29th, 2019
    Vera spoke excellent English, was very smart, drove very well and taught us a lot and she was fun. I had a wonderful time!
    Show more
    Trip date: May 2019

Dates & Availability

8 days
Best of Bulgaria Roundtrip
From Sofia to Sofia

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More benefits
Select a departure month
  • Upcoming departures
  • June 2025
  • August 2025
  • September 2025
  • October 2025
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  • Instant Confirmation
    From Saturday
    28 Jun, 2025
    To Saturday
    5 Jul, 2025
    English
    Multiple Room Types
    From:
    $1,324
    Local Payment
    $192
  • Instant Confirmation
    From Saturday
    9 Aug, 2025
    To Saturday
    16 Aug, 2025
    English
    Multiple Room Types
    From:
    $1,324
    Local Payment
    $192
  • Instant Confirmation
    From Saturday
    23 Aug, 2025
    To Saturday
    30 Aug, 2025
    English
    Multiple Room Types
    From:
    $1,324
    Local Payment
    $192
  • Instant Confirmation
    From Saturday
    20 Sep, 2025
    To Saturday
    27 Sep, 2025
    English
    Multiple Room Types
    From:
    $1,324
    Local Payment
    $192
  • Instant Confirmation
    From Saturday
    18 Oct, 2025
    To Saturday
    25 Oct, 2025
    English
    Multiple Room Types
    From:
    $1,324
    Local Payment
    $192
From
NZ $1,324
Find this price
+ $192 Local Payment
Save and compare this adventure
Payment plan $397 now + easy payments of $232 Learn More

Best price guarantee Learn More

Plan your adventure:

What our customers ask about this tour

The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.
All questions
  • R

    Robert

    Asked on May 5th, 2025

    Interested to add tour for Romania Moldova in Oct

    Tour Details
    • Penguin TravelOperatorWritten May 2025

      East European Discovery – Romania and Moldova's Transnistria and Gagauzia tour has a departure date 4 October 2025. Also optional tour date 20 September 2025 for Best of Bulgaria for 8 days.

    • R

      Robert

      TravelerWritten May 2025

      Waiting for 2026 dates

    • R
      1 more answer
  • R

    Rachel

    Asked on April 15th, 2025

    I would like to spend 8 days in Greece. What are the conditions and prices, bearing in mind that I need to apply for a visa from Algeria for Greece in July?

    Price / Availability
    Tour Details
    Visa
    • Penguin TravelOperatorWritten April 2025

      We do not offfer 8-day cultural trip in Greece. If you are interested in combining these two countries, we can organise your trip in Bulgaria only.

  • S

    Stephanie

    Asked on March 31st, 2025

    What is your cancelation policy?

    Payments
    • Penguin TravelOperatorWritten March 2025

      Regarding cancellation policy: If you cancel your booking, charges will be imposed. These are calculated from the day written is received by the Company as a percentage of the total tour price per person canceling. a) 60 and more days before tour start date - retention of deposit b) 59-45 days before tour start date - 50% or retention of deposit if higher c) Less than 44 days before tour start date - 100%

    • S

      Stephanie

      TravelerWritten March 2025

      When you say the date is not guaranteed, this means I cannot buy plane tickets for the trip, right? When will you know if this tour is happening?

    • S

      Stephanie

      TravelerWritten April 2025

      How many people do you need to sign up for the tour to happen?

    • Penguin TravelOperatorWritten April 2025

      The minimum number of participants is 3.

    • S
      S
      3 more answers
  • P

    Pablo

    Asked on March 31st, 2025

    Can the tour provide airport pick-up service?

    Flights / Transfers
    • Penguin TravelOperatorWritten April 2025

      Yes, private transfer from Sofia airport to the hotel on day 1 is included.

  • S

    Shirley

    Asked on February 23rd, 2025

    Do you offer anything that length?

    Tour Details
    • Penguin TravelOperatorWritten February 2025

      There are two options: 1) The first option is a private tour, based on the itinerary above, for two people. Price: 1470 EUR per person in a Double/Twin room 2) The second option is to join a group. The two optional dates are 3 May 2025 and 28 June 2025. Price: 680 EUR per person in a Double/Twin room

  • M

    Mahdi

    Asked on February 21st, 2025

    What types of accommodations are included in the tour?

    Accommodation
    • Penguin TravelOperatorWritten February 2025

      The tour includes 7 nights in hotels and guesthouses, offering double rooms with private WC and shower facilities.

  • C

    Cris

    Asked on January 1st, 2025

    Is there a local payment required for this tour?

    Payments
    • Penguin TravelOperatorWritten January 2025

      Yes, a local payment is necessary on some tours which covers some operational costs and it is to be paid in cash to the tour leader upon arrival.

  • T

    Terry

    Asked on September 29th, 2024

    Have departure dates for 2025 been set?

    Tour Details
    • Penguin TravelOperatorWritten October 2024

      The dates are now announced on Tour Radar.

    • T

      Terry

      TravelerWritten October 2024

      Unfortunately none of the dates work. In Europe from 12 May to 20 June but need to be in Florence for a wedding around 31 May

    • Penguin TravelOperatorWritten October 2024

      We hope you will find some other of our tours matching your dates.

    • T
      2 more answers
  • L

    Liam

    Asked on September 16th, 2024

    Do I need a visa to travel?

    Visa
    • Penguin TravelOperatorWritten September 2024

      Yes, as Bulgaria is part of the Schengen zone, you must apply for a Schengen visa.

  • N

    Nicole

    Asked on September 12th, 2024

    cual seria el precio para una sola persona

    Price / Availability
    Single supplement
    • Penguin TravelOperatorWritten September 2024

      The price is 690 EUR + 160 EUR for a single room

Can’t find the answer to your question?
Reach out to the experts at Penguin Travel with your enquiry, they usually respond within 1 day.

Good to Know

Tour ID: 85182

  • Currency
    лв.
    Bulgarian Lev
    Bulgaria
  • Plugs & Adapters

  • Vaccines
    • These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
    • Hepatitis A - Recommended for Bulgaria. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
    • Tuberculosis - Recommended for Bulgaria. Ideally 3 months before travel.
    • Hepatitis B - Recommended for Bulgaria. Ideally 2 months before travel.
  • Visa
    • Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
    • Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
  • Payment information
    • For any tour departing before August 14th, 2025 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after August 14th, 2025, a minimum payment of 30% is required to confirm your booking with Penguin Travel. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 60 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
    • Some departure dates and prices may vary and Penguin Travel will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
    • The following cards are accepted for "Penguin Travel" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
  • Cancellation Policy
  • Accessibility
    Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.

Video

Best of Bulgaria, Beklemeto Pass