Circuit for the best of Bulgaria

Circuit at your own pace through the best of Bulgaria.

The next Best of Bulgaria Tour includes visiting Sofia, Plovdiv y Rila, traditional villages, monasteries and other destinations in Bulgaria. Total 8 days. Choose the start date.

Lovech, the perfumed city of Bulgaria

Circuit Summary.

This circuit for the best of Bulgaria runs through the main areas of the interior of Bulgaria which is where you can really get to know the authentic Bulgaria, where customs are kept, traditions and an ancient way of life. All of it, combined with the aesthetics of stone houses and slate roofs of its ancient villages, makes Bulgaria always surprise its visitors.

Circuit for the best of Bulgaria

On the way, stops are made to visit the 3 larger and more important monasteries of the 120 what's in the country: Rila, Bachkovo y Troyan. The road passes through mountainous areas of great beauty that make the transfer from one town to another an enjoyment. You will be able to taste the rich gastronomy of Bulgaria, Slavic cuisine fusion, turkish and original bulgarian. There will also be time to walk through the 2 main cities of Bulgaria: its capital Sofia and by Plovdiv (European Capital of Culture 2019), with its old neighborhood in classic style. Take a different trip and discover Bulgaria.

Itinerary.

This is an example Circuit for the best of Bulgaria, for this specific offer, but if you want other dates or duration, please make us your inquiry through Custom budget request.

Day 1– Arrival at Sofia airport and transfer to the hotel. If you have time until dinner, short visit to the city. Overnight in Sofia.

Sofia Orthodox Cathedral

Day 2 - Day to visit the Rila Monastery which is an impressive architectural complex of great cultural and historical importance for Bulgaria and which is surrounded by green mountains within the Rila National Park. More information about this complex here.Transfer to the spa town of Devin. Overnight in Devin.

Medieval tower and frescoes of the Rila Monastery

Day 3 - Since Devin the visitor has a route with wooden bridges for hiking, following the course of the river between the stone walls, a route of great beauty and different from what is known. A few miles from Devin, by highway, you reach the Trigrad ravine and the Devil's Throat, where huge rock walls of more than 300 meters rise to the sky from the river that runs through the gorge. If you wish, you can go up to the Mirador de El Ojo del Aguila, which is the highest point of the Buynovsko Gorge with its huge cliffs of 600 meters high. A platform was built on top of one of them just above the abyss.

Eye of the Eagle Viewpoint

Also in this area is the largest underground waterfall in the Balkans with 60 meters high. The largest underground cave room in the Balkans is also in the Devil's Throat. This room is called the Thunder Room due to the roar of its waterfalls. Return and overnight in the city of Devin.

Devin river walkway

Day 4 - Transfer to the authentic village of Shiroka Laka famous for its beautiful houses, typical of these Rhodope mountains. Then after half an hour of road we arrived at the Bachkovo Monastery, founded in 1083 and still active today.

Shiroka Laka traditional village

Departure for the city of Plovdiv, declared European Capital of Culture 2019. Walking tour of the Old Town of Plovdiv to enjoy its peculiar architecture of painted houses and cobbled streets. Overnight in Plovdiv. Learn more about Plovdiv here.

Plovdiv old quarter

Day 5 - Transfer to the center of the country to arrive, passing through Shipka and its Russian-style church, later we will visit the ethnographic complex "Etara" ( open-air village and museum of ancient Bulgarian craftsmen through its cobbled streets ) and to finish the traditional village of Tryavna (old clock tower , typical house "Daskalova", etc). Accommodation in Tryavna.

Shipka Orthodox Church

Typical village of Tryavna

Day 6 - Depart Tryavna for the city of Lovech. Short walk through Lovech and its old covered wooden bridge. Then, after only an hour's drive you will reach the Troyan Monastery, with its beautiful frescoes painted on walls and vaults, and its slate roofs. Accommodation in Troyan.

Lovech Covered Bridge

Day 7 - Transfer to the town of Koprivshtitsa with magnificent examples of Bulgarian Renaissance houses from the 18th and 19th centuries belonging to the wealthiest families of the time. It is called a city-museum because they have declared 383 monuments and buildings as artistic heritage of Bulgaria. A walk through this city is a journey back in time to the commercial splendor that this city had. Transfer to Sofia. Overnight in Sofia.

Day 8 - Depending on the flight departure time, in Sofia you can choose between visiting its museums, see the massive Alexander Nevski Orthodox Cathedral, go shopping or just stroll through its parks and streets. End of the circuit for the best of Bulgaria, transfer to the airport and departure to Spain.

Tram in Sofia (Bulgaria).

Dishes of traditional Bulgarian gastronomy

Tour prices for the best of Bulgaria self-guided.

For 2 Travellers: 631,00 € / person
(with rental vehicle type Opel Astra, Ford Focus, Renault Megane o similar)

For 4 Travellers: 542,00 € / person
(with passenger car bodywork or minivan, tipo Ford Focus familiar, Opel Zafira, o similar)

Note 1: For solo travelers or groups of more than 4 people check price please. OPTIONAL: Spanish-speaking driver throughout the itinerary.

Note 2: Also available as “Travel accompanied by local tour guide Spanish speaker”, Ask us for price according to dates please.

What does the self-guided trip include:

- The delivery and collection of the rental vehicle at Sofia airport by staff of the rental company (the staff is english speaking).
- During the entire program: Tourism type rental vehicle 5 plazas, diesel or gasoline engine depending on availability, unlimited mileage, Super C.D.W comprehensive insurance. : Collision Damage Waiver (no liability for collision damage, you only pay a fee of 30 € for the costs of opening the file in case of having to give part of the insurance for damage to the vehicle), third party insurance, theft and fire insurance, does not cover damage to rims or tires, nor the theft or loss of keys, nor the theft of luggage or personal belongings, includes second driver free of charge, road traffic rates (Vignette) and 24/7 roadside assistance.
- Accommodation in hotel 3*** oh 4**** (in double room, other types of rooms are also possible, consult please)
- Regime: Bed and breakfast.
- Practical travel guide in electronic format (PDF file) custom designed for this trip by hikingeuropa.com with instructions on how to get to the tourist places, practical country information, additional recommendations on where to eat and what to visit, etc. This guide will be sent to you by email once you confirm the trip reservation with us.
- If you want hotels of a higher category than those mentioned, they can be booked at a supplement, Consult.

What the self-guided trip does not include:

- The single room supplement.
- Roundtrip plane tickets.
- Airport taxes.
- Trip cancellation insurance, repatriation, accident, nor of the sanitary expenses, nor insurance of any other kind.
- Fuel (the average price of fuel in Bulgaria is one 10% lower than in Spain ). The rental vehicle is delivered with a full tank and must be returned equally full at the end of the trip.
- Child seats and snow chains for the rental vehicle. They can be rented on request in advance, price to consult.
- To collect the rental vehicle, you must give a deposit of between 100 and 300 €, depending on the vehicle segment, which will be reimbursed upon return of the vehicle if it does not suffer any type of damage or serious lack of cleaning.
- Parking fees and payments, some are estimated 10 € in total for each vehicle.
- Visits to places of interest: museums, monasteries, iglesias, etc…(are estimated at about 15 € / person).
- Refunds due to the fact that any of the stages or visits reflected in the itinerary could not be carried out regardless of the reason.
- Any other concept not reflected as included in the previous section.