SOFIA – BACHKOVO MONASTERY – PLOVDIV
Today we transfer towards Bachkovo Monastery, from the 11th century, one of the richest galleries of traditional Bulgarian religious art with exquisite murals and medieval icons. We reach the monastery after 2.5 hours drive. We enjoy the beauty of the surrounding nature with the warm and welcoming atmosphere of one of the biggest monasteries in Bulgaria.
Further transfer to Plovdiv, one of the most ancient cities in Europe and in the world. Sightseeing of the Old town of Plovdiv with National Revival architecture and excavations from Roman times. Visit of the ancient Roman theatre with impressive marble statues, decorative columns and arcades.
Dinner and overnight in Plovdiv.

PLOVDIV – KAZANLAK – TRYAVNA – VELIKO TARNOVO
Bulgaria is one of the biggest rose-oil producers in the world and a country that has been closely related to the beautiful flower for centuries.
Today we will have the opportunity to visit the rose valley, located in Kazanlak. Visit the Kazanlak Historical Museum to see the Thracian golden treasures.
Continue with one of the UNESCO’s sites, the Thracian Tomb dating back from the 4th century B.C. Visit the replica of the Thracian Tomb. Discovered in 1944, this tomb dates from the Hellenistic period, around the end of the 4th century BC. It is located near Seutopolis, the capital city of the Thracian king Seutes III, and is part of a large Thracian necropolis. The tholos has a narrow corridor and a round burial chamber, both decorated with murals representing Thracian burial rituals and culture. These paintings are Bulgaria’s best-preserved artistic masterpieces from the Hellenistic period
Departure to the town of Tryavna. The s located in the northern folds of the picturesque Stara planina Mountain in the valley of Trevnenska River. Walking tour of Tryavna, where vaulted stone bridges, houses, churches and the square with a clock tower preserve the spirit and talent of the artists from Tryavna School of Art from the 17th century.
In the afternoon we reach the city of Veliko Tarnovo, where we will enjoy a traditional dinner and spend the overnight.

VELIKO TARNOVO – ARBANASSI
Today we spend the morning with a guided tour of Veliko Tarnovo, where we can take a walk on Samovodska Charshiya, the traditional arts and crafts street and visit to Tsarevets hill, an impressive sight with medieval fortifications and dramatic architecture. We will visit the Tsarevest Fortress, the symbol of Veliko Tarnovo. It is the former rezidence of the medieval tsars, and hosts the remains of more than 400 houses, 18 churches, the royal palace, an execution rock and more. Thracians and Romans used it as a defensive position, but the Byzantines built the first significant fortress here between the 5th and 7th centuries AD.
After the visits we transfer to the museum town of Arbanassi boasting a genuine gallery of religious art in its Church of Nativity. Visit the Konstantsalieva house, fine example of 17th century house of a wealthy merchant.
We return to Veliko Tarnovo for dinner and overnight.

VELIKO TARNOVO – MADARA – SVESHTARI – RUSSE
This morning we transfer to the city of Ruse.
Along the way we stop in Madara and visit the Madara Rider. The Madara Rider, representing the figure of a knight triumphing over a lion, is carved into a 100-m-high cliff near the village of Madara in north-east Bulgaria. Madara was the principal sacred place of the First Bulgarian Empire before Bulgaria’s conversion to Christianity in the 9th century. The inscriptions beside the sculpture tell of events that occurred between AD 705 and 801.
We continue driving towards Sveshtari, where we can visit the Sveshtari Thracian Tomb, another UNESCO monument. The unique architectural décor of the tomb includes 10 female figures carved in the walls and painted murals, a remarkable example of the culture of the Thracian people.
In the afternoon we arrive in Ruse and take a walking tour in the city center.
Ruse is on the most elegant cities in Bulgaria, with a belle époque architecture, its churches and its roman fortress. Overnight in Ruse.

RUSSE – IVANOVO – Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo – SOFIA
This morning we transfer to the valley of the Roussenski Lom River, in north east Bulgaria, a complex of rock-hewn churches, chapels, monasteries and cells developed in the vicinity of the village of Ivanovo. This is where the first hermits had dug out their cells and churches during the 12th century. The 14th-century murals testify to the exceptional skill of the artists belonging to the Tarnovo School of painting. They are an important achievement in the Christian art of South-Eastern Europe. Neo-classical in spirit and in elements of their subjects, the frescoes represent a departure from the canons of Byzantine iconography.
We visit the main church, before starting our return transfer to Sofia. Farewell dinner and overnight in Sofia.

SOFIA – Return Flight
Morning in Sofia until time for the return flight.