The Essential Western Bulgaria in 4 Days

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Plovdiv — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

The Essential Western Bulgaria in 4 Days, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

The Essential Western Bulgaria - Rila Monastery, Boyana, Bansko, Plovdiv, Kazanlak, Veliko Tarnovo, Troyan

Western Bulgaria offers you a full variety of cultural and historical sights to help you explore Bulgarian lands from Antiquity, Mid centuries and Revival period (18th-19th century). The tour is ideal if you wish to spend 2-3 days in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria and then spend the rest of your week on this loop trip to the country side. Compared to day tours from Sofia, this 4-Day Bulgaria trip will give you more intimate contact with your guide and with local people, it will save you time spent sitting in a car for several return trips, and it will also save you money for more expensive Sofia hotels. In our tours we have included accommodation in our chosen family 2* or 3* hotels, where we have confidence in their quality of service. Whenever possible, you can upgrade to 4* and 5* hotels or opt for a more budget accommodation.

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At a glance

Duration: 4 days
Confirmation: Confirmed within 48 hours
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 15 people
People per booking: 1–15
Guide: English
Operated by: V Travel Ltd.

Ages: Children (1–16 years) · Adults (17–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Small Group Tour
Included: Guide in English throughout the trip
Included: Door to door transfer to/from your hotel/accommodation in Sofia or Sofia Airport
Included: 3 overnights in double room

Not included

Not included: Personal expenses,
Not included: Meals,drinks,
Not included: Hotel upgrade
Not included: Gratuities
Not included: Admission fees not included. All of them are optional and subject to discussion with the guide.

Itinerary

Day 1 · Sofia - Boyana church - Rila Monastery - Bansko

Rila Monastery

9 hours Admission not included

Day 1: The first thing we are going to visit in the morning is Boyana church just outside Sofia - an amazing example of 13th century art. After a 2 hour drive we will reach the most visited UNESCO site in Bulgaria - the Rila Monastery. Our visit there takes 2 hours, admiring beautiful frescoes and wonderful mountain landscapes. Then we go to try the local specialty fresh grilled trout. Another 1h40min drive will take us to Bansko, a charming old town and the most important ski resort in Bulgaria. We will visit a house and historic center before we check-in into our neat and cozy hotel.
Boyana Church

40 min Admission not included

Boyana church UNESCO monument paintings.
Bansko

2 hours

Bansko Pirin National Park gate is a beautiful old town, active ski resort and great place for food and night life.

Overnight in 2-3* hotel in Bansko ski resort and historic town.

Day 2 · Bansko - Plovdiv

Plovdiv Old Town

9 hours Admission not included

Day 2: In the morning after a nice breakfast we visit Bansko on a quick walk around its old town, the house of Neofit Rilski (monk from the Monastery) and its charming cobblestone streets. From Bansko we start our 3 hour drive through Rodopi mountains, where you will have the opportunity to see the highest train station on the Balkans and learn about local Pomak people. We will spend the afternoon in Plovdiv and its old town, Roman Theater and Stadium where we will check-in into a beautiful family hotel right next to the old town. Overnight in Plovdiv.
Neofit Rilski Museum

30 min Admission not included

Neofit Rilski museum visit of the most important hermit in Bulgaria.

Overnight in 2-3* hotel in Plovdiv and historic town.

Day 3 · Plovdiv - Kazanlak - Veliko Tarnovo

Veliko Tarnovo

9 hours

Day 3: From Plovdiv we head north to our Medieval capital of Veliko Tarnovo via the Valley of Thracian Kings, where we will stop for a visit to Goliama Kosmatka Seuthus 3rd Thracian Temple and Shipka Memorial Church. We will then cross the Balkan range via Shipka pass, a historical place during the Russian-Turkish liberation war (1877-1878). If we have time we can stop at Dryanovo Monastery for a quick walk around.
Tsarevets

2 hours Admission not included

In the early afternoon we will arrive in Veliko Tarnovo for "an assault" of the Tsarevets hill fortress. In the evening we can relax in our hotel with a great view over the monument of Assen Dynasty of Kings. Overnignt in Veliko Tarnovo.

Overnight in 2-3* hotel in Veliko Tarnovo area and historic town.

Day 4 · Veliko Tarnovo - Arbanassi - Koprivshtitsa - Sofia

Koprivshtitsa

10 hours

Day 4: We will start our day early with a drive to Arbanassi village for a visit of the the Nativity of Christ church with its beautiful frescoes from 1632 and one of the oldest preserved iconostasis from wood. The mural paintings include the life of St. John the Baptist, patron of the church, and the wheel of life with the 12 zodiac signs. Then we go back East (3 hour drive) with a short stop in Troyan Monastery (the 3rd largest monastery in Bulgaria) to Koprivshtitsa. It is our most preserved historic town-museum with houses from the 1800s where we will have lunch and a walk to 3 of the houses. The last 2-hour drive will bring us back to Sofia along the beautiful Balkan range (Stara planina).

Meeting point and pickup

The operator picks every participant up from their accommodation or the points below.

Pickup points

Hotel Latinka
Hotel Royal Victoria
Gloria Palace Hotel
Hilton Sofia
Family Hotel Zdravets
Hotel Europe Sofia
Hotel Premier Sofia Airport
Arte Hotel
Hotel Teheran
Barocco Appart Hotel & Residence
Central Perk Apartments
Astoria Grand Hotel

and 135 more pickup points

Please provide us with your hotel for pick up.

Using your ticket

Due to the nature of this tour and the safety of all guests, the tour operator reserves the right to refuse service to passengers who are intoxicated or show signs of intoxication. If, as a result, your tour is canceled, you will not be entitled to a refund.

Hotel pickups commence prior to this time