9-Day Colourful Bulgaria

See All Photos

Head to the Koprivshtitsa museum town - a national historical and architectural reserve where you can still feel the spirit of the Bulgarian National Revival era. Narrow cobbled streets, arch bridges and high-stone walls with big gates lead to picturesque houses that create a romantic atmosphere. In the late afternoon, leave for Oreshak village, via Beklemeto mountain pass and Troyan. The region is famous for the specific technique of the pottery masters as well as the premium plum brandy.

See All Photos

In the morning, you'll have a 2-hour lesson in traditional pottery. Then, continue to Troyan Monastery, the third-largest in Bulgaria. After your tour, you'll go to Gabrovo, known as the international capital of humour and Tryavna museum town, famous for its National Revival architecture. In Tryavna, we will visit Daskalov House, the Old Tryavna architectural complex and St. Archangel Michail Church. You will have the possibility to see the woodcarvings of local masters in their workshops.

See All Photos

We will have a day tour to Veliko Turnovo – the medieval capital city of Bulgaria, picturesquely located on four hills above the Yantra river. During the tour, you see the old Veliko Turnovo with Samovodska Charshia, the old marketplace, Gurko Street, Tsarevets Citadel with the Patriarch's complex and Baldwin tower where the leader of the Fourth Crusade was imprisoned. We will continue to Arbanassi museum village, on a hill above Veliko Turnovo, to visit Nativity Church.

See All Photos

In the morning, leave via Shipka mountain pass and the Memorial Church to Kazanluk, known as the Valley of the Thracian kings where you'll visit Kazanluk Thracian tomb. Continue to Plovdiv, the second-largest city in Bulgaria and Europe's oldest continuously inhabited city. Visit the Old Plovdiv Architecture Reserve with the Ancient Theatre, St. Constantine and Helena Church, the ethnographic museum. If not too tired, take an evening stroll in Kapana – the artistic neighbourhood of Plovdiv.

See All Photos

Depart south from Plovdiv to the picturesque region of the Rhodopes – the mountain of Orpheus. En route, we will stop at Shiroka Luka museum village, an ethnographic reserve. Amphitheatrically located on the two banks of the Shiroka Luka river, the houses are distinctive for their massive stone construction, bow windows, wood-carved roofs and stone chimneys. Heading west, we will stop at Leshten and Kovachevitsa museum villages, with their late 16th c architecture before arriving in Melnik.

See All Photos

Take a tour of Rozhen Monastery and Melnik, Bulgaria's smallest town at the foothills of sandstone pyramids. In bygone days, the caravans departed from here to Venice, Vienna and Egypt as far as Madrid along the wine routes. Visit Kordopulov House and its 200 metres long wine cellar. Then, continue to the nearby village of Hursovo to visit Villa Melnik and taste some local wines. In the afternoon head to Bansko museum town, located in Pirin Mountain National Park, a UNESCO site.

See All Photos

Today, you'll leave Bansko and travel back to Sofia. On the way, you'll visit the impressive Rila Monastery, a UNESCO site. Rising at 1147 metres above sea level, it lies amidst some of the most scenic recesses of the Rila Mountains, to which the monastery owes its name. It is the largest monastery on the Balkans, with a total built-up area of 32,000 square metres, and is the most imposing architectural monument of the Bulgarian Revival. Later, you'll proceed to Sofia for your final night.