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9-Day Classic Bulgaria Self-Drive

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Overview

Driving yourself is one of the best ways to travel to Bulgaria. On this nine-day self-drive trip, you'll travel from the capital city of Sofia to through quaint traditional villages, cultural cities and top attractions, before returning to Sofia once again.

You'll then travel to Veliko Turnovo – the medieval capital city, picturesquely located on four hills above Yantra river, before journeying to the eco village complex in Subotkovtsi. Afterwards, you'll travel through the Valley of Roses to Plovdiv where you'll explore the city with a local guide.

Before heading back to Sofia, you'll spend two days exploring Bankso and the Pirin Mountains including the spring lake town of Velingrad. On the journey back to Sofia, you'll visit the impressive Rila Monastery!

This nine-day trip is a great way to cover the key sights of Bulgaria whilst travelling at your own pace and stopping whenever you like to explore.
Outdoors & Nature
Culture & Arts
Sightseeing

Itinerary

Day 1

Welcome to Sofia!

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Welcome to Sofia!

Upon arrival at Sofia Airport, you'll take a private transfer to your hotel. After settling into your hotel, you'll embark on a private walking panorama tour of Sofia – the capital city of Bulgaria, which Constantine the Great once called “My Rome”. Among many others, you'll visit the Alexander Nevski Memorial Cathedral, Parliament Square, the National Theatre and the Old City Garden.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Light3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Private Walking Panorama Tour of Sofia

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Sofia Airport - Терминал 2 to Sofia

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Sofia

Day 2

Road Trip to Veliko Turnovo, Guided City Tour & Travel to Arbanassi

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Road Trip to Veliko Turnovo, Guided City Tour & Travel to Arbanassi

In the morning, after breakfast, your rental car will be delivered to your hotel. You'll then travel to Veliko Turnovo – the medieval capital city, picturesquely located on four hills above Yantra river. Here, you'll meet your tour guide for a two-hour tour of Veliko Turnovo during which you'll visit the Tsarevets Royal Hill with the fortress and Baldwin Tower and you'll walk along Samovodska Charshia street. In the late afternoon, you'll head to Arbanassi where you'll stay the night.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Izvora3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Veliko Tarnovo City Tour

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Rental Car from Sofia to Veliko Tarnovo

    Rental Car from Veliko Tarnovo to Arbanassi

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Sofia

    Veliko Tarnovo

  • notes icon
    Notes

    Rental Car Delivered to Hotel

Day 3

Journey to the Eco Village in Subotkovtsi via Tryavna

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Journey to the Eco Village in Subotkovtsi via Tryavna

Today, you'll travel to the village of Subotkovtsi, where you will immerse yourself in the Bulgarian traditions and crafts. En route, you'll stop at the Tryavna museum town, the main centre of woodcarving and icon painting in Bulgaria. Part of a small eco-village complex, Bozhenski Chiflik Guest House has been featured in articles by Slow Food, the Guardian and WWF Bulgaria. There is an abundance of activities including horse riding in the afternoon or an eco-path walk with a local guide.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Bozhentski Chiflik Guesthouse

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Tryavna

    Activities at Bozhenski Chiflik Staroto Shkolo Guest House

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Veliko Tarnovo

    Tryavna

    Subotkovtsi

Day 4

Travel Through the Valley of Roses to Plovdiv

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Travel Through the Valley of Roses to Plovdiv

You'll leave the village to passing through the Balkan mountains, stopping en route at Shipka memorial church. Another stop will be at Thracian Tomb of Kazanluk – the centre of the Valley of Roses. You'll have some free time for lunch then continue to the village of Skobelevo, to visit the Damascena complex with its rose distillery and garden of over 150 types of roses. The Valley of Roses is world-famous, here, you'll taste rose jam, rose liquor and rose honey before leaving for Old Plovdiv.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Belle Ville3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Shipka Memorial ChurchOptional Activity

    Thracian Tomb of KazanlakOptional Activity

    Damascena

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Subotkovtsi

    Shipka

    Kazanluk

    Plovdiv

    Skobelevo

Day 5

Plovdiv City Tour with Local Guide

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Plovdiv City Tour with Local Guide

Today the day is dedicated to Plovdiv - the second largest Bulgarian city. UNESCO awarded Plovdiv a gold medal for architecture in 1979. It was voted the European City of Culture in 1999 and again in 2019. Plovdiv is considered the oldest continuously inhabited town in Europe. With a private tour guide, you will visit the Old Plovdiv with the Ethnographic Museum. Along the longest pedestrian street of the world, you see remains of the Roman Forum and Stadium.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Belle Ville3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Explore Plovdiv on a Private Tour

    Regional Ethnographic Museum Plovdiv

    Ancient Theatre of Philippopolis

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Plovdiv

Day 6

Journey to Bankso via Velingrad

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Journey to Bankso via Velingrad

Today, you'll depart along the mountain roads to Bansko museum town. En route, it is possible to stop at Velingrad and Kleptuza, the largest karst lake in Bulgaria. In the early afternoon, you'll arrive at your hotel. After settling in, you can walk to the centre of the town and explore or relax at the hotel making use fo the spa and the swimming pool. You'll have dinner at the hotel and rest up ready to explore in the morning.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Grand Royale Apartment Complex & Spa4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    VelingradOptional Activity

    KleptuzaOptional Activity

    BanskoOptional Activity

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Plovdiv

    Velingrad

    Pazardzhik

    Bansko

Day 7

Explore Bansko & Pirin Mountain National Park

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Explore Bansko & Pirin Mountain National Park

In the direction of the nearby town of Dobrinishte, you can take the chair lift from Gotse Delchev Hut to Bezbog hut and Bezbog Lake (2242 metres above sea level). Then, you can walk to Popovo Lake and back which takes around three to four hours. Popovo Lake is Pirin's largest glacier lake by area and volume, and also the deepest one in the massif. Alternatively, you can head to Belitsa to visit the Dancing Bears Park, a brown bear sanctuary, or the smallest town in Bulgaria, Melnik.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Grand Royale Apartment Complex & Spa4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Chair Lift & Hike to Popovo LakeOptional Activity

    Dancing Bears ParkOptional Activity

    MelnikOptional Activity

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Bansko

    Blagoevgrad Province

    Melnik

Day 8

Travel Back to Sofia via Rila Monastery

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Travel Back to Sofia via Rila Monastery

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.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Light3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Rila Monastery

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Bansko

    Rilski Manastir, Kiustendil

    Sofia

  • notes icon
    Notes

    Return Your Rental Car

Day 9

Departure from Sofia

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Departure from Sofia

Thank you for choosing to travel to Bulgaria. When you're ready, your driver will take you to the airport for your departing flight. Safe travels!

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Sofia to Sofia Airport - Терминал 2

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Sofia

Included in Price

  • 8 nights accommodation
  • 9 activities
  • 8 breakfasts and 3 dinners
  • Airport transfer
  • Entrance fees
  • Ground transportation
  • Licensed English speaking guides

Not Included in Price

  • Alcohol beverages
  • Domestic flights
  • Entry visas / airport departure tax
  • Gratuities
  • International flights
  • Laundry
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Trekking permits
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