The program includes 7 nights full board accommodation: 3 nights in Sofia, 2 nights in Thessaloniki (Greece), 1 night in Blagoevgrad, 1 night in Sandanski; transfer in an air-conditioned bus; English speaking guide throughout the entire trip.

PROGRAM

DAY 1: Arrival at Sofia airport. Transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay in Sofia.

DAY 2: Breakfast. A guided tour of the Rila Monastery – the biggest monastery in Bulgaria, founded in the 10th century by the monk and hermit St. John of Rila, patron and protector of Bulgaria. The monastery served as a center for cultural and spiritual life of the Bulgarian people, during the centuries of foreign enslavement. The tour includes a visit to the monastery, the main church and the monastery museum. Lunch. In the afternoon – departure to Sandanski – famous spa resort. Arrival. Hotel accommodation, dinner and overnight stay in Sandanski.

DAY 3: Breakfast. Departure for Greece. Arrival in Thessaloniki. Lunch. Panoramic tour of the city: the White Tower – symbol of the city; the monument of Alexander the Great, the Eptapyrgio Fortress with a wonderful panoramic view of the city and the Thermaic Gulf, the St. Demetrius Church where the relics of one of the most respected Orthodox saints - St. Demetrius are kept. St. Demetrius is the patron and protector of Thessaloniki. The tour continues with a visit to the St. George Rotunda, Aristotelous square and the Arch of Galerius, built in 305 to celebrate the final victory of the emperor Galerius Maximianus over the Persians. Hotel accommodation, dinner and overnight stay in Thessaloniki (Greece).

DAY 4: Breakfast. Departure for Vergina – the first capital of ancient Macedonia. After prolonged archaeological excavations at Vergina in 1977, archeologists discovered remains from the ancient city of Aigai, capital of ancient Macedonia, which is home of the royal necropolis. Visit of the ancient city with the royal tombs and the remains. Of great interest are the resting places of Philip II of Macedon and his grandson Alexander IV, son of Alexander the Great. Visit in the museum, which now holds the royal tombs and the exhibition of unique objects, found during excavations. Some of these objects include a 10 kilogram (20 pound) gold casket, which contains the bones of Philip of Macedon; the funeral crown of Philip II of Macedon, which is a wonderful wreath made of gold oak leaves; a portrait made of ivory, which portrays the skillfully crafted faces of Philip II of Macedon, his wife Olympia and their son Alexander, the future Alexander the Great. Departure to Edessa – one of Greece’s most beautiful cities. A photo-pause among the picturesque waterfalls. Departure for Thessaloniki. Lunch. Free time in the afternoon. Dinner. Overnight stay in Thessaloniki (Greece).

DAY 5: Breakfast. Departure for Bulgaria. Visit to Melnik, a picturesque town at the foot of Pirin Mountain. Melnik is famous for its wine cellars. A visit to the Kordopulov’s House, a monument of the Bulgarian Revival architectural style, built in 1754. On the ground floor there are wine cellars, where the famous wine of Melnik is kept. Lunch in Melnik combined with wine tasting. Visit of Rozhen Monastery – the biggest cloister in the Pirin area, founded in the 13th century. Resuming the journey to Blagoevgrad. Arrival. Hotel accommodation. Dinner. Overnight stay in Blagoevgrad.

DAY 6: Breakfast. Departure for Sofia. Sightseeing tour of Sofia – St. Nedelya Cathedral, St. George Rotunda, Russian church of St. Nicolas, St. Sophia Church, St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Ivan Vazov National Theater. Lunch. Hotel accommodation. Free time. Dinner and overnight stay in Sofia.

DAY 7: Breakfast. A visit to the National Museum of History and the Boyana Church, which is included in the UNESCO List of World Cultural Heritage. It has preserved frescoes of an unknown artist, which date back to the year 1259. The frescoes impress with the spirituality and expressiveness of their images, created 7 years before the birth of Giotto di Bondone, considered the first Renaissance artist. Lunch. Free afternoon for shopping. Dinner at a typical Bulgarian restaurant with a folklore program. Overnight stay in Sofia.

DAY 8: Breakfast. Transfer to Sofia airport. Departure.

Price per person in double room on FB basis - 675 EUR

Single supplement– 130 EUR

• Discounted prices for persons in double rooms for the accomodation in Greece are availabe in Paralia Katerini (small town on the Aegean coast about 80 km. from Thessaloniki) and not Thessaloniki itself. – 50 EUR

• Discounted prices for individual room for the accomodation in Greece are availabe in Paralia Katerini (small town on the Aegean coast about 80 km. from Thessaloniki) and not Thessaloniki itself – 20 EUR.

Price includes:
• 7 nights (3 nights in Sofia - Bulgaria, 2 in Thessaloniki - Greece, 1 in Blagoevgrad - Bulgaria, 1 in Sandanski - Bulgaria) on FB basis in 3 and 4 star hotels, including dinner in a typical Bulgarian restaurant with a folklore program;
• All entrance fees for museums, listed in the program (Rila Monastery museum, archeological excavations and museum in Vergina, Kordopulov’s House in Melnik, Rozhen Monastery, National Museum of History and Boyana Church in Sofia);
• All transfers and transport in a luxurious coach or mini-bus (air-conditioning, video, mini-bar);
• English speaking guide throughout the entire trip.

The price is valid for a join-in group tour of 10 participants. On the above mentioned dates you can join an existing group and take advantage of prices and services of group travel.

Rual Travel can provide prices on request for groups of more or less than 10 persons. For any inquiries please contact us on the following e-mail - rual@incomingbulgaria.com