Ffestiniog Travel
Rural Romania
12 daysfrom $4,447
Ffestiniog Travel · Escorted tour
Bulgaria’s Hidden Secrets
This tour combines wonderful cultural treasures with journeys that deliver amazing scenery and a chance to ride a vintage tram and a narrow gauge railway
Day by day
- Day 1overnight: Bucharest
Flight to Bucharest
Morning flight from London Heathrow to Bucharest, capital of Romania. Transfer to hotel followed by short, guided city tour.
- Day 2overnight: Kyulevcha
Across the Danube
After a short drive through southern Romania, we enter Bulgaria at the city of Ruse and arrive at the village of Kyulevcha. We spend 2 nights with dinners at a delightful small hotel.
- Day 3overnight: Kyulevcha
The Madara Horseman
Drive to the nearby Madara Horseman (UNESCO listed), an archaeological site dating from pre-historic times. Afternoon visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Ivanovo rock cut churches dating from the 14th Century. Return to Kyulevcha for dinner and overnight.
- Day 4overnight: Veliko Tarnovo
Veliko Tarnovo
We visit the village of Arbanassi to see the Church of the Nativity. Continue to Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria’s former capital city. A short walking tour will include the famous citadel and we overnight in a family run private hotel in the old town.
- Day 5overnight: Plovdiv
Shipka Pass & Thracian Tombs
Continue over the Shipka Pass to Kazanlak to visit the Thracian tombs, then to Plovdiv for a 2-night stay. Our small hotel is situated in the heart of the old city.
- Day 6overnight: Plovdiv
Plovdiv
After a short guided walk the rest of the day is free to explore independently. The old city has much to offer – beautiful 19th Century houses, a Roman theatre and stadium dating from the 2nd Century and one of the first mosques built by the Ottomans on Bulgarian land.
- Day 7railovernight: Bansko
Narrow Gauge to Bansko
Main line train to Septemvri followed by a journey over the highly scenic narrow gauge rail line to Bansko. This line also boasts the highest station in the Balkans – Avramovo (4100 ft). Arrive at the ski resort of Bansko late afternoon. We overnight and enjoy dinner at a well appointed guest house.
- Day 8overnight: Sofia
Rila Monastery
After a little free time in Bansko we drive to Rila Monastery where lunch is included. A tour of the monastery includes, apart from the main church, the 14th Century fortress tower, monk’s cell, jewellery and ethnographic exhibitions. Continue by road to Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital.
- Day 9overnight: Sofia
Sofia & VintageTram Tour
Most of the day is free to explore with an unlimited travel pass for metro, trams and buses before a late afternoon three hour vintage tram tour with local guide. The tram stops at, amongst other places, the Lion’s Bridge, National Palace of Culture and the Vasil Levski National Stadium.
- Day 10railovernight: Ruse
Return to Ruse
Mid-morning train through pleasant mountain scenery to Ruse, arriving late afternoon for overnight stay.
- Day 11railovernight: Bucharest
Ruse Railway Museum
Morning visit to the National Railway Museum at the original Ruse railway station (built 1866) followed by afternoon train from Ruse to Bucharest.
- Day 12rail
Bucharest to London
Late morning rail transfer to the airport for flight to Heathrow, arriving early evening.
Included
- Flights in Economy Class by scheduled airline
- Rail travel as specified
- Other travel by private mini-coach
- Vintage tram tour
- Sofia transport ticket
- Hotel accommodation in Bucharest and Sofia
- Other accommodation in smaller boutique hotels and guest houses, all en-suite
- All breakfasts, 1 lunch and 3 dinners
- Entrance tickets as specified in the itinerary
- Airport and other transfers
- Services of a tour leader from London and throughout the tour plus local professional guides
- All local taxes/fees
- All gratuities
