WALKING THE STEPS
OF THE MOST ANCIENT EUROPEAN CIVILIZATIONS
Description
The tour offers a special route and program, revealing the secrets of Europe’s most ancient civilizations, which inhabited the Balkan Peninsula thousands of years ago. During this rich cultural tour, travelers will visit some of the most remarkable monuments of the Thracian culture and will walk the steps of Orpheus and Spartacus. The itinerary focuses on archeology and history of the ancient people and includes visits to some of the UNESCO’s world cultural heritage sites, located in Bulgaria. Travelers will have a taste of the Thracian tradition of wine making and visit the temple of Dionysus, most presumably located in Perperikon- one of Europe’s largest megalithic structures and highlight of this trip.
Itinerary
Day 1– arrival in Ruse, Bulgaria (transfers from Bucharest Airport, Romania); transfer to hotel; overnight in Ruse (city hotel***); welcome drinks and dinner included.
Day 2– half-day bus tour to Ivanovo Rock Church- one of UNESCO’s cultural sites in Bulgaria, and the Medieval Fortress of Cherven; walking tour of Ruse; wine- tasting and folklore show in the evening; overnight in Ruse; breakfast, wine tasting and dinner included.
Day 3– half-day bus tour to Sveshtari Thracian Tomb- part of UNESCO’s world cultural heritage; free afternoon; overnight in Ruse; breakfast and dinner included.
Day 4– bus transfer to Kazanlak- on the way, stop in Etara- Bulgaria’s most popular ethnographic complex, and on the historical Mount Shipka (drive through Shipka Pass); overnight in Kazanlak (city hotel***); breakfast and dinner included.
Day 5– half-day bus tour to the Valley of the Thracian Kings- visit four of the most remarkable and well-preserved monuments of Thracian culture; in the afternoon visit the Museum of Bulgarian Rose; overnight in Kazanlak; breakfast and dinner included.
Day 6– whole-day bus tour to Koprivshtitsa- architectural reserve from the National Revival Period of Bulgaria; visit Starosel- the largest underground temple of the Thracians on the Balkan Peninsula; visit the famous Starosel winery and try the local wines; overnight in Kazanlak; breakfast, wine tasting and dinner included.
Day 7– bus transfer to Kardjali, South Bulgaria; free afternoon on the Kardjali Lake; overnight in Kardjali (resort hotel***); breakfast and dinner included.
Day 8– whole-day bus tour to Perperikon- the largest megalithic structure on the Balkans- the archeological complex is home of the most ancient European civilizations, and presumably of the famous temple of the Thracian God Dionysus; visit Tatul- the Thracian sanctuary, connected with the stone grave of the mythic Thracian singer Orpheus; overnight in Kardjali; breakfast and dinner included.
Day 9– free time on the Kardjali Lake; overnight in Kardjali; breakfast and dinner included.
Optional bus and walking tour³⁾ to the Orlovi Skali (Eagle Rocks) – the rocks boast over 100 cult niches, carved in the stone at an altitude of 30m (lunch boxes included).
Day 10– bus transfer to Varna- Bulgaria’s biggest sea-side city; on the way visit the Ancient Nessebar- a museum city, part of UNESCO, with over 40 well-preserved churches from the Byzantine and Early Christianity Period; overnight in Varna(city hotel***); breakfast and dinner included.
Day 11– half-day bus tour to the fortress of Kaliakra Cape and the Botanical Garden of Balchik; walking tour to the Archeological Museum of Varna, storing the oldest golden treasure in the world (5000-4000 BC); free time; overnight in Varna; breakfast and dinner included.
Day 12– bus transfer to Ruse- on the way visit the Madara Horseman- the unique rock relief from the 7th century is listed in UNESCO’s world cultural heritage and is only one of its kind with no parallel in Europe; overnight in Ruse (city hotel***); breakfast and dinner included.
Day 13– departure; transfers to the airport (Bucharest, Romania); breakfast included (for early transfers too).
TOUR OPTIONS FOR INDIVIDUAL TRAVELLERS AND VARIOUS GROUP SIZES!
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