Please contact us for a current price estimate
2020 Land Cost Per Person (double occupancy)
Available Anytime – $578
This tour operates with a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 4 travelers. Other rates available on request. This tour can be customized to meet your schedule, travel, and budgetary needs.
Price Includes:
- 8 nights accommodation with breakfast at hotels (all with private facilities ), city tax included
- Rental car, medium class (starts day 2 and finishes day 8), all insurances needed for Bulgaria and road taxes included
- Pick up and drop off charges
- Maps and pack with useful information
- Navigation system in the car
- 1 dinner for 2 persons (fixed 3-course menu) at the hotel near Rila Monastery
- 1 voucher for 2 persons for entrance in Tsarevets Royal Hill – Veliko Turnovo
- Arrival transfer Sofia Airport on Day 1
Price Does Not Include:
- Private transfers to Sofia Airport
- Parking charges, fuel
- Entrances and visits
- Airfare (unless otherwise arranged)
- Departure and custom fees
- Gratuities and individual daily expenses
- Additional beverages
- Travel insurance
- Trip cancellation
- Medical and luggage insurance are recommended for coverage against all unforeseen circumstances
Day 1: Sofia – Arrival
Check in at a 3* hotel.
Day 2: Sofia – Rila Monastery (120km) 
Morning delivery of your rent-a-car at the hotel. Time to explore Sofia and departure to Rila Monastery (UNESCO site), the largest monastery in Bulgaria, located at 1100 meters above sea level in Rila Mountain National park. Check in at a small family-run hotel not far from the monastery.
Day 3: Rila Monastery – Melnik Museum Town – Rojen Monastery – Sandanski – Rila Monastery(200km)
Day trip south to visit the smallest town in Bulgaria, Melnik. The town is located at the foothills of sandstone pyramids where wine cellars were dug. Continue to Rojen Monastery (9th c.) and enjoy wonderful panoramic views of the mountains bordering Greece. On the way back, take a recommended stop to the spa town, Sandanski, believed to be the hometown of Spartacus, the gladiator, leader of the slave uprising. Return to the hotel for second overnight.
Day 4: Rila Monastery – Plovdiv (205km) 
Depart along mountain roads to Plovdiv, the 2nd largest Bulgarian city, once capital city of Philip the 2nd of Macedonia, the father of Alexander the Great. Explore the Old Plovdiv architectural reserve with the Roman Amphitheatre, the many churches, museum houses, antique shops, and galleries. Next take a recommended visit of a boutique wine cellar and wine tasting in a village not far from Plovdiv. Overnight in Plovdiv.
Day 5: Plovdiv – Bachkovo Monastery – Plovdiv (60km)
Day trip south to visit Bachkovo Monastery (11th c.), the 2nd largest monastery in Bulgaria, which is connected with the 3rd Crusade. On the way back you can visit Assenova Fortress remains and the gate to the Rhodope Mountains. Return to Plovdiv for 2nd overnight.
Day 6: Plovdiv – Koprivshtitsa (90km) 
Depart north for the museum town of Koprivshtitsa. Koprivshtitsa is one of the most famous museum towns in Bulgaria, declared a national historical and architectural reserve, where one can still feel the spirit of the Bulgarian National Revival. Narrow cobbled streets, arch-like bridges, stone fountains, and high stone walls with big gates leading to picturesque houses create an intimate romantic atmosphere. You will be able to explore the museum houses and have a cooking lesson. Overnight at a traditional family-run hotel.
Day 7: Koprivshtitsa – Kalofer – Kazanluk – Shipka – Veliko Turnovo (205km)
Enjoy a day dedicated to central Bulgaria. You will drive parallel to the Balkan Mountains and the small national revival towns Sopot, Karlovo, and Kalofer. Stop at Kazanluk, the center of the valley of roses, known as well as the Valley of the Thracian kings. Visit some of the tombs of the region. Drive through the Shipka mountain pass and the memorial peak to reach Veliko Turnovo, the medieval capital city of Bulgaria. On the way you may stop at Etura Open-Air Ethnographic Complex.
Day 8: Veliko Turnovo – Sofia (250km) 
Day in the region of Veliko Turnovo. Optional visit of Tsarevets Royal Hill with the fortress, Samovodska Charshia, the Street of Crafts, Arbanassi Museum Village, the monasteries such as Transfiguration and Petropavlovski, etc. Departure to Sofia. En route, visit of Sueva Dupka Cave. Arrival in Sofia. Check in at the hotel. Return the car.
Day 9: Sofia – Departure
If you have any questions or you’d like to book this trip, please contact us.
Custom itineraries available to this or any of the destinations we travel to.
Kutrubes Travel has SPECIAL AIRFARES – Contact us for details.
Kutrubes Travel also offers a variety of other tours throughout this region. Contact us for detailed itineraries and descriptions.
