DAY 1:SOFIA                                                                                                                                      (Radisson SAS*****)

Upon arrival at Sofia airport you will be met and assisted by your tour-guide, then transferred to your hotel. En route you’ll have a brief overview city tour, along with useful hints regarding shopping, money-exchange, optional visits. Hotel check in. Overnight.

DAY 2: SOFIA – the capital city with a history of 7,000 years                                                  (Radisson SAS*****)
In the morning - walking tour of Sofia, starting with the square around Alexander Nevski Cathedral – the city’s  greatest sight. Along with the cathedral’s visit you’ll see: 5th century St Sofia Basilica (which has inspired the city’s coat of arms), the National Parliament and Sofia University buildings, the monument to Tzar Alexander II – Liberator. Half hour break (at country’s largest flea market), before continuing with city tour’s second part - following the famous yellow-brick tourist path from the Parliament House west  to the Cynagogue – the largest of its kind (Sephardic) in Europe. En route see the impressive buildings of the ex-Royal Palace, the Military Club, the National Theater, the National Bank, the exquisite gold-domed St Nikolay  Church, reach the Presidency where you just plunge into the ruins of Roman Serdica – a large archaeological complex, dominated by St George’s Rotunda (the oldest fully preserved structure from the 4th century).  Afternoon at leisure. Dinner at a local restaurant nearby your hotel. (B,D)

• Optional visits in Sofia:
• The  National Museum of History in the prestigeous Boyana District. $21.00 incl. r/t car tansfer.
• Boyana Church (in UNESCO's list of world heritage). $21.00 per pers. incl. r/t car transfer
• National Museum and Boyana Church.$29.00 per person

DAY 3: SOFIA – RILA MONASTERY – BOROVETS – PLOVDIV                                      (Hotel  Seven Hills***+)
9:00 Leave Sofia for a 2-hr drive to 10th century Rila Monastery (in UNESCO’s List of World heritage)
11:30-13:00 Comprehensive sightseeing of the monastery complex –one of the most impressive on the continent with its size, unique architecture, unsurpassed abundance of frescoes.  Admire the 1,200 murals of the Blessed Virgin Church, see the 1335 Hrelyo Tower. At the end – if you wish  – spend 1/2 hour amidst the precious 41,000-objects collection of the monastery’s museum (optional: EUR4,50 admission fee)
13:00-14:00 Fresh mountain trout lunch at the monastery.  Continue to Plovdiv
15:30 Half the way to Plovdiv – ? hour stop at the world-famous ski resort Borovets – for tea/coffee break, an optional gondola-lift ride, or just admire the majestic Rila mountain scenery.
18:00 Arrive in Plovdiv. Overnight. (B,L)

DAY 4: PLOVDIV  - THE ARTISTIC CAPITAL  OF BULGARIA                                      (Hotel Seven Hills***+)

Full day in Plovdiv – the second largest city in Bulgaria, known as its artistic capital. The morning tour of the Old Town will make you familiar with dozens of monuments from Thracian, Roman, Medieval civilizations, preserved 2nd century Roman Theater among them. Visit one of the museums & galleries your guide will suggest. In the afternoon you can join the tour of the modern city offering excellent shopping opportunities. Dinner.  Second overnight in Plovdiv (B,D)
* Optional side trip for this day: 3-hr excursion to 11th century Bachkovo monastery. $29.00 per person.

DAY 5: PLOVDIV – NESSEBUR – VARNA                                                                                   (hotel Odessos*** )

After breakfast – get prepared for a long  (4 hrs) drive to the Black Sea Coast.  Visit ancient Nessebur – with its stone & wood old houses, among them over 40 churches - tightly nestled on a narrow peninsula. After a short walking tour you’ll have some free time for lunch at one of the many restaurants overviewing the sea. Your late afternoon drive to Varna will take 2 hrs, including a stop in Sunny Beach – Bulgaria’s largest seaside resort. Dinner and overnight in Varna. (B,D)

DAY 6:  VARNA  -   THE MARINE CAPITAL OF BULGARIA                                                 (hotel Odessos*** )

City tour in the morning , incl. visit to the History Museum – displaying one of world’s oldest gold treasures -  4000 B.C. 
Afternoon at leisure. Dinner at a local restaurant before your second overnight in Varna. (B,D).
* Optional side trip for this day: 3-hr excursion to romantic Balchik (19th cent.palace & cacti gardens) $35.00

DAY 7:  VARNA – MADARA – VELIKO TURNOVO                                                 (boutique hotel Gurko***+)

After relaxed breakfast – drive west to the village of Madara  (1 ? hr) - to see the  8th century Horseman bas-relief (the only of its kind in UNESCO's List of World Herritage) carved in the vertical rocks above a chain of caves having been used by pre-historical and early medieval tribes. Continue  to Veliko Turnovo – Arbanassi (2 hrs). A short orientation tour of Bulgaria’s medieval capital – before check-in at your hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D).
*Optional side trip for this day: 2 hrs Shumen (rich archaeological museum and Tombul mosque 1744) $16.00

DAY 8:  V.TURNOVO & ARBANASSI  - THE MEDIEVAL CAPITAL OF BULGARIA               ( Gurko***+ )

In the morning – in-depth sightseeing tour of this royal city visiting the Tsarevets Hill 13-14th century fortifications and Samovodene Street with its authentically preserved 18-19th cent craft shops. In the afternoon – walking tour of Arbanassi village – the summer residence of the medieval royalty, now a museum village. Lunch or dinner at Paiaka restaurant – famous with its traditional specialties. Second overnight in Veliko Tarnovo. (B,D).
* An evening option: Attend the breath-taking  Sound  & Light Show at the Tsarevets Hill (20 min, EUR7.50).

DAY 9: V.TURNOVO – ROSE VALLEY –HISSARYA - KOPRIVSHTITSA            (Hotel Bashtina Kashta***)

After breakfast  - get on a long  but extremely scenic drive through 2 mountains the Balkan Range and Sredna Gora - traversing the world famous Valley of Roses  and the Valley of Thracian Kings. En route visit: the city of Gabrovo, the Etara open-air village & crafts museum, the Liberty monument on Stoletov Peak, the exquisite gold-domed  Shipka Memorial Church, Emperor Docletian's fortification walls in his favorite spa residence Augusta Trayana (today's Hissarya). Late afternoon arrival in museum town Koprivshtitsa where you'll discover the best preserved traditional Bulgarian architecture of 17-19 cent. An exciting walking tour - before your last dinner and overnight in this quaint town of  great significance for nation's history. (B,D).
* Optional side-trips for this day:
- Visit Rose oil refinery with museum in Tarnichane village - 1 hour,  $10.00 per person  (open May 10-July 20)
- Visit Historical museum in Kazanluk and the UNESCO-listed Kazanluk tomb - 11/2 hours,  $15.00 per person
- Visit the newly discovered Thracian Tomb (current hit among world's archaeological circles) at Starosel -3/4 hr, $9.00 pp

DAY 10:  KOPRIVSHTITSA - SOFIA/ SOFIA AIRPORT
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Sofia airport (max.2 hrs drive time) or to hotel in Sofia (for those who have booked post-tour  overnight(s) in the capital city (B).

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TOUR FEATURES:                                                                           

* 9 nights at deluxe, superior first and first class hotels                   
* Breakfast and one meal (as specified L/D from Day 2) daily                            
* City tours, incl. admission fees as per itinerary                             
* Private air conditioned  mini van/ car throughout itinerary             
* round trip airport transfers
* Professional English-speaking guide throughout itinerary             
* all taxes and service charges (hotel porterage not incl.)
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TOUR RATES – per person in Twin/Dbl$1499.00
SGL Supplement:                            $299.00                             

  PRE/POST TOUR nights at Radisson SAS–per p
FRI-SUN    MON-THU
In Twin/Dbl:     $108.00       $153.00
In Single:        $162.00       $225.00
* Between July 15  & August 31 weekend rates will be
applied for any extra night at Radisson SAS

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WEEKLY DEPARTURES: Every FRIDAY and/or SATURDAY from Jan 1 through Dec 31, 2006
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Alternative accommodation in case of black-out periods at the original tour hotels:

• in Sofia: Crystal Palace****,Maria Luisa****               
• in Plovdiv: Bulgaria***, Royal BW***, Maritsa****                                      
• in Varna: 4-star hotel in the resort area
• in V.Tarnovo: hotel Yantra**** , hotel Alegro***
• in Koprivshtitsa: Kalina or  Dahlia boutique hotels

Note: At the time of International Trade Fairs in Plovdiv (second week of May and last week of September) higher local hotel rates will require a surcharge of EUR 60.00 per person in Dbl/Twin or Single room – for both nights in Plovdiv.