Day 1 ARRIVAL IN SOFIA

Arrival in Sofia. Transfer to a hotel. Check-in. City tour of Sofia including St. Nedelya Sq., St George Rotunda (4^th c.), the Presidential Office Building, the National Theatre, the City Garden, Russian Church St. Nicolas, the Parliament Square, St. Alexander Nevski Memorial Cathedral with the most valuable collection of Bulgarian Icons (13-19^th c), St. Sofia Church (6^th c). Time at leisure. Overnight in Sofia.

Day 2 SOFIA - RILA MONASTERY - PLOVDIV (270 km.)

Breakfast. Departure for Rila Monastery - the most famous and the most fascinating monastery in Bulgaria, under UNESCO protection. Tour of the monastery and visit to the monastery church, museum, and kitchen, known as Magernitsa. The tour continues to Plovdiv. Tour of the Old Town of the city - an imposing open-air museum situated on the three hills of the ancient Trimontium. Visit the Ancient Theatre (a well-preserved Roman amphitheatre), the Ethnographic museum and some other interesting sites. Overnight in Plovdiv.

Day 3 PLOVDIV - BACHKOVO MONASTERY - KAZALAK (145 km.)

Breakfast. Departure to Bachkovo Monastery- one of the oldest monasteries in the Bulgarian lands. This monastery is the second largest in the country. It is mainly known for its original architecture, rich collections of old icons, coins and church plate. Continue to Kazanlak - a town situated in the valley of roses. Upon arrival visit the Thracian Tomb in Kazanlak dated back to 4^th century BC. The tomb was discovered accidentally in 1944. Actually the tourists visit an identical replica, built in 1974. The walls of the tomb are covered with frescoes depicting battle scenes. The entire complex is typically Hellenistic. Continue with visits of the Rose Museum which represents the history of rose oil production in Bulgaria and the Ethnographic Complex Kulata. Overnight in Kazanlak.

Day 4 KAZANLAK - ETARA - SOKOLSKI MONASTERY- VELIKO TARNOVO (90 km.)

Breakfast. Departure towards Veliko Turnovo - the medieval capital of Bulgaria. En route - visit Etara open air museum of authentic traditional crafts, created to preserve the appearance and the spirit of the old time Bulgarian mountain villages and the manufacturing traditions of this region for the future generations. The next stop is Sokolski Monastery -a cultural center during the Renaissance. Upon arrival in Veliko Turnovo tour of the city including the medieval fortress of Tsarevets; the old Marketplace Samovodska Tcharshia and other landmarks. Overnight in Veliko Turnovo.

Day 5 VELIKO TARNOVO - ARBANASI - TRANSFIGURATION MONASTERY - SOFIA (235 km.)

Breakfast. Tour of the museum village of Arbanassi with visit of Konstantsalieva's House and the Holy Nativity Church. The Church has more than 3 500 images and scenes from the New Testament. Continue to Transfiguration Monastery famous with its Renaissance architecture and iconography. Departure to Sofia. Free afternoon for leisure and shopping. Overnight in Sofia.

Day 6 SOFIA, DEPARTURE TO THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN

Breakfast. Transfer to the airport. Departure.