Fête de la Surva

DAY 1 ARRIVAL IN SOFIA

Transfer from Sofia apt to the city centre for walking tour in the capital.

Sofia is a city with a 7000-year history, which makes it a unique phenomenon in Europe, and places it among the settlements dating back to most distant antiquity.  It has the hectic atmosphere of a big capital city and a compact centre where all main sites can be visited on foot. Roads from all parts of the world have been meeting here - peoples have come and gone, civilizations have advanced and declined, but the city has remained. Sofia is the only European capital with a mountain within 20 min. from the city center. Sofia is Bulgaria’s capital and its largest city.

Walking city tour which includes: Alexander Nevski Memorial Cathedral, St Sofia Church, Parliament square, the monument of King Liberator, Russian church, National Theatre, The Ethnographic Museum, The National art Gallery outside, Archeological Museum outside, the Presidency, St. George`s Rotunda, St. Nedelya square

Transfer to the hotel and check-in.

DAY 2 COMBO TOUR TO RILA MONASTERY AND BOYANA CHURCH – TWO UNESCO SITES IN ONE DAY (270 km)

Rila Monastery - the most famous and fascinating monastery in Bulgaria, under the UNESCO protection. The entire complex is quite impressive for its size. The 4-floor residential part consists of no less than 300 monks’ cells, 4 chapels, an abbot’s room, a kitchen, a library and guestrooms for donors. The kitchen is particularly interesting for its really huge cooking vessels. The exterior of the monastery is no less intriguing for its high and severe stone walls (reaching 4 floors and even more at some places) cut through by small windows – reminding of a military fort rather than a monastery. Once in the complex, it is worth visiting the monastery’s museum, which hosts a unique work of art, namely The Raphael’s Cross. The cross is made of a whole piece of wood (81cm x 43cm) and is named after its creator. Possibility for independent fish lunch in the area.

DAY 3 SOFIA – SPEND THE DAY AT SURVA FESTIVAL IN PERNIK (60 km)

Today we drive to Pernik to spend the day of the Surva International Festival of Masquerade Games, which is the oldest festival of its kind in Bulgaria. This small industrial town annually during this one weekend in January becomes awash with colour and has done since the festivals inauguration in 1966. In 2015 UNESCO designated the festival as being a site of intangible cultural heritage, as it is a unique event that is unlike anything else held worldwide and displays traditions that were almost entirely lost during Bulgaria's years of communist rule. It is a celebration of ancient folklore and pagan traditions, which is little known by Western tourists. Participants dress in a wonderfully weird array of elaborate costumes and masks including fluffy outfits that resemble large mythical beasts that are designed to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck for the upcoming spring harvest. Outfits are typically made from sheep skin and wool and decorated with colourful beads, ribbons, wood, fabrics, paper mache and animal horns, and are accessorized with floral headdresses and bell-laden belts. About 100 groups from every folklore region of Bulgaria attend, as well as a few international participants, and usually there are about 6,000 visitors at the event. The masks vary depending on the region the participants are from and those taking part in the festivities are known as Kukeri. Originally all the Kukeri would have been single men trying to attract a wife, but nowadays more women and children are also becoming involved. During the parades we'll get to experience a variety of colourful customs, folk songs and dances, as well as seeing a number of outdoor exhibitions around the town.

Return to Sofia for overnight.

DAY 4 SOFIA – DEPARTURE

Breakfast and departure transfer to the airport of Sofia.