Beyond Your Travel

4 days: Monasteries in Bulgaria

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Duration

4.1666666666667 days

Group Size

1 to 5 people

Ages

18 - 75 yrs

Languages

English

Tour Overview

In Bulgaria there are more than 120 monasteries! The interest in them we can explain with their role in the historical and cultural evolution of the Bulgarian nation. They survived the cruelty times of the middle ages and the Ottoman period, the vandalism, the natural disasters. They were the source of light in the dark ages of the people, making literally schools for education, science and religion. Some of them are like open-air museums, still keeping their secrets. Join us to solve some of their mysteries, to see the biggest ones like Rila, Bachkovo, Troyan. Feel the spirit of the orthodox temples and look over the monks and the nuns. See the incredible frescos and icons, made by the different painting schools. Come to understand why these things are little pieces of heaven.

Additional information

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately

Pickup

Hotel pickups commence prior to this time

What's included

Guide/driver

Private tour

Accommodation in boutique hotels for 3 nights

Enterence fees for the museums

Comfortable car

Other

Gratuities

Other

Itinerary

Stop 1: 0.3 hours

Welcome to Sofia. Today we’ll see two UNESCO sites – Boyana church and Rila monastery. Transfer to Boyana – 30 minutes. The church is famous with its layers of paintings dated from 11th, 13th. and 19th. century.

Stop 2: 2 hours

Transfer to Rila monastery – 2 hours. Rila Monastery is the biggest monastery in Bulgaria. A guided tour of 1 hour and free time for lunch.

Stop 3: 12 hours

Transfer to Plovdiv – 2 hours and 30 minutes. Plovdiv is the second largest city and the cultural capital of Europe for 2019. Accommodation in a boutique hotel in the center of Plovdiv. Guided tour in the old part of Plovdiv.

Stop 4: 2 hours

9.00. Hotel check-out. Transfer to Bachkovo monastery – 40 minutes. Bachkovo monastery is the second largest monastery in Bulgaria and it is a candidate for the list of UNESCO heritage. Guided tour and free time.

Stop 5: 1 hours

Transfer to Arapovski monastery – 30 minutes.

Stop 6: 0.5 hours

Transfer to Shipka monastery – 2 hours.

Stop 7: 0.8 hours

Transfer to Sokolski monastery – 1 hour. A guided tour.

Stop 8: 12 hours

Transfer to Veliko Turnovo – 1 hour. Veliko Turnovo was the capital of the Bulgarian kingdom from 12th to 14th. century. Accommodation in a boutique hotel with a panoramic view to the King’s hill, where is the fortress.

Stop 9: 2 hours

9.00. After breakfast, a guided tour in Veliko Turnovo. Visit the fortress and feel the history of the place.

Stop 10: 2 hours

Transfer to Patriarch’s monastery – 30 minutes. Transfer to Arbanasi to see the church “The Nativity of Jesus” – 30 minutes.

Stop 11: 0.7 hours

Transfer to Kupinovski monastery – 40 minutes.

Stop 12: 2 hours

Transfer to Preobrajenski monastery – 1 hour.

Stop 13: 12 hours

Transfer to Veliko Turnovo – 15 minutes. Night in Veliko Turnovo.

Stop 14: 4 hours

9.00. Hotel check-out. Transfer to Troyan monastery – 1 hour and 30 minutes. Troyan monastery is famous as the biggest monastery in North Bulgaria and with its miracle icon, which saved a lot of pilgrims. It was a hideout of Vasil Levski, the national Bulgarian hero, who made a big conspiracy inside the Ottoman empire.

Stop 15: 2 hours

Transfer to Glodjene monastery – 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Stop 16: 2 hours

Transfer to Sofia– 2 hours. End of the program.

FAQ

Can I get the refund?

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Min 1 days: 100%
From 0 to 1 days: 0%

Tickets

Adult (18 - 75 years)

Minimum: 0, Maximum: 5