Bulgaria and Macedonia
Duration:
8 Days / 7 Nights
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Description
8 Days- 7Nights
Day 1
Arrival in Sofia and meeting with your guide. Walking tour in the historical centre of the Bulgarian capital, including a visit to the medieval church of St Sofia, St Alexander Nevsky’s Cathedral and its cript housing the richest museum of icons in the country. Dinner and overnight.
Day 2
In the morning you’ll continue the sightseeing of Sofia – you’ll see the Rotunda of Saint George (4C), the Roman ruins, the Russian church of St Nicolas and many other monuments. Visit to the Boyana Church whose mural paintings dating from the 13th century are a masterpiece of religious art. The church is part of the UNESCO World Heritage. Lunch. Visit to the National History Museum, whose extensive collection covers the past 7000 years, from the Neolithic period to the 20th century. Dinner and overnight.
Day 3
Departure for Plovdiv, the second largest city in the country. Walking tour in the old town of Plovdiv with visits to the Ethnographical Museum, the church of St. Constantine and St Helena and the Ancient Theatre. Lunch in a typical restaurant. An afternoon visit to the Bachkovo Monastery, the second largest in Bulgaria lying at the foot of the Rodopi Mountains. Return to Sofia, dinner and overnight.
Day 4
Morning departure to the Rila Monastery – the largest and the most beautiful one in the country and a UNESCO site since 1983. The monastery was founded in the 10th century by the hermit Ivan Rilski who later became patron saint of Bulgaria. On the outside it has a fortress-like appearance, but as soon as the visitor goes inside he’s captured by the stunning beauty of its interior decoration. Arcades and colonnades, mural paintings and icons form one harmonious whole. The monastery museum houses a remarkable collection of cult objects and manuscripts. You’ll visit the church and the museum, and have lunch afterwards in the surroundings. Drive to Blagoevgrad with tour around the city. Dinner and overnight.
Day 5
Early morning departure to the Republic of Macedonia passing through numerous beautiful cities including: Kochan, Veles, Kavadartsi,Prilep, Bitolia- Ochrid. The way will surprise you with the surrounding beautiful mountains and endless green plains. Arrival in Ochrid. Diner and overnight.
Day 6
Tour around the city situated on the shores of the Ochrid lake. You would be charmed by the beauty of the midlevel churches which are considered as masterpieces of the religious architecture. Tour with a boat and visit of the St. Naum Monastery. Free time in the old part of the city of Ochrid which is still preserving its 19th century atmosphere. Dinner in a typical folk restaurant. Overnight in Ochrid.
Day 7
Return to Sofia. On the way you will pass through the following cities which are still preserving the atmosphere of the 19th century: Kitchevo, Gostivar, Tetovo, Skopie (tour), Koumanovo, Kriva Palanka. The landscapes that you will witness are truly charming. Late arrival in Sofia. Dinner and overnight in Sofia.
Day 8
Morning at leisure. Departure for the airport.
Day 1
Arrival in Sofia and meeting with your guide. Walking tour in the historical centre of the Bulgarian capital, including a visit to the medieval church of St Sofia, St Alexander Nevsky’s Cathedral and its cript housing the richest museum of icons in the country. Dinner and overnight.
Day 2
In the morning you’ll continue the sightseeing of Sofia – you’ll see the Rotunda of Saint George (4C), the Roman ruins, the Russian church of St Nicolas and many other monuments. Visit to the Boyana Church whose mural paintings dating from the 13th century are a masterpiece of religious art. The church is part of the UNESCO World Heritage. Lunch. Visit to the National History Museum, whose extensive collection covers the past 7000 years, from the Neolithic period to the 20th century. Dinner and overnight.
Day 3
Departure for Plovdiv, the second largest city in the country. Walking tour in the old town of Plovdiv with visits to the Ethnographical Museum, the church of St. Constantine and St Helena and the Ancient Theatre. Lunch in a typical restaurant. An afternoon visit to the Bachkovo Monastery, the second largest in Bulgaria lying at the foot of the Rodopi Mountains. Return to Sofia, dinner and overnight.
Day 4
Morning departure to the Rila Monastery – the largest and the most beautiful one in the country and a UNESCO site since 1983. The monastery was founded in the 10th century by the hermit Ivan Rilski who later became patron saint of Bulgaria. On the outside it has a fortress-like appearance, but as soon as the visitor goes inside he’s captured by the stunning beauty of its interior decoration. Arcades and colonnades, mural paintings and icons form one harmonious whole. The monastery museum houses a remarkable collection of cult objects and manuscripts. You’ll visit the church and the museum, and have lunch afterwards in the surroundings. Drive to Blagoevgrad with tour around the city. Dinner and overnight.
Day 5
Early morning departure to the Republic of Macedonia passing through numerous beautiful cities including: Kochan, Veles, Kavadartsi,Prilep, Bitolia- Ochrid. The way will surprise you with the surrounding beautiful mountains and endless green plains. Arrival in Ochrid. Diner and overnight.
Day 6
Tour around the city situated on the shores of the Ochrid lake. You would be charmed by the beauty of the midlevel churches which are considered as masterpieces of the religious architecture. Tour with a boat and visit of the St. Naum Monastery. Free time in the old part of the city of Ochrid which is still preserving its 19th century atmosphere. Dinner in a typical folk restaurant. Overnight in Ochrid.
Day 7
Return to Sofia. On the way you will pass through the following cities which are still preserving the atmosphere of the 19th century: Kitchevo, Gostivar, Tetovo, Skopie (tour), Koumanovo, Kriva Palanka. The landscapes that you will witness are truly charming. Late arrival in Sofia. Dinner and overnight in Sofia.
Day 8
Morning at leisure. Departure for the airport.
