Day 1: 
Arrive in Sofia.  Transfer to the hotel (depending on the time of arrival - possible panoramic tour and some visits).  Welcome dinner with folklore performance (except for winter, when we can see the Nestinari Show - world unique dances with bare feet on burning coal).  Overnight (D).

Day 2: 
We depart by private car/minivan, with tour guide, to Rila Monastery (UNESCO site, the biggest monastery in Bulgaria).  Continue down to Melnik (the smallest town in Bulgaria, declared a museum, close to the Greek border).  Here we enjoy wine tasting in a wine cellar dug into one of the sandstone pyramids surrounding the town. Overnight (B)

Day 3: 
Departure by car to Bansko museum town, via Sandanski, the home town of Spartacus, leader of the first slave revolt in the Antiquity.  Here we start the "rail exploration" tour, beginning with a trip to Dobrinishte on one of the few preserved narrow-gauge railways in Bulgaria.  We return to Bansko for dinner at one of its typical taverns, with live music.  Overnight in Bansko. (B. D)

Photo:  Ed Beale

Day 4: 
Departure by passenger train: Bansko - Jakoruda - Avramovi Kolibi (the highest railway station in Bulgaria at 1267m above sea level.  We cross one of the most beautiful parts of the Rhodopes Mountains, going through 15 tunnels along the Mesta River valley, down to Velingrad and Septemvri.  Septemvri Station was constructed in 1870 by Baron Hirsch, a German entrepreneur who, in the 19th century, undertook a grandiose project to construct a rail network comprising 2500 kms of track in the Turkish-occupied Balkans.  The journey will last approximately 5 hours, before continuing by fast train to Plovdiv (a journey of about 40 minutes), where we spend the night.

Day 5: 
Day in Plovdiv for sightseeing.  Plovdiv has 6000 years of history and was once the capital city of Philip II of Macedonia (the father of Alexander the Great).  We visit the Old Plovdiv Architectural Reserve, with the Roman ampitheatre, St Constantine and Helena Church and the Ethnographic Museum.  Late afternoon departure by train to Kazanluk, the centre of the Rose Valley. Overnight in Kazanluk.

Day 6: 
Half day in Kazanluk, where we visit one of the region's Thracian tombs.  We have the opportunity to sample one of the rose products - at one time 75% of world rose attar was produced in Bulgaria. In the afternoon, we board a coach to Sofia, where we spend the night.

Day 7: 
We spend a full day in Sofia for sightseeing, or (for the more energetic!) there is the opportunity to take a train along Iskar River Gorge and visit the Cherepishki Monastery, which does require about two hours walking, but the terrain is easy and the scenery very beautiful.  Overnight in Sofia.

Day 8: 
Departure transfer.

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The package price is per person in double room and includes:
 

All transfers from the hotels to the railway stations and vice versa

The prices are not valid in the following periods:

for accommodation in Plovdiv: 8 - 15 May and 24 September - 2 October
(Plovdiv International Fair)

for accommodation in Kazanluk during first weekend of June
(International Festival of Roses)

Contact us:  e-mail   enquiries@eerailtours.eu

                    Telephone:  0044(0)1299861529    Fax: 0044(0)1299861058

Day 1: 
Arrive in Sofia.   Transfer to the hotel (depending on the time of arrival - possible panoramic tour and some visits).   Welcome dinner with folklore performance (except for winter, when we can see the Nestinari Show - world unique dances with bare feet on burning coal).   Overnight.

Day 2: 
We depart  by private car/minivan, with tour guide, to Rila Monastery (UNESCO site, the biggest monastery in Bulgaria).   Afternoon arrival in Bansko.   Check  in at hotel.   Overnight.

Day 3: 
Here we start the " rail exploration" tour, beginning with a trip to Dobrinishte on one of the few preserved narrow-gauge railways in Bulgaria. The afternoon will be free, with a possible walk in the region of the Pirin Mountains (Bansko is in the foothills of the Pirin National Park).   Dinner at one of Bansko's  typical taverns, with live music. Overnight in Bansko.

Photo: Ed Beale

Day 4: 
Departure by passenger train: Bansko - Jakoruda - Avramovi Kolibi (the highest railway station in Bulgaria at 1267m above sea level.   We cross one of the most beautiful parts of the Rhodopes Mountains, going through 15 tunnels along the Mesta River valley, down to Velingrad and Septemvri.   Septemvri Station was constructed in 1870 by Baron Hirsch, a German entrepreneur who, in the 19th century, undertook a grandiose project to construct a rail network comprising 2500 kms of track in the Turkish-occupied Balkans.   The journey will last approximately 5 hours, before continuing by fast train to Plovdiv (a journey of about 40 minutse), where we spend the night.

Day 5: 
Day in Plovdiv for sightseeing.   Plovdiv has 6000 years of history and was once the capital city of Philip II of Macedonia (the father of Alexander the Great).   We visit the Old Plovdiv Architectural Reserve, with the Roman ampitheatre, St Constantine and Helena Church and the Ethnographic Museum.   Late afternoon departure by train to Kazanluk, the centre of the Rose Valley. Overnight in Kazanluk.

Day 6: 
Half day in Kazanluk, where we visit one of the region's Thracian tombs.   We have the opportunity to sample one of the rose products - at one time 75% of world rose attar was produced in Bulgaria. In the afternoon, we board a coach to Sofia, where we spend the night.   We then take the bus to Veliko Turnovo, the mediaeval capital city of Bulgaria, where we spend the night.

Day 7:
Tour of Veliko Turnovo - Tsaravets Royal Hill with Baldwin tower (the leader of the 4th Crusade). In the afternoon we take the train to Gorna Oriahovitsa (the biggest train hub in Bulgaria) and on to Ruse, the largest Bulgarian town on the River Danube.   Rail travel approximately 3½ hours. Overnight at hotel. 

Day 8:
Visit to the National Museum of Transport in Ruse. The construction of the building was started on 21 May 1864.   To undertake the work, the Turkish government had commissioned an English company managed by William Gladstone, with the Barkley brothers being appointed as civil engineers.   This was the first railway station in Bulgaria.   The English company kept the railway line until 1869, when it was sold to the Turkish government, who, in turn, sold it to Baron Hirsch in 1873.   The newly liberated state of Bulgaria bought the railway line and the station on 10 August 1888.   The station functioned as such until 1956.  
In the afternoon we travel by train along the Ruse-Varna Railway, constructed in 1866, the first in the Ottoman Empire.   Travel by train approximately 4 hours.   Evening arrival in Varna (the largest Bulgarian town on the Black Sea cost) and transfer to the small town of Balchik, where we spend the night.   Blachik is situated 47 kms to the north of Varna and is one of the most picturesque Bulgarian towns.   Its famous Botanical Gardens have 3000 plant species and over 250 varieties of cactus.   Also of note is the summer palace of Queen Maria of Romania, who applied her poetic imagination in the beautiful building, which she called by the romantic name " Tenha Yuva" (quiet nest).

Day 9:
Free day to relax and enjoy the sea.   Possible visit to the Botanical Gardens and the summer residence of the Romanian Queen in Balchik. Overnight in Balchik.

 
 

Day 10: 
Free day to relax and enjoy the sea.   Possible short tour to Cape Kaliakra and the fortress. Overnight at the same hotel as the previous night.

Day 11: 
Morning transfer to Varna, where we visit the Cathedral and the Museum of History, which houses the oldest gold found on earth processed by a human being and dated to 5 BC.   Varna Necropolis has over 3000 objects of gold, weighing 6½ kg in total.   Overnight train - sleeping compartment at 22:00 hrs.

Day 12: 
Early morning arrival in Sofia.   Breakfast.   Check in at hotel.   Sightseeing tour of Sofia or free time to relax.   Overnight in Sofia. 

Day 13: 
Trip by train along Iskar River Gorge and visit the Cherepishki Monastery, which does require about two hours walking, but the terrain is easy and the scenery  very beautiful.   Overnight in Sofia.

Day 14:
Departure transfer.

The package price is per person in double room and includes: 

All transfers from the hotels to the railway stations and vice versa

The prices are not valid in the following periods:

for accommodation in Plovdiv: 8 - 15 May and 24 September - 2 October
(Plovdiv International Fair)

The Botanical Gardens in Blachik are seasonal, which means that it is not possible to visit them during early spring and late autumn.   An alternative visit in the Varna region will be arranged at those times (for example the Roman Mosaics Museum in Devnia, the Pobitite Kamuni natural phenomena, etc).

Contact us:   e-mail  enquiries@eerailtours.eu

                      Telephone:  0044(0)1299861529      Fax: 0044(0)1299861058

Day 1: 
In the morning, arrival at Bucharest Railway  Station with the overnight train from Sofia. Meeting with English-speaking guide and transfer by minibus to a 3-star hotel in the city centre. Accommodation and breakfast, followed by a sightseeing tour of Bucharest, with the opportunity to visit:
-   the Parliament's Palace (second largest building in the world after the US Pentagon in Washington, and the largest in Europe), built by the communist dictator Ceausescu in the 80s and formerly called " The House of the People";
- the Princely Court (14th-16th century), built mainly by Vlad the Impaler, also known as Dracula
-   the Village Museum - old, traditional architecture in a large green area in Herastrau Park;
- the Revolution's Square, with the Romanian Athenaeum and the Royal Palace;
-   the Archbishop Complex (17th century Cathedral and 19th century Palace), situated on the Metropolitan Hill.
Dinner at the hotel.

Day 3: 
Breakfast.   Rail-break day in Brasov.   Brasov city is the most important tourist centre of the Romanian Carpathians, with the following attractions:
-   the Black Church (14th century Gothic cathedral, the very heart of the old Saxon town of " Kronstadt");
-   the Council's Square, with the Museum of History in the old town hall (1420);
-   the " Merchants' House" - today " Cerbul Carpatin (Carpathian Stag) Restaurant" (building 1545), located in the historical centre;
-   Tampa Hill, climbing with cable car (10 mins) for a great panorama of the city and its surroundings -   the fortified citadel - in one of the towers is an exhibition of the old citadel of Brasov and the surrounding mediaeval Saxon fortress;
-   the " Schei" quarter, with traditional Romanian architecture and the Museum of the First Romanian School, near St Nicholas Church, which dates from the 13th century.
About 10-15 kms from Brasov, one can relax in Poiana Brasov, the most important Romanian mountain resort. On the road between Brasov  and Bran lies the Rasnov Peasant Fortress, erected on a hill above the town of Rasnov, in typical Saxon style - the best preserved mediaeval peasant refuge fortress (14th century).
Dinner at hotel in Brasov or at the guest house in Bran.
 

Day 4: 
Breakfast.     Transfer by taxi to Brasov railway station.   Departure by train to Sibiu, a well-preserved mediaeval citadel (" Hermannstadt" by its German name), founded by German " Saxon" colonists who arrived in Romania in the 13th century.   Nowadays it is a modern tourist centre and, in 2007, it will be Europe's Cultural Capital. Main attractions are:
-   the Evangelical Lutheran Cathedral, with a 74m-high tower;
-   the Big and the Little Square, with the Liar's Bridge;
-   Brukenthal Art Museum (the first museum in Romania, built as the residence of Samuel von Brukenthal, Governor of Transylvania);
-   the Museum of Pharmacy History, in a building dating from 1569.
Dinner and accommodation in Sibiu at a 3-star hotel, or in Sibiel, a rural tourist centre situated about 30 km away, in 2/3-star guest houses (here there is a local museum of traditional paintings on glass).

Day 5: 
Breakfast.   Rail-break day for sightseeing/free time. An interesting place to visit is the ASTRA Traditional Folk Civilisation Museum in Dumbrava Sibiului, a rural area near Sibiu city, where one can relax and learn about the Romanian traditional handicrafts, or have lunch in a traditional inn, with a specific regional menu. Dinner at the hotel (or return to Sibiel for dinner with traditional folklore show at the guest house). 

Day 6: 
Breakfast.     Transfer to Sibiu  railway station. Departure by train to Bucharest, via Brasov (arriving approximately 12:00 hrs).   In the afternoon or evening, transfer to Bucharest railway station for the train back to Sofia.

The package price is per person in double room and includes:
 

The prices do not include transfers (except from Bucharest), i.e. taxis from railway stations to hotels.

In Brasov and Sibiu one can choose to stay in village guest houses (the conditions are often better than at hotels in cities!), which would entail taking a taxi for a maximum of 30 km.   The package price if this option were selected would be £21 less per person in double room.

Contact us:  e-mail    enquiries@eerailtours.eu

                    Telephone: 0044(0)1299861529      Fax:  0044(0)1299861058