Bulgaria
Treasures of Bulgaria: Ancient Ruins, Roses and Revival
Program No. 1920760MEADV-0219
If you are looking for a place to explore off-the-tourist paths, then join us in Bulgaria, a nation rich with ancient wonders, natural beauty and people eager to show you their land.
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DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
May 1 - May 12, 2025
Starting at
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12 days
11 nights
25 meals
10B 8L 7D
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
5
Plovdiv
Plovdiv
9
Horse-Rider Rock-Cut Relief, Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari
Veliko Tarnovo
10
Veliko Tarnovo, Arbanasi, Bulgarian Cooking Class
Veliko Tarnovo
At a Glance
Home of the world’s most exquisite roses, Europe’s oldest civilization and seven outstanding UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Bulgaria is a land of superlatives in an unspoiled region of the Balkan Mountains of Eastern Europe. Join us for a special opportunity to experience a land unknown to outsiders and get to know the warm and hospitable people who have remerged onto Europe’s stage after decades of seclusion.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to 4 miles/4 hours per day, including periods of standing, on city streets, museums and sites, sometimes with uneven and hilly terrain, cobblestone, traffic and street noise. Get on and off the bus 3-4 times per day. Unavoidable stairs. Elevations up to 3,763 feet.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Learn about recent breathtaking archaeological finds in the Kazanlak region and Thracian culture at the replica site of the world-famous, fourth-century B.C. Thracian tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Discover centuries-old traditions of rose oil production at a rose oil distillery in the Valley of the Roses.
- Take an expert-led field trip in the majestic city of Plovdiv, the oldest continuously inhabited city in Europe.
General Notes
Give us a call to combine this learning adventure with select dates of "Treasures of Romania: Enchanting Castles and Painted Monasteries" (#19208) for even more learning in Europe!
Suggested Reading List
(22 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Treasures of Bulgaria: Ancient Ruins, Roses and Revival
Program Number: 19207
Street Without a Name, Childhood and Other Misadventures in Bulgaria
Born in 1973, Kassabova traces her coming-of-age in Communist Sofia and bittersweet return to a land transformed over the last 30 years in this captivating, candid memoir and travelogue.
The Balkans, A Short History
With eloquence and clarity, Mazower addresses issues of geography, nationalism and nation in this indispensable survey.
A Concise History of Bulgaria
A highly readable, illustrated introduction to Bulgaria's history from medieval empire to Ottoman rule, revival and modernization to the fall of Communism.
The Turkish Gambit
Detective Erast Fandorin is caught in Bulgaria in the middle of the brutal Russo-Turkish war in this thriller set in 1877. The third book in the series.
All Along the Danube: Recipes from Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Romania, & Bulgaria
A cookbook full of classic recipes from Central Europe, with some valuable morsels of culture.
Bury Me Standing
This marvelous portrait of the Roma, also known as the Gypsies, offers insight into their music, foods, religions and folk traditions and also examines their influential but complex relationship with Eastern Europe.
The Palgrave Concise Historical Atlas of Eastern Europe
The changing borders and complex history of Eastern Europe as told through 52 maps and accompanying essays, organized chronologically. An excellent reference, the book shows the rise of Poland, changing borders of the Ottoman Empire, Hapsburgs and fate of Yugoslavia in admirable clarity.
Blue River, Black Sea
By bicycle, boat and on foot, British adventurer Andrew Eames (The 8:55 to Baghdad) weaves entertaining tales of his travels and the people he meets along the Danube from the Black Forest to Romania and the Ukraine into an insightful contemporary portrait of the region.
The Broken Road, From the Iron Gates to Mount Athos
Assembled from Leigh Fermor’s manuscripts by friend and biographer Artemis Cooper, with the travel writer Colin Thubron, this is perhaps the most personal of all Leigh Fermor’s books, catching up with young Paddy in the fall of 1934 and following him through Bulgaria and Romania to the coast of the Black Sea.
Bulgaria Map
This detailed, single-sided fold-up map shows the country at a scale of 1:400,000. Place names are usefully shown in both Cyrillic and Latin script and the multilingual legend includes English.
The Danube
Thorpe travels against the current on a year-long journey from the Black Sea to the Black Forest, mixing accounts of his daily morning swims with environmental research, archaeological observations and, especially, tales of the ferrymen and fisherman, shopkeepers, activists and others he meets along the way.
The Romani Gypsies
Matras delves into the history of the Romani, an ancient and misunderstood European culture that has survived through modern times.
In Search of Dracula
This history of Vlad Tepes (AKA Vlad the Impaler), the Romanian warrior prince and inspiration for Bram Stoker’s infamous blood-drinking count, draws on oral histories and archaeological evidence and also examines Dracula’s many incarnations in film and literature.
Black Sea
In this skillful regional portrait, Ascherson weaves his own travels and impressions with a fascinating account of the Black Sea's history. From ancient mythology to modern politics, he admirably never loses sight of the sea itself.
Crown of Thorns, The Reign of King Boris III of Bulgaria, 1918-1943
A biography of the famed Bulgarian monarch, who ruled from the end of World War I to the middle of World War II, when he defied Hitler's wishes for expelling Bulgaria's Jews.
The Balkans: Nationalism, War, and the Great Powers, 1804-2011
Longtime central European correspondent for the BBC based in Vienna, Glenny (The Fall of Yugoslavia) poignantly challenges the role of the Great Powers in this survey, newly revised and updated to cover developments in the region through 2011.
Balkan Ghosts, A Journey through History
Kaplan interweaves history, art and culture with his travels through Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Romania and Greece in this regional portrait.
The Fragility of Goodness, Why Bulgaria's Jews Survived the Holocaust
A reconstruction of what happened in Bulgaria during World War II, detailing how Bulgaria became one of two countries not to turn over its Jewish population.
Lords of the Horizons
Goodwin artfully combines his modern travels with scholarship, history and reflection, capturing the outrageous personalities, events and vagaries of the 600-year-old Ottoman Empire.
Stork Mountain
A stunning debut novel that takes readers high into the Strandja Mountains. A young immigrant returns to Bulgaria to find his grandfather. He traces his grandfather's footsteps to the giant oaks where black storks nest, bringing a hidden past to life.
Eyewitness Guide Bulgaria
This visually rich guide features outstanding maps, essays and travel information.
Bai Ganyo, Incredible Tales of a Modern Bulgarian
An award-winning English translation of the 19th-century Bulgarian classic. The interlocking short stories, which are, by turns, humorous, satirical and dark, feature the folk hero Bai Ganyo. A solid literary introduction to Bulgaria. Translated by Aleko Konstantinov, Victor Friedman, Christina Kramer, Grace Fielder and Catherine Rudin.
Program
At a Glance
Duration
12 days
Program Begins
Sofia
Program Concludes
Sofia
Group Type
Small Group
Meals
25
| 10B |
8L |
7D |
Activity Level
Home of the world’s most exquisite roses, Europe’s oldest civilization and seven outstanding UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Bulgaria is a land of superlatives in an unspoiled region of the Balkan Mountains of Eastern Europe. Join us for a special opportunity to experience a land unknown to outsiders and get to know the warm and hospitable people who have remerged onto Europe’s stage after decades of seclusion.)
Best of all, you'll...
- Learn about recent breathtaking archaeological finds in the Kazanlak region and Thracian culture at the replica site of the world-famous, fourth-century B.C. Thracian tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Discover centuries-old traditions of rose oil production at a rose oil distillery in the Valley of the Roses.
- Take an expert-led field trip in the majestic city of Plovdiv, the oldest continuously inhabited city in Europe.
General Notes
Give us a call to combine this learning adventure with select dates of "Treasures of Romania: Enchanting Castles and Painted Monasteries" (#19208) for even more learning in Europe!
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to 4 miles/4 hours per day, including periods of standing, on city streets, museums and sites, sometimes with uneven and hilly terrain, cobblestone, traffic and street noise. Get on and off the bus 3-4 times per day. Unavoidable stairs. Elevations up to 3,763 feet.
Small Group
(13 to 24)
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Suggested Reading List
View Full List
(22 Books)
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!
Call
800-454-5768
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
12 days
11 nights
What's Included
25 meals | 10B | 8L | 7D |
2 expert-led lectures
14 expert-led field trips
1 hands-on experience
1 performance
An experienced Group Leader
10 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
In Transit to Program
Location:
In Flight
Day
2
Arrive Sofia, Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location:
Sofia
Meals:
D
Stay:
Eurostars Sofia City Hotel
Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 2:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
After checking in to the hotel and getting your room, take some time to freshen up and relax before our Orientation session. Orientation: 5:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will learn from the Group Leader and a series of local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips. Program-related travel and transfers will be via private motorcoach. Periods in the schedule designated as "Free time" and "At leisure" offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Day
3
Sofia, Boyana Church, Lecture on Bulgaria Today
Location:
Sofia
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Eurostars Sofia City Hotel
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 8.5 miles, under 1 hour riding time. Walking up to 1 mile and standing up to 2 hours; indoors, pavement, stairs in museum. Extent and duration of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Boarding the motorcoach, we will go on an expert-led city field trip in Sofia including the National History Museum, where magnificent Thracian treasures of ancient gold are on display, and the Boyana Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Boyana Church is one of the most important and valuable antiquities, of exceptional historical and artistic significance. It is situated at the foot of the mountain of Vitosha. The oldest part of the church dates back to the early 11th century. In 1295, the second part of the church was built and the rest was added in the middle of the 19th century.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Our walking field trip continues in the downtown area to see some of the city’s most significant landmarks: St. Alexander Nevski memorial church; St. Sophia’s Basilica; St. George's rotunda (4th century); and Roman Serdica fortifications dating from the 3rd-5th century. Then, we’ll enjoy some time in town to explore independently. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities, which can be found in the first Information Packet. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions. Later in the afternoon at the hotel, hear a lecture on “Bulgaria Today.”
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Day
4
Rila Monastery, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Location:
Plovdiv
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Ramada Plovdiv Trimontium
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 211 miles, approximately 5.5 hours driving time over course of the day; walking about a quarter of a mile and standing up to 1.5 hours; cobblestones and some stairs.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
Following check-out, we’ll depart Sofia for Plovdiv. En route we will visit the Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the majestic Rila Mountains. The monastery is an original national museum with a history that dates back to the 10th century. The present building was built in the mid-19th century (1816–1848). Located amidst gorgeous mountain scenery, it is considered the highest achievement of Bulgarian monumental architecture of the National Revival period.
Lunch:
At a restaurant in the mountains.
Afternoon:
We’ll continue our scenic drive through the Rila Mountains via the town of Samokov, where we will stop for a short walk. Arriving in Plovdiv, we will check in at the hotel and settle in.
Dinner:
In the hotel dining room.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
5
Plovdiv
Location:
Plovdiv
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Ramada Plovdiv Trimontium
Activity Note
Walking over 1 mile, approximately 3 hours; standing for up to 2.5 hours total; the streets in the Old Town in Plovdiv are mainly made of cobblestone. It can be difficult to walk on, as the stones are sometimes big and have gaps between them. It is also hilly, and has many stairs.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
Plovdiv is majestic! The ancient city of Plovdiv has an astonishing historical and cultural heritage, an amazing Old Town, and has applied to the UNESCO List of World Cultural Heritage. We will begin our morning with an expert-led walking field trip to the fabulous Roman Theatre (built in the 2nd century during the time of Emperor Trajan); a National Revival House museum in the old town; and view the permanent exhibition of Ziatyu Boyadzhiev, a most authentic and original 20th-century painter.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We visit the amazing Bishop’s Basilica of Philippopolis (4th-6th century) with exceptional architecture, design and decoration, and beautiful Roman mosaic floors, covered with two layers of Roman mosaics with total area of over 2000 square meters. The archaeological research, conservation and restoration of the Basilica were supported jointly by America for Bulgaria Foundation and Plovdiv Municipality. In the afternoon, enjoy some time in town to explore independently. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Dinner:
On your own to explore local fare.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Day
6
Transfer to Kazanlak, Dinner with Folk Dancing
Location:
Kazanlak
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Palas Hotel
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 68 miles, approximately 2 hours riding time. Walking up to a mile, approximately 1/2 hour; standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
After checking out of the hotel, we will begin our transfer to Kazanlak. We will take a picturesque drive through the famous Valley of Roses to explore the town of Kazanlak. The Valley of Roses is the home of the exquisite Bulgarian rose oil, also known as “attar of roses,” and is Bulgaria’s major center of rose oil production. We’ll visit a rose oil distillery in the area to learn about centuries-long traditions of rose oil production and its modern development. The area around Kazanlak became famous for recent breathtaking archaeological finds dating back to the golden times of the Thracian city of Seuthopolis, and therefore has been named the Valley of the Thracian Kings. Here we’ll learn about Thracian history and culture and will visit the replica site of the world-famous 4th century BCE Thracian tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Upon arrival in Kazanlak, we will check in at the hotel before taking a walk in town with the Group Leader, including a visit to the beautiful History Museum Iskra, housing the latest breathtaking archaeological discoveries from the Valley of the Thracian Rulers. We will see the bronze head of Seuthes III, King of Odryssoi, the founder of Seuthopolis; an incredibly beautiful gold wreath; and many other gold and silver artifacts from the late 4th century BCE. Afterwards, we will enjoy a private choir performance by local non-professional singers. Before dinner, we will have a little time to walk around or simply relax.
Dinner:
At the hotel, we’ll enjoy an exclusive performance of Bulgarian folk dancing during dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Day
7
Transfer to Varna, Nessebar
Location:
Varna
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Golden Tulip Hotel
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 198 miles, approximately 5 hours riding time. Walking up to a mile over 2 hours, standing about 1.5 hours; cobblestones and pavement.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
After checking out of the hotel, we will depart for Varna. En route, we will stop to visit Nessebar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nessebar, which was once ancient Messambria, is another renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site in Bulgaria. It is particularly beautiful both in its location on a headland by the sea, and because of its many brightly painted 18th- and 19th- century CE traditional timber houses and cobbled streets. It is also famous for the impressive remains of fortifications and for the well-preserved late Byzantine churches (built in the period from the 11th-14th centuries at the time of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom).
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will begin our expert-led field trip in the Old Town of Nessebar, adventuring through the Archaeology Museum and St. Stefan Church. After, we will continue our transfer to Varna. Upon arrival, we will check in at the hotel and settle in.
Dinner:
In the hotel dining room.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
8
Varna Archaeology Museum, Free Time
Location:
Varna
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Golden Tulip Hotel
Activity Note
Walking up to a mile, under 1/2 hour; standing up to 1.5 hours; stairs and pavement. Extent and duration of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
During our stay in Varna, we will visit the fabulous Archaeology Museum with an expert to see the renowned collection of the world’s oldest manufactured gold. It was excavated in a prehistoric necropolis close to the city dating back to 4600-4200 BC. Varna civilization was a highly developed civilization, the most ancient civilization of Europe, which was even older than the Mesopotamian and the Egypt civilizations. That civilization still keeps its secrets and sacred knowledge.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Day
9
Horse-Rider Rock-Cut Relief, Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari
Location:
Veliko Tarnovo
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Meridian Hotel Bolyarski
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 214 miles, approximately 5.5 hours riding time. Walking over 1 mile, approximately 1 hour; standing for about 3 hours; ascents, descents, and stairs (during rain, stairs may be slippery).
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
We will check out of the hotel and begin our motorcoach transfer to Veliko Tarnovo. En route we will visit some of the most remarkable sites of northeastern Bulgaria, including the outstanding 8th century rock-cut relief of Madara Horse Rider, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the only one of this kind in Europe. The sacred rocks of the Madara plateau and the caves inside them were a major spiritual center during the period of the First Bulgarian State (681-1085 CE). In 2008, this site was declared the national symbol of Bulgaria, based on the results of a national survey.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant en route.
Afternoon:
We will continue our drive to visit the fascinating Thracian tomb of Sveshtari, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dating back to the 4th-3rd centuries BCE, the tomb is an incredible monument of Thracian art and architecture. Upon arrival in Veliko Tarnovo, we will check in at the hotel and take some time to freshen up before dinner.
Dinner:
In the hotel dining room.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
10
Veliko Tarnovo, Arbanasi, Bulgarian Cooking Class
Location:
Veliko Tarnovo
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
Meridian Hotel Bolyarski
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving over 6 miles, approximately 1/2 hour riding time. Walking up to 1 mile, approximately 30 minutes; standing up to 2.5 hours; cobblestones, pavement, ascents, descents, and stairs.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
The scenery of Veliko Turnovo is breathtaking. Perched on steep hills overlooking the Yantra River, Veliko Turnovo is one of the most picturesque Bulgarian towns. The glory of Veliko Turnovo comes from the middle ages. It was a capital city of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (1185-1396), where arts, culture and spiritual life flourished. During the time of the Bulgarian National Revival (18th–19th century) it was an important center of education, crafts and trade, and played the major role in the establishment of modern Bulgaria after the liberation from Ottoman domination in 1878, being the birth-place of the First Bulgarian Constitution. This morning we will enjoy an expert-led city excursion through the medieval fortress on Tsarevets Hill and the Museum of the National Revival, where the First Bulgarian Constitution was adopted in 1879.
Lunch:
On your own.
Afternoon:
We will explore the nearby village-museum of Arbanasi, famous for its traditional architecture, and beautifully decorated churches and monasteries, dating from the 17th to 18th centuries. We will visit the most beautifully decorated St. Nativity Church. It was painted in 1597 and 1638. The Church is famous with its fascinating scene, “Circle of Life.” After that, we will have a lesson on how to make Bulgarian yogurt (Kiselo Mlyako). Bulgarian yogurt is one of the symbols of Bulgaria. Since ancient times, it has been connected with health and longevity. Bulgaria produces the healthiest yogurt in Europe. A local will show us how to make this authentic yogurt, and we will eat the healthy homemade yogurt with banitza (a cheese pastry). Then we’ll enjoy a short walking field trip in the Old Town, where we will have some time to explore independently before dinner.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out in the morning.
Day
11
Transfer to Sofia, Etara
Location:
Sofia
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Eurostars Sofia City Hotel
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 168 miles, approximately 4.5 hours riding time. Walking under 1/2 mile, standing up to 1 hour; cobblestones.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
After check-out, we will begin our transfer by motorcoach back to Sofia. En route, with the Group Leader, we will visit the ethnographic and architectural reserve of Etara, which is a beautiful museum-village with numerous artisan workshops. It is a unique open-air museum of traditional architecture and ethnography, reflecting the atmosphere of a typical Bulgarian town of the 18th-19th centuries.
Lunch:
At a restaurant en route.
Afternoon:
As we arrive and check in to our hotel in Sofia, take some time to settle in and prepare for dinner.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Day
12
Program Concludes, In Transit from Program
Location:
Sofia
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 12:00 Noon. See your program's “Getting There” information regarding transfers.
Breakfast:
At the hotel. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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MEALS
25 Meals
10 Breakfasts
8 Lunches
7 Dinners
LODGING
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Showing Lodging For:
- Oct 16, 2025 - Oct 27, 2025
- May 01, 2025 - May 12, 2025
- Sep 11, 2025 - Sep 22, 2025
- Oct 09, 2025 - Oct 20, 2025
- Oct 16, 2025 - Oct 27, 2025
Participant Reviews
Based on 11 Reviews
Sort By:
If you like multiple layers of history and unexpected twists and turns, then Bulgaria is a great choice.
— Review left October 8, 2024
Fantastic experience. The sights were fabulous and the group leaders (Kamen Metchkov and Rosen Potzkov) were excellent.
— Review left September 28, 2024
This was an awesome trip. It taught me about a fascinating culture that was barely mentioned in my schooling. It has opened my eyes to an entirely new section of the planet. I can't recommend it enough.
— Review left September 18, 2024
We had great group in a very exotic place, lots to see and do.
The Bulgarians were very friendly and welcoming. They learn English in school and they're very willing to use it.
The museums all have explanations in English and the displays are very well done.
Please visit Bulgaria before it is overrun with tourists and some of its easy going charm is lost.
Also, not a scam or cheater in sight. I never felt the need to count my change whenever I paid for anything.
Visiting Bulgarians is just plain, effortless fun.
— Review left May 1, 2024
Good program. Pair it with Romania for the best experience.
— Review left November 14, 2023
Add this program to your bucket list !! If you're tired of the usual, this out of the way tour is wonderful.
— Review left November 2, 2023
Can heartily recommend this trip. Kamen and Rozzen, our guides, were wonderful, full of knowledge and love for their amazing country, always approachable and willing to share about any topic. Bulgaria has wonderful cities, especially Plovdiv, Varna and Veliko Tarnovo. You can go for a swim in the Black Sea (Varna) and experience the incredible spiritual feel of Rila Monastery high in the picturesque mountains. So many wonderful sites and memories. Loved this trip!
— Review left November 7, 2022
Bulgaria is a Wow! This program did a great job of presenting the history, culture, and beauty of the country, as well as its place in modern Europe.
— Review left October 30, 2022
Bulgaria is an amazing country in natural beauty as well as its history as shown in great museums, ruins, churches and antiquities. The people of Bulgaria are very welcoming and hospitable. At this point in time it is not over crowded, but will be shortly in view of what they have to offer.
— Review left June 26, 2019
This was a very interesting and well organized trip. Our leader, Kamen Metchov, was one of the best tour guides I have had. If you are interested in history and visiting a former communist country I would highly recommend this trip.
— Review left May 28, 2019
If Kamen is your guide the program is worth your time and money. Churches are magnificent and scenery is beautiful. Don't have high expectations about lodging. Food is good but not gourmet. Be prepared for 1500 km in the bus.
— Review left May 28, 2019
