Friday, 14 November

Tour participants arrive in Sofia. Group dinner and overnight in Sofia. Conference participants move to Tour hotel.

Saturday, 15 November

Tour of Sofia and Vitosha Mountains

Cost (including lunch and transportation + museum fees): $78 per person, for non-Tour participants. City-tour is free for the after-conference tour participants. Tour includes Roman ruins in Sofia, Nevski Cathedral, National History Muesum and Boyanna Church.

Sunday, 16 November

Drive to Plovdiv. Visit the spectacular 2nd century Roman Theater built when Plovdiv was known as Philopolus. We will also visit 18th century houses used when Bulgaria was still occupied by the Turks (1800), visit local churches, see a pottery demonstration, and shop with local vendors. In the afternoon we will visit Bachekovo Monastery, the second largest monastery in Bulgaria.

Dinner in local restaurant. Overnight in Plovdiv.

Monday, 17 November

Drive to Stara Zagora. Visit an ancient site of Neolithic people (8000 BC) and a museum that houses the pottery and goddess statues found at the site.

Drive to Kazanluk. Dinner in a local restaurant and overnight in main hotel in downtown Kazanluk.

Tuesday, 18 November

Tour Kazanluk, center of the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Roses. We will visit a public Thracian tomb and the Rose Institute and Museum. Weather permitting, we will visit Thracian tombs not open to the public.

Tours in Kazanluk will be led by Dr. Zarev, an archeologist who helped excavate the Thracian Tombs and is the Director of the town’s Archeological Museum. We will also visit the St. Nikolas Church in Shipka built in honor of the Russian soldiers who helped defeat the Ottoman Turks in the Pass in 1878.

Dinner in a local restaurant with Dr. Zarev and overnight in Kazanluk.

Wednesday, 19 November

Drive to Nesebar, a beach resort as far back as the 5th century with 25 churches, many in ruins. We will see the Black Sea in winter, a truly awesome site. If you are really courageous, bring your swimsuit! Nesebar is a shopper’s haven and some shops will be open in the winter season.

Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight in Nesebar.

Thursday, 20 November

Drive up the coast to Varna, the second largest city in Bulgaria and a major seaport. We will visit the Roman Thermal Baths and the Museum in Varna which houses the largest amount of gold ever found in one place in Europe.

We will depart for the town of Veliko Tarnovo at 3:00 p.m.

Dinner and overnight in Veliko Tarnovo.

Friday, 21 November

Tour Veliko Tarnovo. We will visit Tsarevets, massive ruins dating from the 14th century and the Patriarch’s Church at the top of the hill with haunting paints dating from the Communist period.

We will also visit the “40 Martyrs’ church,” which has been closed for renovation for 30 years.

Departure for Sofia at 3:00 p.m.

Farewell celebration dinner and overnight in Sofia.

Saturday, 22 November

Depature for U.S.A.

Price per person for double room: US$1299
Price per person for single room: US$1399

***The price is calculated for a minimum of 14 paying people.

DEPOSIT OF US$200 IS DUE BY SEPTEMBER 1 TO ENSURE A PLACE; FULL PAYMENT DUE BY SEPTEMBER 25

Price also includes:

• Meeting and seeing off at the Sofia airport
• Assistant and translator during the whole tour
• Transportation with luxurious bus
• Soft drinks in the bus
• Free city-tour in Sofia
• Accommodation in three star hotels with included breakfast and evening meals.
• Alcoholic drinks (wine or beer) at the evening meals
  

Click here to download the registration form for the week-long tour.