Balkan tour: Bulgaria - Greece - Turkey

Day 1: Sofia – Sofia tour

∗ From Sofia – our team will be waiting to greet you at the Airport or at the parking lot behind Alexander Nevski Cathedral. Alternatively, you can arrange your pick up point in advance with a member of our booking team.

∗ Sofia tour. Visit to the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Rotunda Saint George, Discover Complex Ancient Serdica, Unravel National Institute of Archaeology.

∗ Transfer to the SPA Hotel Belchin spring.

∗ Check in at the hotel and free time.

∗ Hotel dinner and relaxation time at the charming atmosphere to get ready for the next day.

Day 2: Sofia – Rila Monastery – Town of Melnik

∗ Today after breakfast we depart towards Rila Monastery.

∗ Visit to the Rila Monasetry – one of the symbols of Bulgaria and a popular tourist destination. The monastery lies in the recesses of Rila Mountain between Rilska and Drushlyavitsa Rivers, at 1147 m above mean sea level. Throughout the centuries Rila Monastery has always been the spiritual, educational and cultural centre of Bulgaria. The monastery is a part of UNESCO World Cultural Heritage.

∗ Lunch and relax in a traditional restaurant while enjoying delicious food and lovely atmosphere.

∗ Departing towards town of Melnik.

∗ Tour in town of Melnik - Architectural and Ethnographic Town of Melnik

Keeps more then 5,000 years tradition and history of producing wine. The locals (Thracian) the legends say: that Melnik were the Thracian city, and more particularly the Thracian tribe Maedi, of which the legendary rebel Spartacus originated. Also famous in entire Europe for its finest wine, since with which it is famous even nowadays.

∗ Check in at the hotel, free time.

∗ Hotel dinner and relaxation time at the charming atmosphere to get ready for the next day.

Day 3: Town of Melnik – Rupite – Heraclea Sintica – Rozhen Monastery – town of Melnik

∗ Today after the breakfast we will continue our adventure in the area, departing towards Rupite.

∗ Visit Rupite – the memorial temple “St. Petka of Bulgaria”. The Bulgarian mystic Baba Vanga lived and was buried here.

∗ Discover the antique town of Heraclea Sintica. There are ruins of representative buildings of the ancient city were built with great grace, the city layout was constructed in accordance with the principles of the Hippodamian Plan. A part of the city basilica was also preserved, where various litigation were resolved. Coins and two votive tablets of Heracles and Artemis were discovered. Heraclea Sintica was an ancient Greek polis built by Philip II of Macedon.

∗ Lunch and relax in a traditional restaurant in the town of Melnik while enjoying delicious food and lovely atmosphere.

∗ Short transfer to the Rozhen Monastery.

∗ Discover the Rozhen Monastery of the Nativity of the Mother of God – it is the biggest monastery in Pirin Mountain.

∗ Short transfer to the town of Melnik.

∗ Hotel dinner and relaxation time at the charming atmosphere to get ready for the next day.

Day 4: Town of Melnik – Vergina, Greece – town of Thessaloniki

∗ Today after breakfast we check out from the hotel and depart towards town of Vegrina, Greece.

∗ Transfer to town of Vegrina, Greece.

∗ Visit to the royal tombs of Philip II of Macedon in Vergina.

∗ Lunch and relax in a traditional restaurant in the town of Melnik while enjoying delicious food and lovely atmosphere.

∗ Tranfer to the town of Thessaloniki.

∗ Walking tour in town of Thessaloniki, Journey through Centuries.

- Visit to the Ano Poli, the walls of Thessaloniki.

- Visit to the Aristotelous Square.

- Visit to the Agios Dimitrios Church.

- Visit to the White Tower.

- Visit to the ladadika.

∗ Check in at the hotel, free time.

∗ Hotel dinner and relaxation time at the charming atmosphere to get ready for the next day.

Day 5: Town of Thessaloniki – town of Kavala – Thassos island

∗ Today after breakfast we check out from the hotel and depart towards town of Kavala.

∗ Transfer to the town of Kavala.

∗ Walking tour on town of Kavala. The city of Kavala is built on a hillside along the coast of the Aegean sea, a cultural crossroad between the East and West.

- Visit to the Panagia neighbourhood (Palia Poli - Old Town).

- Visit to the 15th c. Castle.

- Visit to the historical Imaret building (1817), donated by Mehmet Ali.

∗ Lunch and relax in a traditional restaurant in the town of Melnik while enjoying delicious food and lovely atmosphere.

∗ Visit to the Eleftheria Square, follow Megalou Alexandrou (Alexander the Great) pedestrian street, which ends up at Kapnergati square, where you will come across a large number of cafes and bars, and Omonia Street where you will enjoy shopping.

∗ Boarding the ferry to Thassos island.

∗ Check in at the hotel in Thassos island, free time.

∗ Hotel dinner and relaxation time at the charming atmosphere to get ready for the next day.

Day 6: Monastery of St. Archangel Michael – Gyola beach – Aliki Beach

∗ Today after breakfast we head out for our first adventure on the island.

∗ We will visit the natural phenomenon Gyola beach. It’s not exactly a beach, it’s a naturally carved pool from the sea in the rocky shore.

∗ Transfer to the monastery of St. Archangel Michael, protector of the island.

∗ Visit to the monastery.

∗ Lunch and relax in a traditional restaurant in the town of Melnik while enjoying delicious food and lovely atmosphere.

∗ Transfer to Aliki Beach – Mermaid Bay, free time.

∗ Transfer back to hetel.

∗ Hotel dinner and relaxation time at the charming atmosphere to get ready for the next day.

Day 7: Ancient citi Agora – Panagia (old capital of Thassos) – Beach

∗ Today after breakfast we will continue our adventure in the region.

∗ Short transfer to the ancient Agora in the town of Limenas. The Archaeological Museum, the Amphitheater.

∗ Visit to the ancient city of Agora.

∗ Short transfer to the Panagia (old capital of Thassos).

∗ Walking tour in a city, visit to the church in Panagia.

∗ Lunch and relax in a traditional restaurant in the town of Melnik while enjoying delicious food and lovely atmosphere.

∗ Visit to a refinery for the production of olive oil and olive products.

∗ Short transfer to the near beach, free time.

∗ Transfer back to the hotel.

∗ Hotel dinner and relaxation time at the charming atmosphere to get ready for the next day.

Day 8: Thassos island – Canakkale (Turkey)

∗ Today after breakfast we check out from the hotel and depart towards town of Canakkale (Turkey).

∗ Short transfer to the ferry.

∗ Boarding the ferry and departure to the town of Keramoti.

∗ Departing towards Canakkale (Turkey).

∗ Walking tour with discussion at the town of Canakkale.

∗ Visit the Trojan horse used in the movie with Brad Pitt.

∗ Transfer to the hotel.

∗ Check in at the hotel in Canakkale, free time.

∗ Hotel dinner and relaxation time at the charming atmosphere to get ready for the next day.

Day 9: Canakkale (Turkey) – ancient city of Troy – museume of Troy – ancian city of Assos

∗ Today after breakfast we will continue our adventure in the region.

∗ Depart towards the ancient city of Troy.

∗ Discover the ancient city of Troy. Tour and discussion in a ancient city.

∗ Visit museume of Troy.

∗ Lunch amidst the captivating tranquility in the area.

∗ Visit the ancian city of Assos.

∗ Transfer back to the hotel.

∗ Hotel dinner and relaxation time at the charming atmosphere to get ready for the next day.

Day 10: Canakkale (Turkey) – town of Haskovo – town of Plovdiv (Bulgaria)

∗ Today after breakfast we check out from the hotel and depart towards town of Haskovo (Bulgaria).

∗ Departure towards Bulgaria.

∗ Crossing the Kapitan Andreevo – Kapakule border checkpoint and departure for Bulgaria.

∗ Arrived at the town of Haskovo.

∗ Lunch and relax in a traditional restaurant in the town of Melnik while enjoying delicious food and lovely atmosphere.

∗ Visit to the monument of the Holy Mother of God. The biggest Virgin Mary statue in the world, listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. It is part of the 100 national tourist sites in Bulgaria.

∗ Transfer to the town of Plovdiv.

∗ Check in at the hotel in town of Plovdiv, free time.

∗ Hotel dinner and relaxation time at the charming atmosphere to get ready for the next day.

Day 11: Town of Plovdiv (Bulgaria) – Asen’s Fortress – Bachkovo Monastery – Town of Plovdiv

∗ Today after breakfast we will discover the Town of Plovdiv – Plovdiv is the second largest city in Bulgaria. It is one of the oldest cities in Europe – the beginning of its history dates back to 6,000 BC. In ancient times Thracians inhabited the Three Hills and built a fortified settlement, which was the largest city in Thrace. During the 4th century BC Plovdiv was conquered by Phillip of Macedonia.

∗ Sightseeing tour with discusion includes:

– Ancient Forum and the Odeon.

– Ancient Roman Stadium.

– Archaeological and Historical Complex of Old town of Plovdiv.

– Ancient Theatre.

– Plovdiv Regional Ethnographic Museum.

– Archaeological complex on the Nebet Tepe (one of the hills of Plovdiv).The earliest settlements on Nebet Tepe are dated back to 4000 BC.

– Kapana District - Craft street.

∗ Lunch and relax in a traditional restaurant while enjoying delicious food and lovely atmosphere.

∗ Discover the ancient Asen’s Fortress, amongst the most notable examples of Medieval Christian Architecture with frescoes dating back to the 13th c. The church is one of the oldest in all of Eastern Orthodoxy and has a tower once used as a belfry and watchtower.

∗ Visit to the Bachkovo Monastery of the Dormition of the Theotokos. You will learn about the creativity of Zahary Zograf (1810-1853), a famous Bulgarian painter of the Bulgarian National Revival, noted for his church mural paintings and icons and often regarded as the founder of secular art in Bulgaria due to the introduction of everyday life elements in his work.

∗ Transfer back to the hotel.

∗ Hotel dinner and relaxation time at the charming atmosphere to get ready for the next day.

Day 12: Town of Plovdiv (Bulgaria) – Sofia airport

∗ Today after breakfast, check out from the hotel.

∗ Transfer to the Airoport or you can arranged your Drop off point in advance with member of our booking team.

We are glad that we spent memorable moments together and we will be happy to meet you soon!