Bulgaria - Romania

Arrival in Sofia and transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Sofia.

Breakfast. Today we will enjoy a full city tour of Sofia and see the highlights of the capital. Among the most emblematic sites are the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral overlooking the city, St. George's Church, considered the best preserved Byzantine church, the Russian Church of St. Nicholas, the Banya Bashi Mosque and the ruins of ancient Serdica among others. Drive to the Rila Mountains to visit one of the most famous places in Bulgaria - the Rila Monastery. This monastery is a shrine of Bulgarian literature and spiritual life. Founded in the middle of the 10th century by St. Ivan of Rila played a key role in preserving the Bulgarian culture and language of the centuries. It is on the UNESCO list. Visit of the monastery church with its impressive frescoes, painted by the most famous Bulgarian artists since the 19th century A.D. and the museum which houses a collection of exhibits related to the history of the monastery and the spread of Christianity in the Bulgarian lands. Return to Sofia. Overnight.

Breakfast. Leaving Sofia behind, we drive to the second largest city in Bulgaria - Plovdiv. This is a city with millenary history. Ruins from the Roman, Ottoman and Bulgarian Renaissance period have been preserved. During our city tour we will see the Roman Forum and the stadium, as well as the Roman amphitheater. We will walk through the cobblestone streets of the small ancient city surrounded by houses and beautiful churches. We will visit the church of St. Konstantine and St. Helen, as well as the Ethnographic Museum, which is located in the house of a rich merchant from the 19th century BC. After the visit we will cross the Balkan Mountains through the historical Shipka Pass, which played a key role in the Russian-Turkish war of Bulgarian Liberation. Arrival in Veliko Tarnovo - the medieval capital of Bulgaria. Overnight.
Note: On certain occasions the night will be spent in Arbanassi and the itinerary will be adjusted accordingly.

Breakfast. Morning panoramic city tour of Veliko Tarnovo with a walk to Tsarevets, where once lived the kings of Bulgaria. We will walk along the oldest street of the city called Samovodska Charshia. Proceed to Arbanassi, a small Bulgarian village located 4 km from Veliko Tarnovo. Arbanassi is interesting for its architecture. In the village we can see the Konstancalieva house and the church of the Nativity, whose wall paintings are a work of art. Return to Veliko Tarnovo. Overnight.
Note: On certain occasions the night will be spent in Arbanassi and the itinerary will be adjusted accordingly.

Breakfast. Today we head towards Romania, passing through the city of Russe, where we will meet our local Romanian guide. In the afternoon arrival to the capital of Romania, Bucharest. Overnight.

Breakfast. We will visit the Romanian capital, once known under the nickname of "Little Paris". During the tour we will visit the Palace of Parliament, the second largest building in the world after the Pentagon and the People's Museum. We will hear how the Romanian people finally managed to overthrow the last communist dictator of Eastern Europe at the Revolution Square. The trip will also take us to the Romanian Athenaeum, the Opera House, the Military Club of the Nation, the Military Academy and the Arc de Triomphe. Overnight.

Breakfast. We continue to Curtea de Arges and visit Cozia Monastery, built in 1386. The route to Sibiu crosses the Transylvanian Alps through the scenic Olt River valley. In the afternoon we will take an extensive walking tour of the town of Sibiu. Here we can see medieval stores and houses and visit the Evangelical Cathedral, where the son of Vlad the Impaler (another of Dracula's nicknames) was murdered. Overnight.

Breakfast. Departure to Piatra Neamt through the Bicaz Gorge, the largest gorge in Romania, admiring the beauty of the landscape, the Red Lake and its mountain station. En route we will visit Sighisoara, one of the most beautiful medieval villages in Europe and the birthplace of the famous prince of Wallachia, Vlad Tepes "the Impaler", who inspired the legend of Dracula. You will visit the old town, including the Clock Tower, which houses the City History Museum, the Museum of Medieval Weapons and the Torture Chamber. In the afternoon departure to the city of Piatra Neamt. Overnight.

Breakfast. Departure to the region of Bucovina to visit its monasteries, the most representative monuments of Moldavian art. Declared a World Heritage Site, these monasteries are one of the most important legacies of Byzantine art in the world, which highlights its interior and exterior fresco paintings of vivid colors. Visit of the Sucevita Monasteries and the black pottery workshops of Marginea. In the afternoon visit of the Voronet Monastery, considered the best architectural and pictorial example of the region, called the "Sistine Chapel" of the East. Return to Piatra Neamt. Overnight.

Breakfast. In the morning we leave Piatra Neamt and travel south to Brasov. In the afternoon arrival in Brasov. Overnight.

Breakfast. Followed by sightseeing tour of the fascinating medieval city of Brasov. Visit of the old town, the Black Church, the most representative gothic monument of Romania. Continuation to the village of Bran. Visit of its famous castle, also known as Dracula's Castle. In the afternoon arrival in the city of Sinaia, known for its beauty "the pearl of the Carpathians". In the afternoon we will visit the wonderful Peles Palace, former summer residence and retreat of the royal family, built in the second half of the 19th century by the first King of Romania, Charles I. Overnight.

Transfer to Bucharest airport.