VISIT BULGARIA

A)StartSofia• Capital• 2-3 nights

B) The Seven Rila Lakes• Probably the most beautiful

sight in Bulgaria• One night somewhere in a

chalet (TBC)

B.a) Rila monastery • Short visit on the way to C)

B.b) Stobski Piramidi(Stobski Rock Pyramids)

• Short visit on the way to C)

C) Melnik• Architecture, Nature, culture and wine• Rozhen Monastery• One night?

D) Bansko• Hosted Ski World Cup 2012• Enjoy a beautiful trip through the

mountainsalong the way (most likely no snow in July…)• One night? (TBC)

E) Velingrad• Enjoy spa, mineral waters, sauna, massage, etc.• One night? (TBC)

E.a) Batak + Peshtera• Culture and history on the way to E)• Visit Snejanka Cave (‘Snow-white’ Cave)

F) Plovdiv• 2nd biggest city• City tour - remainings from the ancient Romans. • One -two nights

F.a) On the way to G) we could stop at the place where I grew up• one night in my house

G) Koprivshtitsa• probably the most beautiful renaissance townin Bulgaria• One night

G.a) Karlovo• Short stop• Another cultural town• Historically important, also famous for the production ofrose oil (used in production of perfumes)

G.b) Landscape drive• Enjoy a ride at the foot of the longest mountain

range in Bulgaria (Stara planina 'Old Mountain')• The highest waterfall in the country – 124.5m

(Rayskoto praskalo 'Heavenly spray‘)• Difficult access. Will need one night in a chalet

H) Kalofer• Centre of revolutionary activity againstthe reign of the Ottomans• Home town of one of the greatest poetsand revolutionaries of Bulgaria - Hristo Botev

H.a) Drive through the Rose Valley• Visit the Shipka monument - One of the most heroicbattles of the Russo-Bulgarian against the Turkisharmy. Winning this battle had strategic importancefor the Liberation of Bulgaria

H.b) Stop by in Kazanluk

I) Stara Zagora• One of the biggest cities in Bulgaria• Famous for linden trees and straight streets• One night?

I.a) Pass by Tryavna town

J) Veliko Tarnovo• Possibly one of the most beautiful cities of Bulgaria• Situated in the valley of the River Yantra• Unique architecture• Favoured by Bulgarian Tsars (1185-1393 a.c.)• One night

J.a) Sliven• the Blue Stones Natural Reserve

Off to the sea we go!• spend there as much time as we want• go wherever we want• a few places which are worth visiting...

K) Sozopol• beautiful small town with traditional architecture • Very touristic

L) Sunny Beach • party all the time• (random) Video

• M) Irakli - Natural reserve. No hotels, no bars, no crowds

• N) Varna - the seaside capital

• O) Golden Sands; Albena• Claimed the best beaches of BG

Z) Return to Sofia, or flights from Varna/Bourgas – optional(the below may need an update, please double check)

Wizzair• Varna – London (Luton); Budapest• Bourgas – Warsaw; Poznan; Katowice; Budapest; London (Luton); Prague• Sofia – Barcelona; Brussels (CRL); Budapest; Dortmund; Eindhoven; Bologna (Forli); Frankfurt

(Hahn); London (Luton); Madrid; Milano (Bergamo); Paris (Beauvais); Rome (Fiumicino); Valencia (Manises); Venice (Treviso)

RyanairPlovdiv – Frankfurt Hahn ; London StanstedEasyJetSofia – Manchester; London (Gatwick)

Let’s talk money now….

Each one of us has to consider whether they would like to save up some money for a once in a lifetime experience or would prefer to go to the pub twice a week and spend their summer holidays sunbathing in the backyard…

Bulgaria is a cheap destination and 20 days there will cost you probably as much as just a week in many other places.

• Total distance (as on map) ~ 1,400km• Number of days ~20• Lodging per night €5- €15 p.p.• Food per day €5 - ∞ p.p

Notes to reader• Fuel cost p.p €35(7 persons ~1,800km Sofia↔ sea)• Budget target <500 € + flights

I hope you enjoyed Bulgaria!

by Pavel