Multicountry

Join us on an exciting and impressive tour of Romania that will also include Turkey and Bulgaria. You will see exotic places, wonderful architecture and landmarks of all three countries.

Day 1

Istanbul 
Arrival at the airport, meet, assist and transfer to hotel. 

Day 2

Istanbul 
Full day guided tour including Royal Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque, unique with six minarets, its design presents the culmination of two centuries of both Ottoman mosque and Byzantine church. Go to the Roman Hippodrome Square, the most celebrated square of Byzantine times. Another highlight of the city is the St.Sophia Church which is considered one of the world’s greatest architectural marvels. Then visit the Grand Covered Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with more than 58 streets under cover.

Day 3

Istanbul - Plovdiv (413km/5h30min) 
Transfer to Plovdiv. After arrival half day guided tour of the city including  the Old Town, the 2000 year old Roman Theatre, the Byzantine and medieval fortifications, the 15th century mosque. Walk along the narrow cobbled streets and admire the silence and tranquility of this historic town.

Day 4

Plovdiv - Sofia (150km/3h)
Transfer to Sofia - the capital of Bulgaria. Have a half day guided tour of the city including Alexander Nevski Memorial Church and St.George Rotunda. Walk along the main streets and see the most important landmarks in the city centre - St. Nedelya Square and St. Nedelya Church, St. Petka of the Saddlers, the Synagogue, the Central Baths, the Mosque, the underpass outside the President's Office, Alexander Battenberg Square, the National Theatre, the former Royal Palace, the Russian Church, St. Sophia Church and the Monument to the Unknown Soldier. 

Day 5

Sofia - Rila Monastery (125km/2h) - Sofia
Day tour to Rila Monastery - founded in the 10th century, it has been the biggest spiritual and cultural centre in Bulgaria for hundreds of years. On a number of occasions it was destroyed and burnt down, only to rise again like a phoenix from the ashes. The visitor’s first sight of Rila monastery with its huge towering walls gives the impression of a fortress. The Rila monastery is the largest in the Balkans and included in the World Cultural Heritage List.  The tour of the monastery includes a visit to the Monastery Church. In the Monastery’s museum you can see the famous wood carved Raphael’s cross. It took monk Raphael 12 years to finish the cross with its 140 biblical scenes and 1500 human figures.  In the afternoon drive to Sofia. 

Day 6

Sofia - Veliko Tarnovo (222km/3h30min) - Etara(50km/1h) - Gabrovo - Veliko Tarnovo (50km/1h) 
Transfer to Veliko Tarnovo, followed by a half day guided tour of Tsarevets Royal hill above the river Yantra. Go to the Samovodska market place and continue to Arbanassi museum village, a genuine gallery of art. Continue to the open-air Etara Ethnographic Museum that presents the Bulgarian culture. Continue to Garbrovo and the House of Humour and Satire, which covers the reputation of the locals for being skinflints. Travel to Shipka pass and the Shipka Memorial Church. Back to Veliko Tarnovo.

Day 7

Veliko Tarnovo - Bucharest (181km/3h30min) 
Transfer to Bucharest. After arrival half day guided tour of the city   including the Royal Palace - built in the early 19th century and the former seat of the State Council that also houses the National Art Museum in its South Wing, Stavropoleos Church - it has an arabesque facade with a columned portico carved with delicate tracery, Patriarchal Cathedral - the seat of the Romanian Orthodox Church located on a hill overlooking the southern side of the city. See Palace of Parliament -a colossal building and the third largest building in the world.

Day 8

Bucharest - Sinaia(130km/2h) - Bran(75km/1h10min) - Brasov (30km/30min)  
Departure to Sinaia and the fabulous Peles Castle. Continue to the legendary Dracula`s Castle in Bran. Arrival in Brasov, the second most visited city in Romania. Enjoy the walk in the old town and its centuries old buildings. 

Day 9

Brasov 
Full day guided tour of Brasov - the medieval town with ornate Saxon churches and townhouses. Brasov boasts everything from dynamic modern city life to old world charm and fascinating scenery. It is here that you will visit the 15th century Town Hall, with its quaint Trumpeter’s Tower on top, and the Lutheran Black Church. The Black Church is the largest Gothic church in the country, and its 7 tone bell is the largest in Romania. Inside there are fine hanging Turkish carpets and a huge organ with 4000 pipes built by Buchholz. Continue to the Orthodox St Nicholas Cathedral, which is easily recognized by its black spires. Next to St. Nicholas Church is the First Romanian School (started in 1583), and a statue of Coresi. Nearby is a cemetery where Aurel Popovici, Vasile Saftu, and Nicolae Titulescu are buried.

Day 10

Brasov - Bucharest (169km/3h30min)
Transfer to Bucharest airport for your final departure. 

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