3. B) The Seven Rila Lakes
•Probably the most beautiful
sight in Bulgaria
•One night somewhere in a
chalet (TBC)
4. 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)
5. C) Melnik
•Architecture, Nature, culture and wine
•Rozhen Monastery
•One night?
D) Bansko
•Hosted Ski World Cup 2012
•Enjoy a beautiful trip through the mountains
along the way (most likely no snow in July…)
•One night? (TBC)
6. 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)
7. 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 town
in Bulgaria
•One night
8. G.a) Karlovo
•Short stop
•Another cultural town
•Historically important, also famous for the production of
rose 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
9. H) Kalofer
•Centre of revolutionary activity against
the reign of the Ottomans
•Home town of one of the greatest poets
and revolutionaries of Bulgaria - Hristo Botev
H.a) Drive through the Rose Valley
•Visit the Shipka monument - One of the most heroic
battles of the Russo-Bulgarian against the Turkish
army. Winning this battle had strategic importance
for the Liberation of Bulgaria
H.b) Stop by in Kazanluk
10. 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
12. 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
13. •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
14. 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)
Ryanair
Plovdiv – Frankfurt Hahn ; London Stansted
EasyJet
Sofia – Manchester; London (Gatwick)
15. 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.
16. •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
€100 = approx £85
TRIP: this is a very extensive trip and could be reduced if necessary (Number of days; distance, etc)
PARTICIPANTS: the number of people is flexible of course. You are expected to be flexible as the group could get rather large.
LODGING: most of those places are generally cheap. Prices will be higher in cities and at the seasid. However, don’t forget you have a local guy with you. I will do my best to reduce our costs. Camping always remains an option, in most cases – free of charge.
FOOD: in some of those locations you will spend a fiver and will not be able to eat it all... Don’t forget that cost of food is a sunk cost and you have to eat no matter whether you are in Bulgaria, UK, Belgium, or wherever else.
RENT A CAR: the cost could be reduced if I manage to find something non-official
FLIGHTS: If you book well in advance, you should be able to pay as little as €100-150 (it is a popular destination and flights do get expensive)
BEVERAGE: Alcohol is cheap. Your spending curve is proportional to your consumption saturation. A beer in a restaurant is €1-€1.50
Spirits are €1-€2 per 50ml depending on the brand and type of place (bar / pub / restaurant / etc.)