Rural Romania
SEE PASTEBOARD 4 REGION CENTRAL EUROPE &
THE BALKANS
Rila Monastery , Bulgaria Veliko Tarnovo , Bulgaria
ITINERARY
DAY 1 • Depart U . S . Depart the U . S . on your flight to Sofia , Bulgaria .
DAY 2 • Sofia , Bulgaria After an overnight flight , transfer to the hotel and meet your fellow travelers — including those who have arrived from our pre-trip extension , Thessaloniki & Mount Olympus .
Meals : D | Central Park Hotel or similar
DAY 3 • Sofia Get to know the Bulgarian capital city during a walking tour today and witness many sites , including the ancient Roman city of Serdica and impressive Alexander Nevsky Cathedral . Then tonight , enjoy a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant .
Meals : B , D | Central Park Hotel or similar
DAY 4 • Sofia • Rila Monastery • Plovdiv Today we ’ ll visit Rila Monastery , a UNESCO World Heritage Site , then enjoy lunch at a local restaurant . Next , we ’ ll continue on to the ancient city of Plovdiv .
Meals : B , L , D | Hotel in Plovdiv or similar
DAY 5 • Plovdiv We ’ ll explore the ancient city of Plovdiv today . We ’ ll tour one of the city ’ s most well-preserved Ottomanstyle homes , walk the cobblestone streets , and stroll past an ancient Roman amphitheater .
Meals : B | Hotel in Plovdiv or similar
DAY 6 • Plovdiv • Kazanlak • Veliko Tarnovo This morning , we ’ ll depart Plovdiv and head to our next destination : Veliko Tarnovo . Along the way , we ’ ll stop to discover the town of Kazanlak , nestled in the middle of Bugaria ’ s Valley of Roses .
Meals : B , L | Gurko Hotel or similar
DAY 7 • Asenevtsi Monument • Arbanassi • Home- Hosted Dinner
This morning , we ’ ll visit Asenevtsi Monument , dedicated to the brothers Asen , Petar , Kaloyan and Ivan Asen II who led the uprising that culminated in the liberation of Bulgaria from the Byzantine Empire . Then we ’ ll head to Arbanassi , a historical village known for its unique , fortress-like architectural style . Tonight , we ’ ll enjoy a Home-Hosted Dinner with a local Bulgarian family .
Meals : B , D | Gurko Hotel or similar
DAY 8 • Basarbovo Monastery • Bucharest , Romania
Embark on a scenic drive to Bucharest , Romania this morning . Along the way , stop at medieval Basarbovo Monastery , Bulgaria ’ s only active rock monastery .
Meals : B , L | Hotel in Bucharest or similar
DAY 9 • Bucharest • Conversation about the 1989 Romanian Revolution • Optional Ceausescu Palace tour
During a guided tour of Bucharest today , a local will give us his personal account of the 1989 revolution . This afternoon , you may choose to join an optional visit to Ceausescu Palace , also known as the Spring House .
Meals : B , D | Hotel in Bucharest
DAY 10 • Bucharest • Palace of the Parliament Today , take a tour of the Palace of the Parliament , the seat of Romania ’ s national government .
Meals : B | Hotel in Bucharest or similar
DAY 11 • Pitesti Prison visit • Sibiu Transfer to Sibiu today . En route , visit Pitesti Prison , infamous for its reeducation experiments between 1949-1951 during Communist rule in Romania . Later , get to know Sibiu , known as “ the city with eyes ” due to the unique shape of its buildings ’ attic windows .
Meals : B , L , D | Hotel in Sibiu or similar
ADVENTURE HIGHLIGHT
On Day 4 , visit Bulgaria ’ s famously frescoed Rila Monastery , a UNESCO World Heritage Site .
Information & Reservations 1-800-955-1925 www . oattravel . com / rbg 173