Make your way to your local airport where you will board your overnight flight(s). Your meals will be served on board.

Upon landing into Sofia airport, make your way to the baggage claim area and collect your luggage. Proceed to the arrival’s hall, where you will be greeted by your tour guide and/or driver. Transfer to your hotel with afternoon to explore. This evening celebrate Mass, followed with a welcome dinner at a local restaurant with Nestinari fire dances and a spectacular folklore show. Overnight in Sofia.

After breakfast we will travel to one of the largest orthodox monasteries in the world – the Rila Monastery. The monastery was founded in the 10th century in the heart of the Rila Mountains, at an elevation of 1150 m. above sea level. In the Middle Ages it developed into an important centre of intellectual and cultural life in Bulgaria. The buildings on the monastery grounds are home to around 300 ornamented chambers, each one – a unique work of art. Explore among others the main church and the monastery museum with its valuable exhibits of religious books, ancient weapons of the monastery guards, deeds by Bulgarian Tsars, jewellery and church objects. After the visit return to Sofia, where we will start our city tour of the Bulgarian capital. The tour starts at Sveta Nedelya square. Situated a few steps away from the square is the oldest church in the city, the St. George Rotunda, built by the Romans in the 4th century. The landmark of the city is the Orthodox Cathedral Alexander Nevsky. Built in the 20th century and is the largest Orthodox temple on the entire Balkan Peninsula. Enjoy a delicious dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Sofia.

Following breakfast we will travel towards Plovdiv, the 2019 European Cultural Capital. It is situated in the Upper Thracian Plain, on the both banks of the Maritsa river. Plovdiv is one of the oldest cities in Europe and second largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia. The beginning of its history dates back to 4,000 years BC. During the city tour you will discover the unique cultural and historical heritage such as the Ancient Roman Theatre, the Roman Odeon, the Roman stadium and the Folk Art Museum. Celebrate Mass at he local Cathedral before enjoying some free time for lunch in Plovdiv. We will continue our journey towards Kazanlak, where we will visit the local rose distilery and enjoy a rose brandy tasting. In the evening arrive in Veliko Tarnovo, the former capital of the Bulgarian empire. Check-in and have dinner at the hotel before a restful nigh in Veliko Tarnovo.

After time for breakfast this morning we will enjoy a walking tour of Veliko Tarnovo. Start with visit of the Tsaravets fortress, a medieval stronghold from the 12th century, which used to house the royal residence and the patriarchal palace. Walk by the ancient gates, visit the Balduin’s Tower and the St. Petka” church. The church is dedicated to the martyr St. Paraskevi of Iconium. Paraskeva was a woman living in Iconium, Asia Minor (present day Konya, Turkey), at the end of the 2nd and the beginning of the 3rd century. She was introduced to Christianity by her parents. They died when she was very young and as they were very wealthy she inherited a huge fortune. Instead of spending the fortune on luxury and pleasures, she helped people in need by providing food for the starving, shelter for the homeless and clothes for those who could not afford them. She was so devoted to Christianity that she decided to remain celibate and started introducing other people around her to Christianity as well. Continue to the crafts street „Samovodska charshia”, where you will see workshops, galleries and traditional houses. We will transfer to Ruse, a city situated on the banks of the Danube, and enjoy some free time for lunch. At the Romanian border you will meet your Romanian guide and depart towards Bucharest. Check-in at your hotel upon arrival folowed by Mass celebration at the local Cathedral. This evening enjoy a walking tour in the Old Town of Bucharest with dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Bucharest.

After breakfast we will head towards Sibiu, the largest and wealthiest walled citadel built in Transylvania in the 12th century by the German settlers. We will stop for lunch in Calimanesti, where you can also admire the 14th century Cozia Monastery, dedicated to the “Holy Trinity”, was initially known as “Nucet Monastery”, only later receiving the name “Cozia”, after the neighboring mountain. The monastery has two chapels, one dedicated to the “Assumption” (1583), and the other, “All Saints’ Sunday” (1710). Continue to Sibiu and check-in at your hotel upon arrival. The town has a pedestrian-friendly area, with two accessible levels: The Upper Town and The Lower Town, connected through The Stairs Passage. Preserving until today its wonderful medieval atmosphere, Sibiu was listed by Forbes in its top 10 of the most idyllic places to live in the whole world. Visit the Grand Square, the Small Square, the Liar’s Bridge and the impressive Evangelical Cathedral. In the Grand Square you will find the Holy Trinity Cathedral, where we will celebrate Mass. Dinner at a local restaurant in the evening and overnight in Sibiu.

Today you depart towards the Turda Salt Mine, which is one of the world’s oldest salt mines, dating back to the Middle Ages. Today a museum of the history of salt mining. The excellent state of preservation of the mining works and of the equipment used for salt transport, together with the care with which the preparation works of the salt mine were carried out to become a tourist objective, made history and legend intertwine harmoniously here. After some free time for lunch depart to Cluj Napoca, the largest city of Transylvania. Take a stroll at the Unification Square, discover the equestrian statue of the Hungarian King Matthias Corvinus and the Catholic Church St. Michael which dominates the center of the city with its massive Gothic silhouette and offers breathtaking views from its 76 m (250 ft) clock tower. This 15th-century Roman Catholic church was built partially from donations from the townspeople. On the western portal notice the three coats of arms that represent Sigismund as King of Hungary, King of Bohemia, and Holy Roman Emperor. Continue your tour towards Bistrita, where upon arrival check-in at your hotel and celebrate Mass at the local Cathedral. Dinner at the hotel and overnight in Bistrita.

Following breakfast we will start our tour of the painted monasteries of Bucovina with the most famous Romanian monastery. The Voronet monastery was built at the end of the 15th century by Stephan the Great and it is worldwide known as the „Sistine Chapel of the East” due to its stunning interior and exterior paintings featuring an intense blue color, also known as Voronet Blue. After free time for luncnh we will continue to Moldovita, where you visit one of the most representative Romanian orthodox monasteries, the Moldovita monastery. Dating back to the 16th centuries, the monastery from Moldovita, presents wonderful gold and deep blue paintings and large frescoes such as the Siege of Constantinople. Return to Bistrita in the afternoon to celebrate Mass at the local Cathedral upon arrival. Dinner at a local restaurant in Bistrita.

Discover today one of the most interesting towns in Transylvania – Targu Mures – a mix of Romanian, German and Hungarian cultures. During the city tour you can admire the city’s landmarks such as the Apollo Palace built in Baroque style, the Old Prefecture building from the 18th century, The Teleki Palace and the Orthodox Cathedral, which houses the largest painted area in an orthodox church in Romania. After the tour you wil celebrate Mass at the local Cathedral and then enjoy some free time for lunch. You travel then towards Sighisoara, one of the few still inhabited medieval citadels in the world. After the check- in enjoy a walking tour inside the citadel, and dinner at a local historic restaurant, also known as Dracula’s birth house. Overnight in Sighisoara.

After breakfast depart to Bran, where you will find the most famous castle in the world – the Dracula Castle. Hidden in the hilly forest of Bran and surrounded by an aura of mystery and legend, the castle was built by the German Saxons in the 14th century and served as customs for many centuries between Transylvania and Wallachia. In 1920 the castle became Royal Residence, offered as a gift by the people of Brasov to Queen Marie of Romania. Now world widely known for being the place where Bram Stoker’s fictional creation, Count Dracula is set, the castle is the most visited place in Transylvania. Free time for lunch near the castle. Continue to Brasov, one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Eastern Europe. In the afternoon you will visit the well preserved old town of Brasov, where you will get to know the historical and cultural attractions such as the Council Square, the Nicholas Church, the Black Church and the Brasov fortress. After the tour attend the church mass at the local Cathedral. Check-in at the hotel and in the evening enjoy dinner at a local restaurant in the Old Town. Overnight in Brasov.

In the morning depart to Sinaia, where you visit the Peles Castle from the 19th century. The castle was built in German neo renaissance style and it is considered one of the most beautiful castles in the world. Travel to Bucharest in the afternoon. Visit the impressive Parliament Palace upon arrival. Enjoy a panoramic tour which features all the important attractions such as the Union Square, University Square, Roman Square, the Arch of Triumph, the Victory Square, the Victory Avenue and the revolution Square. after the check-in at the hotel, take part in the church mass at the St. Josef Cathedral in Bucharest. In the evening enjoy a farewell dinner at a historic restaurant in the Old Town. Overnight in Bucharest.

Your last day in Bulgaria will begin with breakfast at your hotel, followed by a transfer to the Bucharest airport for your return flight(s) home

*206 Tours Disclaimer:
Occasionally local religious and national holidays, weather, traffic conditions and other events may necessitate changes in the sequence of events or the missing of certain events/places. Though every effort will be made to follow the itinerary, it should be considered as an indication, rather than a contract of events and places to be visited.