DAY 1 Sofia
Welcome to Sofia - the capital and largest city of Bulgaria! On your arrival, you will be transferred from the airport to your hotel for check-in. In the evening, meet your tour guide for a welcome meeting followed by dinner.

Stay at: Rosslyn Central Park Hotel (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Dinner

DAY 2 Sofia
After breakfast, embark on a guided tour of this 8,500 year old city. Visit the Ancient Serdica (the old name of the city) with the newest archaeological discoveries from Roman time and the Archeological Museum, exhibiting the golden mask of the Thracian king Teres and the bronze head of the Thracian king Sitalces. You will also stop by the Alexander I square where the Royal Palace and the National Theatre are located, “Tzar Osvoboditel” boulevard, the Parliament, the Basilica of St. Sofia, the Sofia University and the “Alexander Nevski” cathedral (one of the biggest Orthodox Cathedral on the Balkan peninsula). Next, journey to the outskirts of Sofia and to the foothills of Vitosha Mountain to visit Boyana Church – a medieval Bulgarian Orthodox church situated in Boyana district. The monument is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and is one of the most completely and perfectly preserved monuments of East European medieval art. The frescoes in the church, painted in 1259, make it one of the most important collections of medieval paintings and are initiating the beginning of the European Renaissance. Return to Sofia where you will have the option to partake in a Bulgarian folklore show with dinner.

Stay at: Rosslyn Central Park Hotel (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 3 Sofia – Starosel – Panagyurishte – Hissar
This morning depart for the village of Starosel to visit the Thracian temple-complex. Explore the largest Thracian royal and cult- complex which dates to the 5th century BC. The complex features a temple, a mausoleum, and several tombs that are impressively preserved and provide a fascinating glimpse into the Thracian civilization. Afterwards, continue your journey to the old Renaissance town of Panagyurishte to visit the Historical Museum where the famous golden treasure – a masterpiece of the Thracian cultural heritage – is exhibited. Next, set off to Hissar, a town founded thousands of years by the Romans, thanks to its curative mineral springs. In the times of late Antiquity (4th-6th century) the town was named after the Roman Emperor Diocletian and was one of the five biggest cities in the Roman province Thrace. A unique tomb with mosaics and frescos of the Rose, the symbol of Bulgaria nowadays, can be seen here. Overnight in Hissar where your day concludes with dinner.

Stay at: SPA Hotel Hissar (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 4 Hissar – Rose Valley and of the Thracian Kings – Stara Zagora
Start your day with breakfast before heading to Bulgaria’s Valley of the Thracian Kings and Roses. Visit a family-run rose oil distillery, where hosts reveal the craft behind world-renowned Bulgarian rose oil, a key ingredient in top perfumes by Chanel and Kenzo. Explore the famed Kazanlak Tomb, a UNESCO site covered in ancient Hellenistic frescoes, followed by another well-preserved Thracian tomb. In the afternoon, discover Stara Zagora, the city of lime trees and successor to Roman Augusta Trayana. The city features authentic Roman streets, a historic forum, and striking archaeological remains. End the day with dinner at your hotel.

Stay at: Hotel Forum (3 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 5 Stara Zagora – Alexandrova Village – Haskovo – Tatul Village – Kardzhali
Following breakfast, travel to the Rhodope Mountains, Orpheus’s legendary birthplace on Bulgaria’s southern border. Visit the ancient Thracian tomb near Alexandrovo, famous for 4th-century B.C. hunting frescoes. Tour the local Thracian art museum, inaugurated by Japan’s Crown Prince. Enjoy a brief stop in Haskovo, home to the world’s tallest Virgin Mary statue, before continuing to Perperikon and the historic Orpheus sanctuary - the oldest Thracian sanctuary of a deified ruler. The day ends with accommodation, dinner, and overnight in Kardzhali.

Stay at: Hotel Perperikon (3 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 6 Kardzhali – Perperikon – Plovdiv
After breakfast, head to Perperikon, a key Thracian sanctuary famous for its oracle and ancient links to Dionysus. Legends say Alexander the Great learned of his future here. Continue to Plovdiv, Bulgaria's second-largest city and 2019 European Capital of Culture, with roots connected to King Philip II, Alexander’s father. Explore Plovdiv’s Old Town: admire 19th-century houses, the Bishop’s Basilica, St. Constantine and Elena Church, the Roman Theatre, and the Roman Stadium. Tonight, dinner will be accompanied by a tasting of local Thracian-style Bulgarian wines.

Stay at: Hill house authentic house old town/Ramada Plovdiv Trimontium (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 7 Plovdiv - Rila Monastery - Sofia
Depart this morning for the Rila Monastery, Bulgaria’s largest and most significant medieval spiritual centre. Founded in the 10th century, the site is now a UNESCO World Heritage site attracting many Orthodox Christians pilgrims. You will have the chance to view the monastery’s icons, frescoes, and historic library. In the afternoon, return to Sofia where you will overnight.

Stay at: Rosslyn Central Park Hotel (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch

DAY 8 Sofia
Your tour concludes with breakfast and a departure transfer for your onward journey

Meals included: Breakfast