9 Days | Find your new favourite spot on an express adventure through Eastern Europe’s ancient sites
Embark on a spectacular journey from Romania to Bulgaria, ending it all in Istanbul. Absorb Bucharest’s atmosphere on a guided walking tour, compare age-old places of worship in Sofia, breathe in crisp alpine air on a hike in the Pirin Mountains and meander back in time in the Old Town of Plovdiv. End it all in transcontinental Istanbul, where you can choose to extend your adventure through Turkey. This nine-day trip is a fascinating insight into just how much regions can change as you cross national borders!
Trip overview
- Start
- Bucharest, Romania
- Finish
- Istanbul, Turkey
- Theme
- Explorer
- Destinations
- Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria
- Physical rating
- Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
- Style
- Original
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 12
- Trip code
- WMSI
- Learn about the communist past and vibrant present of Bucharest – the capital of Romania that’s often underrated by travellers!
- Travel through the scenic Rila Mountains in Bulgaria, mingling with monks at the 10th-century Rila Monastery.
- Indulge in local Bulgarian cheese and wines with a local chef in Veliko Tarnovo, at their family-owned spot in the Old Town.
- Take a trip on the last operational narrow-gauge line in Bulgaria, from Bansko to Plovdiv. Grab a window seat if you can, the scenery is worth it!
- Breathe the crisp mountain air on a short hike in the Pirin Mountains in Bulgaria, stopping at a small blue lake surrounded by towering peaks.
- Summer temperatures can be extreme in many of the regions visited (over 40°C), which can be uncomfortable. It’s important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat and drink plenty of water. Please carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.
- Hotels in Europe often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together/apart.
- As you will have the opportunity to visit several orthodox churches on this trip, please ensure you cover your legs, shoulders and chest and show the appropriate respect. It's a good idea to bring a light scarf to cover your skin as needed.
- If you have more time to explore the region, check out trips 'Eastern Europe Explorer' (trip code WMSEC) and 'Journey through Central Europe & Romania' (trip code AMSCC). Most departure dates are designed to create these perfect combination trips.
- On this trip, you must pack as lightly as possible because you will be expected to carry your own bag and although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes), we strongly recommend keeping the weight under 15 kg (33 lb). Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice. We recommend your bag has carry straps to accommodate the cobbled streets, uneven surfaces, stairs and steps.
Itinerary
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2024 - 31 December 2024
Inclusions
6 breakfasts
Private Mini-bus, Public Bus, Private vehicle, Metro, Taxi
Hotel (8 nights)
- Veliko Tarnovo- Orientation Walk
- Veliko Tarnovo- Local Cheese and Wine Workshop
- Veliko Tarnovo - Tsarevets Fortress
- Rila - Monastery Visit
- Pirin Mountains - Hike
- Rhodope Narrow-Gauge Railway
- Plovdiv-Private Transfer from Plovdiv Train Station to Plovdiv Hotel
- Plovdiv - Walking Tour with Local Guide
- Istanbul- Private Transfer from Istanbul Bus Station to Istanbul Hotel
- Plovdiv- Private Transfer from Plovdiv Hotel to Plovdiv Bus Station
- Bucharest - Palace of Parliament Tour - RON60
- Bucharest - Village Museum - RON30
- Bucharest - Bike Tour - EUR25
- Bucharest - Former Ceausescu Residence - RON65
- Bucharest - Romanian Athenaeum - RON10
- Bucharest - Urban Adventures Bohemian Bucharest - EUR75
- Veliko Tarnovo - Archeological Museum - BGN6
- Sofia - National Art Gallery - BGN10
- Sofia - Aleksander Nevski Church - Free
- Sofia - National History Museum - BGN12
- Sofia - The Red Flat - BGN18
- Sofia - Walking Tour with Local Guide - BGN17
- Bansko - Spa Visit - BGN40
- Plovdiv - Bachkovo Monastery - BGN16
- Plovdiv - Hisarya Hot Springs - BGN50
- Istanbul - Hagia Sophia - EUR25
- Istanbul - Archaeology Museum - TRY340
- Istanbul - Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts - TRY390
- Istanbul - Galata Tower - TRY650
- Istanbul - Bosphorus Boat Cruise (Public Boat) - TRY200
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. A single supplement is bookable for this trip, subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. You don't have a lot of time in Bucharest and Istanbul at the start and the end of the trip respectively, so if you're keen to explore these underrated cities in depth, we recommend you arrive a day or two before the start of the trip and/or extend your stay at the end.
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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