Day 1 - Saturday
Fly to Sofia and transfer to your hotel, ideally situated in the very centre of Bulgaria‘s fascinating capital city. Enjoy dinner at the hotel, meet your Inghams Tour Guide and look forward to the days ahead.

Day 2 - Sunday
In the morning enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Sofia. See the magnificent Alexander Nevski Cathedral with its golden dome and a wealth of other attractions which reflect the rich history of this old city. Free time for lunch in one of Sofia’s many good eating places and an afternoon at your leisure. Wander through the park where the local men play chess or stop for a coffee on Vitoshia Boulevard and soak in the city’s intriguing atmosphere. Alternatively take an optional excursion to Koprivshtitsa, a charming museum town of fully restored houses and architecture from the National Revival period. See costume jewellery, ceramics and rugs being made in the traditional way. Dinner is taken in a characteristic local restaurant.

Day 3 - Monday
A morning of leisure in Sofia to appreciate the cultural sights and explore the cosmopolitan shopping streets offering many designer names. Or join the short option tour of the Boyana Church, a UNESCO World Heritage site. In the afternoon we leave for the medieval town of Veliko Tarnovo, arriving in good time for dinner at the hotel. Afterwards experience the drama of an atmospheric optional Sound & Light show presented over the old walled fortress.

Day 4 - Tuesday
In the morning a sightseeing tour of Veliko Tarnovo, with its stone houses perched on the banks of the River Yantra. In the afternoon free time to explore the old town’s characteristic streets of craft shops and relax by the Yantra to enjoy the views. Later in the afternoon we depart for Arbanassi, one of the most picturesque villages in Bulgaria. Explore the village’s famous attractively decorated houses which have been preserved for centuries. Following the sightseeing we stay in Arbanassi for a typical dinner of excellent regional fayre, accompanied with traditional floor show and live music

Day 5 - Wednesday
Veliko Tarnovo to Plovdiv. Leaving the medieval town behind, we stop at Tryavna for a tour of this historic town, taking in its ancient clocktower, town square and its preserved houses with beautiful woodcarved decoration. After lunch we visit pretty Etara, a reproduction authentic rural village set in a scenic wooded valley. Time afterwards to stroll through the village and watch the local craftsmen weaving, making pottery, painting, even baking bread, using age-old working methods. From here we head over the Shipka Pass, a most panoramic route, with time to visit the beautifully ornate Shipka Church with its opulent gold domes. Entering the Rose Valley and Kazanluk, capital of Bulgaria’s rose oil industry where 70% of the world’s rose oil is produced, we visit the country’s oldest Rose oil refinery with museum before continuing to Plovdiv. Dinner is taken at the hotel.

Day 6 - Thursday
In the morning a sightseeing tour of Plovdiv, one of Bulgaria’s most vibrant old cities, with cobbled streets and ornate mansions set in wonderful courtyards. The air here blends with gentle aromas of geraniums. Visit the church of Konstantin and Elena, the characteristic town museum and the impressive amphitheatre built by the Romans back in 2nd century a.d., where music and theatre performances are often held today. The afternoon is free to enjoy Plovdiv at leisure, or join an optional tour of the Todoroff Wine Cellars to learn the processes and of course sample the wines. Dinner is taken at the hotel.

Day 7 - Friday
In the morning we leave Plovdiv and head towards the Rila Monastery, passing local villages and farmland scenes to enter mountain landscapes. Time to appreciate the Monastery’s unique architectural style and learn about its ancient frescoes and importance to Bulgarian history. We enjoy lunch here before continuing to the picturesque mountain town of Bansko, arriving in good time for dinner at the hotel.

Day 8 - Saturday
A guided walking tour of the old town of Bansko with its cobbled lanes and stout timber framed houses. We visit the local museum which explores the history of this interesting little town. In the afternoon we take a relaxed panoramic tour of the scenic Bansko valley, visiting the local villages and enjoy a short trip on a narrow gauge train from the spa town of Dobriniste back to Bansko. In the evening we enjoy wine tasting and dinner in a local taverna with live music and floor show to entertain.

Day 9 - Sunday
A day at leisure in Bansko. See the older generations still wearing traditional dress, locals working on their reclaimed land with old fashioned tools and decorated horse drawn carriages passing by. These olde worlde scenes and traditional ways of living exist alongside new attractive developments and modern facilities as the resorts looks to a bright future. Time to also join an optional guided walk in the scenic mountains around Bansko and picnic lunch. Thessaloniki in Greece is also accessible from here in a day and offers a whole new mix of sights, sounds and culture.

Day 10 - Monday
A day in Bansko or take one of the optional excursions. Visit Melnik and Sandanski, close to the Greek border. Melnik, the smallest town in Bulgaria is visually stunning, backed by high sandstone pyramids. Melnik’s most picturesque nineteenth century house, once the home of a rich merchant with secret passages, wine cellars and vineyards, is a fascinating visit. Taste some of Melnik’s famous wines in a peaceful location overlooking the village. After lunch we leave for Sandanski, a spa town with an ideal climate of sunshine and low humidity. Or join a half day trip to Dobarsko Village where you will be entertained with frescoes, traditional food and a Ladies Choir. Back at the hotel, time to look back on trip highlights with new found friends as the group dines together a final time.

Day 11 - Tuesday
Depart Bansko for Sofia airport and your return flight to the UK.