Description

Summary

This journey will take you to the Eastern Serbia and Western Bulgaria with the goal to reveal the cultural and natural heritage of the Balkan Peninsula and the Danube River. You will follow the footsteps of the Roman Emperor Rulers and immerse yourself into what was there every day life and customs. Integral part of it was the grape growing and wine producing, so you will have the chance to taste some of the best wines of this region. Besides the history of the land you will also feel the XXI century vibe of the largest and most modern cities in Serbia and Bulgaria.

Tour highlights

• The Majestic Danube River
• Sightseeing of Nis, Sofia, Plovdiv
• Wine- tasting in 2 award winning wineries
• UNESCO World Heritage
• Traditional Balkan cuisine

Tour information

Price per person: 995 € (valid for a group of 10 people)

Duration: 11 days/10 nights

Best period: mid June – mid October

Type : guided cultural trip + wine-tasting

Level: easy

Guided: yes

Transport:  transfers by a private bus

Other dates:

Other dates available upon request.

Day by day 

Day 1: Sofia
Arrival and sightseeing tour of Sofia.

Day 2: Pirot – Mediana Nis
After breakfast departure from Sofia hotel and drive direction Serbia. On  the way we visit  Saint John the Theologian Poganovo Monastery or the Sukovo Holy Virgin Monastery. After lunch tour of the Mediana archaeological site. Hotel accommodation, dinner, overnight.

Day 3: Krusevac – Aleksandrovac – Jagodina
After breakfast drive to Krusevac and quick tour of the Lazarica Church and the ruins of the Medieval Prince Lazar’s town. Continue to Aleksandrovac wine region and visit to the old Wine Museum. Afternoon drive along highway to Jagodina and hotel accommodation..

Day 4: Smederevo – Viminacium – Pozarevac
After breakfast drive along highway to Smederevo and tour of the Medieval fortress with presentation of knights and wine tasting. Continue to Viminacium archaeological site and.

Day 5: Golubac Fortress – Lepenski Vir site – Kladovo
After breakfast drive along the Danube to the Golubac Fortress. Continue to Kladovo, with visit of the Lepenski Vir prehistorical archaeological site/Museum. Evening cruise with luxury boat Maxim along the Danube, through the most beautiful part of the river course, passing by Tabula Traiana plaque. Fish dinner with wine tasting on the boat.

Day 6: Diana Fort – Felix Romuliana – Bukovo Monastery – Rajac Wineries – Negotin
After breakfast visit to the Museum of Archaeology in Kladovo and the Diana Fortress. Drive via Negotin to Felix Romuliana archaeological site and sightseeing. Continue to Rajac Wineries – Rajacke Pimnice wineries in the tiny Rajac village. Wine tasting and folklore performance.

Day 7: Kale Fortress, Belogradtschik
After breakfast tour of the Negotin Museum of Krajina. Visit to the Matalj Winery and wine tasting.
Entering Bulgaria at noon. And drive to Belogradtschik, where we visit the Belogradtschik fortress. Traditional dinner with wine tasting from Boroviza winery.

Day 8: Ulpia Oescus and Pleven wine Museum
After breakfast transfer to Magura cave – one of the the most important and extended European post-Palaeolithic painted caves. Then we visit the wine museum in the nearby city of Pleven. Drive to Ruse and sightseeing tour.

Day 9: Ivanovo Churches (UNESCO) and Veliko Tarnovo
After breakfast we head to Veliko Tarnovo – the medieval capital of Bulgaria, visiting on our way the medieval Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo. Sightseeing tour in Veliko Tarnovo: We visit the medieval fortress, situated on the hill Tsarevets. Dinner and wine tasting in Han Hadzhi Nikoli Heritage Restaurant.

Day 10: Kazanlak – Plovdiv
Drive to drive to Kasanlak. We visit the famous Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak from 4th century BC. Drive further to Plovdiv and sightseeing tour in the old city. Plovdiv’s history spans 6,000 years, ranking it among the world’s oldest cities.

Day 11: Plovdiv – Sofia and departure
According to the flight schedule free time in Plovdiv after breakfast and drive to Sofia. Departure flight and end of program and services.

The price includes:

• accommodation & meals in 3-4* hotels
• 10 breakfasts and 10 dinners
• professional English-speaking tour guide and wine expert
• all museum entrance fees and wine-tasting
• all transfers according to the program in private miniva or minibus

The price excludes:

• meals and drinks not mentioned in the itinerary
• personal expenses
• flights and taxes

*Operator Remarks: This journey is made by the cooperation between Odysseia – in Ltd, Bulgaria and Panacomp, Serbia.