Bulgaria & Romania: Frescoes &… (trip)

Bulgaria & Romania: Frescoes & Fortresses

  • Sofia Airport, Sofia, Bulgaria
  • Culture & Nature
“"I've been on four MIR trips. All were wonderful and I plan many more trips with MIR. The overriding impression… ”
Bulgaria, Romania, Europe

from $5,995* per person16 DaysMay, September
Comfort accommodations Exertion level: 3
Operator: MIR Corporation 16 people max
Explore the complex history and fascinating culture of Bulgaria and Romania, two Balkan countries whose rugged terrain and consequent isolation have helped preserve their heritage. Discover the luminous frescoes of the painted monasteries, breathe in the fragrance of the Valley of the Roses, and spend an afternoon visiting with villagers in a tiny Transylvanian town.

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Locations visited/nearby

Bulgaria, Romania, Europe

2 testimonials about this trip

  1. Reviewer: B. Martin located in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA USA
    "I've been on four MIR trips. All were wonderful and I plan many more trips with MIR. The overriding impression of this tour was that ancient history is brought to life. I can't pick a favorite part. The beautiful Carpathian Mountains, beautiful old historic buildings, lovely villages and nice people all are great.
  2. Reviewer: D. Schuh located in Victoria, BC Canada
    “Excellent trip. I am recommending it broadly. Friendliness and warmth of the people and impressive color and artistry in the monuments and textiles were beautiful.”

3 testimonials about the provider, MIR Corporation:

  • Reviewer: K. Knack located in Malibu, CA USA
    Every day I am grateful for this fabulous trip. The destinations you specialize in are of much more interest now that I know what a well-delivered service you provide.

    MIR's tour manager made my trip more deeply meaningful and made sure that everyone on the train came away with a greater appreciation for this vast country. Thank you so much for your great itinerary, for the tremendous abilities of your staff... You can be certain I will recommend your company.



  • Reviewer: The Tobys located in Rockville Center, NY USA
    …It is safe to say without the expertise of your superb cadre of guides in the country we never could have put it all together. In fact, we were totally dependent on them to benefit from the extraordinary experienced of visiting three regions of [Ukraine] within a two-week time period.

    Clearly, MIR Corporation has a well-deserved reputation for superb customer service. We support that well-deserved reputation, which is possibly rooted in the fact that your associates like their jobs and that job satisfaction has been transferred to customer and client relations….

    Honestly, we were duly impressed with each of the regional guides and the drivers who accompanied us. Their local knowledge of the unique features of their respective region was so evident, impressive, and unmatched by any we have encounters over our 40 years of visiting 140 countries.

    I want to thank you for a most stupendous trip; 5 stars plus. Loved Ukraine, the people, the sites, the precision of our tour; the fine quality of the guides and drivers - how much they care, how much they know and how much they kept our interests foremost in their hearts and their minds. It was just stupendous.

    It was so fabulous we cannot stop talking about it. Again, thank you very much. And I will certainly recommend MIR Corporation when it is appropriate for our friends & colleagues.

    It was excellent beyond all expectations.


  • Reviewer: The Repkos located in Princeton, NJ USA
    We don’t know where to start – a perfect itinerary which satisfied all of our needs, excellent accommodations superbly located, flawless execution of all aspects including visas, vouchers, theatre tickets, etc., and last but certainly not least, truly outstanding and professional guides and drivers.

    …We only wish that MIR provided tours everywhere, in which case we would never use another tour company again..

    MIR Office in Seattle was outstanding…We have already told several friends about MIR and how wonderful they are! You all put together a trip for us that was perfect to our budget, time frame and interests. Russia is a fabulous destination – wonderful history, magnificent sites we can’t say enough about MIR and Russia.

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Special information

  • May accommodate certain types of disabilities. Contact the operator for more information.

Itinerary

Days 1-6: Sofia, Plovdiv, Veliko Tarnovo

Begin the journey in Sofia, Bulgaria, a city with more than 7,000 years of history. Visit the serene Rila Monastery, founded in 927 as a retreat for hermits. Pause in the Thracian settlement of Plovdiv with its ancient Roman and 19th century architecture, before setting off through the beautiful countryside of the Valley of Roses toward Veliko Tarnovo, capital of the 12th century Second Bulgarian Empire. Here, the remains of the Royal Fortress still stand at the top of Tsarevets Hill.

Days 7-8: Bucharest

Crossing the Danube into Romania, tour its capital, Bucharest, and contemplate Ceausescu's last folly, the 3,100-room Palace of the Parliament. Set out north to Transylvania, a land of mixed Hungarian, Romanian and Saxon heritage.

Days 9-14: Transylvania, painted monasteries, medieval towns

In Sinaia, admire the German-influenced 19th century Peles Castle. Explore the birthplace of Vlad Dracul in the citadel of Sighisoara, and visit Bran Castle, which served as Bram Stoker's model for Dracula's ancestral home. Drive via dramatic Bicaz Canyon to four of the UNESCO-listed painted monasteries of Bucovina, and enjoy lunch and a demonstration of traditional egg painting in a private home. Meet a Romanian costume designer in the village of Salva and spend an evening with actors from a Tirgu Mures theater. Stroll the Old Town Square in the Saxon town of Sibiu.

Days 15-16: Curtea de Arges, Bucharest

Learn about legends surrounding the Byzantine-style cathedral in Curtea de Arges Monastery before heading to Bucharest for a farewell dinner.

More information from MIR Corporation: