13-DAY HISTORIC AND EDUCATIONAL TOURS THE MAGIC OF BULGARIA

Via Century Tour Ltd.

Route: Sofia - Rila monastery – Bansko - Baykushev fir – Dobrinishte – Dobarsko - Womb cave – Tatul – Kardzhali dam – THE sacred triangle AND Perperikon - Orlova Chuka cave – Ivanovo rock monasteries – Rusenski Lom – Neolithic settlement near Durankulak - Durankulak lake – natural reserve park - Varna historical museum - THE Madara horseman – Small AND Big Madara caves - THE dripping waterfall - THE Thracian tombs OF Sveshtari – Krepcha rock monastery – Buyuk Calle - Adventure tourism at THE “Winners’ spring”.

PROGRAM DAY 1:
Departure from Sofia. Visit to THE Rila Monastery. Arrival to Bansko, „Kap House” hotel, dinner.

PROGRAM DAY 2:
Breakfast AND visit THE Baykushev Fir. Lecture on THE 1300-year-old tree AND THE beneficial powers OF Nature. Lunch in a local restaurant - traditional cuisine. Transfer to Dobrinishte AND visiting THE unique archeological excavations OF 8 000-year-old culture OF Karanovo. Visit to a healing spa, in which, THE legend says, Alexander THE Great took a bath. Dinner AND traditional music.

PROGRAM DAY 3:
Breakfast. Visiting THE unique church „St Theodore Tiron AND Theodore Stratilatus “ in Dobarsko. These two saints are patrons OF THE Christian army. THE spring coming from beneath THE church is believed to be healing, as legend says, THE 14 000 blinded soldiers OF tsar Samuil cured their wounds here. They founded THE village AND built THE church. It was painted by a mysterious author who dared painting Jesus Christ as an astronaut. THE unique frescoes show THE Son OF God sitting in something, which strikingly resembles a high-tech shuttle, AND under his feet one can see THE contours OF THE atmosphere AND stratosphere. THE monument is under UNESCO protection. Lunch. Transfer to Kardzhali, “Trifon Zarezan” hotel on THE bank OF THE Kardzhali dam, dinner.

PROGRAM DAY 4:
Breakfast AND visit to THE Thracian sanctuary Womb cave. THE natural opening OF THE cave has been additionally processed by a human hand to resemble vulva. On THE DAY OF THE vernal equinox THE sun ray expands enters through a whole above THE altar AND stops there for a while fluttering. THE action personifies fertilization, THE sacred marriage between Mother Earth AND THE Sun – THE resurrection OF life. Lunch at THE Kardzhali dam. Visit to Tatul - THE sanctuary OF Orpheus. THE legend says that THE Orpheus’s grave is here. It is supposed that here astronomic observations were done as an integral part OF THE Thracian ritual practices. Dinner with traditional music.

PROGRAM DAY 5:
Breakfast. Visit to THE third ancient temple OF THE Sacred Triangle – Perperikon. Perperikon is considered to be THE famous in THE ancient times sanctuary OF Dionysus. Lunch in a local restaurant. Transfer to Targovishte. Arrival to “TERRA EUROPE” hotel, dinner, history lecture AND instructions.

PROGRAM DAY 6:
Breakfast AND transfer to THE second longest cave in Bulgaria – “Orlova chuka”. THE parts OF THE cave near its entrance were inhabited during THE Paleolithic AND THE Stone Age (40 000 – 80 000 years ago). Here THE man’s predecessor – THE Cro-Magnon lived, struggling in battle for territory with ancient cave bears AND THE Neanderthals. Orlova chuka is inhabited by THE largest bat colony on THE Balkans - about 10 000 bats. Lunch. Visit THE Ivanovo rock-hewn monasteries. THE rock-hewn churches near Ivanovo have THE statute OF an archeological reserve AND it is under THE protection OF UNESCO. Unlike THE traditional orthodox churches, here all THE walls are covered with frescoes as if carpeted. THE original paintings bearing renaissance features come 200 years earlier than those in Western Europe. Return to THE hotel AND dinner.

PROGRAM DAY 7:
Breakfast AND transfer to Durankulak. Visit to THE largest AND most ancient Neolithic settlement in Europe dating back to times 7 250 years ago. This is THE place, where a script is found, which is 1 500 years older than those we know from Egypt AND Mesopotamia. Here a proto-Bulgarian calendar was also found which in its accuracy competes with THE Mayan calendar. THE excavations are located in natural reserve park, part OF Via Pontica – one OF THE major routes OF migrating birds in Europe. One can also see remains OF THE most ancient masonry in Europe. Lunch in a local restaurant. Visit to THE Varna museum. Return to Targovishte AND dinner.

PROGRAM DAY 8:
Breakfast AND transfer to Madara. Visit to THE Madara horseman, a UNESCO monument. Visiting caves, once inhabited by pre-historic people AND THE natural phenomenon - THE dripping waterfall. Lunch. Visit to THE Thracian royal tomb in Sveshtari – a UNESCO monument. A complex OF ancient tombs, showing grand funerals, which used to turn into feasts. Evidence OF THE mysterious Thracian culture at THE basis OF European civilization, setting THE beginnings OF wine production. Return to Targovishte AND dinner.

PROGRAM DAY 9:
Breakfast AND departure from Targovishte. Transfer to THE village OF Krepcha. Vist to THE cave monastery containing THE most ancient inscription in Cyrillic alphabet AND an exhibition OF Icons. Lunch in Krepcha – boxed lunch. Transfer to THE “Winners’ spring”. Instructions AND dressing. Making fire AND election OF a Chieftain. Lecture on THE legends about THE Aryan tribes AND THE Hyperboreans. Honey-tasting. Lecture on THE healing AND magical properties OF honey. Archery contest, making jewellery AND pottery. Milking sheep AND goats. Yoghurt curdling. Dinner around THE camp fire AND local wine tasting. Folklore songs AND accompaniment OF bagpipes. An ancient ritual with jumping over THE fire AND lecture on our ancestors’ symbols. Spending THE night in THE cave (if desired). Transfer for those, willing to spend THE night in THE hotel.

PROGRAM DAY 10:
After breakfast transfer to THE „Winners’ spring” for those, spending THE night in THE hotel. Breakfast. A walk to THE ruins OF Buyuk Calle castle. On THE way back – collecting flowers for wreaths AND rods for spears. Lecture on THE herbs AND THE meaning OF THE wreath. Making spears, fishing, cleaning THE catch AND making wreaths. Lunch. Adoration in THE sanctuary AND placing “lucks”. Lecture on THE Thracians, THE Thracian Sun cult. Corn grinding, wool picking AND wool spinning. Lecture Making a totem on a copper plate. Dinner. Transfer to Targovishte

PROGRAM DAY 11:
Breakfast AND transfer to Sofia.

PROGRAM DAY 12:
Free DAY in Sofia for a stroll AND shopping.

PROGRAM DAY 13:
Breakfast AND departure.

Per person (all inclusive) – 1490 EURO (for groups OF 20 to 40 persons).

Price: 1490
Email: office@viacenturytour.com
Phone: +359896741781
Skype: via.century.tour

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Bulgaria, Varna