12 days / 11 nights / 2390 km. Sofia / Rila Monastery / Melnik

MIEL Ltd
3 William Gladstone Str., 1000 Sofia
Tel: +359 2 915 77 11, Fax: +359 2 915 77 16
E-mail: miel@miel.travel
Member of:
AVAILABLE – All year round
Best periods: September/October
12 days / 11 nights / 2390 km.
Sofia / Rila Monastery / Melnik / Rozhen Monastery / Bansko / Plovdiv /Bachkovo
Monastery / Veliko Tarnovo / Arnbanasi / Troyan Monastery /Sofia / Nis / Kopaonik/
Sopocani Djurdjevi Stupovi / Stari Ras / Novi Pazar / Studenica / Zica / Kraljevo /
Vrnjacka Spa / Ljubostina / Kalenic / Manasija / Ravanica / Belgrade / Maradik /
Krusedol / Sremska Karlovci / Novi Sad / Belgrade / Topola / Oplenac / Arandjelovac /
Belgrade
Package prices start from € 1275 per person in DBL shared room
for a group of minimum 4 pax
The monasteries… These focal points of the Orthodox Christianity that gathered the monks and the
nuns in order to pray for the world. This tour will show you some splendid samples in Bulgaria and
Serbia. Situated in the beautiful natural scenery the monasteries are the place for tranquillization and
unity with the God.
You will enjoy the picturesque nature of Bulgaria and Serbia and will discover the world of the
Orthodox Christianity.
The package includes the following services:
Bulgarian part:
• 6 nights in 3 or 4 star hotels;
• Buffet breakfast daily;
• 5 dinners in the hotel restaurant or in local ones;
• 1 dinner in a traditional restaurant;
• Transportation with A/C bus – at least 15 seater;
• Professional guide throughout the trip;
• All local taxes;
• All entrance fees according the program;
• Special Bulgarian gifts for the guests;
• Support from the office of MIEL;
MIEL Ltd
3 William Gladstone Str., 1000 Sofia
Tel: +359 2 915 77 11, Fax: +359 2 915 77 16
E-mail: miel@miel.travel
Member of:
Serbian part:
• 5 nights in 3 or 4 star hotels;
• Buffet breakfast daily;
• 4 dinners in the hotel restaurants or in local ones;
• 1 dinner in a local traditional restaurant with live music;
• Professional guide throughout the trip;
• All local taxes;
• All entrance fees according the program.
The package does not include:
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Air tickets to/from Sofia;
Food and beverages not mentioned in the program;
Personal expenses, tips for driver and guide.
Program:
Day 1:
Sofia /100 km./
Arrival at Sofia airport. Half-day sightseeing tour of the city, including a walk
in the central area with visit to Alexander Nevski Cathedral, St. George
Rotunda (4th C. AD), St. Sofia church. Overnight in Sofia.
Day 2:
Sofia – Rila Monastery – Melnik – Rozhen Monastery – Bansko /365
km./
After breakfast drive from Sofia to Rila Monastery – visit of the
largest and one of the oldest Bulgarian monasteries (10th C.),
included in the UNESCO World Heritage List with medieval defense
Hrelyo tower from the 14th c. and fine frescoes. Departure to the
town of Melnik -museum town, scenically located at the foothills of
sandstone pyramids, famous for its ancient architecture and red
wine. Short drive to Rozhen monastery. Visit. Drive back to Bansko, a
typical mountain settlement with old traditional houses and taverns
with specialties of the local cuisine. It is the biggest winter resort in Bulgaria. Overnight in
Bansko.
Day 3:
Bansko – Plovdiv /160 km./
Departure to Plovdiv across the magnificent nature of the Rhodopes
Mountain. On the way visit of Dobarsko village and its St. St. Thereon and
Theodore church (1614) – UNESCO protected monument of culture with
unique mural painting featuring Jesus Christ in “a rocket”. In the afternoon
sightseeing of the old part of Plovdiv (by foot mainly) with beautiful houses
and churches from the Bulgarian Revival period (18th – 19th c.). Overnight
in Plovdiv.
MIEL Ltd
3 William Gladstone Str., 1000 Sofia
Tel: +359 2 915 77 11, Fax: +359 2 915 77 16
E-mail: miel@miel.travel
Member of:
Day 4:
Plovdiv – Bachkovo Monastery – Veliko Tarnovo
/290 km./
Visit of the Bachkovo monastery (11th c.), the second biggest
monastery in the country with frescoes from the 17th c. Drive through
Shipka pass to Veliko Turnovo – the capital of the Second Bulgarian
Kingdom (12th-14th c.), picturesquely situated on the hills and the
banks of the meandering river Yantra. On the way stop at Shipka
Memorial church with golden domes. Overnight in Veliko Tarnovo.
Day 5:
Veliko Tarnovo – Arbanassi - St. Peter and Paul Monastery /120 km./
Sightseeing of Veliko Tarnovo with entrance to the Tsarevets hill with ruins
from the king’s palace and the medieval fortress, Patriarch Church. Visit of
the Arbanassi village – architectural reserve with houses and churches from
17th –19th c. and of Jesus Christ’s Nativity church which interior is covered in
frescos depicting 2000 scenes). Visit of the St. Peter and Paul monastery. It
is one of the best preserved monasteries from 12 – 14th C. Overnight in
Veliko Tarnovo.
Day 6:
Veliko Tarnovo – Troyan Monastery – Sofia /285
km./
Drive to Sofia. On the way visit of the Troyan monastery built in the
style of the Bulgarian Renaissance in 17th C. The frescoes of the
monastery and the church “Assumption of Virgin Mary” were painted
in 1847-1849 by the famous Bulgarian artist, Zahari Zograf from the
Samokov School of art and iconography. Dinner in a local traditional
restaurant with live folklore show. Overnight in Sofia.
Sofia – Nis – Kopaonik – Sopocani – Djurjevi Stupovi – Stari Ras – Novi Pazar
Day 7:
/190 km./
After early breakfast – start to the Bulgarian/Serbian boundary. Meeting
with the Serbian guide and move to the Serbian bus. Start to the Sopocani
Monastery, the medieval Serbia’s most brilliant monument, containing
frescoes that many prominent art historians have described as the best
works in the Byzantine style. Next stop the mediaeval town of Ras is 11 km
west of Novi Pazar and stands on a hill known as Gradina. There are three
archaeological sites within the old Ras complex: the fortress on Gradina, the
cave together with the monastery of the Archangel Michael beneath the
fortification and the settlement of Pazarište (formerly Trgovište). The Ras fortress is preserved in a
ruined state as the oldest example of military architecture from mediaeval Raška (Rascia), and as the
seat of the Serbian rulers this fortress is of inestimable value in studying the earliest history of the
Serbian state. UNESCO World Heritage List object Next stop is monastery Djurdjevi Stupovi, the
endowment of the Great Zupan Stefan Nemanja that lies on the top of a woody elevation overlooking
the panorama of the city of Novi Pazar. Dinner and overnight in Novi Pazar.
MIEL Ltd
3 William Gladstone Str., 1000 Sofia
Tel: +359 2 915 77 11, Fax: +359 2 915 77 16
E-mail: miel@miel.travel
Member of:
Day 8:
Novi Pazar – Studenica – Zika – Kraljevo – Vrnjacka Spa /170 km./
Breakfast. Road leads us to STUDENICA MONASTERY - a unique
experience, as it is the largest and richest Serbia’s Orthodox
Monastery. It was established in the late twelfth century by Stevan
Nemanja, founder of the medieval Serbian state. This monastery
consists of three churches. In one of them “the pearl” of the
medieval fresco painting, known as “Christ's Crucifixion” is worth
seeing - UNESCO heritage list object. After pleasant time in this
monastery, we will visit the ZICA MONASTERY from the thirteenth century. This monastery is
of a significant importance, as Serbian kings were crowned there. Built between 1208 and
1220 and by its architecture belonging to Raska School. Next town which we are going to visit
is Vrnjacka Banja spa resort. The benefits of using the minerals, mineral water from the
mineral springs was known centuries ago and reaches the age of the Celtic tribe Skosdisci,
who had settled this area. Arrival to Vrnjacka Banja spa. Accommodation at the hotel. Dinner
in the hotel. Overnight.
Day 9:
km./
Vrnjacka Spa – Ljubostina – Kalenic – Manasija – Ravanica - Belgrade /280
Breakfast; Road continuous to Kruševac - in the town vicinity, LJUBOSTINJA
MONASTERY is located, built as a place where Princess Milica and Prince
Lazar met for the first time, and where Princess Milica was buried. Next stop
is KALENIC MONASTERY. It is an important Serb Orthodox monastery near
Kalenic, central Serbia. It was built by protodaviar Bogdan in the early 15th
century (1407-1413). Kalenic was declared Monument of Culture of
Exceptional Importance in 1979, and it is protected by Republic of Serbia.
Two more magnificent monasteries are waiting for us – RAVANICA and MANASIJA MONASTERY.
Manasija monastery, the endowment of Prince Stefan Lazarevic from the XV century is located. Some
of the most beautiful medieval frescoes can be seen in the Manasija Monastery, belonging to
Resavska School of painting. Over Resavica mining town, we come to the Ravanica monastery, built
in the fourteenth century, endowment of Prince Lazar and Princess Milica. After 130 km of driving on
highway we reach Belgrade. Accommodation in hotel. Dinner and overnight.
Day 10:
Belgrade – Maradik – Krusedol – Sremski Karlovci – Novi Sad –
Belgrade /190 km./
Breakfast; Departure to Maradik. Visit to the ethno–house in Maradik,
where are kept the authentic exhibits, between 50 and 200 years old.
Visit to Krusedol monastery – established by Bishop Maksim (Djordje
Brankovic) in 16th C. and presents one of the most beautiful
monasteries on Fruska Gora. Departure to Sremski Karlovci - small
baroque town, famous for its beautiful architecture and visit of the
Orthodox church, Patriarchy court, Orthodox Seminary, Roman
Catholic church. Departure to Novi Sad. Panoramic sightseeing of the
most significant city sights, short walks in pedestrian zone (Sloboda Square, Cathedral, City
Hall and Orthodox Church). Return to Belgrade. Dinner. Overnight.
MIEL Ltd
3 William Gladstone Str., 1000 Sofia
Tel: +359 2 915 77 11, Fax: +359 2 915 77 16
E-mail: miel@miel.travel
Member of:
Day 11:
Belgrade – Topola –Oplenac – Arandjelovac – Belgrade /190 km./
Breakfast; Departure to Oplenac – royal hill in the heart of Serbia. Topola,
80 km away from Belgrade, in the middle of picturesque Sumadija region,
was during The First Serbian Uprising against the Turks, the political and
administrative seat of Serbia. Karadjordje built the fortified town there in
1811. We shall visit Karadjordje’s tower, the church and the residence which
nowadays houses a museum with his belongings. On Oplenac, the hill
dominating Topola and surrounding, you will visit St. Georg’s church with
the royal family mausoleum. The five-domed church is all covered with white marble, while 3.500 m2
of interiors are lavishly decorated with gold-plated mosaics. Then follows a visit to The King Petar’s
residence, which is now a museum dedicated to the king who was the first king of the new-founded
Kingdom of Serbs Croats and Slovenians, his son King Aleksandar I and Queen Maria I. Afterwards
we shall visit the famous king’s vineyards where the first class wines are still being produced.
Departure to Belgrade. Arrival after 90 minutes of driving. Dinner at one of the numerous popular
restaurants in the old bohemian quarter, called Skadarlija (known as Belgrade Montmartre). It is a
romantic and charming street, with many national cuisine restaurants with popular live music. Visit to
one of those restaurants will enable you to experience the atmosphere of the former bohemian
Belgrade. Experiencing such an evening will make you feel the past-time–spirit, characterized by
famous Serbian writers, painters, poets and actors who used to gather at Skadarlija. Overnight.
Day 12:
Belgrade /50 km./
Breakfast. Panoramic and walking sightseeing of Belgrade with local tourist guide - Kalemegdan
fortress - primary bulit by Celts in the III century BC, Republica Square, Knez Mihailova Street - main
pedestrian zone, Terazije, Parliament, St. Mark church… Transfer to the airport.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
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The prices are based on current costs and conditions available at the time of offering, all rates
and availability have to be reconfirmed in the time of definitive reservations;
Once the program is confirmed, MIEL will provide you with a pro‐forma invoice, including VAT.
The government taxes are subject to change without subsidiary agreement, notice will be
provided timely.
All requests and enquiries should be made by writing either by e‐mail or by fax. MIEL will reply
to all within 48 h except during weekends and other public holidays. If the immediate
confirmation is not possible the buyer will be informed of the status.
Arrival & Departure detail timing and flight details should be sent by e‐mail or fax directly to
MIEL in order all the necessary transfers to be dully provided.
MIEL Ltd.
3, W. Gladston Str., 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
tel.:+359 2 915 77 11, fax: +359 2 915 77 16
E-mail: bulgaria@miel.travel, miel@miel.travel