Balkan Express
A Cultural Tour of Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey - 13 nights / 14 days
It is often said that the Balkans has been a crossroad of cultures and people throughout history. Their location in southeastern Europe between the large, powerful countries of Western Europe, the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire, and Russia has meant that the many peoples of the Balkans have been buffeted by strong outside forces. It has also been said that several of Europe's important "fault lines," or major cultural boundaries, pass through the Balkans.
What these statements mean is that the Balkans historically contained many different "nations" or national groups, whether or not they had their own countries, contained a complex mix of religious groups, such as Eastern Orthodox Christians, Muslims, Roman Catholic Christians, and Jews, and was bordered by strong countries like the Ottoman Empire, the Russian Empire and later the Soviet Union, and the Habsburg (Austrian) Empire, that had an enormous amount of control and influence over the region. All reasons why the Balkan’s Cultural Heritage is so amazing.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Bucharest, Romania. We arrive at Bucharest – Otopeni Airport, where are welcomed by our representative in a traditional Romanian way; with bread and salt, then we are transferred to our hotel. Though there is some reference made to a settlement on the site of today’s modern Bucharest as early as 1368, it was in 1459 that Prince Vlad Tepes, (called Dracula), first called it Bucharest. Overnight: Hotel Lido, Bucharest (2 nights). (D)
Day 2: Bucharest. In past years Bucharest was called the “Paris of the East”. Today, our city tour will start with the Palace of Parliament (the second largest building in the world after the Pentagon; another proof of the grandeur-mania / madness of the former dictator Ceausescu), the Metropolitan Church, the Romanian Athenaeum and the Arch of Triumph. Finally, we’ll enjoy a visit to Harastrau Park and tour the open-air Folk Village Museum.
This museum is really interesting, it is “rural Romania in a nutshell”, and it displays over 70 traditional Romanian wooden-house structures in an open-air setting. The rest of the afternoon is free for us to further explore Bucharest on our own. In the evening enjoy a dinner with folklore show at Pescarus Restaurant. (B, D)
Day 3: Bucharest / Cozia / Sibiu (drive). After breakfast we depart for Sibiu, once the richest town in Transylvania. Our route crosses the ‘Transylvanian Alps’ - Carpathian Mountains, through the scenic Olt river valley; along the way we’ll visit the Cozia Monastery, built in 1386. In the evening we’ll enjoy a delicious homemade Romanian dinner at a farmhouse in the Sibiel village, where our hearty and skilled local hosts will spoil us with various dishes. Overnight: Hotel Bulevard, Sibiu (1 night). (B, D)
Day 4: Sibiu / Biertan / Sighisoara (drive). In the morning enjoy a comprehensive walking tour of downtown Sibiu. Here we’ll observe arcaded medieval shops and houses and visit the Cathedral where the son of Vlad the Impaler (another of Dracula’s monikers) was assassinated.
This tour’s highlight is our stop at the Brukenthal Art Gallery. Later will leave Sibiu and drive to the typically Saxon-built village of Biertan where we visit the Fortress Church, which is one of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites.
The church hosts the largest wing altar in Romania and was used as the residence of the Lutheran bishop of Transylvania for over 300 years. Our next stop is Sighisoara, the best-preserved medieval fortified town in Romania and the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler (Dracula).
Here we’ll take a walking tour of the town and visit the famous Clock Tower Museum with its Torture and Weapon Rooms and stop in the house where Dracula (Vlad the Impaler) was born in 1432. Overnight: Hotel Sighisoara (1 night). (B, D)
Day 5: Sighisoara / Brasov / Sinaia (drive). Our next experience is Brasov, the ‘fairytale’ town founded in the 12th century by the Saxon settlers. Brasov today still preserves its beautiful medieval atmosphere created by many Middle Age-era buildings. The highlight of the city tour is surely a visit of the Gothic Black Church, the largest gothic style church in South-Eastern Europe. Next we visit the St Nicolae Church and the First Romanian School, where a local teacher will hold a lecture about the old Brasov.
Then we drive to Bran and visit the Bran Castle, made famous by Bram Stoker's novel as being the residence of the vampire count - Dracula. The Castle was built in the 14th century by some of the merchants from Brasov to protect the border between Valachia and Transylvania. In the evening arrive in Sinaia, the mountain resort known as the "Pearl of the Carpathians". Overnight: Hotel Palace, Sinaia (1 night). (B, D)
Day 6: Sinaia / Veliko Tarnovo (drive). After breakfast we visit the exclusive Peles Castle, once the summer residence of the Romanian Royal Family. Then we start driving to south, toward the Danube River, and later reach the border town of Giurgiu.
We’ll cross the bridge over the Danube River and enter the Bulgarian port town of Russe. From here, the road continues through the famous ‘Valley of Roses” before reaching the medieval town Veliko Tarnovo, the former capital of the Bulgarian Empire. Overnight: Hotel Yantra, Veliko Tarnovo (2 nights). (B, D)
Day 7: Veliko Tarnovo / Arbanassi / Veliko Tarnovo (drive). After breakfast, our morning tour starts with a walk on the downtown of Veliko Tarnovo. Next we’ll drive to the picturesque village of Arbanassi. The village was originally founded by Albanians and became rich & famous after the Sultan Suleyman gave it to one of his sons-in-law in early 1538, exempting this bustling town from the harsh Ottoman taxation.
In this typical medieval Bulgarian town of stone-made houses and red tiled roofs, we visit the Church of Nativity, the most richly decorated church in Bulgaria. Its interior is completely covered with colorful frescoes painted in the first part of 1600’s. There are over 3500 figures depicted in some 2000 scenes. We then return to Veliko Tarnovo. (B, L)
Day 8: Veliko Tarnovo / Etara / Sofia (drive). After our visit here, we continue our journey toward the present heart of Bulgaria, Sofia. On our way to Sofia, we’ll visit the Etara Ethnographical Museum and Shipka Memorial Church. In the afternoon, once arrived in Sofia, we take a short city tour and visit to Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Overnight: Hotel Sveta, Sofia (2 nights). (B, D)
Day 9: Sofia / Rila Monastery / Sofia (drive). In the morning we will take a side-trip and visit Bulgaria’s famous World Heritage Site, the Rila Monastery. The most impressive monument from the Bulgarian National Revival period rises amidst the rugged beauty of the Rila Mountain, just 120 km from Sofia.
Having survived the times with the self-confidence of the most zealous guard of the Bulgarian spirit and language, it still fascinates present-day visitors with the pure and harmonious line of the buildings' exquisite colonnades, arches and vaults, spacious rooms richly decorated with murals and fretwork.
The monastery's most treasured historic and artistic monuments include the 14th century Hrelyo Tower, the five-domed Birth of the Blessed Virgin Church and the original monastery kitchen from the 19th century. The monastery also houses a rich museum collection of valuable old manuscripts and documents, charters and icons, an ethnographic exhibition of fabrics, jewelry, carpets and wrought iron objects, and a library containing more than 16,000 books.
After our visit here, we return to Sofia. The rest of the day is free for us to explore the city by night. In the evening we will enjoy a dinner with a folklore show. (B, D)
Day 10: Sofia / Plovdiv (drive). Today you will leave Sofia and drive to Plovdiv, the second largest town of Bulgaria. In the afternoon we arrive in Plovdiv and take a short walking tour in the old town with its cobbled streets and typical National Revival Architecture. The Roman Amphitheatre, the Church of St. Konstantine and Helena and other places of interest will be visited here. Overnight: Hotel Trimotium (1 night). (B, D)
Day 11: Plovdiv / Edirne / Istanbul (drive 420 km / 06 hrs). After our early breakfast we’ll drive towards the Bulgarian - Turkish border. After crossing the border into Turkey we stop in Edirne (also known as the ancient Adrianopole) - once the capital of the Ottoman Empire - and visit the mosque built by the famous architect Sinan Pasha.
We then continue driving to Istanbul. Upon arrival in Istanbul, a panoramic city tour will show us the bustling, frenetic, never sleeping commercial centre & heart of Turkey. Overnight: Hotel Holiday Inn, Istanbul (3 nights). (B)
Day 12: Istanbul. Our morning visit starts with the Blue Mosque, one of the biggest mosques of Istanbul from the 17th century. Its architecture is one of the principal adornments on the skyline of Istanbul, and is also famous for its blue tiles and 6 minarets.
Later will have the chance to visit The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, the former Palace of Ibrahim Pasha, which now exhibits an extensive collection of nomadic art and ethnography, providing a rich glimpse into the traditional Turkish lifestyle. And lastly, the Grand Bazaar.
In addition to its historical importance, this is a bazaar that will tempt even the non-shoppers with its rich collection of precious handmade carpets, jewelry, leather and souvenirs. From this point on we are free to emerge ourselves into this ‘weird world’. (B)
Day 13: Istanbul. You will have this day to explore Istanbul on your own, and discover the various oriental delights this city has to offer. (B)
Day 14: Istanbul / Homebound (flight). After breakfast we will be transferred to the airport for our flight back home, or toward our next destination. (B)
End of our Tour and services.
Tour details for the Balkan Express:
Departure dates for 2008
Any Saturday, between March 15 and October 11 2008.
Tour highlights & World Heritage Sites (WHS):
- Romanian Athenaeum, Bucharest
- Brukenthal Palace & Art Gallery, Sibiu
- The Fortified Church in Biertan (WHS)
- The Medieval Fortified Town, Sighisoara
- The Gothic Black Church, Brasov
- The Peles Castle, Sinaia
- The Village of Arbanassi
- The Rila Monastery (WHS)
- Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia
- The Blue Mosque & the Grand Bazaar, Istanbul
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Prices for 2008
USD: 4,240.00 / CAD: 4,300.00 - per person in double occupancy.
Single supplement is USD: 720.00 / CAD: 730.00
Price includes:
- Accommodation as mentioned or similar (all superior category!)
- Meals as mentioned (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch & D=Dinner)
- All sightseeing and transfers by AC car or minivan
- Road taxes, parking fees, driver’s overnight wages
- Services of local English speaking guides
- Entrance fees to museums, parks and sites included in the itinerary
Price does not include:
- International airfares and airport taxes
- Insurance & visa fee
- Personal expenses / Beverages / Tips / Bills
- Services not mentioned above
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Romania
Bulgaria
Turkey
Cultural Journey
Email it to a friend:
Click here to email this vacation to a friend
|
