Bulgarian Monasteries

Introduction
Mountains Bulgaria
This tour is not just a circuit of some of the most interesting Bulgarian monasteries. It is also a journey through Bulgaria s history, since all of the featured religious buildings are monuments to everything that happened in Bulgaria over the last 700 years or so. Along with the rich history you will submerge in the green hug of the mountains (“Balkana”) and admire its outstanding nature - beautiful waterfalls, caves, rock cliffs, forests, vast meadows, rivers and valleys combined with pastoral agriculture lands. We bike along the Central part of the Balkan mountains exploring many scattered villages nestled among quiet valleys and beautiful green mountain landscapes. It seems that time has stopped here and life is quiet and peaceful - people still use the horse driven cart, look after their small herds of sheep, goats and cattle, cut the grass in the old fashion way, take care of their small vegetable gardens or just sit in front of their houses and have a chat with smiles on their faces. You will also admire at the artistic imagination and masterpieces of local woodcarvers, icon painters and house builders while exploring well preserved National Revival houses, churches, craft shops from 18 – 19c. The Balkan mountains along with the monasteries and the people living here played a big and memorable role in the Bulgarian Revolutionary movement and struggle against the Ottoman empire. It is an area that has been a stronghold of Bulgarian spirit and culture through the years and still keeps the pride and traditions of Bulgarian people.

Tour highlights:
♦ Arbanasi village is famous for its massive houses that resemble minor fortresses, several monasteries and old churches
♦ Dryanovo Monastery “St Archangel Michael” is situated in the gorge of Dryanovska River where limestone rocks rise high on all sides of the gorge as unapproachable forest walls.
♦ Tryavna has preserved its old town square, the only one left in the country, which has been proclaimed as a Monument of Architecture.
♦ Etura Open-air Ethnographic Museum Master craftsmen fashion beautiful gold, silver, copper, leather and wooden articles right before your eyes from early morning until late at the night.
♦ Shipka monastery - built in the traditional style of 17th-century Russian cathedrals the monastery stands to the living memory of Russian soldiers and Bulgarian revolutionaries who died during the Russian-Turkish Liberation War.

Accomodation

Accommodations
We stay in monasteries and hotel. Hotels and guesthouses all offer private facilities but facilities might be shared in monasteries.

Accommodation Itinerary - subject to changes based on availability
Night 1: Hotel in Sofia
Night 2 & 3: Hotel in Veliko Tarnovo
Night 4: Dryanovo monastery
Night 5: Hotel in Tryavna
Night 6: Hotel in Etura
Night 7: Hotel in Sofia

Family Hotel "Zdravets"  in Sofia
Family hotel Zdravetz is run since 1995 by friendly hosts. The hotel has a beautiful garden with lots of flowers, a reception and a small restaurant with a veranda. The hotel has 15 spacious rooms and apartments with TV, telephone and bathroom with toilet, shower or bath. Internet is also available at this property.

Dryanovo Monastery
The Dryanovo monastery offers accommodation in cozy double and triple rooms.

Family Hotel Zograf in Tryavna
The hotel offers 21 comfortably furnished rooms with 45 beds. All rooms are equipped with telephones, satellite TV, central heating and private bathroom.

Hotel Strannopriemnitsa in Etura
Picturesquely situated at the foot of Stara Planina right next to the river Sivek, hotel Strannopriemnitsa is a part of the Open Air Ethnographic Museum Etar.
Built and furnished in unison with the entire pattern of the museum, the hotel combines the unique charm of the national architecture with modern achievements from our time.
The hotel provides 61 beds (5 single rooms, 22 double rooms and 2 family rooms). Each room has its own bathroom, TV set with satellite program and phone.


Triple and single occupancy
In case you are willing to share but we are unable to find another person of the same sex willing to share a room with you, a single supplement fee will apply.
Triple occupancy might be possible depending on the time of the year, please inquire.


Meals:
Breakfasts are always included. Dinners and Lunches are to be paid extra (except for dinner on day 4 - included).
The food is usually composed of home-cooked dishes and Bulgarian specialties.

Special diets and dietary restrictions
We can cater to special diets and dietary restrictions - please, let us know at the time of booking.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding

BIKES:

Itinerary

Sample Itinerary - subject to changes

Day 1: Arrival
Arrival at Sofia airport and transfer to your hotel.
Meals included: none
Overnight in Sofia

Day 2. Arnabasi to Veliko Tarnovo
Transfer to the architectural reserve of Arbanasi village and St. Virgin Mary monastery where we start cycling. Today we start with a visit of the picturesque Transfiguration monastery near Veliko Tarnovo. Then we reach the beautiful Hotnitsa waterfall and eco trail. After a short walk we continue biking near Hotnista gorge until you reach the main road to Sofia. You get on the car for short transfer and start biking again to Buria (Storm) village among beautiful hilly landscapes with nice views to Dryanovo rock cliffs. You finish cycling near Dryanovo town. Then we go for sightseeing in Veliko Tarnovo.
Cycling distance: 34 km
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Veliko Tarnovo

Day 3. Merdanski monastery & Kapinovo monastery
Transfer to Dragizhevo village where you start biking. Enroute you pass by Merdanski Monastery and continue in direction to Plakovo and Kapinovo monastery.
Transfer back to Veliko Tarnovo for overnight.
Cycling distance: 33 km (or 53km with possible extension) 
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Veliko Tarnovo

Day 4. Kilifarevo monastery & Dryanovo monastery
After short transfer you start cycling through the villages Plakovo, Golemanite and Natsovtsi to Kilifarevo monastery. After lunch and a visit of the monastery you continue with a short but challenging ascent to Ialovo village. Then you cycle along Dryanovska River to Dryanovo town. From there you are transferred to Dryanovo monastery where we stay overnight. Optional visit of the nearby Bacho Kiro cave.
Cycling distance: 34 km
Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner
Overnight in Dryanovo monastery

Day 5. Bojentsi architectural reserve to Tryavna
In the morning we have a short transfer and then start cycling up and down to Bojentsi village where we spend some time for sightseeing. After a short transfer back, you start cycling near Tsareva livada village on isolated village roads to National revival town of Tryavna, where we stay overnight.
Cycling distance: 35 km
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Tryavna

Day 6. Tryavna to Etura
Cycling from Tryavna up to a mountain pass and then downhill to Gabrovo. The next stop is the open-air ethnographic museum of Etura. Its 18-th-19-th century water driven machinery, crafts and lifestyle come alive before the eyes of the visitors. From here you have four more kilometers to the picturesque Sokolski Monastery and cycling back to Etura where we stay overnight.
Cycling distance: 28 km
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Etura

Day 7. Shipka monument & monastery
After breakfast we go for a transfer to the historic Shipka pass and memorial. You get on the bikes for a 10 km up/down ride in beautiful beech forest to the historic Buzludza area. A supreme downhill ride on the Southern slopes of the mountains awaits us. You continue biking to Shipka town where we visit the richly decorated Shipka monastery and church. Transfer to Sofia, where we stay for the last night.
Cycling distance: 30 km
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Sofia

Day 8. Departure
After breakfast transfer to the Airport for departure
Meals included: Breakfast


Tour info:
All bikers receive a detailed roadbook and map. The guide with the supporting vehicle and the luggage inside checks several times a day if everything is OK with the group, waiting by crossroads, accompanying them for breakfast, lunch and dinner, giving them talks by the most interesting sites en-route. The guide is also responsible for the technical support of the bikes. Bikers can always skip some harder stages using the supporting vehicle.

Arbanasi village is famous for its massive houses that resemble minor fortresses on the outside, with high, solid walls and heavy
gates and secret hiding-places, but which are spacious and comfortable, richly decorated and furnished on the inside.
Veliko Turnovo (210 m a.s.l.), being the former Bulgarian capital, is regally situated along the historical hills of Tsarevets, Trapezitsa and Sveta Gora on the two banks of Yantra River.

Petropavlovski Monastery “St. St. Peter and Paul” was founded in 10th century on the site of a Roman fort.
Merdanski Monastery The Merdanski Monastery of “St. 40 Martyrs” is a part of the Veliko Turnovo eparchy. The monastery was built in 13 century during the time of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom and was renovated in 19 century.

Kapinovo Monastery was recently restored with a lovely yard the monastery was founded in 1228 by Tsar Ivan Assen II

Kilifarevo Monastery "St Birth of Virgin Mary", built between 1348 and 1350, lies in the valley of the Belitsa River.

Dryanovo Monastery “St Archangel Michael” is situated in the gorge of Dryanovska River where limestone rocks rise high on all sides of the gorge as unapproachable forest walls.

Bozhentsi - is an architectural reserve consisting of some 100 houses from The Bulgarian National Revival Period.

Tryavna has preserved its old town square, the only one left in the country, which has been proclaimed as a Monument of Architecture.

Etura Open-air Ethnographic Museum Master craftsmen fashion beautiful gold, silver, copper, leather and wooden articles right before your eyes from early morning until late at the night.

Sokolski Monastery During Ottoman times the monks offered succour to Bulgarian outlaws and used to provide the local rebels with an assembly point during the Rising of 1876.

Shipka memorial - built on the main ridge of the Balkan mountains honors those who died
for the Liberation of Bulgaria during the Battles of Shipka Pass in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78.

Shipka monastery - built in the traditional style of 17th-century Russian cathedrals the monastery stands to the living memory of Russian soldiers and Bulgarian revolutionaries who died during the Russian-Turkish Liberation War.

Plovdiv - the second Bulgarian city in population and size after the capital, Plovdiv is famous for the Old Town with charming houses decorated with colourful ornaments.

Rates and Dates for Bulgarian Monasteries

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: Plovdiv
Airport: Plovdiv / Sofia
Transfer: Included from Plovdiv or Sofia

Climate:
                                        Veliko Tarnovo area