Bulgarian Adventure – Land of Orpheus

Arrival at Sofia airport. Depending on arrival time, there will be a sightseeing tour in the capital of Bulgaria to see its major cultural monuments – Alexander Nevski Cathedral, Saint Sofia Basilica, the Roman ruins, the mineral springs, the markets, etc.

Transfer and overnight stay at Plovdiv – the second biggest city in Bulgaria and European Culture capital 2019. Excellent food experience and overnight at a mansion from the beginning of 19th century located in the old city of Plovdiv.

After breakfast, there will be a sightseeing walk through Plovdiv where we will explore the Old Town with its numerous cultural monuments from different historical periods. Among them are the Roman Theatre, the Roman stadium, the Ethnographical Museum, the East Gate from the 4th century, mansions from the 19th century and more.

The modern town is dotted with shops and bars – a pedestrian street crosses from one end to the other. Afterward, we’ll transfer to Belintash megalithic sanctuary. This is another impressing Thracian site of the type of megalithic structures. Legends will be enlivened by your guide’s tales at the very scene of ancient Thracian rituals – on the height of the rock.

Walk from there to Mostovo village. Dinner in Madrets village with a family of Bulgarian Moslems who runs a fish farm. Further transfer to Gorno pole village. A warm welcome awaits you at the Wild Farm, a hotspot for all bird watchers and the story of the family that manages the farm is just as captivating. 3 overnights at the family-run guesthouse.

Today, we spend time in Madjarovo area, which is a true paradise for nature lovers. A large part of it is declared a nature reserve which provides good living conditions for its inhabitants. You can observe the following bird species: Griffon Vultures, Black Storks, Black and Egyptian Vultures, Long-legged Buzzards, Golden and Short-toed Eagles, Peregrine Falcons.

Bird watching can be combined with kayaking in Arda river and picknick on the banks of the river. In the afternoon, you have the possibility to learn local dances together with your hosts, Blagovesta (Betty) and Nicola. Dinner at the farm with a chance to watch the sunset over Arda River gorge or go on a star-gazing night walk with headlamps.

Today, we will walk through the steps of the ancient Thracians in their fortress Perperikon. It is one of the most ancient monumental megalithic structures, entirely carved into the rocks.There we will find traces of all times since its construction in IV c. B.C. to its downfall in XIV c. In the afternoon you can set off on foot along the banks of the Arda River to the Studen Kladenets nature reserve and dam, which is home to several species of birds and mammals.

Another option is to take part in different activities at the farm, subject to the season (haymaking, planting/harvesting potatoes and keeping the fields and crops tidy). You’ll also have the chance to help prepare homemade yogurt or make local specialties of cows’ cheese.

We’ll have a morning transfer to Ivailovgrad and cross the border to Greece. Here, we visit another Thracian site – the burial tomb of Mikri Doxipara. At the beginning of the 2nd century AD, four members of a rich landowning family were cremated and buried there. The five wagons with which the dead had been brought to the site were buried in the same location along with their horses.

Arrival in Dadia National Park – one of the most important protected areas in Greece. The National Park hosts three out of the four Vulture species of Europe (the Black Vulture, the Griffon Vulture, and the Egyptian Vulture), while it is home to the only breeding population of Black Vultures in the Balkans. Short hiking in Dadia forest at sunset. Dinner and overnight in an eco-tourism hotel.

Today, we’ll hike to the Gibrena Peak in Dadia Forest or have a boat trip in Evros Delta. On the border with Turkey, the Evros Delta was declared a National park and is is one of the most important wetlands in the whole of Europe. It is a very important site for breeding, passage and wintering waterbirds, raptors and passerines. Transfer to Stavroupolis for 2 overnights at a guesthouse.

The picturesque Nestos gorge with its steep rocky slopes is another important bird area in Greece, which we will visit. You can also kayak or walk along the gorge for the possibility to see rare birds, enjoy unspoiled nature and have a lot of fun!

On the way back you will see the impressive meanders of Nestos from above and visit the abandoned village Kato Livera, still inhabited by half-wild horses.

Today we visit Kavala – one of the most picturesque cities in Greece. Founded in the late 7th century BC, the city is known as the place, where Apostle Paul landed on his first voyage to Europe.

During the Ottoman rule, Kavala has known also as the “Mecca of tobacco”- neoclassical mansions and big tobacco warehouses evoke today the memory of those times. In the afternoon we visit the ruins of Philippi, named after Philip II of Macedon. Today the site is UNESCO World Heritage.

When Apostle Paul visited Philippi in 49-50 BC, in his second and third missionary journeys, he founded the first European Christian Church and the settlement went on being the metropolis of Christianism. We see the theatre built in the 4th century BC (probably by Philippe II); the Agora, a Roman Cistern where Romans imprisoned Apostle Paul and other monuments. Transfer further to Thessaloniki for a dinner and overnight in Astoria Boutique Hotel in Thessaloniki.

Free time in Thessaloniki and transfer to the airport for boarding.