Contrasts between the Orient and the Occident

12 days Bulgaria
Sofia - Veliko Tarnovo - Varna - Burgas - Plovdiv - Sofia

Your journey at a glance

This 12-day tour of Bulgaria combines cultural highlights with scenic diversity: from the lively capital Sofia, the route takes you through historic cities such as Veliko Tarnovo and Plovdiv to the Black Sea coast with Varna and Burgas. In between, you will find quiet villages, wide valleys, the imposing Rila Monastery and the traditional Rose Valley, where you can follow in the footsteps of the world-famous rose oil. A journey that brings Bulgaria's diversity to life.
This 12-day tour of Bulgaria combines cultural highlights with scenic diversity: from the lively capital Sofia, the route takes you through historic cities such as Veliko Tarnovo and Plovdiv to the Black Sea coast with Varna and Burgas. In between, you will find quiet villages, wide valleys, the imposing Rila Monastery and the traditional Rose Valley, where you can follow in the footsteps of the world-famous rose oil. A journey that brings Bulgaria's diversity to life.
  • Sofia (2 nights)
  • Veliko Tarnovo (2 nights)
  • Varna (2 nights)
  • Burgas (2 nights)
  • Plovdiv (2 nights)
  • Sofia (1 night)
  • Further highlights:
  • Rila Monastry
  • City of Pleven
  • Stara Zagora, one of the oldest towns in Europe

Geotoura – Hotel concept

When we include a hotel in our programme, it is not only a high standard of quality that is important to us. We prefer typical local accommodation, often boutique hotels with a special ambience. They emphasise the character of an individual trip: Panoramic views, particularly lovely furnishings, a location in historic centres, no mass tourism and, of course, exceptionally friendly hosts – these are important criteria for us.

We divide our hotels into four separate Geotoura categories. Of course, you have the choice and can also combine the categories on one trip.

Boutique Hotels – Four categories

Encantador (“Charming”): Our most affordable option. Lovingly furnished rooms that offer everything the discerning traveller expects.

Especial (“Special”): Hotels with a special ambience – historic palaces, monasteries, haciendas or beach hotels with exceptional charm. Perfect for the classic cultural tour.

Extraordinario (“Extraordinary”): Luxurious hotels in excellent locations and with the highest level of comfort, often in centuries-old aristocratic palaces, old oil mills or haciendas.

Luna de Miel (“honeymoon”): For the honeymoon – span. Luna de miel – or if you want to treat yourself to something out of the ordinary …

Character of this travel idea

Be inspired by Bulgaria’s diversity on this 12-day tour of the country’s highlights. Marvel at the natural beauty, ranging from the picturesque coastline with turquoise waters to rugged mountain ranges, and immerse yourself in thousands of years of history and traditions that can still be felt today.

Experience culture

Bulgaria is a country with a deep-rooted history – and this tour brings its culture to life. In Sofia, among Orthodox churches and the remains of Roman architecture, you can feel the heartbeat of a capital city in transition. A visit to the Rila Monastery, nestled in the forests of the national park of the same name, reveals the spiritual side of the country: artistically painted arcades, centuries-old frescoes and a quiet, contemplative atmosphere.

The former capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire, Veliko Tarnovo, welcomes you with its narrow streets in the old town, while high above, the Tsarevets Fortress tells the story of medieval rulers. The village of Arbanassi is no less impressive, with its richly decorated houses and churches that once belonged to merchants and nobles. Plovdiv, one of the oldest cities in Europe, combines antiquity, Ottoman heritage and a modern art scene in a small space. This cultural diversity makes Bulgaria an exciting mosaic of eras and influences.

Experience nature

This 12-day tour of Bulgaria offers a succession of impressive natural landscapes. The Rila National Park is particularly memorable: alpine landscapes, tranquil forests and crystal-clear mountain lakes – a retreat for rare animal species and hiking enthusiasts. This contrasts with the mild Black Sea climate around Varna and Burgas, where wide beaches and rocky bays characterise the coastline.

The drive through the Rose Valley near Kazanlak leaves a lasting impression, especially in early summer: blooming fields, enchanting scents and traditional rose oil production characterise this region. Around Pleven, you will discover green hills and small wineries nestled in a peaceful, almost untouched environment. Even the cities feel close to nature in many places – for example, Plovdiv with its green hills or Sofia with the nearby Vitosha Mountains. Bulgaria surprises with its scenic diversity and always offers moments of tranquillity – between mountains, coasts and wide plains.

Bulgarias authentic cuisine

Anyone who wants to get to know Bulgaria’s cuisine will quickly notice on this tour that the flavours are as diverse as the landscapes. In Sofia, small family restaurants serve traditional dishes such as ‘kawarma’ – a spicy meat stew – or ‘banitsa’, a hearty puff pastry cake that is often served for breakfast. On the Black Sea coast in Varna and Burgas, freshly caught fish dishes dominate the menus. Accompanied by a glass of local white wine, they unfold their full flavour.

In Plovdiv, on the other hand, the cuisine reflects the city’s long history: Ottoman influences, modern interpretations and a strong awareness of regional ingredients characterise the scene. Meals in rural regions – such as the village of Arbanassi – are particularly atmospheric. Here, the air is filled with the aroma of grilled food, fresh vegetables from the market and herbs from the garden. Bulgarian cuisine tells stories – of hospitality, traditions and simple pleasures.

The authentic Bulgaria

In Plovdiv, it is worth taking a detour to the creative Kapana Zone, where small studios, cosy cafés and a lively street art scene characterise the neighbourhood. Those interested in history will find a surprisingly modern presentation of Bulgarian history at the Panorama Museum in Pleven. An evening on the Black Sea is also memorable: the light dancing on the water, the sound of the waves and perhaps a stroll through the old town of Nessebar. It is moments like these that make your tour of Bulgaria so special.

Why can't I find any prices on geotoura.com?

We do not offer standardised packages. Your Geotoura trip is customised according to your wishes.

We make this possible thanks to our high level of expertise and in-depth knowledge of the country as well as our excellent network of partners. You can look forward to extraordinary experiences, charming boutique hotels and very special insider tips on site.

Geotoura stands for the perfect planning of your personalised dream trip. Your individual price will therefore only include what really enriches your holiday.

Compared to standard holidays, this price is competitive. You will usually receive the comprehensive holiday design within 24 hours on working days.

Highly personalised trips are our speciality and the pleasure you deserve.

The special moment ...
... as we stood by the turquoise blue waters of the Black Sea coast

Experiences
of our customers

January 2025
Anita D.
Germany
Thanks to Geotoura, we had a wonderful time in Apulia. Our wishes for small hotels were catered for, all the accommodation was close to the centre and quiet and offered an individual flair. The suggestions for changes to our round trip turned out to be very good, and the detailed descriptions in the personal travel guide enabled us to plan our days well. This was the most relaxed holiday preparation for an individual trip we have ever had and we can recommend Geotoura with a clear conscience. Everything was one hundred per cent perfect. Many thanks for that!
February 2025
Katja K.
Germany
A wonderful trip through Scotland, customised according to my wishes. Uncomplicated, fast contact with very friendly and competent support. Absolutely recommended.
November 2024
Christoph F.
Switzerland
We decided to visit Portugal for the first time at very short notice. Geotoura advised us very quickly and well. The trip was an absolute success. As we were travelling in November, we never had the feeling of being involved in unpleasant overtourism. We can highly recommend Portugal as a destination and Geotoura as a tour operator.
November 2024
Hans Peter H.
Germany
I would like to thank the Geotoura team for their advice and support during our trip to Sicily. The travel information provided was very helpful and the hotels we booked all met our requirements in terms of location and facilities. The Organic Farm Resort Fontes Episcopi will remain a special memory for us. We were particularly well looked after and spoilt with culinary delights. The location and facilities of the former country house are unique. The hire car was big enough for our group (6 people) so that we could travel comfortably with our luggage.
November 2024
Joachim W.
Germany
It was our first time in Andalusia and thanks to the personalised recommendations of the Geotoura staff, which were based on their expertise and regional experience, we were able to enjoy a wonderful round trip with an incredible number of positive and interesting impressions!
November 2024
Alexander K.
Austria
Thank you for a wonderful week in Albania, during which we were able to switch off and let ourselves be carried away by your preparation. We will see you again!
November 2024
Susanne M.
Austria
We had a great round trip through Andalusia with nice different hotels and changing landscapes. A scratch on the car, which we had picked up, was quickly dealt with and we were able to continue our journey without any worries.
November 2024
Silke K.
Germany
We had a wonderful holiday in Andalusia which, as always, was far too short to see the many interesting sights and still have time to relax, go hiking or simply swim in the Atlantic. The hotels were again very well chosen. We love staying in small, special hotels and enjoying the Spanish flair. Thank you very much and see you next time.
October 2024
Edeltraud T.
Germany
With Geotoura, we were able to customise our trip to Portugal according to our wishes. Geotoura took a lot of the organisation off our hands with the choice of accommodation and completely fulfilled the trust we had placed in Geotoura.
October 2024
Thomas W.
Germany
Our tour of Andalusia was very well and individually organised. We had as much time as we wanted, the hotels were very different and, apart from one alternative, all very individual and pleasant. The guided tours, an excursion to the Sierra Nevada and the evening events were excellent. Overall, we got a good impression of Andalusia and the organisation was perfect.

Many other options are waiting for you

What kind of traveller are you? Just a few steps to your individual round trip
With our vacation planner, you can easily customize your own trip.
Individual planning
We accompany you to your personalized dream holiday.

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