Best of Bulgaria in 12 Days Tour

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Bulgaria did not disappoint. Driving through the countryside ogling miles of sunflower fields, dense forests and hills galore made driving very enjoyable. Stephan was an outstanding guide and a pretty good song and dance man as well!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Choosing between two experiences would be too difficult because they were so similar and enjoyable. One was the cooking "class" which was interspersed with romantic ballads and folk dancing. The other was our amazing dinner at the Mayor's home, which also included several soulful songs by the chef, who was also the Mayor's wife."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The combination of history, friendly people and GREAT food made this trip memorable. Stefan knows so much history and it is so complex the trip would have been different without his guidance and good humor. He seems to know everyone in Bulgaria so we were treated to very personal insights into the daiy life of Bulgarias people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many, but outstanding was the handicafts and explanation from the craftspeople. It was also pretty hard not to love the Black Seaside."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour leader Stefan was so knowledgeable about his country - you can tell he loves Bulgaria. The people I met on the tour were wonderful and hopefully I will see them again - they are all RS groupies! This was my first RS tour and felt a couple hotel rooms were not up to par. The Capitol Hotel was pretty bad. I also felt as a single I got a couple bad rooms - maybe some discrimination as it’s a couples world.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Some of the churches were incredible. Eating lunch and gazing at the Black Sea was incredible - and the food was great too! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The overall experience of the Bulgaria tour was wonderful in itself because of the beautiful country and variety of cities we experienced but this would not have been possible without the expertise of our guide Stefan whose depth of understanding about the history, culture and people made the our own enjoyment of a country that we knew little about really come to life. We were fortuante to have a group that jelled and respectived the times and guidles that Stefan set for us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There was no one wow moment because there were so many daily experiences that in their totality layered up to provide us with a deeper understanding of the country. Among those I would include the variety of cities experienced, the archeological museums, dinners with locals, the Rila monastery, carpet factory, the regional foods, the diversity of relious buildings visited, a music concert in Plovdiv, the balance of free and structured time and Stefan's sense of humor."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Deeply knowledgeable tour guide provided rich insights about culture, history, politics, geography, economy and more. The trip was a perfect mix of varied activities and experiences as well as scheduled activities and free time to explore on our own

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the weaving shop where women create extraordinarily beautiful rugs."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Good group, great guide, fascinating country.

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a wonderful tour. Bulgaria is an amazing country and Stefan an outstanding tour guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There was a wow moment each day. The vibrant city of Sofia, the rose farm and distillery, the Roman and Thracian ruins, Varna on the Black Sea Coast, and having lunch with a local family in small town Bulgaria. We had a great group and a very knowledgeable and personable guide in Stefan. And not to forget Plovdiv! What a beautiful city and very pedestrian friendly."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

If you love history, ( from many years BC to the present) , architecture, art, Roman ruins, politics, food, (lots and lots of food) big cities, small villages, beautiful scenery and so much more, this is the tour for you. It all starts with tour guide, Stefan. His extensive knowledge of thousands of years of Bulgarian history, the country he clearly loves, was absolutely amazing. Even more impressive was his ability to clearly communicate that history. We leaned so much each and every day.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"In addition to Stefan, the country itself is so beautiful with lovely mountains, rolling farm lands as well as the large cities and picturesque small villages. So much diversity to experience in one relatively small country which we covered in one large loop around Bulgaria in our 12 day tour. Every day there was a different Wow moment. Archaeological museums, beautiful churches, Carpet factory, Rose valley, storks, lunch with the mayor, the Black Sea just to name a few. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Nice hotels but could have used ac in Sofia. Stefan was so knowledgeable and kind. Food was very good. Learned a lot.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"You see maps of the Roman empire but It doesn't hit home until you see the remains."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The guide was excellent, extremely knowledgeable, very personable & upbeat, he kept us moving, well informed, and entertained everyday. The group itself was just a delight, everyone got along very well and I was sorry to part company with them. Sofia was a pleasant surprise, it was a very pretty, walkable, and interesting city, full of history, as was Plodiv, Varna, and Veliko Tarnovo with lots of other fascinating stops in between.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Having lunch on the Black Sea Seeing artifacts from the 6th millium BC and older"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Bulgaria is such an interesting mix of cultures and historic influences, it was fascinating! We learned so much …from the places we visited and from our superb guide, Stefan. The tour was more cities than small towns, but they were all very safe and walkable. It was encouraging to see revitalization, but Communist blight and “architorture” was never far away. It is rewarding to know that our tourism helps this country’s economy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing and hearing Stefan sing a duet with the matriarch of the beautiful hotel in Veliko Tarnovo was an oh-so-memorable moment! This traditional love song followed an entertaining cooking class where we learned how to make Bulgarian specialties like Mish Mash and Banitsa. So much fun and culture rolled into one wonderful “wow” moment!"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

We've been on a number of Rick Steves Europe trips and this one is probably our least favorite. Our guide was very knowledgeable of the history, but I felt like the diversity of cultural experiences on this trip was lacking. Generally there is a better mix of history, natural areas, hands on experiences, etc. This one focused primarily on historical sites and felt more like a college credit field trip. Your guides also usually have more recommendations for a variety of free time experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Veliko Tarnovo was probably my favorite stop on the trip. The hotel was lovely and the cooking demonstration was interesting but not hands on for us and no recipe was provided. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was a very good opportunity to learn about a country which is not so well known. It has a very interesting history and this tour covers a lot of ground in that respect. Bulgarian people were friendly and welcoming.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Entering the UNESCO protected tomb of the Thracian king.The frescoes on the walls were interesting as well as the artifacts depicted inside the burial chamber."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Historic & delightful!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lunch at the ‘mayors’ house w/his wife and the librarian. We participated in cooking & costuming and it was in their back yard… interactive & personal. The food was homemade & delicious. I love interacting w/the Bulgarian people. Also enjoyed the free afternoon in Varna, where I p/u a chicken gyro, took it to the Seagarden Park, found a bench, ate & journaled while over looking the Black Sea- WOW! In that same park I wandered into a classical guitarist playing freely (no money collecting), = )"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Stefan did an great job passionately presenting the history and archeology of Bulgaria. Most of the visited sights were quite interesting. Stefan was able to answer even some of the more obscure questions. Tour members were great, and added to the fun of the trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The view of the surrounding mountains from the Rila Monastery."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves tour and won't be my last. The hotels were good, the country was very interesting and our guide was engaging and energetic. But almost the best thing was my fellow travelers, who were a wonderful group of people. We all bonded pretty fast.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beautiful Rila Monastery and the setting of Veliko Tarnovo."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Mixed feelings about the tour. Lots of highs: The Greek and Roman experience in the area, a much much better understanding of the Eastern Orthodox both artistically and historically. I'd recommend a short lecture reading on Byzantium from 303AD (Christianity) to the Crusades. We missed getting inside the Nevsky Cathedral, and Market Hall. The guide's presentation of the German, (esp) Nazi period in Bulgaria was weak. The Bulgarian nationalism was there. The Balkans are still the Balkans.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Wow moment was the Monastery at Rila. Seeing is to feel a bit of what monastic life must have been like. I found the Varna Museum very interesting and got a much better understanding of the Roman/Greek period, plus the various Balkan "Barbarians" who become Orthodox. The Wow moment too was the traditional Balkan animosities remain. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Bulgaria is a fascinating country. While we travel independently often, the tour experience was the way to 1) be able to explore more of the country and 2) get a better understanding of its complex history. This tour (and this group) made it both educational and fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"From a visual perspective, probably seeing the Rila Monastery with its background of beautiful mountains. For content, hearing Stefan's personal stories of his family and their experiences during the recent tumultuous history of Bulgaria. Also, the evident pride the local people have in their heritage, despite the country's struggles -- Stefan, the teachers at the school, the factory workers, the artisans. It isn't an easy life for them, but they are proud to be Bulgarian!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Did not know about Bulgaria, then to discover the historical and archeological perspectives was eye opening.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Not just one. Interacting with people. Roman school; meeting mayor and wife for lunch in court yard. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I feel this tour was a very well rounded overview of Bulgaria. We were able to see many different aspects of the country, from big cities to small villages, forests and farms.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My two most memorable experiences we’re, getting Stefan as a guide and feeling the warmth of the Bulgarian people. Steffan’s knowledge and presentation of the history and transitions people had to endure to reach today make me appreciate human resilience."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I enjoyed the trip a lot. Stephan, our guide was great, his enthusiasm for Bulgaria was contagious and I really enjoyed seeing and learning about its history and culture. I was surprised to learn more about the amazing depth of Bulgaria’s past and see it’s beautiful old architecture that became even more pronounced in contrast to the starkness of the Soviet era buildings that loom over many of the cities. The Bulgarian we interacted with, for the most part, were helpful and kind.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really enjoyed our experience at the Hotel Gurko. The cooking classes and singing of the traditional Bulgarian songs that the staff and Stephan did were a stand out for me. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The places and the people made it a great experience

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Roman mosaics"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

I found Bulgaria interesting, but really not enough to see for two weeks. Tour guides ( Yuri and Toni) were absolutely great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were no wow moments. The food always stood out as fresh. The poverty and antiquated industries, ie. Carpet making, glass making, was surprising and a little disturbing. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I had a great time on the tour. While Bulgaria doesn’t have as many must see sights as Italy or France, I really connected with my guides Yuri and especially his assistant Toni. They made the trip special in many ways. Toni will be a great guide. She stepped up when Yuri had a family emergency and ran several city walks. She also gave great tips on how to spend free time. I also made two new friends on the tour. We already have plans to travel again together.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wandering around Plovdiv in our free time, we first visited an art museum and then bumped into Toni, our guide in training. She took us to her favorite mid 19th century home the Hindliyan Home. She talked the curator into giving us a personal tour which was fabulous. As we left we “ crashed” a graduation party that was being held in the courtyard of the home. Congratulations Vanessa!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We took this back to back with the tour of Turkey. The contrast of the countries was pronounced. Bulgaria has never really recovered from the negative impact of communism, and although the country is lush and beautiful, we shared our guide's sadness over some of the deterioration in his beloved native country.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The city of Plovdiv in general, and the Bishop's Basilica of Philoppolis in particular."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very efficient. I liked the balance of scheduled activities versus free time. Flexibility was good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I like nature and picturesque areas. The whole town of Veliko Tarnovo was beautiful and I enjoyed exploring it. Also the Madera Horseman carving was definitely a wow moment."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything excellent! The guide, tour participants, bus driver, itinerary, hotels and meals.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The church in Arbanassi. Unassuming from the outside. Stunningly gorgeous inside. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our group was led by Kamen who was outstanding in his knowledge about -- and his enthusiasm for -- Bulgaria, its history, & its people. We began knowing very little about this area of the world; after 12 days, we are ready to return and learn even more about this rich and diverse crossroads. Hotels, food, transportation were all great--especially appreciated each hotel's central location. Good balance of orientation walks, planned events & lots of independent time to explore on our own. Thanks!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Bulgaria didn't have huge "wow" moments like I'd experienced in some other places, but instead, there were many smaller "wonderful" moments -- a school visit, folk-dancing on a pedestrian street, Rila Monastery in the mist, Roman and Greek ruins amidst Revival & Communist era architecture, cooking lesson in a Banat woman's home, delicious multi-course meals, master craftspersons in Veliko Turnovo, room-sized rug weaving, the Madara horseman, Thracian tombs, amazing archeological museums...& more"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Tour was very well run. Tour guide was exceptionally well qualified.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"A couple: the artifacts in the Varna archeology museum, and the scenery around Veliko Tarnovo."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Kamen was outstanding. Incredibly knowledgeable as well as very organized and helpful.

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was our 6th RSE tour, so we obviously like the style, pace and value. This tour lived up to expectations on all counts - interesting, diverse, enlightening, engaging. My favorite thing on a trip is to feel things clicking into place - the dots of history connecting, the things I learned in school, or books I read, or movies I've seen, all coming to life or making sense because of new things I learned or saw. This trip definitely gave me that. I feel I "know" another part of the world!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There wasn't a single, stand-out "wow", like walking into Hagia Sofia in Istanbul or the feeling of strolling through the grounds of the ancient Olympic games in Greece. It was more an accumulation of smaller wows. But if I had to pick one, I'd say it was seeing the oldest gold objects in the world, in the archeology museum in Varna. We saw more jaw-dropping gold objects in Sofia. But seeing and learning about the ones in Varna was like peeling back whole unknown layers of history. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was our 6th RSE trip. RSE tours have always been a great travel value and the tours pack allot in. While we enjoyed the tour, and our guide was great (as was the bus driver), Bulgaria just did not have the WOW moments of other tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The group lunch at "Maria's" home with the town Mayor. A true back door experience."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I have travelled a lot using Rick's books, but this was my first tour of any kind. The travel experience is easier if less spontaneous. There is the group tour benefit of meeting other people and our guide, Kamen, was an extraordinary resource because of his history knowledge. A significant benefit of this tour is that public transportation in Bulgaria is not like Western Europe, so having a bus is a lot more efficient.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My tour highlight is Rila Monastary. Ironically, foggy and crummy weather made visiting this place a more evocative experience like you are going somewhere far, far off the beaten tourist trail. I agree with the RS guidebook comment that Plovdiv is the best place to visit in Bulgaria. The walking tour and old town were very interesting."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a wonderful experience. It was what I had hoped it to be. To see what I can in the short time I was there, see the country and learn. I was excited that I was able experience more than the typical tourist sites and see things like neighborhoods schools, places of work and a local community center where people danced traditional dances just for the fun of it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The many literal layers of civilizations that make up Bulgaria. The people of Bulgaria have built on top of civilizations after civilizations more than any I experienced in Europe, from the Thracians to modern times. This became apparent very early on in the tour when we toured the basement of St. Sofia church during our free time where there were centuries of tombs and crypts. This theme of living along side of structures from the past was constant during the whole trip. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall a very good tour. Lots of surprises in Bulgaria for us, especially the extensive accomplishments in unearthing and displaying of ancient Roman (and other) historical remains. Great museums througout.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Not a particular moment, but the city of Plovdiv throughout was an eyeopener. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What set this tour apart from others we have taken was the spirit of adventure and serendipity of our guide, Yuri. Some tours stress the de rigueur highlights. With Yuri there were several deviations from the written itinerary and they were unfailingly special and illuminating. Twice we were able to hop on a train -- where we spoke with locals and enjoyed the romance of the rail.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"After Tuscan Plovdiv, we crossed the Thracian Valley to the mysterious 2500 year old Thracian tombs, the spectacular 19c Russian church at Shipka, then an ascent of the Balkan range to the weirdly compelling monument to Communism at Bulzundja of 1980s, thousands of feet up. Remarkable time travel. At Shumen: a serene mosque and a mountaintop monument to the Founders of the Bulgarian State, hearing our bus driver's bagpipes drone amid its open air, spooky, paranoid, and monumental sculpture. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Many highlights, many of them unanticipated and fascinating. The sites and the history are truly phenomenal.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The icons in the churches and the schoolchildren's impromptu performance."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great! Well organized ! An amazing tour guide, Yuri.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting a school -the kids were ‘ rehearsing ‘ for the 1st day of school. Flag parade, singing and a recorder performance. We also had a great tour of the school and were able to visit the classrooms and talk to the teachers. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is the first organized tour we've been on. Prior to this, we've traveled on our own throughout Europe using RS guidebooks but we thought it would be easier to travel in Bulgaria with a RS tour. The tour conducted by Yuri was excellent. He made every effort to give us the best experiences, including the unscheduled train rides and the impromptu visit to the Trabant collectors car lot complete with rides in a Trabant! It was a fast paced 12 days and somewhat exhausting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many but we especially enjoyed the visit to Borovets & the countryside royal residence (we would like to have stayed there 2 days and done some walks in the beautiful forests), Rela Monastery, the Church of the Nativity in Arbanasi, and the folk dancing at the Gorna Oryahovitsa Culture House. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very happy with the the tour

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lunch at the mayor’s home cooked by his wife. Ate in the courtyard. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

There was so much packed into a relatively short time. It was our first Rick Steves' tour, first organized tour of any kind so I was apprehensive. We tend to be independent travelers. Yet, our guide (Yuri) and the other tour members made the experience memorable. The activities and sites selected for this tour were quite varied. We saw religious sites, Roman sites, Medieval sites, and Communist-era sites as well as experiencing the Black Sea coast and the beautiful Bulgarian countryside.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"As a former history teacher, my "wow" moments centered on the Roman ruins we visited with the mosaics at the Bishop's Basilica in Plovdiv as the highlight. The other "wow" moments were visiting old Communist-era sites: The photo opportunity at Buzludzha (the abandoned monument to the Bulgarian Communist Party), the in-depth tour of the Soviet-made submarine near Varna, and experiencing a gaida solo by our bus driver at the Founders of the Bulgarian State Communist-era memorial near Shumen."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

loved Bulgaria and Stefan he is awesome

Favorite "WOW" moment

"too many to pick one really"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

There was so much to learn. Bulgaria is a fascinating place with an important history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many. The Bishop’s Basilica in Plovdiv was one WOW moment. The mosaic tile floors were amazing. And the history of the basilica was fascinating. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Good trip. I really appreciated the knowledge and enthusiasm of our guide. Itinerary had nice variety.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tie - stepping into Rila Monastery and Church of the Nativity in Arbanasi"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Good group of people, interesting, easily accessible and not over-crowded sights. Beautiful country with lovely and numerous green areas.

Favorite "WOW" moment

" Beautiful gardens "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was an excellent tour to Bulgaria. A country I knew little about previously. Our guide, Stefan, did a great job showing us his country and explaining the culture.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Cathedral at Veliko Tarnovo."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Amazing I’m always fascinated by the history of European countries and their cultural heritage is

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably when the hotel owner and our guide sang a duet during a cooking demonstration "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding!! From the organization to execution, everything was so carefully planned. Our tour guide, Stefan, did an amazing job monitoring the needs of the group. Everyday we knew what we were doing for the day and what to expect the next day. Our guide was so knowledgeable about every site we visited. Often we had time on the bus to talk about Bulgaria and ask many questions about the country’s culture and current challenges. Our accommodations were wonderful and the food was incredible

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Church of the Nativity in Arbanasi. We had already seen many churches and frescos on the tour. This church was truly special. This was my first Rick Steves tour. I’ve created several of my own vacations with Rick’s books. I’m not sure if I would have driven to this little town to see this church if I was on my own. I’m so glad the tour took us there. The beautiful frescos are so colorful and impressive. It is an experience I will treasure."