Best of Bulgaria in 12 Days Tour

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful guide, Lyubo, Sofia local guide Stefan, great fellow travelers, absolutely perfect weather, several amazing experiences with local Bulgarians, and a well thought out program that consisted of museums, churches, historic sights, local contacts. etc.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every WOW experience involved interactions with local Bulgarians: the 3 Grandmothers homemade dinner, costumed folk dancing and song; meeting school personnel; homemade lunch in a a small village city center, cooking lesson with singing and dancing!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was disappointed that we wouldn't be touring with Stefan, who I had read did all the Bulgaria tours, but Lyubo was so wonderul, so patient, had so much information about every facet of his country, I couldn't have been happier, he was truly a Rick Steves guide, and we all marveled how well he did on his first Rick Steves tour, it was hard to believe it wasn't his hundredth.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really enjoyed learning about Orthodox Christianity, which I had no experience with. The Rila Monastery with all of its icons and paintings, its history, was really impactful, I very much enjoyed learning from someone who grew up orthodox about the differences between the dominant religion and the forms of religion I'm more familiar with. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Hotels location are good and the guide is friendly. He did his best efforts to satisfy the requests and response as quick as possible

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The town of Veliko Tarnovo. It is a quiet and beautiful town for relaxing"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A fun tour where we learned about the history of Bulgaria, Soviets, Ottomans, Thracians, Romans, Byzantine and more. A cultural and historical immersion, with lots of Orthodox Churches, and monasteries.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Rila Monastery, but every day we had a wow moments, Lyubo's interpretation of the Bulgarian folk songs also comes to mind. We also like the ski resort town. We got to see history, religion and the current culture which we loved,"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Such a great experience! Who knew Bulgaria was so “crossroads”? Bulgarians! And they are proud and knowledgeable to share it!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Experiences such as folk dancing and singing in Gorno Draglishte and Veliko Tarnovo are moments that stand out because they are out of ordinary tour experiences that connect you more to the culture. So was visiting the Banat village of Asenovo because it was unique to Bulgaria; Roman Catholic instead of Orthodox. And going to Nicopolis ad Istrum where there was an active archaeological dig going on! The archaeologists were hospitable and answered our questions."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was amazing starting with our Guide, Lyubo, who was filling in for the usual guide, Stephan. The tour took us to many historic sites and well as immersing us in the cultural and ethnic traditions in Bulgaria. The guides in each town/village had expertise in the various history and cultural traditions associated with the region. We were able to experience Bulgarian food and cultural dances, ect. throughout the trip as we moved from town to town.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We were taken to the “Grandmas” home for dinner and dancing. The “Grandmas” dressed us in culturally correct outfits and then taught us a Bulgarian dance. This was a quiet village where we were able to use the roadway as our dance studio for the room needed. After the dancing we were fed a Bulgarian dinner."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We were disappointed to hear at the outset that our guide had changed. But Lyubo was outstanding. The group had great camaraderie and Lyubo had so much to do with that. Most of the stops on the tour were interesting, local guides were good, bus was comfortable, food was usually good. It was disappointing to miss Burgas. The shops in Plovdiv and Vargas were fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"To be honest, the breakfast at the Doubletree was a wow. Though not part of the tour, the National Archaeology Museum in Sofia was stunning. Looking at the immense grain fields on the way to Veliko Tarnovo was surprising. Our second stay at the Arte Hotel was also a wow, because the room was so much better than the one we stayed in at the start of the tour. Hotels were overall disappointing. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour guide excellent. Knowledgable all aspects Romania. Good mix of spots to see.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Rila Monastery"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Being my 10th tour with Rick I will say that was not quite as good as I was hoping for, especially some of the accomidations, the guide was fantastic the places very good the fellow members exceptional

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The evening dinner with the grandma's that prepared dinner for us and sang and we danced in the street"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I knew very little (acutally nothing) about Bulgaria prior to this trip. I appreciate how the country withstood so many occupations from the ancient Greeks and Romans to the Ottomon empire and finally communism, before finding independence. Bulgaria's rich history has shaped not just a resilient population, but one that is ethnically, religiously, and culturally diverse as evidenced in their art, food, dance. What a great experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the "cultural" moments of the tour -- the evening in Gorno Draglishte of traditional dances (with corresponding attire), songs and feast with the ladies working to preserve their cultural traditions; celebrating the Bulgarian Independence and visiting the artisanal crafts people in Veliko Tarnovo."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first "tour" of any kind. I normally do all the planning and logistics myself, primarily using Rick Steves' books and other resources. The whole journey far exceeded my expectations, with an incredible guide, lovely accommodations convenient to sites/dining, and deeper cultural and local interactions than I could have experienced on my own. Highly recommended!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many! Celebrating Bulgarian Independence Day in the medieval capital. Dancing and dinner with local village women. The Zlatyu Boyadzhiev Museum in Plovdiv. I could go on! ; )"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding tour. Our guide Stefan was truly exceptional. This tour is a hidden gem with so many wow moments.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many. One was definitely Rila Monastery. Another was the Church of the Nativity in Arbanasi. Being in Veliko Tarnovo on Bulgaria's Independence Day was a huge bonus!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The guide's management of the tour, and his expansive knowledge and background on anything Bulgarian, was exceptional--made the trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The frescoes at Arbanasi, at The Cathedral of Navity, and the Boyadiev Museum in Plovdiv--incredible art."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a wonderful tour where we learned so much about Bulgaria from our guide, Stefan. The layers of history underneath our feet, the different cultures over the years, the many beautiful churches, the interactions with locals, and a bonus of experiencing Independence Day--it all added up to an enriching and enjoyable trip!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many beautiful churches and monasteries and amazing archaeological finds but the little village church in Arbanassi, Church of the Nativity, with its plain, low exterior, almost barnlike, with an explosion of color inside--the Sistine Chapel of Bulgaria--was truly amazing. And the incredible mosaic tiles of the Bishop's Basilica found under the streets of Plovdiv were also a highlight for me."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour offered everything: incredible art, architectural and archaeological sites, interacting with Bulgarians, getting a taste of city and village life, sampling local food and wine--and of course, learning all about the culture and history of Bulgaria thanks to an amazing guide (and his assistant).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"More than one: certainly the Rilla Monastery, but probably more impressive for me was the Church of the Nativity in Arbanasi. I also loved the nighttime "Sea walk" in Varna, where we were treated to a poignant story about a young female poet (and Rakia). Plovdiv and the Zlatyu Boyadzhiev museum was also a favorite--as was Veliko Tarnovo. And meeting the man running for president of Bulgaria was a big hit!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guides Stephan and Lyubo were amazingly knowledgable and fun to travel with, and Bulgaria was a beautiful country. Highly recommended! This was a very educational and "full-of-variety" tour -- we saw and experienced many aspects of Bulgarian life, and our guides had an amazing amount of information on history, geography, and life in Bulgaria that they shared with us. And of course our excellent travel companions added to our enjoyment of the trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Perhaps the group dinners will stand out as my favorite memories. From the dinner in the small town dressed in the costumes and and learning their dances, to the simple picnic lunch on the road, to the town ladies specially prepared lunch with the Mayor, to the wonderful farewell dinner with an amazing view of the entire capital city of Sofia, and all the meals in between, it was just fantastic."

Great hotels, tour guide, attractions

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting all the Eastern Orthodox churches "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall the tour hit my areas of interest which are history, archeology, architecture and political culture. Actually being on site to learn about these topics was a plus. Most of the tour stops were just about right in length of time spent. The lack of jostling with large crowds throughout the trip was another overall plus

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The whole afternoon at the Rila Monastery complex and tour of the museum. The winding drive there set the stage very well and the spiritual aura of buildings, artifacts and inside and outside paintings carried through the awe I felt walking onto the grounds"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was totally surprised by the history and beauty of Bulgaria. Stefan's knowledge and tour leadership was Five Star. I doubt there is a more knowedgeable guide. The group was small (11) but we all moved as one.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Bishop's Basilica in Provdiv was amazing. To see 1700+ year old mosaics were awe inspiring. I'd go back to see them in a heartbeat."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

A fantastic dive into the history of a region that I knew little about! Stefan really knows his stuff and the tour was organized quite well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being at the Rila Monastery when it started to rain. I sat down under the cover of the upper floor and listened to the quiet and the rain, with a small cat sleeping next to me. A zen moment, if I've ever experienced one."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Bulgaria was a particularly enlightening experience amplified by an exceptionally knowledgeable guide. The tour did not disappoint. Guide was 10/10 for his knowledge and connection to his Bulgaria. Presented honestly, challenges and all. Wonderful experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Scenic character and people of Veliko Tarnovo tied with the folk dancing experience. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great group of travelers. Very knowledgeable guide and an interesting itinerary. The group was immersed in the history y of Bulgaria, primarily through archaeology, The cities we went to featured culture, medieval history, naval history and the capital city. Coincidentally, there was a bike race and a marathon along the way. The hotels were located near the city centers. The itinerary was just as advertised, though I do think it needs some revisions to better maximize the tour experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"No real wow moments. I did like the pedestrian areas that were busy with people. Varna was nice with the pedestrian area, the sea garden and the Black Sea beach."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 17th tour and I loved it. The tour group were definitely seasoned travelers. Our guide, Stefan, was a non-stop source of information. We experienced so much on this tour. Of course, there were all the amazing sites, but we also learned a bit about the school system, efforts to educate about the communist era, and seeing artisans at work. I was amazed at the beauty of Rila Monastery and the interiors of the various churches. Just go! It's a great tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Several highlights for me: The fun of dressing up and dancing. The marvelous forests and the surprising (to me) mountains. The beautiful poppies! The wonderful artwork. And all the uncovered remains of past civilizations."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a very educational tour -- not only did we see and experience many spots in Bulgaria, but our guide had an enormous amount of information on history, geography, and the locals that he shared with us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Veliko Tarnovo. Beautiful and very fun shopping in town!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Marvelous to catch up on history and unique cultural aspects that were never covered in schooling. Fun to learn the broad array of customs, crafts, and foods of the country. Thoroughly enjoyed Black Sea exposure and Nesebar was a delight. Would have enjoyed a bit more free time overall and some added time in Sofia.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Several but Nesebar and Varna stand out for history and variety, as well as Black Sea exposure. Very exciting to see both Rilla and Plovdiv, both of which reeked of history!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour gave us a great feel for Bulgaria, it's history, culture, and beauty. Stephan showed us all the parts of the country, giving us what we needed to explore further on our own. No question went unanswered, and we saw so much more than we could have on our own, not to mention all of the interactions with locals willing to share their love of their heritage. From Sofia, to Plovdiv, the Black Sea Coast, to the area around Veliko Tarnovo, a fabulous trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The evening we spent dressing up and participating in the Bulgarian community evening. The lovely ladies made us feel so welcomed, they fed us incredible Bulgarian traditional food and drink, we danced, they sang...a truly wonderful cultural evening!!!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour for me and my wife. It was well laid out and the tour itself matched the tour outline provided in print. The hotels were quite nice and our restaurant meals together were at very nice and "down home" type palces. The final dinner together was at a very nice spot with great views of Sofia. Our tour guide, Stefan was most informative and engaging, and as a Bulgarian, very proud of his country and its contributions to world culture and history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The various Roman Ruins sites."

Overall rating: rating 2 of 5

A decent map of Sofia should have been included with the initial mailing. What I was given at the local tourist office didn't suffice. The 'cultural feast with dancing' described on Day 3 of the online itinerary is misleading. Rick's Bulgaria TV show had real dancers performing which is what we expected. Being hauled into a backroom by pushy women who put us in costume was not fun. Then on Day 11 our visit to Asenova was awful. We did not have a cooking class at the mayor's home

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Above continued. probably a blessing. The mayor served us lunch (in between cigarette breaks) at the community hall with the food having been extremely basic. Some of us would have preferred returning to Sofia sooner so that we weren't rushed to the lovely final dinner. Earlier that day we stopped at an excellent Roman ruin site where we would have liked more time. Stefan was an excellent guide, always attentive and able to answer every question. I called him our Bulgarian encyclopedia. "

Overall rating: rating 2 of 5

The15 pages on the entire country (instead of a book) was inadequate, especially Sophia - no map or walking tour made it difficult to get around. Instructions from the train station to the hotel were confusing. The tour did not include several items on the itinerary. The sites were ok, but as a seasoned traveler I was disappointed. The Eastern Orthodox churches were impressive for the frescoes. Lack of information on Communist rule, the fall of Communism and WWI & II was very disappointing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Rila Monastery was impressive, I especially enjoyed seeing some of the rooms where the monks stayed. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was really an informative & enjoyable tour. We enjoyed the cultural aspects of the tour which enlightened us about a country that we were unfamiliar with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The overnight stay in Yelika Taranova was astounding! This city in the mountains was so picaresque! The view from our hotel room was breathtaking & the hotel itself was quite charming. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Guide was great; selection of sites was great; tour group got along well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Thracian tombs -- idea of 6th-century BC having that much "technology""

Well planned, conceived, executed, guided. It was extremely hot and humid. Walkways and stairs were often miserable, even dangerous.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Easily the Rila Monastery "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The layers of civilization we discovered, as well as the recent turn away from Russia’s sphere of influence.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Rila Monastery "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful experience with Stefan in Bulgaria from beginning to end. The natural beauty of the land, the vibrant cities with welcoming pedestrian only areas, the architecture,the history with much richness revealed in depth by our guide Stefan, the delicious food, the art and crafts...it was a great adventure from beginning to end. We felt very welcomed there and will be coming back!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The energy and vibrancy of people everywhere we went in Bulgaria."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide was amazing and Bulgaria was a beautiful country.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Veliko Tarnovo"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour provided an excellent introduction to Bulgaria. While the Rila Monastery drew me to this tour, I found the Thracian tombs and Madara Horsemen fascinating. Each of the major cities offered different experiences. In Plovdiv the Roman ruins and homes from the "Bulgarian Renaissance" were aspects of a modern city awarded the 2019 European Cultural Capital. In Varna we were on the Black Sea and saw residents dancing in the streets. Veliko Tarnovo's old town and its artisans evoked history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "wow" moment was all of the interactions we had with Bulgarians that collectively provided an understanding and appreciation of Bulgarian culture: the talk by the labor department member in Sofia, the dinner in the small village near Bansko - definitely memorable and a highlight, the meeting with the school principal, the opportunity to observe the artisans at work in Veliko Tarnovo, and finally our time with the mayor in Asenovo followed by lunch primarily prepared and served by one woman."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I appreciated the expertise and personal approach of our guide, and I was very glad to learn about a country I knew absolutely nothing about before signing up for the trip. Bulgaria is such an interesting place to visit!

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Stefan is an outstanding tour guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing roman cities underground."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A great tour. Exceeded my expectations

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Dinner with the ladies from the village, who sang and cooked for us"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great historical background of Bulgaria. Excellent guide. It was a pleasure to travel with this tour group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"When we learned that the Bulgarians refused to send the Jews to the Nazi death camps."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The trip was outstanding because of our enthusiastic and very knowledgeable guide, Stefan. I thought the huge number--29--would be unmanageable but it worked out fine. I loved our group and made new friends.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Orthodox Churches were amazing with the fresco's and other art work. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Good variety of experiences, wonderful guide, very good accommodations. Too short.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Archeological museum in Sofia (should be included on tour) set the context for other museums. Dinner, dancing with costumes, entertainment and flirting with the women in Bansko (?). Boat ride in Varna. Meeting Nico and family in Asenovo. Hotel in Veliko Tarnovo. Stefan!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Bulgaria and our guide, Stefan, were incredible. The cities, villages, and countrysides were all wonderful. It was our first RS tour and we loved meeting our fellow travelers. The positivity from everyone and Stefan's wealth of knowledge made this an unforgettable experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many highlights! The bishop’s basilica for archeological history, the rug factory for local culture, the giant (often Soviet) monuments for political history, and the dancing grannies for an amazing evening of food, costumes, songs, and laughs. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great group of folks. Dandy experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sofia "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful experience! I will recommend a RS trip to Bulgaria to everyone. Learned a lot about the history of Bulgaria and communism, culture, etc.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Stefan was so knowledgeable about his beloved country of Bulgaria. He has a special way of conveying historical information with the use of pictures. "