I am going to Bulgaria with my boyfriend at the end of June for 10 days and would welcome any advice on our current proposed itinerary. We are early 30s, and as much as possible want to see the %26#39;real%26#39; Bulgaria, do it the local way etc. Want to see some culture/heritage and natural areas (whether rural or sea). Particulary interested to see spas/thermal pools/curative mud....
Really want to avoid any lengthy stays in really commercialised resorts.
- Begin Sofia for 2 days with trip to Rila Monastery (any advice on specific ways to get there?)
- Koprivishtitsa possibly night stop
- Kazanluk possibly night stop
- Balchik - stay a few days and explore coast (which other resorts are the most attractive/quiet?)
- Return to Sofia via Plodiv with night stop - or should we stop somewhere else?
Would we be missing out on somewhere we should really see? Is is risky to arrive places without pre-booked accommodation? I am working on the basis that we can go equipped with ideas from internet research of guesthouses and tourist offices can advise?
Thanks
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Hi I think I can help you a bit about Bulgaria I have been there a couple of times.
-From Sofia you can take the road to Blagoevgrad that%26#39;s the way to the Greek border-Kulata. Rila monastery is on the way there about 25 km. away from the main road but its worth to see. From there you can continue to Velingrad wich is a town in the Rhodopi mountain popular with its healing mineral water. Doing so you%26#39;ll observe three beauituful mountains on the way Rila, Pirin and Rhodopi.
-From Velingrad you can go to Koprivshtica through Pazardzhik as I see on the map I got here - but I cant tell you anything bout the way because I%26#39;ve never been this area. But I see that Hisrya is about 50km away from Koprivshtica and its a nice plase with remains from a Roman city and Mineral springs as well.
- About Kazanluk I don%26#39;t know the Balkan mountains which you will travel along is full of nice sceneries and on the way there you can visit Shipka pass which is a histarical place for Bulgaria as there was a great fight between them and Otomans during the occupation.
About the other things I%26#39;m not very competent.
But for that trip you probably plan to rent a car and I can give you a tip about that I have found this company last year I went to Bulgaria and they have attractive prices and good service. And I was surprised to find that they have hostels both in Sofia and Plovdiv in the very centres of the sity for the price of 9 euro for dormitory bed.
So I wish you nice trip and pleasant emotions there.
these are the links if you wold like to check:
www.penguin.dk/products.aspx…
and the hostels:
http://www.sofiaguest.com/?page=home
http://www.plovdivguest.com/?page=home
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Thanks for the advice!
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You really should consider visiting veliko Turnovo which is the old capital of Bulgaria.
Its definietly worth your time
http://wikitravel.org/en/Veliko_Turnovo
The Rose Fesitival is at the Beginning of June in Kaznaluk. You probably won%26#39;t have problems with accodomation. However, Kazanluk isn%26#39;t really a night stop. They have a great museum and tombs but that%26#39;s about it. I would recommend stopping across the shipka pass to Bojentsi (by gabrovo) Excellent place and quiet, but only reachable by car.
Also, would recommend looking into these accomodations:
They are generally the best hotels that aren%26#39;t ridiculously expensive:
http://www.authenticbulgaria.org/index.php
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hi
To add few things to the advises of the above users.
Curative mud is mainly available in North Bulgaria, at Pomorie (at the seaside, near Sunny beach, i.e. crowded during summer), and in area named %26quot;Rupite%26quot; (Rupite is considered as %26quot;sacred area%26quot;).
SPAs and thermal waters are mostly available in Central and Western parts of South Bulgaria.
At visiting the Rila monastery, you reach close enough to SPA%26amp;healing area of Blagoevrgad and Sandanski.
I%26#39;d recommend to go South after a daily visit of Rila monastery, and a night stop in any of these towns, and also in Sveti Vrach area (Sveti Vrach exactly means %26quot;Saint Healer%26quot;)- there%26#39;s a former residence of the government from the communist time, located just next to a small lake within fenced%26amp;guarded park.
I%26#39;ve also been in SPA-hotel Medite in Sandanski (located a bit above the town so there%26#39;s nice view to it from the hotel).. in 2007 I think.
In Sandanski hotel I%26#39;ve been in 90%26#39;s so I%26#39;d rather not provide out-of-date feedback.
In Blagoevgrad I%26#39;ve recenty (May 2008) been in a decent hotel, and saw many others nice looking from outside. If you choose Blagoevgrad, choose hotel in Varosha area- it is the old area of the city; however my hotel was 5 minutes (across small river bridge) walking from the downtown.
Blagoevgrad is a student%26#39;s place, it is live and it is not probable to experience language problems with the young people.
Driving directions and conditions from Sofia to Rila monastery should be available in TA- do a search within Bulgarian forums.
~~~
Expect Balchik to be crowded at the end of June, resp.risk for finding all pre-booked is high. In addition to the tourists typical since many years for this place, %26quot;invasion%26quot; of Romanian tourist is experienced last 2 years.
Balchik to Plovdiv in one day is possible by either bus or driving. Plovdiv worths visiting (I live here but it%26#39;s not my native city so don%26#39;t consider this as my personal predisposition)
The idea of spending overnight in Bojentsi instead in Kazanlak is extremely reasonable.
~~~
Of course you%26#39;ll miss many %26quot;worth see%26quot; places but no way to cover all within single short trip: Bulgaria has variety of nature %26quot;things-to see%26quot;, heritages, healing places (and people), etc.- despite of the really small size of the country.
~~~
BTW, your route looks to me a bit chaotic- have you had a look on the map?
Also, it%26#39;s not clear which mean of transportation you%26#39;ll choose. It is much related to the time.
And here comes the time- how many days you give to the entire trip?- I don%26#39;t see travel times counted in your request.
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You really should come to Veliko Tarnovo.It%26#39;s very,very beatyful and so tipical.You%26#39;ll love it!
Visit http://www.vtarnovosite.hit.bg/index.htm for more information about the city.
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You should visit Veliko Tarnovo. If you are looking for renting a car try www.rentacarmm.bg Ask for a Discount
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