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A Musala Peak
Spring – Summer 2004
6 Days/ 5 Nights
Tour code: 001
Day 1
Arrive at Sofia Airport. Welcome greetings from Mari Travel. Transfer
from the airport to the 3 star hotel in Sofia City Centre. 20:30
Dinner in a traditional Bulgarian restaurant accompanied by a folk programme
of traditional Bulgarian song & dance. Overnight.
Day 2
08:00 Breakfast. 09:00 A guided walking tour around Sofia 13:00
Lunch 14:30 Free time in Sofia 17:00 Depart to Borovets –
a luxurious resort n Rila Mountain, 70 km out of Sofia 18:30 Arrive in
Borovets. Check in to your hotel. 19:30 Dinner in the hotel restaurant. Overnight.
 Day 3
07:30 Breakfast. 08:30 Depart Borovets to the Musala Peak – the highest
point of the Balkan Peninsula at 2925m. Choose one of two options:
Option 1: Depart Borovets to Yastrebets Peak by cable car. Walk from
Yastrebets Peak to Musala Peak. It is a steep but astounding trail taking
about 3 hours. A professional mountain leader and his team will accompany
you on this trail. Lunch is waiting for you at Musala Peak on your arrival.
Option 2: Depart Borovets to Musala Peak, the longer way. This trail
takes about 6 hours. A professional mountain leader and his team also
accompany you on this trail and they come along with a packed lunch.
Tea and cake is waiting for you at Musala Peak on your arrival.
The astonishing views of Rila Mountain and its neighbouring peaks, Vitosha
and Pirin is a breathtaking experience that will stay in your heart for
a long time to come. Arrive at Chalet Ledenoto Ezero (Chalet of the Frozen
Lake) at 18:00. At 20:00 an exotic dinner awaits
you at this highest point of the Balkans Peninsula. Overnight: Chalet Ledenoto Ezero.
Day 4
08:30 Breakfast 09:00 Return to Borovets by foot. It’s an eight-hour
trail on the south side of Musala Peak. The trail leads along the ridge
of Marichichkija Circus. Marichenskija Circus is the window to the
Marichki Lakes. These lakes mark the start of the Maritsa River, which
is the largest river in this region that begins in Bulgaria and ends
at the Aegean Sea. Along this trail you will also see Bliznacite Peak,
Marichin Chal, and Mancho Peak – they are all above 2500m. 13:00
Lunch an Zavrachitsa
Chalet 17:00 Arrive in Borovets.19:30 Dinner back at
the hotel restaurant
 Day 5
08.00 Breakfast. 09:00 Depart to Rila Monastery (a UNESCO World
Heritage site). 11:30 Guided around the monastery. The monastery is a
characteristic example of the Bulgarian Renaissance (18th–19th centuries)
and symbolizes an awareness of a Slavic cultural identity following centuries
of occupation. St John of Rila, a hermit canonized by the Orthodox Church,
founded it in the 10th century. His ascetic dwelling and tomb became
a holy site and were transformed into a monastic complex that subsequently
played an important role in the spiritual and social life of medieval
Bulgaria. You will visit the museum in the monastery. 13:30
Lunch in
a mountain restaurant with a special mountainous cuisine of fresh trout
and other mountain delicacies.14: 30 - Return to Sofia. 20:00
– Dinner in a traditional Bulgarian restaurant. Overnight.
Day 6
Transfer from the airport to the hotel. Depart to London.
Price per person in DBL - 581.00 EUR
Price per person in SNG - 627.00 EUR
The price is for group of min. 6 pax
The prices are valid for the period from 01.April 2004 until 31. October
2004.
For groups more or less than 6 pax, please send a request to our office.
The price includes:
• Transport services with mini-bus during
the whole route in Bulgaria
• Transfer from/to Sofia
airport
• English speaking guide services during the whole stay in Bulgaria
• Mountain guide services for the rout in Rila mountain
• 2 BB in 3 star hotel in Sofia
• 2 BB in 4 star hotel in mountain resort Borovets
• 1 ON in the chalet Ledenoto ezero at the highest point of the Balkan
Peninsula
• 5 dinners, one of which is an exotic dinner on the Musala pick ( 2925
m.). The highest point of the Balkan peninsula
• 5
lunches
• Mountain insurance
• Entrance fee for the museum in Rila Monastery
The price doesn’t include:
· Air plane tickets to/from Sofia
· All of the service, which are not
included in the paragraph “The price includes”
N.B. Mari Travel`s prices and prices are subject to change, however
you will be informed of any changes relevant to your holiday at the time
of booking. We guarantee to explain them fully and keep them to an absolute
minimum.
The Rhodopes
The majestic Mountain of Orpheus
8 days / 7 nights
Tour code 002
Day 1
Arrive at Sofia Airport. Welcome greetings from Mari Travel. Transfer
from the airport to the 3 star hotel in Sofia City Centre. 20:30
Dinner in a traditional Bulgarian restaurant accompanied by a folk programme
of traditional Bulgarian song & dance. Overnight.
Day 2
08:00 Breakfast. 09:00 A guided walking tour around
Sofia. 13.00 Lunch at the ‘Boianskoto hanche’ Restaurant
for a taste of Bulgaria.14:30 Visit the Boyana Church (UNESCO World Heritage site)
located on the outskirts of Sofia. The church was built in the 10th century,
and then enlarged at the beginning of the 13th century. Its walls are
decorated in paintings that make up one of the most important collections
of medieval art. 15:30 Pick up a chair lift at the foot of Vitosha Mountain.
To be taken to Bai Krastio Peak to view the city of Sofia from above.19:30
Dinner. Overnight.
Day 3 
08:00 Breakfast. 08:30 Depart to Pamporovo Resort in the Rhodopes,
250km out of Sofia. On the way to Pamporovo visit Bachkovski Monastery.
One of the oldest monasteries in the Bulgarian lands. Founded in 1083
with original architecture, rich collections of old icons, jewellery,
coins and church plates. The library preserves many valuable incunabula
and old manuscripts. Its most remarkable features are the paintings that
are everywhere - in the church and ossuary, where the figure of the
Bulgarian Tsar Ivan Alexander is discernible among the 11th and 14th
century murals, in the seventeenth century refectory, in the Assumption
of the Blessed Virgin main church (1604), and in the Holy Trinity and
St. Nicholas Church (1840), which contain some of the first murals
painted by the celebrated National Revival artist Zahari Zograph. 16:00
Check into a hotel. Free time.19:00 Dinner. Overnight
Day 4
08.00 Breakfast. 08:30 Depart to Trigrad Village – in the south part
of The Rhodopes. The village with its gorgeous caves is the star attraction
in the southwestern Rhodopes, The Trigrad Gorge is one of the most
spectacular vistas in Bulgaria, its sheer walls overhanging the foaming
Trigradska river. Trigrad is a starting point for horseback riding,
biking, and hiking to the village of Mugla.
You have 2 choices:
A) the fantastic Devil's Throat cave, accessible via a 150-metre-long
tunnel. The thunder of water can be heard long before you see a huge
waterfall that through the enormous Roaring Hall vanishes into the
canyon.The wild karsts terrain surrounding the sprawling village of
Trigrad, abounds in caves.
B) The Yagodinska cave famous for its unique
cave pearls and other formations, as well as for the yielded 7000 years
old Neolithic implements. Lunch. Departure to Shiroka Laka – it means "broad
meadow", and with its humpbacked bridges and asymmetrical half-timbered
houses topped by their distinctive flagstone tile roofs. You get to
see a performance by local musicians at the School of Folk Instruments
and Music and also visit the Sgurov Konak (containing the local Ethnographic
Museum). Shiroka Laka is a place to stroll around the cobbled lanes
and enjoy picnics in the surrounding meadows - unless you happen to
be around for the first weekend of March, when there's a Kukeri carnival
of dancers and musicians in weird costumes, playing out an ancient
fertility rite. Depart to Pamporovo. Overnight.
Day 5
Breakfast. Visit Snezanka Peak and the TV Tower by lift. Visit The Smolian
Lakes - famous as "the emerald eyes of the Rhodopes".The
highest lake, called "The Muddy Lake", is the deepest and
the most beautiful. On a small plateau, near the two lakes, there is
the chapel of the Holy Spirit which is still in use. Lunch. Free time.
Dinner with Cheverme (Bulgarian barbeque) with a folk programme. You
will participate in the preparation of various meals with different
game, you as well will enjoy the music of a Bulgarian traditional instrument
gaida (bigpipe), which is used from the accompaniment of the fine lyrical
Rhodopian gaidars. Overnight
Day 6
Breakfast. Visit the National Astronomy Observatory in Rozhen. Depart
to Smolian – one of the most beautiful Bulgarian towns, in the south
part of the Rhodops. Lunch. Visiting the Planetarium and The History
Museum. Free time in the town. Depart to Pamporovo. Dinner in hotel’s
restaurant.
Day 7
07.30 Breakfast. 08.45 Depart to Plovdiv – the second largest
city in Bulgaria, situated on the Maritsa River. 10:15 A historical tour
in the new and old city of Plovdid – mixture of antique, medieval, renaissance
and modern culture. Visit an antique amphitheatre built in II AC by
the Roman Imperator, Mark Aurelia. Plovdiv is a picturesque town, with
many parks and gardens, museums and archaeological monuments. 13.30
Lunch 15.00 Depart to Sofia.17.30 Check into a hotel 19.30
Dinner.
Overnight.
Day 8
Transfer in the morning. Depart to UK
Price per person in DBL - 762.00 EUR
Price per person in SNG - 857.00 EUR
The price is for group of min. 10 pax
The prices are valid for the period from 10. April 2004 until 01.December
2004.
For groups more or less than 10 persons, please don’t hesitate to send
a request to our office.
The price includes:
• Transport services with mini-bus
during the whole route in Bulgaria
• Transfer from/to Sofia airport
• English speaking guide services during the whole stay in Bulgaria
• 3 BB in 3 star hotel in Sofia
• 4 HB in 4 star hotel in mountain resort Pamporovo
• 7 diners, one of them is with fire dancer performance in restaurant
at the foot of Vitosha mountain and one dinner with cheverme to the accompaniment
of Rodophien bagpipe in Pamporovo
• 6 Lunches
• Entrance fees for the
historical objects included in the program
The price doesn’t include:
· Air plane ticket to/from Sofia
· Tickets for the chair-lift to/from Bai Krastji Peak ( Vitosha mountain
)
· Tickets for the chair-lift to/from Snejanka Peak ( Rodophi mountain
)
· All of the service, which are not included in the paragraph “The price
includes”
N.B. Mari Travel`s prices and prices are subject to change, however
you will be informed of any changes relevant to your holiday at the time
of booking. We guarantee to explain them fully and keep them to an absolute
minimum.
Mari Ňravel Ltd.
Your responsible partner and guide to a range of travel services
in Bulgaria |
Musala Peak 
Rhodopes