About Velingrad

Velingrad is known as the SPA Capital of the Balkans, founded in 1948 and is situated in Chepino Valley, part of the Rhodope Mountains, 130km from Sofia and 82km from Plovdiv. The region was inhabited by the Slavs- the Dragovichi tribe lived there. Later, the whole region was annexed to the First Bulgarian Empire by tsar Malamir. According to the legend, Orpheus once lived in these lands and Spartacus got his titanic power here.
Velingrad - “The Pearl of the Bulgarian balneology” - is famous with 90 mineral water springs, which are extremely suitable for treatment of wide range of diseases because of their temperature, mineralization, radon, silicic acid and fluorine content.
Velingrad offers another natural phenomenon — The Kleptuza, the biggest Karst spring in Bulgaria, with an average discharge of 1200 litres of ice-cold water per second.


Day 1. Sofia
Meeting at Sofia airport and transfer to the hotel.Tour in the centre of Sofia: The Parliament, National art gallery ( before a King palace), National theatre and the Church “St.Sofia” – the second oldest church in Sofia after the rotunda “St.George” and the cathedral “St.Alexander Nevsky”, built in 1912, Russian church, officially known as the Church of St Nicholas the Miracle-Maker, built by donations of russian emigrants. Free time. Dinner in traditional restaurant with bulgarian cuisine and music. Overnight. .

Day 2. Sofia - Velingrad
Breakfast. Getting to know details about the excursions. Tour in the city-center and sightseeing. Visit to Kleptuza park. Free time. Overnight.

Day 3-7. Velingrad
Breakfast. Free time for walks and SPA Procedures.
This is the perfect destination for your comfort, relax, entertainment and Balneomedicine.
Velingrad offers a wide range of procedures and guarantees your best health.
Possible treatment of:

• Neurological diseases of the central and peripheral nervous systems

• Disorders of metabolism ad endocrine systems – gout, diabetes, obesity, hypofunction of the sex glands, menopause

• Gynaecological disorders, chronic inflammations and disorders of the female reproduction system

• Disorder of the muscoskeletal system – both degenerative and inflammatory

• Cardio-vascular diseases, hypertonic conditions, vascular changes in the limbs

• Diseases of the respiratory system – both inflammatory and alrgic

• Dental problems

• By drinking – for kidney stones, stomach and bile and liver

Day 8. Velingrad- Sofia
Breakfast. Departure for Sofia. Transfer to the airport.

THE PRICE INCLUDES:

• 7 overnights with breakfasts

• City tour in Sofia

• City tour in Velingrad and Kleptuza park

• Transport

• Tourist guide

• Medical insurance

PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:

• Excursions

• SPA Procedures

EXCURSION:

The excursions will be organized for minimum of 4 people. ( discounts –for group of 10 people- 10%, for group over 15 people- 15 %)

Excursion to Rila Monastery
Rila Monastery, is the largest and most famous Eastern Ortodox monastery in Bulgaria, founded in X century by bulgarian saint Ivan Rilski (876-946) and built in its present location in XIV century. The Monastery resembles a medieval fortress- with high stone walls and narrow windows. In the center of the inner yard raises the Tower of Hrelyu. The domes are separated in four wings, bound in one amazing architectural entity. The Rila Monastery is announced as one of the most important international cultural, historical and architectural monuments. It is declared an International cultural monument by UNESCO.
The excursion includes:

• transport

• tourist guide

• lunch

Excursion to Plovdiv
Plovdiv is the second largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia and it has more than 6000 years history-one of the most ancient cities in Europe. Scientists think that it might be contemporary of Troy, older than Athens and Rome. Plovdiv is situated in the southern part of the Plovdiv Plain on the two banks of the Maritsa River. During the centuries it was populated by thracians,romans,gothes and ottomans which thraces made the city a living museum.
Walk in Ancient Plovdiv,visiting Balabanov House, the aqueduct, archeological site “Nebet tepe”, the fortress of Filipopulous, Hisar kapia, church “St. Konstantine and Helen”, the roman forum( amphitheatre), roman stadium and the clockwork tower in Sahat tepe, built in 16th century and still working.
The excursion includes:

• transport

• tourist guide

• lunch

Excursion to Hisarya and The Thracian cult complex in Starosel
Visit to Hisarya. It is located in the outskirts of the Sredna Gora mountain, has a soft climate and over 20 mineral springs, which make it a favorite SPA destination.
Many Roman ruins are still visible everywhere - public buildings, a small amphitheatre, the barracks of the Roman garrison, as well as the best preserved Roman fortress in Bulgaria-Hisarya Fortress, built in IV century. It is an impressive open museum of roman and byzantine culture with 4 gates, the main of which was called “The Camels”.
Another landmark is the Archeological museum with its rich collection and ethnographic exposition. Also, worth visiting is Hisarya Tomb (Roman family Tomb from IV).
Departure for Starosel. Nearby, a Thracian cult complex was discovered by Georgi Kitov in 2000. It is the largest ever found Thracian royal mausoleum complex. It dates back to the V - IV century BC. The “Heroon tomb”(named by G.Kitov) has an imposing fence of stone blocks, entrance, paved with slabs of plastic and colored decoration, а parade staircase, corridor and а religious site.
The excursion includes:

• transport

• tourist guide

• lunch