About Sandansky
Sandansky is a town in south- western Bulgaria. Named after revolutionary Yane Sandanski, it is located in a valley at the foot of Pirin Mountain.
The soft climate - moderate continental with high Mediterranean influence (with the highest average annual temperature in the country, +14.1°C ), as well as the lack of manufacturing pollution and the immediate proximity of Pirin Mountain, made this resort the best natural healing centre for bronchial asthma in Europe! Also, it is ideal for treatment of chronic lung diseases and breathing disruptions, including states after bronchopneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis and bronchoectatic disease, emphysema of the lungs, pulmonary hypertonia, as well as chronic colds, pharyngitis, sinusitis, vasomotoric rhinitis etc. People with chronic allergies will highly appreciate the resort.
Sandansky also offers over 80 mineral springs with temperature between 42 and 81 °С. suitable in cases of gastrointestinal diseases, bile and liver diseases, renal, urological and metabolic diseases, diabetes etc., and for external balneotherapy – diseases of the locomotor system, peripheral nervous system and skin diseases.
Interesting landmarks are the Park “St. Healer” with over 200 Mediterranean types of plants, Archeological museum with one of the richest collections in Bulgaria, Art gallery, the Monastery “St. Besrebrenici Cosma and Damian” etc.
Sandansky attracts many tourists with its interesting Festivals, such as National festival of author's song "Pirin Folk" in September, Balkan festival of movies and TV- programmes for children in September, Festival of red wine on 28-30 December etc.

Day 1 Sofia
Meeting at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Walk in the centre of Sofia, The Parliament, National art gallery ( before a King Palace). Visit the famous Russian church, officially known as the Church of St Nicholas the Miracle-Maker, built by donations of Russian emigrants. Trip to 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. Free time. Dinner. Overnight.

Day 2 Sofia- Rila Monastery- Sandansky.
Breakfast.Departure for Sandansky. Rila Monastery is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria, founded in X century by Bulgarian saint Ivan Risky (876-946) and built in its present location in XIV century. The Monastery has a unique architecture and resembles a medieval fortress with 24- meters high stone walls, which form irregular pentagon, and narrow windows. The monastery’s inner yard is amazing with its arches and colonnades, covered wooden stairs and carved verandas and the 400 monastic cells. In the centre of the inner yard raises the Tower of Hrelyo, which is built about 13-14 century by the feudal lord Hrelyo Dragovola. The domes are separated in four wings, bound in one amazing architectural entity. The church “The Nativity of the Virgin” was built by Master Peter Ivanovich. Maybe the most important thing in the church is the iconostasis which has incredible wood-carving. The wall-paintings were completed in 1846 by many masters from Bulgaria, but only Zahary Zograph signed his paintings.
The Rila Monastery is announced as one of the most important International cultural, historical and architectural monuments, a UNESCO World Heritage.
Arrival at Sandansky. Overnight.

Day 3- 7 Sandansky
Breakfast. Free time for walks,SPA Procedures and excursions. Overnight.

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

THE EXCURSION INCLUDES:

• 7 overnights with breakfasts

• City tour in Sofia

• City tour in Velingrad and Kleptuza park

• Transport

• Tourist guide

• Medical insurance

EXCURSION:

Trip to Melnik
Melnik is the “town of wine” and the smallest town in Bulgaria. Melnik has a rich historical heritage and is known for its cellars with unique bulgarian wine. The city is surrounded by impressive natural sand pyramids in various forms. It was founded by Thracian tribe. Today it has about 500 citizens and has preserved its traditional wine-cellars, unique architectural monuments and unspoiled nature. Melnik is cultural and historical national treasure.
Sightseeing city tour among the ancient houses with interesting architecture and interior. In Kordopulov House there is an exposition of a real Melnik cellar with large butts where the wine matures. Visitors can taste it on spot and appreciate its high class quality. “Pashova” house hosts the town museum. The oldest preserved house in Bulgaria – “Boliarska” is situated in Melnik too. The Byzantine House is one of the oldest civilian buildings on the Balkans.
The excursion includes:

• transport

• tourist guide

• lunch

Trip to Rozhen Monastery
The Rozhen Monastery is the second largest monastery in the country. With its exquisite wood carvings and stained glass windows, it is a real medieval masterpiece. Founded in 1217, the present monastery church was built before the 15th century and painted in 1597. The monastery has an irregular 6- angle form, with residential buildings surrounding a beautiful yard with the church lying in the centre of it. All the monastery’s buildings were constructed in different periods, with the monks’ dining room, the bone- vault and several farm buildings being the oldest ones. The monastery is famous for its stained glass, which is the oldest of its type preserved till present days, and unique woodcarvings. The Rozhen Monastery has its miraculous icon of Virgin Mary the Platytera, which is kept in an ark in one of the chapels. According to the legend, the icon is one of the few copies of a sacred iron, owned by a widow of Nikea . During the times of the Byzantine’s emperor Theophilus, famous for his persecution of icon worship, the widow threw the icon in the waters. The icon did not sink but sailed for years, until in 999 it reached the gates of the Iviron monastery in Greece.
The Monastery is National treasure, apogee of Bulgarian culture and inflexibility during the centuries.
The excursion includes:

• transport

• tourist guide

• lunch

Trip in Roupite
Sightseeing in the picturesque site of Rupite, near Petrich city, which is known as the place where the most phenomenal bulgarian prophet Vanga welcomed her guests and replenished her unique energy. Vanga is one of the symbols of Bulgaria, known all over the world. Enjoy the amazing landscape, dominated by the Kozuh summit, and feel the scientifically proven powers of the area. The summit is often called "the only volcano in Bulgaria". Because of the rare species of the Bulgarian flora and fauna, Kozhuh is a proclaimed natural landmark since 1962. Petra, founded in the last quarter of the 4th century BC, were discovered at the foot of Kozuh. Rupite is also known for the hot springs with a temperature of 71-78°C.
The excursion includes:

• transport

• tourist guide

• lunch