Bulgaria holiday packages reveal a country where Thracian tombs, Roman ruins, and Ottoman bridges sit quietly across the same hillsides. Explore our small-group Bulgaria tours to experience its ancient cities, mountain monasteries, and timeless landscapes up close.
Bulgaria sits at a crossroads of civilisations in the south-eastern corner of the Balkans, and the evidence is everywhere. Thracian burial tombs, Roman amphitheatres, medieval Orthodox monasteries and Ottoman quarters share the same compact landscape — from the capital Sofia and the ancient city of Plovdiv to the mountain villages of the Rhodopes and Pirin, the fragrant Rose Valley and the Balkan Mountains running east to west across the country's heart.
Our small group Bulgaria tours explore this layered country at a measured pace, travelling with a maximum of 12 people and a dedicated English-speaking tour leader who knows the Thracian, Ottoman and Orthodox history first-hand. From the Rila and Rozhen monasteries to the sandstone pyramids of Melnik and the Thracian Tomb at Kazanlak, each itinerary is built around the places that make Bulgaria unlike anywhere else in Europe. For those wanting more, our Bulgaria trips combine naturally with Romania for a longer Balkan odyssey.
Bulgaria
Small-group departures led by local experts, plus private tailor-made itineraries shaped around your interests, pace and dates.
Few countries pack Thracian, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and Bulgarian Orthodox heritage into such a small area. Sofia, Plovdiv, Kazanlak and the monastery circuit can all be reached within a 12-day loop without ever feeling rushed.
Our Bulgaria tours run with a maximum of 12 travellers and a dedicated tour leader throughout. This isn't a coaches-and-headsets operation — it's a pace that allows the itinerary to breathe and the group to connect.
Bulgaria is often reduced to a footnote on a wider Balkan itinerary. Our Bulgaria tour packages treat it as the main event, spending proper time in Plovdiv, the monasteries and the mountain regions rather than skimming the surface.
For travellers who want more, our combined Bulgaria and Romania tour continues north from Sofia into Transylvania and beyond — making Bulgaria the strong first half of one of Europe's best-value long-haul overland journeys.
See itinerariesBulgaria rewards travellers who slow down — the best stories are found off the tour-bus route.
From the field
Bulgaria has four distinct seasons, each offering a different experience. Spring (April–May) brings mild temperatures, wildflowers and lush green landscapes, while autumn (September–October) offers warm, dry days, harvest season and colourful mountain scenery. Summer can be hot in the lowlands, and winter brings snow to the mountains with some road access restrictions. Our Bulgaria tours depart in April and September, allowing you to experience the country during its most rewarding seasons.
Looking to travel outside the typical windows? Our Bulgaria tailor-made team can advise on the best time for you.
Dispatches, field notes and practical advice from our specialists.
Reviews from across our small-group programme. Independently rated 4.9 Excellent on AITO by 250+ travellers.
Every one of our Bulgaria journeys can be rebuilt around your dates, pace and interests — or we’ll design something entirely new.
We’ll build one around you.
Bulgaria's geography lends itself naturally to a tailor-made itinerary. A private holiday allows you to spend more time in places such as the Rhodopes, Trigrad Gorge, Melnik and Rozhen, exploring at a more relaxed pace than a fixed group schedule. You can also time your visit to coincide with the Rose Valley harvest in late May or extend your journey into Romania. Talk to the Undiscovered Destinations team and we'll create an itinerary tailored to the places and experiences that interest you most.
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Our Bulgaria tour packages start from £3,095 per person for the 12-day Essence of Bulgaria, including accommodation, most meals, private transport, guiding and entrance fees throughout. The 25-day Best of Bulgaria and Romania starts from £6,315. International flights are not included and can be arranged separately — speak to the team for current options.
Shared across all tours that visit this destination. Read alongside your individual tour dossier for trip-specific details.
We constantly monitor official travel advice, including the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Bulgaria Travel Advice, and will always advise clients of any warnings before departure. At the time of writing, there are no specific warnings against travel to the parts of Bulgaria that we visit on our tours.
Please contact us if you have any specific concerns or would like to understand what measures are in place to ensure your trip remains safe and trouble-free.
Join a small-group departure, or let our Bulgaria specialists craft a private journey shaped around your dates and interests.
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