How many travellers will be in my group?

Maximum 12 travellers — that's the cap on every Undiscovered Destinations small-group tour. Small enough to eat in a local family home; large enough to share the wonder with other like-minded travellers.

Yes — there's no compulsory single supplement on our small-group tours. You get your own room at no extra cost. About 60% of UD travellers come solo, so you'll be in good company.

How fit do I need to be?

Fitness requirements vary by itinerary, from gentle to demanding. The day-by-day tour dossier sets out walking distances, terrain and any altitude so you know what to expect. If you have specific concerns, speak to our team before booking — they can talk you through a typical day.

When are the next departures?

The next available departures are 8 September 2026; 27 April 2027; 7 September 2027. See the "Choose your departure" table further up the page for the full schedule and per-departure pricing.

What's included in the tour price?

Included items vary by tour — see the full list above. On this trip, expect: Arrival and departure transfers; Overland transport throughout with professional driver; Travel between Sofia and Bucharest – a choice of flight, standard class rail or road; and more. International flights and travel insurance are not included.

Where exactly does this trip go?

This tour visits Bulgaria and Romania. Each destination has its own page with practical information, climate, and the attractions our specialists recommend — linked from the itinerary above.

Bulgaria25 daysMax 12Solo-friendly

Best of Bulgaria and Romania

A 25-day journey from Sofia's monasteries through Transylvania's castles, Bucovina's painted churches, and the wildlife-rich Danube Delta

View dates & prices

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About this journey

The story behind the route

Embark on an odyssey through the treasures of Bulgaria and Romania and discover a corner of Europe which remains largely undiscovered.

Our adventure starts in Bulgaria with a tour of the vibrant capital Sofia before leaving for the south of the country, with its rich cultural heritage and dramatic Pirin mountain scenery. We continue to the central region along the Rhodopes mountains, via picturesque villages and narrow gorges to Trigrad where unspoilt nature dominates. Then we spend time in the wonderful city of Plovdiv and continue to the north in the shadow of the Balkan Mountains with its fascinating mix of historical old towns and archaeological treasures, from the ancient Thracian Tomb in Kazanlak, via the world-famous rose valley and back to the capital.

From Sofia the next leg of our journey will take us to the Romanian capital, Bucharest. You will be offered the convenience of taking a flight or if you prefer why not take the ‘slow travel’ option and over the course of a day travel by train or private vehicle with some interesting stops along the way.

Our tour in Romania goes right to the heart of this captivating country – rather than simply skim over its highlights, we take you not only to important cultural gems such as the medieval towns of Sighisoara and Sibiu in Transylvania but spend time getting to grips with life in the villages, often staying in rural communities as guests of local families, where local culture is at its strongest. We traverse the spectacular Carpathian Mountains, home to bears and wolves, and visit the Danube Delta staying at an isolated settlement deep within its backwaters. Taking in the gorgeous painted monasteries of Bucovina and the Saxon village of Viscri, this trip encompasses the very best that Romania has to offer.

The journey

Best of Bulgaria and Romania

Key moments

The moments that define this trip

Drawn from the full tour dossier — the standout days, encounters and views our specialists keep coming back to.

Your route

Rila Monastery and Melnik Wine Cellars
Visit Bulgaria's most iconic monastery in the Rila Mountains, then walk through sandstone formations to Rozhen Monastery and taste wine in historic cellars in Melnik.
Plovdiv Roman Amphitheatre and Old Town
Explore Plovdiv's UNESCO-influenced old town with its 19th-century merchant houses, marble Roman amphitheatre, and 14th-century mosque. Sunset views from Nebet Tepe and a farewell dinner in the heart of the old city
Kazanlak Rose Valley and Thracian Tomb
Walk through the Rose Park and visit the Rose Museum in Kazanlak, centre of Bulgaria's global rose oil industry. Tour the UNESCO Thracian royal tomb and sample rose liqueur and jam at the Ethnographic museum.
Peles Castle and Bran Castle, Transylvania
Stop at Romania's royal Peles Castle in the Prahova Valley before continuing to Brasov. Visit Bran Castle, linked to the Dracula legend, then observe wild European Brown Bears in a forest observatory with National Forestry Administration rangers.
Viscri Saxon Village
Drive to the UNESCO-listed Saxon village of Viscri, stopping at the fortified church of Prejmer. Explore on foot, visit the village's own fortified church, and ride by horse and carriage through the surrounding countryside.
Sighisoara Medieval Citadel
Explore Sighisoara's UNESCO-listed fortified old town, a mass of medieval merchants' houses, and visit the house where Vlad the Impaler was born. Continue to Sibiu, one of Romania's best-preserved medieval cities.

Full itinerary · 25 days

Free — no sign-up

Dates & prices

Choose your departure

Reserve your place with a 10% deposit; the balance is due 70 days before departure. Prefer your own space? A single room is available on every departure.

Departs	Returns	Status	Price pp	Single supp.
8 Sept 2026	2 Oct 2026	Guaranteed	£6,315	+£905	Contact for availability
27 Apr 2027	21 May 2027	Guaranteed	£6,315	+£905	Book now
7 Sept 2027	1 Oct 2027	Guaranteed	£6,315	+£905	Book now

Departure
8 Sept 2026 → 2 Oct 2026
Guaranteed
From
£6,315 pp
Single supp. +£905
Contact for availability
Departure
27 Apr 2027 → 21 May 2027
Guaranteed
From
£6,315 pp
Single supp. +£905
Book now
Departure
7 Sept 2027 → 1 Oct 2027
Guaranteed
From
£6,315 pp
Single supp. +£905
Book now

Can’t find the right fit?

Every one of our Bulgaria journeys can be rebuilt around your dates, pace and interests — or we’ll design something entirely new.

Tailor my trip

What's included

Everything covered — and what's not

Included in the price

Arrival and departure transfers
Overland transport throughout with professional driver
Travel between Sofia and Bucharest – a choice of flight, standard class rail or road
All accommodation
Services of English-speaking guide / tour leader
Meals as listed
Entrance fees for sites listed as part of the itinerary

Budget separately for

International flights (, contact , us, for expert advice and a quote)
Any airport taxes
Travel Insurance
Visa – when required
Drinks
Items of personal nature
Tips (Discretionary)

Before you go

Essential information

Shared across all tours that visit this destination. Read alongside your individual tour dossier for trip-specific details.

Foreign Office travel advice

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.

Voices from the road

What travellers say about us

Independently verified reviews from travellers who joined Best of Bulgaria and Romania. Rated 4.9 Excellent on AITO by 250+ reviewers.

“Interesting mix of countryside, Danube delta, cities and churches. Efficient.”

Trainee Vampire

Romania

“An amazing trip! We had the most amazing holiday — over two weeks we had a taste of the cities, the culture, the mountains, a safari, and time at the beach. Our driver/guide made the whole trip very relaxing, and we were welcomed warmly by everyone we met, enjoying fabulous food and drink along the way. Undiscovered Destinations planned a really amazing itinerary for us with great hotels, a fabulous guide/driver, and interesting places to visit — they took great care to ensure we had an excellent holiday. We look forward to booking another holiday with them in the future. Thank you, Mark!”

Anna

“This adventure was always going to be very full-on, which is how we like our trips. I didn't count on getting bronchitis and ending up in hospital, however. The itinerary was quickly amended to avoid high-altitude destinations as much as possible while still making sure we had a chance to enjoy interesting experiences. While obviously sad to have missed some of the original sites, the revised itinerary was the only sensible option under the circumstances. I was extremely impressed with how Undiscovered Destinations and their local team handled the situation — taking the stress out of it, smoothing the way, rearranging the itinerary and booking new hotels, translating for me with the medical staff, and making sure I always had transport, medicines and anything else I needed. Nothing was too much trouble, and they kept in touch with me, each other, and the insurance company throughout. I can't recommend them enough!”

Grete

“My wife and I had a wonderful tour with Undiscovered Destinations. We had a different guide at each stop, and all of them were friendly, cheerful and knowledgeable. The local people were welcoming, and we always felt safe and comfortable. The beaches were spectacularly beautiful and empty of people, with warm, clear water, and each stop had its own character — some we loved for their unspoiled scenery, others for their history and the warmth of the welcome. We took the opportunity to snorkel on one of the most pristine reefs we've experienced, swimming with sea turtles and enormous manta rays that came right up to us out of curiosity. A wonderful destination for nature lovers.”

Frank

“Excellent. Action packed. Our local agent was excellent, and a good choice by Undiscovered Destinations. Because there were only two of us on the holiday, we had different guides at each stop, each one making sure we were handed over safely. All manner of transport was used, and we appreciated the different guiding strategies, the wealth of information given, the high level of English, and the genuine wish to show off their country at its best. Excellent.”

Cathy

“Far exceeding my expectations, this was one of the best trips I've ever done. A beautiful destination, with interesting history, lively ceremonies, lovely people and — surprisingly, for somewhere that sees so few tourists — absolutely no hassle on the streets. Excellent service from start to finish, with a first-class tour leader.”

Lynn

“We had a two-week trip with Undiscovered Destinations, flying in for two days first to break up the journey. It was a great trip, because we managed to see so much more than just the capital cities. This was the fourth trip we've taken with Undiscovered Destinations, and each one has been wonderful. Our guides were lovely — very professional and helpful. We rate UD very highly.”

Andy

“We had a fabulous trip with an excellent local guide, who took great care of us and enthusiastically shared his knowledge of both ancient and recent history, with lots of fascinating personal stories of his own life. We highly recommend this trip — Undiscovered Destinations were great to work with, and we hope to use them again.”

Jennie

“Everything was great — we got to witness a wonderful variety of wildlife, and thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and the hospitality of the people. A fabulous trip from start to finish.”

Debbie

“Excellent all-round trip. Drivers were conscientious and careful, accommodation was better than expected, and the scenery was stunning throughout.”

Alexis

“Interesting mix of countryside, Danube delta, cities and churches. Efficient.”

Trainee Vampire

Romania

“An amazing trip! We had the most amazing holiday — over two weeks we had a taste of the cities, the culture, the mountains, a safari, and time at the beach. Our driver/guide made the whole trip very relaxing, and we were welcomed warmly by everyone we met, enjoying fabulous food and drink along the way. Undiscovered Destinations planned a really amazing itinerary for us with great hotels, a fabulous guide/driver, and interesting places to visit — they took great care to ensure we had an excellent holiday. We look forward to booking another holiday with them in the future. Thank you, Mark!”

Anna

“This adventure was always going to be very full-on, which is how we like our trips. I didn't count on getting bronchitis and ending up in hospital, however. The itinerary was quickly amended to avoid high-altitude destinations as much as possible while still making sure we had a chance to enjoy interesting experiences. While obviously sad to have missed some of the original sites, the revised itinerary was the only sensible option under the circumstances. I was extremely impressed with how Undiscovered Destinations and their local team handled the situation — taking the stress out of it, smoothing the way, rearranging the itinerary and booking new hotels, translating for me with the medical staff, and making sure I always had transport, medicines and anything else I needed. Nothing was too much trouble, and they kept in touch with me, each other, and the insurance company throughout. I can't recommend them enough!”

Grete

“My wife and I had a wonderful tour with Undiscovered Destinations. We had a different guide at each stop, and all of them were friendly, cheerful and knowledgeable. The local people were welcoming, and we always felt safe and comfortable. The beaches were spectacularly beautiful and empty of people, with warm, clear water, and each stop had its own character — some we loved for their unspoiled scenery, others for their history and the warmth of the welcome. We took the opportunity to snorkel on one of the most pristine reefs we've experienced, swimming with sea turtles and enormous manta rays that came right up to us out of curiosity. A wonderful destination for nature lovers.”

Frank

“Excellent. Action packed. Our local agent was excellent, and a good choice by Undiscovered Destinations. Because there were only two of us on the holiday, we had different guides at each stop, each one making sure we were handed over safely. All manner of transport was used, and we appreciated the different guiding strategies, the wealth of information given, the high level of English, and the genuine wish to show off their country at its best. Excellent.”

Cathy

“Far exceeding my expectations, this was one of the best trips I've ever done. A beautiful destination, with interesting history, lively ceremonies, lovely people and — surprisingly, for somewhere that sees so few tourists — absolutely no hassle on the streets. Excellent service from start to finish, with a first-class tour leader.”

Lynn

“We had a two-week trip with Undiscovered Destinations, flying in for two days first to break up the journey. It was a great trip, because we managed to see so much more than just the capital cities. This was the fourth trip we've taken with Undiscovered Destinations, and each one has been wonderful. Our guides were lovely — very professional and helpful. We rate UD very highly.”

Andy

“We had a fabulous trip with an excellent local guide, who took great care of us and enthusiastically shared his knowledge of both ancient and recent history, with lots of fascinating personal stories of his own life. We highly recommend this trip — Undiscovered Destinations were great to work with, and we hope to use them again.”

Jennie

“Everything was great — we got to witness a wonderful variety of wildlife, and thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and the hospitality of the people. A fabulous trip from start to finish.”

Debbie

“Excellent all-round trip. Drivers were conscientious and careful, accommodation was better than expected, and the scenery was stunning throughout.”

Alexis

Want to customise this tour?

Make Best of Bulgaria and Romania your own — adjust the route, dates, pace or who travels, or start from a blank page with a specialist. We'll bring the details of this trip straight into your enquiry.

Customise this tour

More to explore

More tours in Bulgaria

Essence of Bulgaria

As we know it today, Bulgaria is an urbanized, skilled society, where modernity coexists with much that is traditional. Heritage plays a highly visible role in the society, with medieval churches, monasteries and numerous folk festivals being held in rural places. Nevertheless, such traditions provide a contrast with contemporary Bulgaria’s rapid transformation into a modern European society. Embark with us on an itinerary which has been designed to take in as many of Bulgaria’s highlights as possible, while keeping cross-country travel as manageable as possible. Our journey starts with a tour of the vibrant capital Sofia before leaving for Southern Bulgaria, with its rich cultural heritage and dramatic Pirin mountain scenery. We continue to the central region along the Rhodopes mountains, via picturesque villages and narrow gorges to Trigrad where unspoilt nature dominates.

From

£3,095

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