Original
Explorer
Eastern Europe Express
9 days • 4.9
5
Excellent
42 reviews
9 days
Start
Bucharest, Romania
Finish
Istanbul, Turkey
Trip Code
WMSI
Min Age
15
Trip Size
1 - 12
Physical Rating
Meals
6 breakfasts
Transport
Private Mini-bus, Public Bus, Private vehicle, Metro, Taxi, Train
Accommodation
Hotel (8 nights)
From £1,223(9 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
Learn about the communist past and vibrant present of Bucharest – the capital of Romania that’s often underrated by travellers!
Travel through the scenic Rila Mountains in Bulgaria, mingling with monks at the 10th-century Rila Monastery.
Indulge in local Bulgarian cheese and wines with a local chef in Veliko Tarnovo, at their family-owned spot in the Old Town.
Take a trip on the last operational narrow-gauge line in Bulgaria, from Bansko to Plovdiv. Grab a window seat if you can, the scenery is worth it!
Breathe the crisp mountain air on a short hike in the Pirin Mountains in Bulgaria, stopping at a small blue lake surrounded by towering peaks.
Is this trip right for you?
Summer temperatures can be extreme in many of the regions visited (over 40°C), which can be uncomfortable. It’s important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat and drink plenty of water. Please carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.
Hotels in Europe often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together/apart.
As you will have the opportunity to visit several orthodox churches on this trip, please ensure you cover your legs, shoulders and chest and show the appropriate respect. It's a good idea to bring a light scarf to cover your skin as needed.
If you have more time to explore the region, check out trips 'Eastern Europe Explorer' (trip code WMSEC) and 'Journey through Central Europe & Romania' (trip code AMSCC). Most departure dates are designed to create these perfect combination trips.
On this trip, you must pack as lightly as possible because you will be expected to carry your own bag and although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes), we strongly recommend keeping the weight under 15 kg (33 lb). Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice. We recommend your bag has carry straps to accommodate the cobbled streets, uneven surfaces, stairs and steps.
Itinerary
Find your new favourite spot on an express adventure through Eastern Europe’s ancient sites
Embark on a spectacular journey from Romania to Bulgaria, ending it all in Istanbul. Absorb Bucharest’s atmosphere on a guided walking tour, compare age-old places of worship in Sofia, breathe in crisp alpine air on a hike in the Pirin Mountains and meander back in time in the Old Town of Plovdiv. End it all in transcontinental Istanbul, where you can choose to extend your adventure through Turkey. This nine-day trip is a fascinating insight into just how much regions can change as you cross national borders!
Inclusions
Meals
6 breakfasts
Transport
Private Mini-bus, Public Bus, Private vehicle, Metro, Taxi, Train
Accommodation
Hotel (8 nights)
Included activities
Veliko Tarnovo- Orientation Walk
Veliko Tarnovo- Local Cheese and Wine Workshop
Veliko Tarnovo - Tsarevets Fortress
Rila - Monastery Visit
Pirin Mountains - Hike
Rhodope Narrow-Gauge Railway
Plovdiv-Private Transfer from Plovdiv Train Station to Plovdiv Hotel
Plovdiv - Walking Tour with Local Guide
Istanbul- Private Transfer from Istanbul Bus Station to Istanbul Hotel
Plovdiv- Private Transfer from Plovdiv Hotel to Plovdiv Bus Station
Optional activities
Bucharest - Palace of Parliament Tour - RON60
Bucharest - Village Museum - RON30
Bucharest - Bike Tour - EUR25
Bucharest - Former Ceausescu Residence - RON65
Bucharest - Romanian Athenaeum - RON10
Bucharest - Urban Adventures Bohemian Bucharest - EUR75
Veliko Tarnovo - Archeological Museum - BGN6
Sofia - National Art Gallery - BGN10
Sofia - Aleksander Nevski Church - Free
Sofia - National History Museum - BGN15
Sofia - The Red Flat - BGN18
Sofia - Walking Tour with Local Guide from - BGN17
Bansko - Spa Visit - BGN40
Plovdiv - Bachkovo Monastery - BGN16
Plovdiv - Hisarya Hot Springs - BGN50
Istanbul - Hagia Sophia - EUR25
Istanbul - Archaeology Museum - TRY340
Istanbul - Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts - TRY390
Istanbul - Galata Tower - TRY650
Istanbul - Bosphorus Boat Cruise (Public Boat) - TRY200
Dates and availability
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Ending
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Important notes
1. A single supplement is bookable for this trip, subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. You don't have a lot of time in Bucharest and Istanbul at the start and the end of the trip respectively, so if you're keen to explore these underrated cities in depth, we recommend you arrive a day or two before the start of the trip and/or extend your stay at the end.
Reviews (39)
5 stars
36
4 stars
3
Suzan
May 13, 2025
Another wonderful holiday, extremely well organised, taking the hassle out of travelling.
Sheranne
May 09, 2025
This trip was a great surprise, interesting and fun , For an area still not touristy its a great ex
Nicholas
May 06, 2025
Raluca was fantastic — super knowledgeable about both Bulgaria and Romania. I felt completely safe the whole trip, and any worries disappeared the moment I arrived. Would 100% do it all again or something similar. Great guide, great experience!
Ellen
May 06, 2025
Bulgaria is often overlooked as a tourist destination, it was a wonderful place to visit. A country with so much history and beauty.
Kate
Apr 23, 2025
Our Eastern European adventure from Bucharest to Istanbul was awesome! Petar was an excellent leader and ensured the group bonded well, had fun, learnt lots about the countries we visited! Petar was kind, super organised, amusing, approachable and overall a fabulous leader!
Paul
Apr 23, 2025
I would highly recommend this trip. You will learn a lot about the respective countries histories. I hope you will have as nice a group and guides/trainees as we did. Great fun.
Rachel
Oct 30, 2024
A great short tour of Bulgaria. Stunning scenery and interesting history. Petar our guide provided us with lots of information about a country I knew very little about before joining the tour.
Sarah
Oct 20, 2024
A great sampling of the regions history and views of modern life. Our hotels were all nice and also in great locations for experiencing the towns/cities we visited. Veliko Tarnovo in particular was a highlight for me, with the old town area with its craft street, the excellent restaurants, quality museums and beautiful scenery. This trip is very educational and steeped in history of the region. I can always rely on Intrepid to provide informative and quality travel experience. Its small group sizes, use of local transportation and guides, and group leaders always provide a memorable travel experience. Our guide Barni was excellent, personable and organized, and accommodating to all guests in our group no matter what we needed.
Christopher
Oct 13, 2024
Our guide was amazing. I cannot rate this trip highly enough - a great experience!
Kate
Sep 28, 2024
Thoroughly enjoyed this trip. Its my first time with intrepid and was happy with everything. Usually a solo traveller, it was nice to sit back and let someone else take the reins with organising a itinerary and all the bookings that go with it. You will see some beautiful places, Bulgaria was a real unknown to me and it really had a lot to offer. There are a couple of very long travel day of 6-8 hours so bear that in mind if that bothers you. For me, I love a long journey watching the scenery go by, but some might find it tiresome or a waste of a day. All in I'd give it a solid 9/10
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