Private Trip, 11 To 12 Hours

Overview

This private day trip run by Eddex Travel starts in central Bucharest at 08:00, outside the Hilton Garden Inn Bucharest Old Town on Strada Doamnei 12, and crosses the border into Bulgaria for a full loop of stops before returning to the same point. It runs 11 to 12 hours door to door, with a licensed tour guide and an air-conditioned vehicle for your group only. Travellers are asked to be at the meeting spot five minutes before departure.

The route calls first at the Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo, a stop of one hour where admission is not included, then continues to Tsarevets Fortress in Veliko Tarnovo for an hour and thirty minutes, again with entrance fees paid on site. Arbanasi follows for thirty minutes with free admission, and the tour finishes with an hour and thirty minutes in Veliko Tarnovo itself, also free to enter. One reviewer described the border crossings as passing with almost no delay, leaving ample time at the sites.

Because it is private, the day suits travellers who want a fixed itinerary without strangers in the vehicle, and who are comfortable with stairs at Tsarevets and the Ivanovo rock church. It is not advised for pregnant travellers, people with back problems, or those with walking difficulties. Food, drinks, entrance fees and insurance are all extra.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet in Bucharest Old TownMeet outside the Hilton Garden Inn Bucharest Old Town, Strada Doamnei 12, five minutes before the 08:00 departure.
2. Rock-hewn Churches of IvanovoA one-hour stop at the churches. Admission ticket is not included and is paid directly at the site.
3. Tsarevets FortressAn hour and thirty minutes at the fortress. Admission is not included and involves climbing stairs.
4. ArbanasiA thirty-minute stop with free admission.
5. Veliko TarnovoAn hour and thirty minutes in the town itself, with free admission.
6. Return to the meeting pointThe tour ends back at the Hilton Garden Inn Bucharest Old Town, after a total of 11 to 12 hours.

What To Expect From The Tour

A long border-crossing day with a licensed guide and a private vehicle, so plan around the early start, the stairs and the extras you pay for yourself.

• Fitness and stairs. The listing asks for a moderate level of physical fitness. Tsarevets Fortress and the Ivanovo rock church both involve climbing stairs, and the tour is not recommended for travellers with walking disabilities.
• Who it excludes. The listing states the trip is not recommended for pregnant travellers or people with back problems. Anyone with heart problems or other serious medical conditions is also advised against booking.
• Food and drink. Food and drinks are not included, so budget for meals on the road. Personal expenses and travel and health insurance are also your own responsibility.
• Entrance fees. Admission at Ivanovo and Tsarevets is not included and is paid directly at the ticket office. Photo and video fees, where requested, are also paid on site. Arbanasi and Veliko Tarnovo themselves are free to enter.
• Border timing. One reviewer reported passing the border crossings with almost no delay, which left ample time at the sites. That is a single traveller's account, so treat it as an indication rather than a guarantee.
• Comfort and pacing. Transport is in an air-conditioned vehicle with only your group on board, and a reviewer described the vehicle as comfortable for a driver plus three travellers. Confirmation arrives within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability.

Common issues. Entrance fees, food, drinks, insurance and any personal expenses are all extra on top of the booking price. The experience requires good weather and a minimum number of travellers; if either condition cancels it, the operator offers a different date or a full refund. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, and the stairs at Tsarevets and Ivanovo rule it out for many travellers with limited mobility.

Common Questions