Bulgaria small group trips

May, June and September are mild and green. The Damascena roses are picked from about late May to early June, depending on the spring, and departures in that window include a picking morning and a distillery; on other dates we visit the Rose Museum instead. July and August are hot around Plovdiv, so we walk early. October brings autumn colour around Rila.

Answer for Bulgaria: Sofia, Rila, Plovdiv and Veliko Tarnovo

An easy level suits most people who can walk 2 to 3 hours a day on cobbles and climb stairs at their own pace. Plovdiv's old town and the climb through Tsarevets are the steepest parts, and each has a sit-out. Rila and Avramovo are reached by road and train.

Answer for Bulgaria: Sofia, Rila, Plovdiv and Veliko Tarnovo

A room of your own is CAD 770 more than the shared-room price, shown before you request to book, with no surprise at checkout. Solo travellers are a normal part of our groups, and you share every meal, guide and seat in the vehicle on the same terms as everyone else.

Answer for Bulgaria: Sofia, Rila, Plovdiv and Veliko Tarnovo

Seven to twelve guests, never more, and we do not merge groups. Everyone fits in one vehicle and at one table at lunch and hears the guide on a narrow cobbled lane. Boyana Church lets in no more than nine people at a time, so a full group goes in on our booked slot in two turns.

Answer for Bulgaria: Sofia, Rila, Plovdiv and Veliko Tarnovo

Choose a departure and request to book. We confirm your place within 24 hours, and no payment is taken until we do. The small-group trip starts from CAD 4,530 per person sharing a room, taxes included, and a private trip from CAD 8,155.

Answer for Bulgaria: Sofia, Rila, Plovdiv and Veliko Tarnovo

Canadian and US citizens do not need a visa for short stays in Bulgaria, which is in the EU and the Schengen area. The EU Entry/Exit System registers your fingerprints and photo at the border, and the EU plans an ETIAS travel authorisation; check the current ETIAS start date with us at booking.

Answer for Bulgaria: Sofia, Rila, Plovdiv and Veliko Tarnovo

May, June and September are the most comfortable, with warm days and cool evenings. July and August are hot on the plains and in Istanbul, so we walk early and late. Late May and early June departures pass the rose harvest at Kazanlak. We run the trip from May to October.

Answer for Budapest to Istanbul: Belgrade, Sofia, Plovdiv and Edirne

You should be comfortable walking 4 to 6 hours with 300 to 600 m of climbing, on five days out of eight, on rocky mountain paths up to about 2,500 m. Every walking day has an easier choice of about 2 hours, and the vehicle can collect you early. The Vihren climb on day 3 is optional and only for strong walkers.

Answer for Bulgaria: walking the Rila Lakes, Pirin and the Rhodopes

Yes. Many guests travel alone, and a room of your own is a stated supplement from CAD 1,185, shown before you book, with no surprise later. If you would like to share, tell us when you book and we try to match you with another solo traveller of the same gender; we cannot promise a match.

Answer for Budapest to Istanbul: Belgrade, Sofia, Plovdiv and Edirne

The small group is 7 to 12 guests. A See Sight Tours guide travels with you for all 8 days, and a licensed Bulgarian mountain guide leads every walk, so the group can split between the main route and the easy or active option when people want different days.

Answer for Bulgaria: walking the Rila Lakes, Pirin and the Rhodopes