Tour Date: 7 to 15 October, 2026Location: Bulgaria
As summer slips into autumn, Bulgaria transforms into a mosaic of flame-coloured forests, ancient folklore, and warm village hospitality. “Autumn Whispers” invites you on an unforgettable journey through this vibrant season — where nature and tradition meet in glowing harmony.
Begin in Bulgaria’s lively capital before venturing north to witness one of nature’s most spiritual wonders — the Eyes of God Cave, where two massive holes in the ceiling gaze down like a divine presence. Celebrate Bulgaria’s quirky charm at the Pumpkin Festival, where oversized gourds, pumpkin-carving contests, and seasonal treats bring color and cheer. Enjoy local crafts, food stalls, and folk performances in a setting that feels like a fairy tale. Explore the medieval capital of Veliko Turnovo, perched dramatically on cliffs above the Yantra River. Stroll the cobbled lanes of Samovodska Charshia, visit the Tsarevets Fortress, stop in Tryavna, a town famous for its National Revival architecture and woodcarving traditions. Further south, enter the area of the Rhodope mountains with Podkova – the southernmost train station in Bulgaria and the nearby town of Zlatograd – a living museum of Bulgarian Revival architecture and traditional mountain life. Our journey won`t be complete without Plovdiv, the oldest continuously inhabited city of Europe and the colourful Koprivshtitsa, where every corner tells stories of revolutionaries, poets, and folk heroes who shaped Bulgaria’s national identity.
This tour is aimed at the hundreds of PTG customers, who have travelled on our Classic Bulgaria tour in the past, or others who have visited Bulgaria before, who want to see more of this wonderful country and to tour again with our wonderful Bulgarian tour manager, Maria.
From: Heathrow, Stansted, London St Pancras, Luton, Birmingham and Liverpool
Tour Manager: Maria
Click to download PDF of full itinerary
Availability
Tour Highlights
Day 1 – Wednesday 7 October, 2026 (D)
UK flight departures direct from UK to Sofia, transfer to your hotel, dinner and overnight. It is possible to reach Sofia by train from the UK with overnight stays in Munich, Budapest and Bucharest. From Birmingham, direct, you need to go out on Monday 5 October for two pre-tour nights in Sofia.
Day 2 – Thursday 8 October (B, D) Sofia – Karlukovo – Lukovit
Morning tour of Sofia (or to see areas you missed last time), free time for lunch. Transfer to the railway station and take the afternoon train from Sofia to Karlukovo (via Iskar gorge). Arrival at Karlukovo train station, transfer to Lukovit. Dinner and overnight at your hotel. If time permits – possible short walk in the “Golden Park” of Lukovit.
Day 3 – Friday 9 October (B, D) Lukovit – Lovech – Troyan – Sevlievo
Jeep tour to Prohodna cave (“The Eyes of God”). Transfer from Lukovit to Lovech.
Walking tour in the centre, see the covered bridge – one of Bulgaria’s most charming architectural treasures — a rare wooden bridge lined with small artisan shops, stretching gracefully over the Osam River. The only covered bridge of its kind in the Balkans.
Transfer to the train station for train to Troyan. Arrival around 14:10, time in the centre of Troyan for lunch. Afternoon visit of the local factory for production of rakia (a strong fruit brandy popular in many Balkan countries, especially Bulgaria). Transfer to Sevlievo, dinner and overnight at your hotel.
Day 4 – Saturday 10 October (B, D) Sevlievo (Pumpkin festival)
Visit the Pumpkin Festival in Sevlievo is an annual celebration held every October, blending local agricultural pride with cultural festivities. It centers around the symbolic role of pumpkins in the region, which even earned Sevlievo the playful nickname “Tikvenburg” (“Pumpkinburg”). Late afternoon visit to Veliko Turnovo – the medieval capital city of Bulgaria, picturesquely located on 4 hills above Yantra river. For those who have visited Veliko before we have a wine-tasting with snacks. Back to Sevlievo, dinner and overnight.
Day 5 Sunday 11 October (B, D) Sevlievo – Debelets – Tryavna – Stara Zagora
Coach transfer from Sevlievo to Debelets. Take the train to Tryavna museum town, crossing the Balkan mountain range. Time in Tryavna for sightseeing and visit the museum of woodcarving. In the afternoon – take the train to Stara Zagora. Check in at the hotel, dinner and overnight.
Day 6 Monday 12 October (B, D) Stara Zagora – Dimitrovgrad – Podkova – transfer to Zlatograd
Transfer to the train station, take the morning train from Stara Zagora to Dimitrovgrad – and then Podkova, the southernmost train station in Bulgaria, located in the village of Podkova in Kardzhali Province. It serves as the terminus of the Dimitrovgrad–Haskovo–Kardzhali–Podkova line, known affectionately as the “Rhodope Caterpillar” due to its slow, scenic route through the mountains.
Transfer to Zlatograd, the southernmost town in Bulgaria, situated just 2 km from the Greek border. Check in at your hotel and relax, time to enjoy the spa complex and swimming pool with mineral water.
Day 7 Tuesday 13 October (B, D) Zlatograd – Smolyan – Plovdiv
Morning visit of Zlatograd Ethnographic Areal Complex, is a unique open-air living museum, blending history, crafts, and local life. It includes classic Revival-style houses, historical exhibits, working workshops (tailor, braider, saddler, blacksmith, goldsmith, copper, woodcraft, pottery, weaving) and active water-powered mills (fulling, tucking, and grain mills). Transfer with the coach to Plovdiv, with stops for sightseeing en route – Smolyan, Assnovgrad, Bachkovo Monastery (TBC). Arrival in Plovdiv. Check in at your hotel. Evening walking tour of Plovdiv or free time if you have visited Plovdiv before.
Day 8 Wednesday 14 October (B,D) Plovdiv – Koprivshtitsa – Sofia
Transfer from Plovdiv to Koprivshtitsa museum town. Lying on the Topolnitsa River among the Sredna Gora mountains it is known for its authentic Bulgarian architecture and for its folk music festivals. Walking tour and free time for lunch. Train from Koprivshtitsa to Sofia. Farewell dinner with folklore program.
Day 9 Thursday 15 October (B) Sofia – departure
Free time and departure transfers for flights to Stansted, Birmingham and Luton. For Heathrow you have a post-tour night in Sofia and fly back on Friday 16 October. For Liverpool you have two post-tour nights in Sofia and fly back on Saturday 17 October.
Return Along the Orient Express Route
Or why not treat yourself to a rail journey from history as you return home along the route of the original and legendary Oriente Express with 2 nights in Bucharest, 2 in Budapest, 2 nights in Munich and 2 in Strasbourg. All travel in daylight with no overnight trains.
Best Cultural Destination 2022
Plovdiv – the town was declared the Best Cultural Destination of Europe for 2022:
https://www.europeanbestdestinations.com/best-of-europe/best-cultural-destinations-in-europe/
It is No 1 for Best wine destination as well:
https://www.europeanbestdestinations.com/top/best-wine-destinations-in-europe/
Prices (per person)
- 9-nights from Heathrow: £1,850
- 8-nights from Stansted: £1,725
- 8-nights from Luton: £1,725
- 10-nights from Birmingham: £1,950
- 10-nights from Liverpool: £1,950
- 8-nights out from Liverpool, back to Birmingham: £1,750
- 8-nights from Sofia: £1,450
- Out and back by rail: POA
*book early to get the best flight prices as above. Flight prices might increase for late bookers.
Options
- Single use room supplement: £195 (8n), £250 (9n), £270 (10n)
Deposit
- £400 (own flights), £600 (with flights), £1,000 (overland)
Holiday Price Includes
- 7 nights with breakfast and city tax at 4* hotels
- 1 night with breakfast at a 3* spa hotel in Zlatograd Ethnographic town (no 4* hotels in the area)
- 8 dinners, incl. 1 dinner with folklore performance in Sofia
- Tour guide with the group
- Arrival and departure airport transfers
- Jeep tour to Prohodna cave
- Rakia tasting
- Train tickets for all the journeys listed in the itinerary
- Activities and entrances for the visited sites as per the itinerary
- Accompanied tour bus (bus size depends on group size)
- Use of spa centres at the hotels in Lukovit and Zlatograd (mineral water pool)
Train tickets (1st class where available):
- Sofia – Karlukovo
- Lovech – Troyan
- Debelets – Tryavna
- Tryavna – Stara Zagora
- Stara Zagora – Dimitrovgrad – Podkova
- Koprivshtitsa – Sofia
Online Booking
Please note that you cannot book a flight inclusive trip on our website but if you select the flight option you prefer then we will contact you with the flight details and convert your booking into a flight inclusive package.
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We recommend you also check the FCO website for the latest travel advice https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
Flight Options from the UK (Sofia is 2 hours ahead of the UK)
BA0892 15:25 Heathrow to Sofia (arr 20:40)
BA0893 14:20 Sofia to Heathrow (arr 15:55) on Friday 16 October
FR2690 15:40 Stansted to Sofia (arr 20:40)
FR2691 18:00 Sofia to Stansted (arr 19:15)
W6-4302 08:10 Luton to Sofia (arr 13:20)
W6-4303 19:40 Sofia to Luton (arr 21:05)
FR6336 15:55 Birmingham to Sofia (arr 21:05) on Monday 5 October
FR6335 13:25 Sofia to Birmingham (arr 17:15)
FR6338 12:40 Liverpool to Sofia (arr 18:00)
FR6337 22:55 Sofia to Liverpool (arr 00:30) on Saturday 17 October
You can fly out of one airport and back to another if you prefer. For example to fit with the main tour dates you could do:
FR6338 12:40 Liverpool to Sofia (arr 18:00)
FR6335 13:25 Sofia to Birmingham (arr 17:15)
From Manchester it is possible to fly out and back via Frankfurt with Lufthansa.
Hotels (or of similar standard)
- Sofia – Hotel Legends
- Lukovit – Diplomat Plaza – the best art and wellness hotel of Bulgaria for 2024
- Sevlievo – Sevlievo Plaza
- Zlatograd – Alexander Spa Hotel