Private Tour

North-Eastern Bulgaria at a Glance - Ivanovo, Shumen & Madara from Bucharest

Overview

Available languages

English

Mobile ticket

We offer you a well balanced round trip from Bucharest to north-eastern part of Bulgaria, with a little bit of everything incuded: breathtaking scenery, two UNESCO sites, amazing ruins, historical places, monuments, awe inspiring churches and the best look-out points.

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby

Specialized infant seats are available

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

A current, valid passport is required

Please, make sure you owe all the necessary documents and permissions for crossing the border between Romania and Bulgaria.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Private transportation

Your own dedicated professional English speaking tour-guide (driving)

Bottled water

Air-conditioned vehicle

Photo/video fees at museums/attractions (if any)

Visa fee

Personal expenses

Personal insurance

Meals

Gratuities

Madara Rider, 1300 Years of Bulgaria Monument, Ivanovo rock-hewn church, Tombul Mosque

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

What To Expect

Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo

Early morning pick-up from your accommodation in Bucharest. Head south, toward the Bulgarian border. We cross the Danube river on the Friendship Bridge, not far from the Bulgarian border town of Ruse. Ruse is the gateway to the Rusenski Lom, a twisting canyon where medieval monks turned caves near Ivanovo into a rock-cut complex of monasteries. In the 14th century a large community of monks lived here. At the peak of the monastery complex, the number of churches was about 40, while the other premises were around 300, most of which are not preserved today. During the winter season, when one can't visit Ivanovo rock-hewn church, we visit instead the Rock Monastery of St. Dimitar Basarbovski. Built into a sheer cliff east of Basarbovo, this is the only still functioning rock monastery in Bulgaria. The iconfilled church founded in the 15th century and named after the holy man and healer Dimitar of Basarbovo, is reached by a zig-zagging stone staircase.

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Not Included

Monument "1300 Years of Bulgaria"

TRANSFORMERS IN STONE !!! Travel to the city of Shumen for a visit to the impressive Monument to "1300 Years of Bulgaria", also known as the "Founders of the Bulgarian State Monument", a large monument built on a plateau above the city of Shumen, Bulgaria. It was built in 1981 to commemorate the 1300th anniversary of the First Bulgarian Empire.

1 hour • Admission Not Included

Options

North-Eastern Bulgaria at a Glance - Ivanovo, Shumen & Madara from Bucharest

Pickup included

Reviews

5.00

2 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Wonderful week in a weekend in Bulgaria
TrailBlazer194575,
Sep 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Just returned from a fantastic two-day tour to Bulgaria from Bucharest with Adrian, with the great advantage of detailed knowledge of more than 2000 years of history of both countries! Adrian is kind, thoughtful, informative and flexible, adding extra places on the personalised itinerary as time allows, and keeping an incredibly well stocked provision of water, fruit and delicious snacks in his car. The two-day itinerary to north Bulgaria is both beautiful and varied, with lovely nature and views, amazing UNESCO and Communist sites, delicious food and excellent artisan shopping, plus some hidden off-the-beaten path gems, and an added highlight a meal made and eaten with a local family. Everything I usually look for in a week from a European holiday packed into a weekend! Let Adrian know your interests and offer suggestions and he will find a fabulous itinerary for you, as well as the ‘big ticket’ sights. Adrian’s first and foremost priority is the client experience and comfort, and the background research effort he puts in to find the most interesting sights and experiences for his clients really sets him apart as a guide. He also goes the extra mile to meet his client needs even if it’s at a personal inconvenience to himself, such as driving all the way back across the city to drop me off at my airport accommodation rather than the centre of Bucharest, and sorting out local currency for my incidental expenditure do I could just deal either Euros and not have to mess with small ATM withdrawals. Just a couple of things which illustrate his thoughtfulness and excellent client focus. I am already planning future trips to Romania with Adrian, I can’t recommend his services highly enough and you won’t regret your choice for trips to the region with him.
Amazing trip and a lot of fun!
mihaelag2006,
Mar 10, 2020
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Well balanced itinerary, perfect for a full day out. Hand picked attractions, two UNESCO sites and the huge, impressive, Transformers-like "Monument to 1300 years of Bulgaria" in Shumen. The guide, Adrian, was very polite, knowledgeable, and a good driver. The car he used was spotless and comfortable. I can't recommend Adrian highly enough!