Bulgaria travel tips and information
Bulgaria offers the traveller a magical mix of modern western luxury intermingled with post communist simplicity and economics. A night in Sofia can be spent in one of many hostels from as little as £10 per person or instead lavish in one of the city's luxury hotels. Taxis are plentiful in the capital (expect to pay around 10 leva for a transfer to the airport) and although your transfer to Melanya Mountain Retreat is included in the price of your mountain holiday, we will offer a discount for those who wish to take the bus from Sofia bus station to Kardzhali. The bus ride takes around 4 hours with a stop mid way to stretch your legs and grab some refreshments.
Smile and the world will smile with you
Many Bulgarians in the capital can speak some English especially in the hostels and hotels, however as you venture further off the beaten track you will discover whole communities who have never seen a foreigner. Regardless of wealth or stature, Bulgarians are honourable and friendly with a seemingly endless enthusiasm for ensuring guests in their country are shown hospitality and respect.
Car hire and getting around
We will arrange all of your travel arrangements if required, to include transfers to and from the airport for stop overs in Sofia and to Kardzhali where you will be met by your hosts for the last leg of your trip through the beautiful Rhodope Mountains. If you desire complete independence, we can arrange for a hire car of your choice to be delivered to either the airport or your hotel.
Bulgaria facts...
The ancient city of Plovdiv is older than Rome
and has over 200 archaeological sites.
Bulgaria has 540 rivers.
Bulgaria is renowned as a bird watchers haven.
A Bulgarian developed the oral contraceptive pill.
Bulgaria has 8 million tourists per year.
A Banitsa is a Bulgarian pastry filled with cheese and spinach and is traditionally eaten for breakfast.
A Bulgarian invented the first digital watch in 1970.
In 2007 Petar Stoychev from Bulgaria broke the record for the fastest swim across the English Channel.
Up until the 1990's Bulgaria was the second largest exporter of bottled wine in the world.
