Shore Excursions Programme - Options available:
Friday, 13 October 2023
Short list:
1. Saint Anastasia Island & Chengene skele (5 hours) 9:00-14:30
2. Nessebar Sights & Delights (6,30 hours) 9:00-15:30
3. Sozopol & Ravadinovo Castle (4,30 hours) 9:00-13:30
1. Saint Anastasia Island & Chengene skele (5 hours)
“Nautical Tour”
Saint Anastasia Island
St. Anastasia Island is one of the most romantic places on our Black Sea coast. If you’re looking for adventures and unforgettable memories – this is your place. The island is shrouded in mystery and hundreds of legends and stories are told about it. The island used to be a monastery, and for some time it served as a prison. It is located 6 km from the coast.
During your visit you can explore the museum. On the second floor of the large monastery building you can find interactive museum exhibition, which represents the rich history of Saint Anastasia Island. The Island’s past is revealed as pirates’ treasury, monastery, prison cells and inspirational place for many writers and poets. St.Anastasia Island is a favorite destination for Bulgarian and foreign tourists.
Chengene skele
There is a special place like hidden treasure close to Burgas, so you can run from the dynamic of the city life. Chengene Skele, a Fisherman port or just Chengeneto -it’s a small village 15 km south of Burgas, keeping the fisherman traditions till this day. The bay inherits its name from Chengene iskelesi village (Gypsy port). After 1972, the boats of the local fishermen were moved to this place from the port of Burgas due to its expansion. Then three artificial canals have been built, which host the shacks and the boats of the fishermen. Part of the complex are restaurant and a coffee club, where you can try specialties based on old recipes and refreshing drinks.
Programme:
Photo: Chengene skele
Tour duration: 5 hours
Level of activity: moderate walking activity, paving stone area at the Saint Anastasia
Island, slightly uneven terrain on certain spots
Suggested items: Comfortable shoes and clothes, hat and sunscreen
Tour inclusive of:
- professional guiding in English
- private transportation with catamaran
- all museum- entrance fees
- 3-course lunch, mineral water, a glass of wine – Cultural and tourist complex ‘Chengene skele”
2. Nessebar Sights & Delights (6,30 hours)
Start your day with a 45-minute coastal drive to the Old Town of Nessebar. Replete with narrow, cobblestone streets, quaint houses, and churches of various styles and architecture, the entire old quarter of Nessebar has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Follow your guide through ancient alleyways to experience the romantic atmosphere of this enchanting town. Two-story period houses, small town squares and quaint shops enhance this walking portion of your tour, which takes you to the 5th-century Old Metropolitan Church. It is situated on the highest place of the peninsula, where once stood the Greek agora – the heart of the commercial section of the Greek city-state. Today, the spirit of the agora lives on with a profusion of sidewalk vendors offering up a wide array of artwork and handicrafts.
Step inside the Church of St. Stefan, built at the 11th century, and restored several times. Its exquisite colorful murals covering some 700 m2 of the walls and the amazing collection of iconostasis icons grant its great artistic and archaeological value.
Stroll down to the main gates of the old town, viewing along the way the Church of Christ Pantocrator, known for its ornate architecture.
Your final stop is at the Archaeological Museum, near the main gates, where chronologically arranged halls display jewelry, coins, ceramic pottery, statues, plaques and a magnificent collection of icons.
Having explored the Old Town of Nessebar, it is time to board your coach to St Vlas Marina where you can round off your Bulgarian experience with a delicious lunch of local specialties, complemented with a selection of Bulgarian wines.
Programme:
Photo: Old Metropolitan Church
Tour duration: 6 hours 30 minutes
Level of activity: moderate walking activity; cobbled streets, slightly uneven terrain on certain spots; approximately 30 steps at the Archaeological Museum, 4 steps at St Stefan’s church; wheel-chair unfriendly.
Suggested items: Comfortable shoes and clothes, hat and sunscreen
Tour inclusive of:
- professional guiding in English
- private transportation
- all museum- entrance fees
- 3-course lunch, mineral water, a glass of wine
3. Sozopol & Ravadinovo Castle (4,30 hours)
The Old Town of Sozopol with its characteristic architecture, quaint cobbled lanes, and artistic atmosphere is one of the most charming places on the Black Sea coast. In the year 610 BC Greek colonizers from Milet settled in this area and called the settlement after their god of beauty Apollo – Apolonia. To the honor of Apollo a 13 m high bronze statue of the god was erected on the coast. Apolonia developed as a trade center, working with the biggest ones in Hellas-Athens, Corinth and the islands Rodos, Lesbos and Hios. Today Sozopol combines the ancient and the modern times, and its architecture successfully joins the old town to the new one.
Begin your guided walking tour with a visit to the Archaeological museum and learn about the most interesting discoveries made in the area, including the exhibited reliquary with relics of St John the Baptist.
Continue past ancient ruins, fortification walls, and follow the meandering lanes until you reach the Holy Virgin Church. Built in the 17th c., half-dug into the ground it treasures fine wood carved iconostasis and impressive icons.
Wander around the quiet streets and make your way back to the fishing port, where your coach is awaiting to take you to the newest local attraction – In Love with the Wind Castle. Feel the enchanting atmosphere of this fairy tale castle while strolling its manicured gardens bursting with lush vegetation and flowers. Enjoy the richly decorated water fountains, cross the tiny bridges, and see the peculiar statues in the gardens. Step inside the chapel and the wine cellar with its imposing interior.
Spend some time at leisure, exploring the Castle’s beautiful grounds, before returning to Burgas.
Programme:
Photo: Ravadinovo Castle
Tour duration: 4 hours 30 minutes
Level of activity: moderate walking activity; cobbled streets, slightly uneven terrain on certain spots; approximately 40 steps at the Archaeological Museum, 15 steps at Holy Virgin church; wheel-chair unfriendly.
Suggested items: Comfortable shoes and clothes, hat and sunscreen
Tour inclusive of:
- professional guiding in English
- private transportation
- all museum- entrance fees
