GROUP Two of the oldest civilizations in Europe Romania & Bulgaria from SOF to OTP

Nine days moving between Bulgaria and Romania, tracing two countries either side of the Danube and the history stacked up in their old capitals, castles and monasteries. You go from Sofia and Plovdiv through Veliko Tarnovo to Bucharest, Sibiu, Sighisoara and Brasov, with a guide running the whole route in English.

This is a city and culture tour built around set-piece sights rather than free time to wander — UNESCO churches, medieval castles, Thracian tombs, and gothic cathedrals, with proper meals in local restaurants along the way.

You're based in central 4-star hotels each night, and the pace is easy in terms of walking but busy in terms of ground covered, since there's a lot to fit into nine days across two countries.

What you'll do

• Wander the old quarters of Sofia, one of Europe's oldest capitals
• Explore Plovdiv, European Capital of Culture
• Visit the UNESCO-listed Ivanovo Rock churches
• Climb Tzarevetz hill above Veliko Tarnovo to the Royal Castle ruins
• Tour Peles Castle and Bran (Dracula's) Castle in Romania
• Walk the UNESCO old towns of Sighisoara and the Black Church in Brasov