ONE-DAY TRIPS (Sofia Guesthouse) (sample itineraries). 1. Sofia Description: Sofia is the second oldest city in Europe, founded 7,000 years ago by the Thracian tribe Serdi. Later, Sofia was the capital of the Roman province of Inner Dacia in 29 A.D. Through the ages, the city played role as an important trading center in the Byzantine and Bulgarian Empires. Under Ottoman rule, Sofia was the center of Rumelia province. Sofia became the capital of restored Bulgaria in 1879, with a population of only 20,000. Today many streets, buildings, parks, and even whole neighbourhoods preserve the architectural style from the turn of the century. The trip starts with sightseeing on foot of the city of Sofia comprising visits to some of the most interesting sites in the town: the National Library, Sofia University, The Parliament, The St. Alexander Nevsky Patriarchal Cathedral, the National Theatre, St Sofia Church, Sofia's oldest building - St George Rotunda (from the 3rd C), The houses of the Council of Ministers, presidency and the former communist party headquarters, the ruins of the ancient city of Serdika (dating from the 5th-6th C) etc. Trek duration (walking only): 3-4 hours Best period: all year Price is total for up to 8 ppl and includes guidance throughout the trip; the price excludes entrance fees, meals, drinks and other things of personal use). Sofia Trip - 39 Euro - up to 8 people. 2. Dragoman Marsh Chepun Hill Description: Located some 35 km to the north-west of the city of Sofia, Dragoman Marsh is placed in the lowering between the hills Chepan and Three Ears. It is a part of the heterogeneous complex comprising marshes, wet meadows and karst heights in the NW corner of the field of Sofia - places, very famous in the near past with their phenomenal diversity of plants and animals. Currently Dragoman Marsh is the only one of its kind karst marsh left in Bulgaria. Due to its position the marsh is an important stop-over along the Balkans' migratory route Via Aristotelis. Endangered species of flora and fauna could be observed from the educational facilities (observation tour, wooden bridge etc.), built and maintained by the NGO Balkani Wildlife Society. After transfer to the marsh (about 1 h) we take a short walk among the education facilities - the observation tower and the wooden bridge. There we have a talk about the past and the present of the marsh and the wetlands in general, about their wildlife and their merits for the eco-tourism in recent times. If during migration period (autumn/spring) we may see part of the field work, carried out by scientists in the area - catching and ringing birds, taking measurements and blood samples, counting migrating birds etc. In the afternoon we have a walk to Chepun Hill (1204 m a.s.l.) and the Thracian sanctuary on the top of the hill, providing terrific view over the Dragoman Marsh and the surrounding territories. The Chepun hill is like an open-air botanical garden - there are many interesting plants there (even few endemic species), flowering during spring and summer. Trek duration (walking only): 2-3 hours Best period: April - September Price is total for up to 8 ppl and includes private transfer by bus to the marsh, guidance throughout the trip and donation for the environmental activities in the area; the price excludes meals, drinks and other things of personal use. Price for 1, 2 or 3 persons is available at our. 3. Vitosha Mountains Cherni vryh Peak Description: Sofia is situated at the foothills of Vitosha Mountain. Being also the oldest Nature Park on the Balkan Peninsula, Vitosha has two nature reserves. Millions of tourists visit it to discover and admire its inspiring landscape, flora and fauna. After transfer to Dragalevtsi we take the chair lift to Goli vryh Peak. Then we head through the plateau area of Vitosha Mountains, heading to Cherni vryh Peak (2290 m a.s.l.). There we make a short rest trying the local tea, produced from many species of fragrant mountain herbs. Then we turn back. Trek duration (walking only): 4 hours Best period: June-October Price is total for up to 8 ppl and includes private transfer by bus to the lift station and guidance throughout the trip; the price excludes meals/drinks, lift tickets and other things of personal use. Price for 1, 2 or 3 persons is available at our. 4. Rila Monastery Description: Rila Monastery is situated at a height of 1150 meters a.s.l. in Rila Mountains. Behind the 20-metre high walls lie impressive monastery buildings, a church and a chapel with valuable murals. The most impressive monument from the Bulgarian National Revival period rises amidst the rugged beauty of the Rila Mountain, just 120 km southwards from Sofia. Having survived the times with the self-confidence of the most zealous guard of the Bulgarian spirit and language, it still fascinates present-day visitor with the pure and harmonious line of the buildings' exquisite colonnades, arches and vaults, spacious rooms richly decorated with murals and fretwork. The monastery's most treasured historic and artistic monuments include the 14th century Hrelyo Tower, the five-domed Birth of the Blessed Virgin Church and the original monastery kitchen from the 19th century. The monastery also houses a rich museum collection of valuable old manuscripts and documents, charters and icons, an ethnographic exhibition of fabrics, jewelry, carpets and wrought iron objects, and a library containing more than 16,000 books. Destroyed by fire at the beginning of the 19th century, the complex was rebuilt between 1834 and 1862. Nowadays Rila Monastery is the biggest and most important symbol of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. In the morning we have a transfer of about 2 h to get to Rila Monastery. There we have guided walk among the monastery wall, visiting the museum and the other sites of interest. Trek duration (walking only): 0,5 hours Best period: all year Price is total for up to 8 ppl and includes private transfer by bus to the monastery and guidance throughout the trip; the price excludes meals and drinks, things of personal use, museum tickets and other taxes for visitors. Price for 1, 2 or 3 persons is available at our. 5. Rila Mountains Musala Peak (2925 m.) Description: The Rila Mountains are the highest ones not only on The Balkan Peninsula but also in South East Europe with mount Musala - 2925 m a.s.l. It occupies the prestigious 6th place in the European classification, preceded by Caucasus, the Alps, Sierra Nevada, the Pyrenees and the Etna volcano. Many of the tops here are close to 3000 m a.s.l. Rila (an old Slavic word, meaning Water Mountain) looks like a rough sea of mountain ridges and peaks, deep gorges and 150 crystal clear lakes. A big part of the National Park is under the protection of UNESCO. Early transfer will bring us to Borovets (1350 m a.s.l.). Borovets is the oldest international and one of the most popular mountain resorts in Bulgaria. There we take the gondola lift to Yastrebets. The path now goes within the Dwarf Pine massifs towards the highest in altitude in Bulgaria Musala hut (2389 m a.s.l.; about 1,5 hours trek). The jagged form of Mount Musala could be enjoyed during the whole time. From Musala hut we need two more hours to climb the peak, going by the Musalenski lakes and the Icy lake refuge in between. The view from the very top is really breath-taking - one could spot many other peaks of Rila Mountains, the marble edges of Pirin Mountains, Vitosha and Sredna Gora Mountains, the green summits of the Rodopi Mountains and not the least the long body of the Balkan Mountains. We make a little rest here before going back to Yastrebets and further with the gondola-lift to Borovets, where the bus waits to take us back to Sofia. Trek duration (walking only): 5-6 hours Best period: June/July-October Price is total for up to 8 ppl and includes private transfer by bus to Borovets and guidance throughout the trip; the price excludes meals and drin...

Accommodation facilities (Total 38 people). 2 apartments (up to 4 people). Below are the free services and facilities that Sofia Guesthouse offers to its guests: FREE Cozy lobby (common room) which will make you feel relaxed, enjoying the easy- going conversation with other travelers and local people. FREE All you can eat breakfast - jam, salami, yellow cheese, cornflakes, bread, fresh fruits, butter, sugar, milk, tea, coffee and juice. FREE International channels cable TV and DVD in the lobby and breakfast room. FREE International channels cable TV and DVD - in the twin/double rooms. FREE Wireless Internet access all over the house area. FREE 24 Reception service and room access. FREE Clean and fresh sheets, blanket, pillow and towel. FREE Brand new spotless bathrooms with 24 hours running hot water. FREE Hair dryer, iron. FREE Use of modern fully equipped kitchen. FREE Board games - scrabble, chess and more (soon). FREE Sofia map and guides with highlights and travelers info. FREE Full information support for every spot of Bulgaria. Other services and facilities that Sofia Guesthouse offers to its guests: Unlimited high speed Internet access in the lobby- 2 PCs. Locker and safe luggage storage. International phone calls

The local currency in Bulgaria is the Bulgarian LEV (LEVA in plural). The exchange rate with the EURO is 1, 95 LEVA for 1 EURO. You can convert your national currency to the Bulgarian LEV at: http://www.xe.com/ucc/. Accommodation pricing. Bed in a dormitory: 10 EUR BB / 9 EUR BB for advance payment, including breakfast; Family Room 6 beds - 45 EUR per room / 40 EUR per room paid in advanced including breakfast; Double Room: 36 EUR BB / 30 EUR BB for advance payment, including breakfast; Apartment (up to 4 persons): 45 UR BB / 45 EUR BB for advance payment, including breakfast; Unlimited high speed Internet access - 1 Euro/hour. Laundry self-service - 1 Euro/use. Locker and safe luggage storage - 1 Euro/day. City Pick Up from any point of the city 5 Euro PP (08:00-18:00). City Pick Up from any point of the city 10 Euro PP (18:00- 08:00). Transfer from/to Sofia Airport (08:00-18:00) 7 Euros per person. Transfer from/to Sofia Airport (18:00-08:00) 20 Euros per car. Parking place blue zone 1 Euro two hours (08:00 18:00). Parking place blue zone FREE (18:00 08:00) mon-fri. Parking place blue zone FREE from 18:00 fri to 08:00 mon Cars, vans, 4WD cars and mini buses for rent: www.bulgariacarrent.com for 1 person: 55 Euro for 2 persons: 80 Euro for 3 persons: 90 Euro. 4 to 8 persons: 105 Euro. BOOKING TERMS AND CONDITIONS The following terms and conditions apply to reservations at Sofia guesthouse. 1. Making a reservation You can book accommodation at Sofia Guesthouse online at our website: www.sofiaguest.com or by phone + 359 2 981 36 56. You need to pay the total cost of your stay in order to receive a confirmation for your booking within 7 days after making a reservation but no later than 30 days prior to arrival. For reservations which total cost exceeds 100 Euro we require a deposit payment of 100 Euro no later than 7 days after making a reservation. The rest may be paid cash upon arrival. You can either make a credit card payment online at our website: www.sofiaguest.com (booking) or pay via bank transfer (details available upon request). We accept VISA and Master card. The reservation for accommodation by telephone, e-mail, fax or post constitutes a contractual undertaking. Payment implies complete acceptation of these general conditions. 2. Cancellations and/or No show Cancellations should be made by emailing us at info@sofiaguest.com. A failure to arrive by the agreed check-in date and time will result in the cancellation of your entire reservation. In the event of cancellations for accommodation the following rules apply: · Cancellations must be received at least 30 days before the arrival date, if not 100% of the cost will be charged. · In the event of cancellation earlier than 30 days before arrival, your payment will be refunded after deduction of a handling charge of 25 Euro. In case fewer people arrive than the ones you have reserved accommodation for, you will be charged for two overnights for each person who did not show up. 3. Changing a reservation You can change your reservation Once for free. Every other change after that will be charged 25 Euro. 4. Liability By confirming your reservation, you agree that any liability for losses, additional expenses or any claim whatsoever due to changes in accommodation, travel services, health, injury, weather, strikes, or any other cause shall be borne by you.

 Guest rooms have air conditioning
 Central situation
 Ironing facilities
 Kitchen
 Laundry services/washing machine
 Mixed dorms
 Around-the-clock recetpion
 Quiet surroundings
 Fridge
 Phone at reception
 Common room with a TV set