Excursion CARNIVAL in Xanthi 2024, KAVALA and PORTO LAGOS, with the opportunity to explore the ancient city of PHILIPPI

from Dobrich*, Varna and Burgas

Date held : 15 March 2024

Duration : 3 days / 2 overnight stays

Package price: 360 BGN

Program

Departure

– 04:00 h. from Dobrich / at a minimum 15 tourist, for a surcharge 18 leva /

– 05:00 h. from Varna - st. "Antimus I"

– 07:30 h. from Burgas - the OMV gas station / to Metro/

 

Program

1 day 15.03.2024

We leave Dobrich early in the morning / at a minimum 15 tourist, for a surcharge 18 left in both directions/, Varna and Burgas. Around noon we pass through the Kapitan Petko Voivoda border crossing and head to the small picturesque village of Porto Lagos, where we will visit the "St. Nicholas" monastery nestled in a beautiful lake lagoon, as well as the Assumption Church You will hear the exciting story of the miracle that happened in 2005 year, you will feel the presence of the Virgin Mary in these places.

We are leaving for Xanthi. Hotel accommodation 2/3*. Dinner. Overnight stay.

2 day 16.03.2024

Breakfast. At will / Extra charge – 15 euro /, at a minimum 20 tourist – Walk to the ancient city of Philippi, flourished during the Hellenistic period, the Roman and early Christian eras. Also known for this, that in 42. etc. Hr. in battle, Octavian Augustus and Mark Antony defeat the assassins of Gaius Julius Caesar – Brutus and Cassius, after which the city was renewed and gained world fame. Here in 49. Fig. Hr. the apostle Paul arrives with his associates and sows the first seeds of Christianity. That's why they say, that Kavala and Philippi are the Christian gateway of Europe. Entrance fee is payable additionally – around 6 euro.

We are heading to the city of Kavala. Next is a walk in the old quarter of Panagia. Walking along the narrow cobbled streets of one of the oldest cities in Europe, we will admire architecture from several centuries ago, ornately decorated houses and small family shops and cafes. It is Kavala that is the birthplace of one of the brightest personalities in the history of the city - Muhammad Ali. We will hear the story of his love for the land where he was born and raised. We are heading to the famous masterpiece of Egyptian architecture Imaret - a combination of a mosque, a Koranic school and an army building overlooking the harbor below. This historic oriental building was restored in 2004 Mr. and is one of the architectural landmarks of Kavala today. Next is a visit to the Fortress Wall of the city, also called the "Venetian Fortress" - built by Emperor Justinian I in his attempts to protect the city from barbarian raids. In the middle of the 16th century, the ethnic Greek Ibrahim Pasha - Grand Vizier of the Turkish Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, contributes to the prosperity and flourishing of Kavala, by restoring the imposing Aqueduct. We will admire a spectacular view of the only amphitheater-built city - one of the great ports of Greece. We will see the Church of the Assumption, the house of Muhammad Ali and the monument built by the residents of. Kavala was grateful for his deeds. We head to the new part of town. We stop for a short photo session with the famous stones, on which the Apostle Paul stood and preached Christianity, setting foot in Europe for the first time. We will see the new city hall - the building that resembles a Hungarian castle, the tobacco factories, converted into shopping centers, the port boulevard with huge palm trees, etc. We will have the opportunity to enjoy the view of this incredibly beautiful port city. Free time.

We return to the hotel in the afternoon. Followed by dinner in the hotel restaurant with live music.

3 day 17.03.2024

Breakfast. We vacate the rooms and head to the city center. Picturesquely located on the southern slope of the Rhodopes, Xanthi is a modern city with ancient origins and history. Inclusion in the carnival festivities! The city is famous for its annual mask festival, which is held by the nearby 1966 Mr. and lasts for two weeks, in which a variety of cultural events are held- concerts, film and theater premieres, etc. The climax of the carnival is the procession on Sunday, before the beginning of the Easter fasts, when the masked participants pass through the central streets to the sound of music, and at the end the procession ends with the ritual burning of the image of Tzaros – an old tradition, in which the locals believe, that this is how people protect themselves from disease and evil. After lunch departure back to Bulgaria. Arrival in Burgas, Varna and Dobrich late at night.

The tour operator reserves the right to change the order of events depending on the possibility of their implementation.

 

The price includes:

Transport by licensed bus

2 overnight stay in hotel 2/3* in Xanthi

2 snacks, 1 simple dinner, 1 Greek evening in the hotel restaurant with live music

Exploring Porto Lagos

Visiting the Carnival in Xanthi

Medical insurance for persons up to 69 years old. After 70. there is a surcharge of 5 leva.

Tour guide service.

The price does not include:

Departure from Dobrich / at a minimum 15 tourist / – 18 leva

Surcharge for private room - 90 leva

Entrance fees to the sites visited

Full day excursion to the ancient city of Philippi and Kavala - 15 euro, at a minimum 20 tourist

From 01.01.2024 Mr. a mandatory municipal tax is introduced in all hotels in Greece, which is paid personally by tourists on the spot at the hotel, and its size is determined by its category as follows:

from March to October:

– 5* wanted - 10 euro /room/ per night;

– 4* wanted - 7 euro /room/ per night;

– 3* wanted - 3 euro /room/ per night;

– 2* and 1* wanted wanted - 1,50 euro /room/ per night;

Discounts:

for children up to 12 incomplete years, accommodated with two adults – 20 leva

Remarks:

Offer valid with a minimum 30 full paying tourists.

Deadline for notification in case of insufficiently collected minimum – 7 days before the departure date.

Registration takes place with a contract for an organized trip and a deposit 30% from the package price. Surcharge – 20 days before the departure date.

Travel with an identity card or foreign passport.

There is no visa regime.

Contact phone number: 0878 602 901 Nikolay Panayotov-Varna tourist company EOOD,
e-mail: varnatourism@abv.bg, www.varnatourismbg.com