Balkan Holidays is the leading specialist holidays tour operator to Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, Slovenia, Serbia and Romania. With 44 years of experience they offer great value summer beach holidays, winter ski, lakes & mountains holidays, tours and excursions, city breaks to Sofia, Varna, Bourgas and more, last minute holiday deals and low cost flights to Bulgaria from 21 UK airports.

Bulgaria has been described as the land of Long, Sandy Beaches and Breathtaking Mountains…

Situated in the south eastern Balkan peninsula, Bulgaria has been dealt a generous hand by nature. There is the impressive 230-mile long Black Sea coast with some of the finest sandy beaches in Europe (and they’ve got the Blue Flag award to prove it) with average temperatures of 27°C and more than 300 hours of sunshine in high season or the magnificent mountain ranges with an abundance of flora and fauna, and an amazing cultural heritage to explore.
So, whether you plan to let your hair down and be entertained in a modern seaside resort, or relax and soak up the sun on a secluded beach where time stands still or awaken your senses amongst breathtaking mountain slopes and lush green hills or take a journey of discovery through a land of tradition and great contrasts, Bulgaria has it all.

Some of it’s main resorts include:

• Varna area
• Golden Sands
• Albena
• St. Konstantin
• Bourgas area
• Sunny Beach
• Elenite
• Paradise Beach
• Nessebar
• Pomorie
• Sozopol
• Duni

Things to do and see

Of course going on holiday is always fun when there is more to do. Bulgaria has a  lively summery atmosphere and a beautiful nature – there is always plenty to see and visit. For those who prefer water sports, Balkan Holidays provide scuba diving courses with PADI-qualified dive instructors.  Bulgaria is especially proud of its rich folklore traditions. Folk dances, music, national costumes and traditional rituals have an important place in the lives of Bulgarians. During the summer a number of folk and cultural festivals and concerts take place by the seaside happening mainly in the towns of Varna, Bourgas and Sozopol.

Food and Drinks

Because of its geographical position and long history Bulgarian cuisine is a mixture between the best parts of the Slavonic, Greek and Turkish cuisines.

National specialities include: Shopska salad (sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and parsley topped with grated sheep’s cheese); and tarator (a cold soup of chopped cucumber, walnuts and yogurt) which is perfect for hot summer days. White sheep’s cheese baked with eggs is another favorite. Other typical items on the menu include kebapcheta (minced meat rolled into sausage shapes and grilled), kavarma (individual casseroles of pork or veal, onions and mushrooms), shishkebab, stuffed vine or cabbage leaves and moussaka. Yogurt too, tastes better in Bulgaria – its country of origin.
Bulgarian drinks have their devotees even among the most refined drinkers. There are some excellent locally produced wines and spirits, and nothing can beat a cold beer at just 50 pence a bottle!

Money

The monetary unit is the Lev. There are approx. 2.84 Levs to £1.00 (though this does fluctuate) • Foreign currency can be exchanged at the airports, banks, exchange bureaux and hotels. Travellers’ cheques carry a higher commission • Scottish notes are not accepted • Credit cards are not widely accepted.

Climate

Bulgaria has average temperatures of 27° C in the summer and basks in over 300 hours of sunshine during the high season.

Eating and Drinking – Typical Costs

• Bottle of Beer – £0.50

• Take Away Sandwich – £1.00

• Two Course Meal – £4.00

• Bottle of Wine in a Restaurant – £3.50

Many of us are looking for somewhere to go that isn’t being hammered by the Euro exchange rate, yet a lot of people have never tried Bulgaria or it’s neighbours. Look at those eating and drinking prices – that looks like Majorca in the 1970′s! If we’ve whetted your appetite and I hope we have then scoot over to  Balkan Holidays for the full low down. It really does look stunning!