Balkan Heritage RECOMMENDED excursions TO THE BALKANS:

BALKAN HERITAGE RECOMMENDS TO ALL FIELD SCHOOL PARTICIPANTS AND WORLD
TRAVELERS TO THE BALKANS TO VISIT THE FOLLOWING CULTURAL HERITAGE PLACES:
For the convenience of its students Balkan Heritage Field School recommends mainly cities and sites not too far from the Balkan Heritage project locations! They could be visited either before or after the field school projects. Balkan Heritage does not organize excursions but rather helps its students and volunteers to create their own travel plan.

ISTANBUL (Turkey)

    Recommended to participants in the following Balkan Heritage projects:
    • MCHBG.EXP 12 - the trip to Istanbul can start from Sofia, Bulgaria (7-8 hrs by bus; 10-11 hrs by train);
    • AP.EXC 12 and APDR.WRK 12 - the trip to Istanbul can start from Burgas, Burgas (5-6 hrs by bus)

     

     Athens (greece)

    Recommended to participants in the following Balkan Heritage projects:
    • MCHBG.EXP 12  - the trip to Athens can start from Sofia, Bulgaria (10-11 hrs by bus; 1 hr by plane);
    • BEBG.EXC 12 - the trip to Athens can start from Sandanski, Bulgaria (8-9 hrs by bus);
    • HL.EXC 12 - the trip to Athens can start from Florina, Greece(8 hrs by bus);
    • STOBI.EXC 12, RPDR.WRK 12 and CDRM.WRK 12 - the trip to Athens can start from Stobi, Macedonia (8-9 hrs by bus and taxi).

    ROUND TRIP OF republic of macedonia
    The capital Skopje, the archeological site Scupi and the monasteries Markov, Matka and Nerezi - the ancient town of Ohrid and Ohrid lake (UNESCO World Heritage Site) as well as the monastery of St. Naum - Prespa lake and the St. George church in Kurbinovo - the town of Bitola, the archeological site Heraclea Lyncestis and the traditional village of Malovishta - Prilep and Treskavets Monastery - Stobi - St.George Church in Staro Nagorichino and the megalithic sanctuary in Kokino - Skopje/Sofia/Belgrade
    Recommended to participants in the following Balkan Heritage projects:
    • MCHBG.EXP 12 - the trip to Skopje can start from Sofia, Bulgaria (4-5 hrs by bus);
    • HL.EXC 12 - the trip can start from Bitola, Macedonia;
    • STOBI.EXC 12, RPDR.WRK 12 and CDRM.WRK 12 - the trip can start from Stobi, Macedonia.

    NORTHERN GREECE (Aegean macedonia)

    Thessaloniki (UNESCO World Heritage Site) - the second largest Greek city with glorious past and vibrant present - from there could be visited:
      1. Mount Athos (UNESCO World Heritage Site) - it is home to 20 Eastern Orthodox monasteries and forms a self-governed monastic state within the sovereignty of Greece.
      2. Meteora (UNESCO World Heritage Site) - one of the largest and most important complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Greece;
      3. Pella - the ancient Macedonian capital;
      4. Vergina (UNESCO World Heritage Site) - the World famous tomb and the Macedonian capital Aigai;
      5. The archaeological sites of Olinthos, Dion and Stagyra (the birthplace of Aristotle).
        Kavala - one of the most beautiful Greek cities on Aegean - from there could be visited:
        1. The archaeological sites of Philippi, Amphipolis, Abdyra;
        2. The island of Thassos.
        Recommended to participants in the following Balkan Heritage projects:
        • MCHBG.EXP 12 - the trip to Thessaloniki/Kavala can start from Sofia, Bulgaria (5-6 hrs by bus);
        • BEBG.EXC 12 - the trip to Thessaloniki/Kavala can start from Sandanski, Bulgaria (3 hrs by bus);
        • HL.EXC 12 - the trip to Thessaloniki can start from Florina, Greece (3 hrs by bus);
        • STOBI.EXC 12, RPDR.WRK 12 and CDRM.WRK 12 - the trip to Thessaloniki can start from Stobi, Macedonia(3 hrs by bus and taxi).


        MEDIEVAL TOWNS, VILLAGES AND MONASTERIES OF northern BULGARIA (Round trip)

        The capital Sofia and Boyana church (UNESCO World Heritage Site) - Troyan Monastery - medieval town of Lovech - the fortress of Tcherven - Ivanovo Rock-hewn Churches (UNESCO World Heritage Site) - Ruse on the Danube - the last medieval capital of Bulgaria Veliko Tarnovo - traditional village of Bozhentsi - Gabrovo and Etara Ethno Park - Sofia/Bucharest
        Recommended to participants in the following Balkan Heritage projects:
        • MCHBG.EXP 12 and BEBG.EXC 12  - the trip can start from Sofia, Bulgaria.

          ROUND TRIP OF thrace (BULGARIA)

          Sofia - ancient city of Plovdiv, Bachkovo monastery and the castle of Asenova krepost - Starosel, the Kozi gramadi castle and the tombs - Kazanlak and the tombs in the Valley of Thracian kings (UNESCO World Heritage Site) - ancient coastal town of Nesebar (UNESCO World Heritage Site)- Burgas - ancient coastal town of Sozopol and the megalithic sanctuary of Begliktash - the traditional village of Zheravna - Stara Zagora - the temple and oracle of Dionysus in Perperikon - the temple of Orpheus in Tatul - Mezek tomb, fortress and Gluhite kamani sanctuary - the Thracian tomb and museum of Thracian artsin Alexandrovo - Sofia

          Recommended to participants in the following Balkan Heritage projects:
          • MCHBG.EXP 12 and BEBG.EXC 12  - the trip can start from Sofia, Bulgaria.
          • AP.EXC 12 and APDR.WRK 12 - the trip can start from Sozopol, Bulgaria.