General Tour Information
TRAVEL TO BULGARIA: This tour is organized by our British company, Sunbird, and starts and ends in London. The cost of the group flights between London and Sofia, Bulgaria, are included in the tour cost. We strongly recommend that you join the tour in London as it removes a range of possible problems that might occur if you attempt to meet the group in the tour country. You can choose, however, to make your own travel arrangements to Sofia. You would receive a corresponding discount in the tour cost should you decide to do this. Please read the Important Travel Information for Participants on Sunbird Tours
ENTERING BULGARIA: A valid passport is required which is valid for six months after beyond the intended length of stay. U.S. citizen visitors who enter the country on regular passports without a Bulgarian visa are authorized to stay for a total of 30 days within a six-month period. For further information concerning entry requirements, travelers should contact the Embassy of Bulgaria at 1621 22nd St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008; Internet http://www.bulgaria-embassy.org, tel. (202) 387-0174 (main switchboard (202) 387-7969) or the Bulgarian Consulate in New York City.
MAP AND COUNTRY INFORMATION: You can view maps of Bulgaria in the University of Texas series here. The size can be adjusted by clicking on the map’s lower right corner. You can review the U.S. State Department background notes on Bulgaria here.
CLIMATE: We can expect almost any kind of weather during this trip. Daily temperatures will range from about 10 to 24°C. It will be cooler at night and being close to the sea, the wind may make it feel cooler. Rainfall is possible.
PACE OF TOUR AND DAILY ROUTINE: The tour is not a strenuous one. Regular, leisurely walking occasionally over moderately rough terrain is the only physical requirement. Some of the walks can be a mile or two long at most but the transport is never far away if anyone wants to return early or sit out any particular walk. There is some uphill walking. Most mornings there will be optional pre-breakfast walks, and on most days we stay out, taking a packed lunch or provide a picnic.
HEALTH: There are no major health problems in Bulgaria and no vaccinations are required. Up-to-date inoculations against Hepatitis A, tetanus and polio, however, are recommended. Water is said to be safe to drink at all the places we stay at but bottled water is available. Mosquitoes will occasionally be numerous.
ACCOMMODATION: Throughout the tour we will be staying in simple, clean, comfortable hotels. All rooms will have private facilities. The hotels are chosen for ease of access to prime birdwatching locations. Towels are provided but are often quite small and you may want to consider bringing a spare one.
FOOD: By Western standards, this will be relatively plain and simple, but available in good quantities. There will be many local dishes. We will have packed lunches on several days but these can be particularly simple and boring.
GENERAL INFORMATION & CONDITIONS OF WINGS & SUNBIRD TOURS: Please take a moment to read the WINGS General Information & Conditions. This section contains important information about how we conduct tours, e.g., what is included in the tour price, refund and cancellation policies, pace of the tours and other information that will help you prepare for the tour.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A more complete General Information for Tours to Bulgaria in Autumn will be sent to each registrant on receipt of their booking. Final information with instructions for meeting the group, hotel addresses, etc., will be mailed about three weeks before trip departure. Other news will be communicated as necessary. If you have any questions, please contact us.
Updated: July 2006