Guided walking tour of Bulgaria’s UNESCO-protected Nessebar

Aqua Park Nessebar

Sun, slides and sun cream are the order of the day at Aqua Park Nessebar. You'll have a rip-roaring time gliding down the park's 38 waterslides, splashing about in the pools and resting up between the action on the sun loungers. All ages are well and truly catered for.And with transport taken care of, too, all you'll need is your bathing gear and sense of adventure. Speed down the Spiral, race down the Phantom, or land into the Deep Blue. Then there's the Slalom to tackle, or try your hand at taming the Wild Cobra while hopping between a whole host of other waterslides.Fit in some relaxation time with two rivers, pools with hydrotherapy and a hoy tub at your disposal. Meanwhile, kids can run riot in the Water Castle and pool, or time it right for one of the shows starting throughout the day.

Khan’s Tent with optional transportation

As rip-roaring Bulgarian nights go, few can hold a candle to an evening at Khan's Tent. You'll enjoy a classic four-course dinner and a world-class cabaret show performed by an international troupe. And the Panoramic Bar boasts fantastic views over Sunny Beach bay, too.Known as Hanska Shatra to the locals, this venue in the hills overlooking Sunny Beach is located where the medieval Khan Krum set up camp to besiege Nessebar. And Bulgarian history and heritage are very much a part of the Khan's Tent experience.You'll sit down for a four-course dinner and witness amazing performances, ranging from acrobatics to choreographed dances and featuring popular live music. Impressive doesn't even begin to describe it. If you opted for transfers, you'll be dropped back at your resort after the show.

Captain Jack's Fun Cruise with Transfer

Catering for the whole family, this adventure on the high seas makes for the ultimate family cruise. The three-deck Sea Star Sunny Beach Boat includes entertainment and dining areas and an impressive sun deck. Adults can get busy doing very little on deck, while younger guests can get involved in the swashbuckling entertainment. It's provided by our irrepressible troupe in the roles of Captain Jack and his pirates.

Bulgarian evening with optional transportation

A tough-to-reach village in the mountains of central Bulgaria, Bata's remoteness has helped keep traditions alive – so it's Ideal for an evening of Bulgarian entertainment. In a rural restaurant, you'll feast on traditional dishes, watch fascinating folkloric rituals and see the spectacular fire dance – one of the country's oldest customs.

Lazy Day Cruise from Nessebar

Set sail for a day of sun, sea and family fun with this Bulgarian Black Sea cruise. Casting off from Nessebar, you'll enjoy a morning of seafront scenery, swimming and sunbathing aplenty. With lunch and drinks included, too, this one is sure to get the holiday vibes flowing.Welcomed aboard by the crew, you'll cast off with ancient Nessebar in the distance. With fishing equipment available to use, as well as areas to sunbathe or unwind, you'll be spoilt for choice on things to do as you glide along the coast. And with the bar open throughout the cruise, you won't be going thirsty either.Then, as the sun starts to heat up, your captain will drop anchor so you can cool off courtesy of a dip in the sea. Meanwhile, back on board, a delicious buffet is prepared. After lunch, there's more tanning time to enjoy on the way back to port.

Istanbul old town walking tour from Bulgaria by overnight bus

Leaving Bulgaria late at night, you'll head down the Black Sea coast until the sunrise welcomes you to Istanbul, the cultural melting pot where Europe meets Aisa. Get your morning started with breakfast included before a bus trip and walking tour of the old town to help get your bearings and see some of Istanbul's top sights, like Beylerbey Castle, the 14th-century Galata Tower and the Blue Mosque. You'll then have free time to roam around this bustling city for yourself. You could check out the Grand Bazaar, full of traditional Turkish crafts like carpets, ceramics and jewellery. History buffs will want to head to the 1,500-year-old Hagia Sophia, or if you fancy a cruise down the Bosphorus, there's an optional boat trip lined up for you – just so you know, this does come at an extra cost. The midnight return to your Bulgarian hotel is well worth it for a day packed with history, culture and a hop across the river to a whole new continent.

Go-karting in Burgas

Looking to level up your Bulgaria beach break to Burgas with some race action? This outing says “it's lights out and away we go” to that. You'll be picked up from your hotel and taken to the track, where you'll suit up in racing gear and have your safety briefing. Then, it's time to hit the track. You'll have 15 laps to let out your inner Lewis Hamilton during an F1-style race on this 400-metre-long circuit. Motorsports fan, this one's for you.

Half-day Nessebar old town walking tour with optional transportation

Strolling through Nessebar is perhaps the most culturally enriching experience on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast. This headland, known as the ‘Pearl of the Black Sea', is only slightly larger than the Vatican City yet has many more churches. Ivaylo, one of our expert local guides, says, "Nessebar is a living museum – there are monuments here that were built as far back as the 5th century. Due to its strategic location, the town has always been a busy merchant hub. This is why it was here, over 2,500 years ago, that money was invented and first used for trade."You'll begin with a guided walking tour of the old town, which is crammed onto a narrow peninsula jutting out into the Black Sea. Historians know that there's been a town here for 3,200 years, making it among Europe's oldest. There's so much history packed into the old town that Nessebar is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Relics from the second millennium BC, from classical antiquity and the Middle Ages have been unearthed. There's evidence here that reflects the architectural progress of the whole Balkan and East Mediterranean regions.Winding streets and alleys fringed with characterful timber homes lead you to more than 40 churches dating back as far as Byzantine times. There's also some free time to explore the town on your own, soak up the scenery on a seaside stroll or browse for souvenirs.

Veleka Valley boat tour

The Veleka valley is one of Bulgaria's true hidden gems. On this motorboat cruise along the river Veleka, you'll discover landscapes barely changed by humans. From wooded banks to golden natural beaches and endemic fauna, this is the great outdoors as Mother Nature intended it. The fun kicks off as you hop onboard a motorboat and set sail on the Veleka towards the Black Sea. With an array of scenery to soak in along the way, and maybe even an encounter with amphibious animals, this unspoiled river is the perfect place to relax surrounded by nature.The dense woodlands give way to the stunning beach of Sinemorets – one of the most beautiful in Bulgaria. It is formed from an 800-metre-long sandbar at the river's mouth, with cliffs either side. This coastal wilderness is hard to come by in this day and age – so make sure you have your cameras at the ready.

Nessebar Tour and Folk Evening

This tour packs in heritage, culture and folklore during your visit to Nessebar. And after exploring this historic town – known as the ‘pearl of the Black Sea' – you'll end your day on a scintillating high with a full-throated Bulgarian village feast.You'll begin with a guided walking tour of Nessebar old town of, which is crammed into a narrow peninsula jutting out into the Black Sea. Such is its wealth of history that Nessebar is a UNESCO World Heritage Site – it's about the same size as the Vatican but with more churches. Winding streets and alleys of old timber homes lead you to tree-lined plazas with ruined Byzantine churches. There'll be some free time before the day's climax.We'll then head to a nearby village for a proper Bulgarian banquet at a folk-themed restaurant. The highlight of the evening, tough, is the performance by the ‘nestinari' – those who dance barefoot over the smouldering embers of a fire.