HIGHLIGHTS

Join us on a captivating photographic journey through Bulgaria and northern Greece, combining the powerful folklore of the Kukeri tradition with the breathtaking landscapes of Meteora.

Winter transforms Bulgaria into a living stage for the ancient Kukeri rituals—men dressed in elaborate, surreal costumes perform ceremonial dances believed to ward off evil spirits. We will photograph multiple local celebrations, culminating in the renowned Surva Festival in Pernik, one of the most important folkloric events in the Balkans.

Crossing into Greece, our focus shifts to the awe-inspiring Meteora monasteries, dramatically perched atop towering rock formations. These UNESCO-listed sites offer extraordinary opportunities for both landscape and architectural photography in changing winter light.

Along the way, we’ll also explore the Zagori region, photographing its historic stone bridges set within rugged mountain scenery, and seek out the magnificent Dalmatian pelicans, capturing compelling wildlife images in their natural habitat.

This tour blends culture, history, landscape, and wildlife—offering a rich and diverse photographic experience designed for photographers seeking both visual impact and meaningful storytelling.

Day 1   Thursday, 21 January 2027

This photo tour of Bulgaria and Greece starts and ends in Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital. Upon arrival you will be transferred to the hotel in the city center (we can arrange the transfer even if you are arriving a few days before). Dinner in a typical Bulgarian restaurant in Sofia.  Meeting and introduction with the guides, itinerary details overview and other tour info. 

•  Accommodation – Sofia

•  Airport Transfer time – 1/2 hour / ≈15km

Day 2 & 3         Friday, 22 January 2027 & Saturday, 23 January 2027

These 2 days will be devoted to The International Festival of Masquerade Games "Surva" in Pernik town, internationally also known as Kukeri. The festival is a meeting of thousands of survakars, kukers, babugers, jamalars and many other masked groups from all ethnographic regions of Bulgaria and guests from abroad. 

In the center and on the streets of the city, groups will compete to demonstrate the colors of their games and unique masks and costumes. A dazzling spectacle, lights and illuminations will immerse us in the mystery of the festival race. We will be able to interact with the participants along the parade and on the improvised stages in the city. In 2014, Pernik and the Surva festival were included in the National Geographic magazine's ranking of the World's top winter destinations.

Friday is dedicated mostly to the youth groups and it is a great way to familiarize ourselves with the people, the festival, the traditions and how to approach it. Especially since it will not be as busy as the next day. 

Saturday is fully packed day with lots of action and groups. It is also the day with international groups so there is even more diversity of people and costumes. We will photograph the groups from a few different locations: the main stage, the area where the groups are queuing and the area where they initially arrive, organize themselves and warm up. 

The variety, energy and people photography opportunities are endless. If you thought the Venice carnival is interesting, you should try this festival! 

•  Accommodation – both days in Sofia

•  Transfer time – 2 hours / ≈80km per day 

Day 4   Sunday, 24 January 2027

In the morning we will have a private photo shoot with a small group of people dressed in Kukeri. This will give us the chance to get to know the people behind the masks and ask them questions about their traditions and how they are carrying it forward. 

Next stop will be a remote village in the Rhodope Mountains home to a Muslim community and famous for its fascinating wedding traditions. Unlike most of the deserted places of Bulgaria, the steep streets are constantly full of women with colorful headscarves, busy men and playing kids. If we are lucky to witness a local wedding we will enjoy an amazing explosion of colors, sounds and unique customs (winter time is the wedding season in this area). 

•  Accommodation in/near Bansko  

•  Transfer time – 3h hours 

Day 5   Monday, 25 January 2027

We will be very close to the Greek border so our photo tour will transit from Bulgaria to Greece. We will head towards the charming town of Ioannina on the shores of Pamvotis Lake and surrounded by mountains. The city flourished during the Byzantine era, it was a center for silversmithing and still has an impressive fortress from those times. Then it was under Turkish rule for over 400 years and we can still see tow mosques right by the lake. We will spend the late afternoon and the next morning exploring it (and the nearby island), learning its stories and photographing it at different times of the day. 

•  Accommodation – Ioannina 

•  Transfer time – 6h  

Day 6   Tuesday, 26 January 2027

We will continue our photo tour exploration of Greece with the region of Zagori. It is a less traveled part of Greece which in 2023 was enlisted as a UNESCO world heritage site acknowledging its well-preserved traditional architecture with houses and many stone bridges. Vikos gorge is one of the most impressive canyons anywhere in the world and we will go to a viewpoint to photograph it. 

In the afternoon we will arrive to Meteora, a fascinating place where Greek Orthodox monasteries were built on giant rock formations. We will stay in the nearby town of Kalabaka having direct views towards the rocks and some of the monasteries. 

•  Accommodation – Kalabaka (near Meteora)

•  Transfer time - 4 hours 

Day 7   Wednesday, 27 January 2027

We will spend the entire day uncovering the views and history of Meteora, this fascinating site and photographing it from many different angles and at different times of the day. We will start with an early morning shoot, then visit some of the monasteries and end the day with a sunset shoot. Weather at this time of the year can be moody, it can be foggy, it can rain, it can be cloudy or even snow so we will adapt to the conditions and take advantage of them. 

This site is the second most important for Greek Orthodoxy after Mount Athos and the monasteries there. And it is definitely the most impressive site you will see in Greece (and there are many of them). It is just amazing what was done here and that there are still monks who live and worship in these monasteries. 

One of the rocks is 600m high (2000 feet) and many others are over 300m (1000 feet). Six of the original 24 monasteries can be visited and we will visit at least 2 of them. The Meteora monasteries are one of the most interesting sights to visit and photograph in Europe and it will be one of the highlights of our trip. 

• Accommodation – Kalabaka (near Meteora)

• Transfer time - 2 hours 

Day 8   Thursday, 28 January 2027

In the morning we will go out for another photo shoot in Meteora, especially if the weather conditions are significantly different or better than on the previous day. 

We will then make our way back to the Greek-Bulgarian border. In this area there is a lake which is home to a large population of Dalmation pelicans. It is probably the best place in the world to photograph those pelicans. At this time of the year the gular turn bright red and they are also friendlier with people so they come really close to the boats making it very easy to photograph them. 

We will go out on the lake with a boat and photograph them. Often the water is very still creating mirror like reflections. And in the distance there are snowcapped mountains. 

• Accommodation – near Kerkini lake 

• Transfer time – 4h 

Day 10   Friday, 29 January 2027

In the morning we will go again on the lake to admire and photograph the pelicans. We are giving this a second try as the weather conditions can be very different from the previous afternoon. 

Then we will be back in Bulgaria where we will go again to the Muslim village in the Rhodope Mountains to hopefully catch another part of a wedding. Here the weddings have two main parts: on Fridays is the engagement part and on Sunday is the main wedding event. So last Sunday we looked for the main event and now we will be looking at the engagement part. 

• Accommodation – near Bansko  

• Transfer time – 4h 

Day 10   Saturday, 30 January 2027

We will then travel back to Sofia and on the way visit the largest and most important monastery in Bulgaria and UNESCO World Heritage Site - Rila Monastery. It was founded in the 10th century by a hermit named Ivan Rilski and has been under UNESCO’s protection since 1983. The beautiful architecture of the monastery corresponds perfectly with the surrounding high peaks of the Rila Mountains.

We will then arrive back to Sofia where we will have our farewell dinner in a traditional restaurant in Sofia.

• Accommodation – Sofia

• Transfer time – 4h 

Day 11  Sunday, 31 January 2027

This is your departure day. Transfer from the hotel to Sofia Airport.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this intense photo tour of Bulgaria and Greece and that you will bring back a lot of wonderful memories.  

• Airport Transfer time – 1/2 hour / ≈15km

Sofia:

Sofia at Crystal Palace Hotel, 4*

4 nights -  at the beginning and end of the trip

Kalambaka (near Meteora, in Greece):

Kosta Famissi Hotel, 3*

2 nights - here most good hotels are closed in late January so we really don’t have many options 

 Bansko:

Bansko at NP House, 4*

2 nights

lake Kerkini:

Limneio guesthouse

1 night - no elevator

Ioannina (Greece):

Kamares Boutique 4* Hotel

10 rooms - no elevator

Location & Vibe

Bulgaria sits at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and the Balkans, blending Thracian, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman influences. Expect historic towns, dramatic mountains, Black Sea beaches, and a strong tradition of folklore and hospitality.

Food & Drink

Bulgarian cuisine is hearty, seasonal, and deeply rooted in local agriculture.

Visa

EU / Schengen visitors: Bulgaria is part of the EU. Most EU nationals can enter freely with a valid ID or passport.

US, UK, Canada, Australia: Visa-free stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period for tourism or business.

Passport validity: Your passport should be valid for at least 3 months beyond your departure date.

Longer stays: Require a visa or residence permit arranged in advance.

Electricity

Voltage: 230V / 50Hz

Plug types: Type C and Type F (two round pins)

Tip: Travelers from North America will need a plug adapter and possibly a voltage converter for non-dual-voltage devices.