Private Sofia City Tour by Bike

The tour supplier at last moment unilaterally changed terms of our initial agreement. Original agreement including our voucher indicated hotel pickup would be provided at 9AM on day of tour at central Sofia hotel, in our case the Arte - Dondukov. Hotel information was provided and we reconfirmed our tour with supplier and Viator via email several days prior to scheduled tour date. On the day prior to the scheduled tour, supplier unexpectedly sent overnight e-mail unilaterally revising original tour terms including the tour start time. The modified voucher indicated NO HOTEL PICKUP as originally agreed and paid for would be provided. Additionally, the voucher CHANGED THE STARTING TIME OF THE BIKE TOUR from 9AM to 11AM. The voucher indicated we would need to FIND OUR OWN WAY AND TRANSPORTATION to a meeting point at a local city landmark for start of the tour. We discovered later our tour guide was providing FREE tours at the same time of our paid tour. Our original agreement suggested the groups would be small in size, but we were informed by the guide there was NO limit on how many individuals might be included in our city bike tour. We waited several minutes past the new starting time for others who might arrive. We were required to walk to a bike rental shop a few blocks away. In addition to additional expense and inconvenience incurred prior to the tour, the bicycle tour itself was NOT as originally described or implied by the supplier. The tour included sometimes steep, rocky and dangerous off-road hills designed for experienced riders and mountain bikes. Some hills were so steep that walking our bicycles uphill was required. Some bicycles were of inferior quality and in need of repair. In particular, the bicycle of one tour group member had what seemed to be a failing rear wheel bearing. Some bicycle seat posts were not fastened securely, inclined to drop or swivel. All this said, the guide was friendly and knowledgeable, but the tour not worth the price paid.

Tour Guide was very knowledgeable and provided an excellent background of Sophia and the country. No water or bike helmets were including. As Sofia does not have dedicated bike lanes, at times you must carry your bike up and down underpass stairs to cross busy interactions.