Costs

The program fee is $4,770 which includes:

✔️ Roundtrip international airfare to Bulgaria from the U.S.
✔️ Visa (if required)
✔️ In-country airport pick-up and drop-off with your group
✔️ Housing
✔️ WiFi
✔️ Three at-home meals/day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
✔️ Pre-departure + in-country training
✔️ Local support
✔️ 24/7 emergency assist line from ILP headquarters
✔️ International SOS membership
✔️ Hands-on education
✔️ Meaningful service opps

Additional items (like your passport and travel to and from the U.S. group departure airport) and in-country costs (like vacations, shopping, and activities) are not included. See a more detailed list here. Most volunteers tell us that $2,500 is a good amount to make the most of your semester in Bulgaria. We’ve seen volunteers spend anywhere from $1,500-4,000 here, so it does depend on your spending habits and which vacations you plan.

We have custom monthly payment plans to help you make it work. That can be especially helpful if you’re saving up little by little, by working or doing fundraising.

An ILP Humanitarian Trip

This type of trip means that the kids you are working with come from very limited means and would not otherwise be able to afford this extra support and education provided to them.

We’re working with a few different schools here, with different missions. One school in particular is dedicated to kids who live in poverty and need extra support. At another school, they have a limited budget and the goal is to help revive the school to be a resource for the community.

The time you spend volunteering in this program is a free gift to the kids and they do not pay a fee to attend our English classes. Thank you for wanting to help our sweet kiddos in Bulgaria!

Is Bulgaria right for me?

Each location is unique and therefore has its pros and cons. What falls into those two categories will really depend on the person you talk to, but we’ve put together common complaints we hear most about volunteering here. Knowing the typical pain points that just come along with the experience will help as you consider which country is best for you.

• This is a new program, with the first group here in Fall 2025. Over the first few semesters, we’re still working out the kinks so you’ll need to be a bit flexible. The first groups also don’t have recommendations passed down from previous volunteers — your group needs to be adventurous to discover the best spots (which means a bit of trial and error).
• Sofia, Bulgaria is a hub with 1-3 hour direct flights to favorite destinations all across Europe like France, Italy, Greece, and more. You live a 3 hour drive from Sofia, so there is a bit of extra travel time getting to the airport.
• Many of the kids you’re working with come from poverty, which has given them a rough start in life. They need extra attention; behavior issues often make your English classes more difficult.
• You teach in schools that are located in villages just outside the city where you live. Plan on about 1.5 hours of commute time driving to and from the schools each day.
• Tap water is clean and drinkable, but older pipes can make it a bit discolored. Boiling your drinking water is a hassle, but some locals recommend it.

About Your Group

This program currently has around 4-8 volunteers with room to grow as the program grows!

The first Bulgaria trip is Fall 2025 — with new programs, the community needs time to spread the word and enroll more children in ILP classes so the first couple of semesters tend to have a smaller group of volunteers (the number of students determines the number of volunteers needed).

Our Bulgaria program is the best fit for:

• Single females
• 18-about 25ish years old
• Volunteers from the U.S. and Canada
• No experience needed!

About Your City

You’re living in Veliko Tarnovo, set in the heart of Bulgaria (mid way between the bustling capital Sofia and the picturesque Black Sea coast). It’s a go-to Balkan destination for both locals and travelers because it’s packed with history — topped off with a towering castle fortress towering over the city.

Homes painted in whites and peachy pastels, capped with bright orange rooftops, line the river winding through town. The result? Those iconic Tarnovo valley views, framed by lush green hills. It’s been dubbed the Balkan capital of cultural tourism, and some even say it’s the most beautiful town in Bulgaria. Call us biased, but we totally agree.

It’s the perfect mid-sized city with around 70,000 residents — small enough to feel cozy and familiar, but big enough to keep things interesting with lots of shopping and sightseeing options. It’s super walkable (so don’t forget your tennies), but there’s also a local bus system that’ll get you around fast.

Old Town Tarnovo has all the European charm you’re dreaming of — cobbled streets, cozy cafes and gelato stands, and loads of artisan shops. This place seriously celebrates craftsmanship passed down through generations. When you’re out souvenir shopping, you’ll actually get to watch the artisans create pieces by hand. We love shopping local, and Tarnovo takes that to a whole new level!

Bulgaria is famous for its roses — you’ll actually be living right next to the “Rose Valley,” where rows of roses stretch across the countryside. When you see roses climbing up white walls or blooming along city streets, it’s not just for looks — it’s a beautiful nod to the country’s deep-rooted heritage. Bulgaria produces some of the world’s highest quality rose oil, and every spring, towns in the valley celebrate with rose-picking festivals, parades, and dancing in traditional dress. It’s a seriously charming part of the culture you won’t want to miss.

Glimpse A Day In Bulgaria

Wake up in your little downtown apartment! You live with your ILP group (and do just about everything with them), so it’s like one little family for the semester. It makes for a tight-knit group experience that’s for sure.

Since you don’t teach until the afternoon, your mornings are free. Go for a run around town, organize the photos from your trip last weekend, or stop by the bakery and grab a treat to enjoy at the park. Veliko Tarnovo has some of the most timeless neighborhoods — you’re about a 20-30 minute walk from Old Town, so grab your camera and go wander the cobbled walkways, full of roses climbing the building walls.

Your ILP semester is focused on experiencing the culture and the food is definitely a part of that. Traditional Bulgarian meals are full of foods that you’re already familiar with (chicken, beef, potatoes, fruit, and veggies) in recipes that put a new spin on things. Expect to see things like hearty stews, grilled meats, and fresh salad. You’ll have meals in various ways, sometimes you’ll have meals prepared for you at the school and other times you’ll be making your own at home!

If you’ve got a sweet tooth you’ll feel right at home in Bulgaria. You won’t go far before running into a cafe or bakery serving up cream filled pastries, fried dough, honey cakes … and oh the gelato!

During the week you’ll spend your afternoons helping kids learn English. The schools are in villages just outside of your city, so you’ll take a bus ride out there. It’s a bit of a commute (about 1.5 hours round trip), so you bring a book or plan your lessons for next week on the way. You’ll head home from teaching just in time for dinner.

You teach kids that range from kindergarten to 2nd grade, with a handful as old as 4th grade. They love making crafts and playing games, so your classes are full of activities you know will get them excited.

Another huge perk is all the travel opportunities here.  You have every weekend off so you can explore more of Bulgaria — take the bus to see gold-domed cathedrals in the capital Sofia, the art district in Plovdiv (one of the oldest cities in Europe), and dip your toes in the sand at the Black Sea coast.

Sofia is a travel hub with 1-3 hour direct flights to cities all over Europe, so your vacation time can be spent anywhere from nearby Greece and Cyprus or head west to other dream destinations like Paris, Rome, London, and Krakow!

The Backstory Of This Program

We’ve always loved Eastern Europe — not just for the rich culture, but because it feels a little off the beaten path. It’s such a unique experience. While most tourists head to Western Europe, some of our favorite adventures have been further east.

So when an old friend reached out about starting a program in Bulgaria, we were immediately interested. He’s a BYU professor who helped us connect with the orphanage for our Romania program back in the early ILP days. Now serving as a mission president in the Balkans, he told us about a need he learned of through the local senior missionaries.

The missionaries introduced us to a local school doing amazing work with Roma children — a minority group that often faces poverty and discrimination. Many of these kids have limited access to education, healthcare, and basic resources. This school, started by a couple who left their careers to make a difference, is focused on giving these kids a safe place to learn, grow, and succeed.

And it’s working! We’re excited for ILP volunteers to support their efforts by teaching English classes — a key tool in helping the kids build a better future.

We’ll also be partnering with other schools in the area, including a local government school with limited resources. They’re thrilled to welcome ILP volunteers and offer their students the chance to learn English from native speakers — something that can make a huge difference in their lives and will be such a unique opportunity for the community.