April, 12, 2012 Barre, Vermont. National Geographic Traveler announced their 2012 choices for “50 Tours of a Lifetime”. The magazine editors wrote to Cultural Crossroads about their selection process “competitive” and that their editorial team “worked long and hard to find 2012’s most authentic, most innovative, most immersive, best-guided, and most sustainable tours. “ The executive director of National Geographic Traveler shared that this years theme was “transformation” and that the tour operators they have selected “are experts at creating trips that have the power to change lives—the lives of the traveler as well as the residents of the destinations”.

Cultural Crossroads has already won this prestigious honor 3 times before – in 2009, 2010 and 2011. This year, the tour “Splendors of Bulgaria”, a trip “for the culturally sophisticated soul of the great discoverers” was chosen. This is also the first time that National Geographic Traveler includes the small European country in their “50 Tours of a Lifetime” in the cultural travel selection. Private visits, private concerts and chats with insiders in the culture field reveal in a different light, sites already famous for their significance for the world cultural heritage. It mixes the luxury with the authentic, local character of the places.

“Splendors of Bulgaria” is also the richest tour to Bulgaria in gourmet and wine experiences, helping the travelers to discover tastes and aromas deeply rooted in the best European traditions. Woven into the tour program also are the rich interactions with the Bulgarians, so Cultural Crossroads travelers can understand and live the legends of the country. Almost everyday there is an event in the tour which puts the travelers in direct contact with the local people. There is a hands-on bread-making lesson, kneading the dough with young and old women, who preserve centuries old rituals. Another time is a story-telling exchange between the travelers and high school students who study English. And of course, there are the sophisticated dialogues with museum directors, archaeologists, musicians, and wine or perfume makers.

A great cultural and creative tour, “Splendors of Bulgaria” shows the best of the country for the most demanding cultural traveler.  About Cultural Crossroads Cultural Crossroads offers itineraries for individuals and small cultural tours highlighted by private and exclusive cultural visits in an intimate setting while giving back to the communities they visit. and at

Tour experiences include the categories: Art and Culture, Ancient Civilizations, Wine and Gourmet (culinary), Architecture and Landscapes, Indigenous People, The Most Exotic and Create Your Own. Tour types include: Educational Tours, Women only, Signature tours, Sweet Deals and By Request Only. Current group tours include Turkey, Jordan, Italy, Peru, Guatemala, Bhutan, Mongolia, Spain, Russia and Egypt. These and other locations can be customized for individuals or groups. Clients include the Boston Globe Newspaper and Vermont Public Radio and university alumni. Cultural Crossroads tours have been honored in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2006 ‘50 Trips of a Lifetime,’ and 2007 ‘40 Trips of a Lifetime.’ Previously, National Geographic Traveler included Cultural Crossroads tours in its edition of ‘50 Tours of a Lifetime’ in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Complete details of all trips including day-by-day itineraries are available at www.culturalcrossroads.com/cross/promo/44.html.