TOUR DURATION: 9 DAYS
AVAILABLE: ANY TIME OF THE YEAR
INTRODUCTION:
Since ancient times Bulgarians know a lot of secrets for preparing healthy and delicious food as well as wine. They cook their food with great care and love because to Bulgarians food is a symbol of labour. Bulgarians largely use nature products in their cooking.
They pay greatest attention even to utensils used for cooking. Pottery is largely used for it keeps the fragrance and vitamins of the food.
Bulgarians are those who discovered the secret of preparing yoghurt and the Bulgarian yoghurt is famous all over the world for its taste and wholesomeness. Actually, the most palatable food in Bulgaria is served in the region of Rhodopes Mountain and that is where we want to lead you.
Hardly anyone could resist the temptation of trying Bulgarian food.
Day 1 - SOFIA
Day 2 - PLOVDIV/ASSENOVGRAD
The town of Assenovgrad is a fabulously beautiful town, known for its interesting history. There are 5 monasteries, 12 churches and more than 50 chapels in the vicinity of the town. Another reason for pride of the local people is the delicious wine prepared in Assenovgrad.
So, even if you aren’t really keen on wine tasting you will enjoy visiting the local Winery and Vineyards Museum. The Assenova fortress is an outstanding historical building erected on a high hill in the town suburbs. The Museum of History and the Ethnographic Exhibition of Old Lifestyle both display excellent exhibitions. The Museum of Palaeontology is a must for every guest of Assenovgrad as well.
You will see and some of the most remarkable churches in the vicinity.
Day 3 - BACHKOVO MONASTERY
Day 4, 5 - SMILIAN
Smilian is a small village located on the Rhodopes mountainsides picturesquely facing Arda River and her valley. The village has preserved its Revival outlook and spirit. There are local craftsmen – woodcarvers, slipper makers, furniture producers, etc.
If you visit their workshops you will be heartily welcomed and treated with local homemade delicious food and drinks. You could stay in the workshops and see the craftsmen making marvellous souvenirs.
The local people are famous for their hospitality and friendliness.
You will be accommodated in a house-hotel, called “Mlechen Dom” (Milk House).
The hosts have a dairy besides the house and there you could have the chance to enjoy seeing the dairymen milking the cows and to try milking them yourself. You could see how cheese and yoghurt is being prepared and to participate in the preparing. The hosts have beehives as well. They will explain you an interesting story about the life of the bloom gathering bees. At last, the hosts will present you with a jar of honey so you could bring home the scent of Bulgarian flowers.
Day 6,7,8 - SHIROKA LAKA
The village of Shiroka Laka is amphitheatrically situated around a small valley surrounded by high mountainsides covered by pinewoods. The Shiroka Laka River crosses the village. The village is a famous architectural, historical and folklore reserve admired for its uniquely preserved Revival architecture, musical traditions and natural beauty. The village keeps the spirit of the Bulgarian Revival period.
There is no person who could resist the temptation of strolling along the narrow tranquil streets between the houses. You will enjoy seeing local people busy with their everyday life or just sitting on benches and chatting.
The local church is a fabulous building. There are a bell tower, a temple and a school. The icons and the interior monastery woodcarvings are worth seeing. The three stone bridges over Shiroka Laka River are preserved from Roman times and they add fabulous atmosphere to the view. You should not miss visiting the Ethnographic Museum as well. The museum curator is a very friendly and talkative person and he will tell you interesting stories. The village of Shiroka Laka is a vibrant folklore center as well. There is one of the two Bulgarian secondary schools for Folk Music. The folklore songs of local people are uniquely melodious.
Day 9 - SOFIA
If there is something inconvenient to you in the described tours, we can modify it,so that the program suits your desire best.
What you have to do:
1. Visit our towns and villages section.
2. Choose the places that interest you.
3. Deside on the duration of your vacation and the number of days you are willing to spend in each place.
4. Deside on the budget you are willing to spend.
5. Write to us, giving us all the information above
6. Wait for our replay, within 24hours, we promise to give you the most suitable itinerary and rate according to your desires.
TOUR DURATION: 6 DAYS
AVAILABLE: ANY TIME OF THE YEAR
Day 1 - SOFIA
Day 2 - SANDANSKI
The town of Sandanski is the most famous Bulgarian spa resort. Sandanski is known as the town with the most favourable climate in Bulgaria. It is located in the picturesque Sandanski - Petrich Plain along the Sandanska Bistritsa River. On the place of the present day town was an old Thracian settlement that had sprung up near the hot mineral springs. You can visit the Archaeological Museum with a rich collection of ancient artefacts. The gorgeous remains of the Episcopal Basilica from the 5th century are incorporated in the exhibition. In the town of Sandanski you could enjoy a walk in the beautiful Town Park that combines the exotic charm of over 200 Mediterranean plant species with various opportunities for relaxation and entertainment.
Day 3 - DAMIANITSA
Damianitsa is a small picturesque village famous for its traditions in the wine producing. There are wine cellars at disposal of those who would like to take the challenge to judge the best wine and the best wine producer.
Day 4 - MELNIK
The town attracts lots of Bulgarian and foreign tourists with its pyramids shining, golden-yellow, whimsical, shaped on the background of magnificent Pirin Mountain. 380 m. over the sea level, Melnik is rich in cultural monuments - pledge and tombstones, architectural details, coins, etc. Melnik is an old wine center. Melnik wine was highly appreciated at the market of Thessalonica. The town has been popular as a wine-growing region since l346. The famous Melnik wine had been brought here from Syria in ancient times. During the first half of XIII century Melnik passed through a great political, economic and cultural upsurge, when despot Slav, a descendent of Assen dynasty
ruler of the Rhodopes and Pirin Mountain during 1209 turned the town into a capital of an independent feudal principality. The town is an architectural preserve. Cultural monuments are 96 buildings. The houses are amphitheatrically situated throughout Melnik golden rocks thus forming tiny streets with numerous workshops and cellars having wrought gates and shutters.
One cannot leave behind the houses of Sandukchievs, Lambovs, Lumparovs, Jankovs and Daskalevs. But most impressive is Kordopulovs house, built in 1758. Strong are its two-centuries-old walls. The sunny windows now reflect, just like in the time of Paissii Hilendarski, everything that happens down in the streets.
You will be accommodated at the Lumparovs House, which is an impressive cultural and architectural monument. In the cosy atmosphere of the house you will enjoy local wine tasting with appropriate appetizers and local cuisine tasting. Depending on the month of your visit, you will participate in the ritual of picking grapes and the first steps of preparing delicious wine. You will get to know some interesting facts about the Broad-leaved vine of Melnik - one of the oldest varieties and unique for Bulgaria. It is grown exclusively around Melnik. It is supposed that the Thracians brought the variety over from Asia in 2000 B.C. Proof of it can be found in the antique epos, where Homer mentions in the \"Ilyad\" the wonderful elixir, brought from Thrace. The wines from this variety are fruity, with soft tannins, and with a typical taste of the variety.
Day 5 - ROJEN MONASTERY
The Rojen Monastery would fascinate anyone with the unforgettable atmosphere of tranquillity. White stonewalls, spacious wooden balconies with geranium, picturesquely covered by a roof of wine leave anyone in astonishment. The Monastery church possesses an extraordinary exquisite work of art – a wonderful wood carved altar iconostasis. Last but not at least, the Monastery is surrounded by majestic scenery.
Day 6 - SOFIA
TOUR DURATION: 6 DAYS
AVAILABLE: ANY TIME OF THE YEAR
The Bulgarian State has existed for thirteen centuries, it has rich cultural and historical heritage, uniquely preserved folklore and beautiful crafts. Bulgaria is famous all over the world for the superb variety of grapes grown in its lands. The wine producing has ancient traditions in Bulgaria. Ages ago the Thracians were famous for the delicious wine that they prepared. The archaeologists have proved this – remains of ancient Thracian winery places were found in the lands of Bulgaria. The secrets of producing excellent wine are still alive and in Bulgaria you can taste some of the most delicious wines in the world.
Day 1 - Sofia
We meet in Sofia. After the transfer to the hotel, you will enjoy a delicious dinner at a cosy restaurant with a folklore program.
Day 2 – Sofia
Panoramic City tour around Sofia. You will see the National Museum of History with its famous gold Thracian treasures, the Presidential Residence, the historical center of the city with its oldest church ”St. Sofia”. You will also see the “Alexander Nevski” Cathedral, known as one of the symbols of Bulgaria. You will have the opportunity to buy some genuine hand-made Bulgarian souvenirs.
Day 3 – Sofia – Rila Monastery – Sandanski
In the morning, you will depart for the Rila Monastery. It is the biggest, the oldest and the most renowned monastery in Bulgaria, located amongst the high rising mountain peaks and next to a river. The Monastery is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. Imposing fortress-like architecture coexisting with the rich and colourful murals, woodcarvings and the real monastic daily life. An interesting and precious collection of manuscripts, art masterpieces, historical documents could be seen in the museum of the monastery. The visit of the monastery is an immersion in the spiritual heritage of the Bulgarian land. Next, you will travel to the town of Sandanski – the most famous spa resort in Bulgaria. Dinner will be served at a local wine restaurant.
Day 4 – Sandanski – Damianitza – Melnik
In the morning you will have the time to take a walk in Sandanski, you could see the wonderful Town Park with the lake. At noon you will depart for the nearby village of Damianitza. The village is famous for producing delicious wine and there will be a guided tour through the wine cellars. During the tour you could taste various types of local wine prepared by special recipes and palatable local appetizers. In the late afternoon you will head for the town of Melnik – an architectural and natural reserve. You will enjoy a delicious dinner at a restaurant with a wine cellar. Overnight in Melnik.
Day 5 – Melnik – Rojen Monastery – Melnik – Rupite - Sandanski
After breakfast, departure for the Rojen Monastery founded in 12-13c. The monastery is a perfect example of the traditional Bulgarian religious spirit and building style, with masterpieces of religious art, admired for the miraculous icon of Virgin Mary. Then comes a return back to Melnik. There you will visit the famous house and the cellars of Mr. Kordopoulos, you will get acquainted with the history of this wine center. You will as well have a lunch in a tavern and will taste special local wines. In the afternoon you will depart for the locality Rupite – the place where the known Bulgarian oracle Vanga has lived. You will visit the “St. Petka” church and the Hot springs. Next, you will overnight in Sandanski.