Chauffeur-guided trip to the Rose Festival and other Bulgarian attractions

Guided trip to the Rose festival.

This Trip to the Bulgarian Rose Festival combines the festivities that take place in the Valley of the Roses at the end of May, with a tour to know the main traditional towns and cities of the country that bring a touch of authenticity and originality to Bulgaria and make it special in this area of ​​Eastern Europe.

Fresh roses just picked

Its architecture, culture, gastronomy and customs are an exotic mix of Slavic influences, turkish, greek, russian, etc… because Bulgaria has always been an important crossroads between east and west. Find out before it becomes fashionable among the tourist masses, you are still on time…

Itinerary 8 days / 7 nights (end of May – start June):

Day 1: Sofia.

Arrival in Sofia, capital of Bulgaria, cultural and political center of the country. Pick up at Sofia airport and transfer to the hotel in our vehicle. Hotel accommodation 3***.

Day 2: Sofia – Rila monastery – Plovdiv.

Breakfast. Departure to Rila Monastery, located within the Rila National Park, surrounded by forests in the heart of the mountain. Since its inception, it has been the historical center for the Bulgarian national culture and is currently a spectacular architectural gem. Visit of the museum, the medieval tower of 1343, the old kitchens of the Monastery and the church. Departure for Plovdiv. Hotel accommodation 3*** of Plovdiv.

Courtyard of the Rila Orthodox Monastery

Frescoes from the Rila Monastery, protected by Unesco

Day 3: Plovdiv.

Breakfast. Plovdiv – with its old center it is an authentic open-air museum of classical Bulgarian Renaissance architecture and decoration. The old alleys, richly colored wooden houses, mansions with flowery gardens, the artisan bazaars and the ruins of the old fortifications offer a well-deserved tourist complex. In fact, Plovdiv is declared a European City of Culture 2019. Visit the old part of the city, Kyumdjiuglu house (Ethnographic Museum), Konstantin and Elena church, the ancient roman theater…. Learn more about Plovdiv here. Hotel accommodation 3*** of Plovdiv.

Old wall gate “Lifts” in Plovdiv

Plovdiv, ethnographic museum

You can pick the fresh roses yourself

Day 4: Plovdiv - Karlovo / Kazanlak - Plovdiv.

Early departure to the Valley of Roses to participate in the activities of the Kazanlak or Karlovo Rose Festival (to choose), where we will see the crops and for a short time the travelers themselves will be able to participate in the collection of rose petals, a unique experience surrounded by the scent of rose that permeates the air throughout the Valley.

Then we will attend the opening of the Festival, with parades through the streets of Kazanlak and Karlovo of folk and musical groups that accompany the young woman from the city who will have been chosen “Queen of roses” this year. Visit of a distillery, where we will see the rose oil production process and taste the rose liquor and other products from the Bulgarian rose. Hotel accommodation 3***. You can see an example video of the activities we carry out during the Festival at the end of this page.

Fair of products derived from the rose directly from local producers

Homemade rose oil extraction

Day 5: Karlovo - Kazanlak - Etara - Veliko Tarnovo.

Breakfast. Departure to Kazanlak where we can visit the Museum of the Rose on the History and details of the production of rose oil in Bulgaria (optional). Bulgaria is the world's leading producer of rose oil, used in the production of cosmetics, perfumes (Chanel nº 5), food and other products… See more info here.

Then departure to the Russian-style Shipka Orthodox Church. After the visit of the same, departure to the open-air Ethnographic Museum-village of Etara, where there are artisan workshops of the 26 Bulgarian crafts practiced for centuries in the region. Departure for Veliko Tarnovo. Hotel accommodation 3*** and Veliko Tarnovo.

Russian Shipka Church in Bulgaria

Artisan village of “Etara”

Day 6: Veliko Tarnovo - Arbanasi - Veliko Tarnovo.

Breakfast and visit of Veliko Tarnovo - one of the most beautiful cities in Bulgaria, which was the capital of the country between the 12th and 14th centuries. Visit of the Tzarevetz hill and its fortress: the little door, the south wall, the Tower of Baldwin and the Palace of the Patriarch. Departure to Arbanasi – summer residence of the old Bulgarian kings with houses that belonged to rich courtly families. Visit of the Church of the Nativity. Hotel accommodation 3*** and Veliko Tarnovo.

Fortaleza Tsaravets and Veliko Tarnovo

Museum-Church of the Nativity in Arbanasi

Day 7: Veliko Tarnovo - Troyan Monastery - Sofia.

Orthodox monastery of Troyan

Departure to the Troyan Monastery, Bulgaria's third most important, located on the slopes of the mountain. It has been built at the end of the 15th century. Has 2 beautiful patios where the monks' lodgings are located, a free access bell tower, the church and a museum, outside there are souvenir shops. We can taste the famous river trout in the area, fished directly from the rivers of the surrounding mountains and cooked over hot coals in the restaurants around the Troyan Monastery. Transfer to Sofia. Hotel accommodation 3*** From Sofia.

Day 8: Sofia.

Catedral ortodoxa Alexander Nevsky

Breakfast and half-day visit to the center of the capital if the flight departure time allows it: the Plaza Sveta Nedelia, the Rotunda of San Jorge, the National Theater, the Russian church Saint Nicolas, Alexander Nevski Cathedral, etc. and finally transfer to the airport and farewell.

Prices and conditions.

For more than 6 people or other types of room distribution, check price please.

What includes:

• Reception at Sofia airport upon arrival and transfer to the hotel. • Spanish or English speaking chauffeur service throughout the program. • Transfers according to itinerary in a vehicle with air conditioning and driver throughout the program. • 7 nights of bed and breakfast in minimum hotels 3*** stars. • Tour guide functions by the driver: accompaniment on tourist visits and meals. • Participation fee in the activities of the Day 4 within the Kazanlak or Karlovo Rose Festival (It is an event that requires prior reservation). • Transfer to Sofia airport on the day of departure. • Administration fees.

What is not included:

• Plane tickets (today direct low-cost flights to Sofia from various cities). • Travel assistance insurance, doctors, repatriation, nor rescue, nor of any other kind. • Tips and personal expenses. • Fuel and parking costs, to pay the driver in cash as needed during the itinerary. • Tickets to tourist places: museums, monasteries, iglesias, strengths, caves, folkloric programs and demonstrations…. • Additional excursions and small transfers requested by travelers, not specified in the program, would have a supplement of 26,00 € / hour counting from departure from the hotel to return to the hotel plus fuel. • Full or partial refund in case any of the stages or visits of the program cannot be carried out, regardless of the reason. • Room supplement for individual use: 165,00 € / person.