English
Lietuviškai
Every first Weekend of June, when all Rose fields are in bloom, in the Valley of Roses is organized the Festival of Roses. The songs and dances, the Rose picking rituals are part of the soul of the local people. Everyone, who feels the atmosphere of the lovely Bulgarian songs and dances in the central square in Kazanluk, will keep the memory of it forever.
Meet and greet by your guide at Sofia airport, transfer to the hotel. Panoramic city tour including National Archaeological Museum, National Theatre, Russian Church St. Nikola, Parliament Square, Alexander Nevski Memorial Cathedral with the most valuable collection of Bulgarian Icons (13-19th c), St. Sofia Church (6th c), St. George Rotunda (4th c), National Palace of Culture. Overnight in Sofia.
Morning departure from Sofia to Veliko Turnovo. Sightseeing tour of Veliko Turnovo – the ex-Royal capital. The town is situated amphitheatrically on 4 hills - Tsarevets, Trapezitsa, Momina Krepost and Sveta Gora, the ridges of which were indeed the deeply inclined steep banks of the Yantra river meanders. Sightseeing tour of Veliko Turnovo: Tsarevets Holy Hill, 9th c. AD church of St.40 Martyrs, church of St. Petar and Pavel. Walk along Samovodene market with its original workshops from the period of the National Revival. Lunch and visit the museum village of Arbanassi, situated only 5 km. from Veliko Turnovo. The architecture of the houses in Arbanassi is unique, they resemble minor fortresses on the outside with high, solid walls and heavy iron gates. Visit the Church of Nativity (16-17th c. AD) - a genuine art gallery with over 3,500 stunningly realistic figures and Biblical scenes and Konstanzaliev’s House. Dinner and overnight in Veliko Turnovo
09.00 Cross the Balkans via Shipka Pass. En route visit the St. Archangel Michail Dryanovo monastery situated in the picturesque gorge of Dryanovo river and the Bacho Kiro cave nearby. Lunch and visit Etara, open-air architectural and ethnographic museum complex and see the Golden domes of the Russian Memorial Cathedral of Shipka. 13.30 Continue to the town of Kazanluk in the Rose valley 16.00 Meeting and checking in Hotel in Kazanluk 17.30 Teaching of Folklore dances with receiving a certificate 19.00 Gala dinner with authentic folklore program 21.00 Official opening ceremony of the Rose festival and crowning Queen of Roses Overnight in Hotel in Kazanluk
07.00 Breakfast 08.00 Departure to the rose fields 08.30 Rose picking in the rose fields of Pavel Bania village - Rose picking, demonstration of rose boiling – authentic and modern process, testing of essential oils, tasting banitsa, rose liquor and rose jam 11.30 Visit Iskra Museum of History in Kazanluk where some of the unique Thracian golden treasures discovered in the region are on display 12.30 Official Barbeque lunch with folklore program 15.00 Visit the Rose museum 15.30 Visit the famous 4th c. BC Kazanluk Thracian Tomb - replica, listed by UNESCO as World Cultural Heritage. 17.30 Wine tasting of 3 awarded rose wines 19.30 Festive Dinner and overnight in Hotel in Kazanluk
08.00 Breakfast 09.30 Visit First private cosmetic factory Tommy Show - demonstration of the production of different cosmetic products, possibility for buying products on wholesalers’ rates. 11.00 Visit Goliamata Kosmatka Tomb dating back to 5-4th c. BC belonging to the Thracian King Seuthes III and the unique tomb at Ostrousha Funeral Complex (5th c. BC). 12.00 Carnival Parade and closing of the Rose festival 2018 13.00 Lunch and check-out of the hotel 15.00 Transfer to Plovdiv, Bulgarian second largest city. En route visit Starosel with Chetinyova hill (recently discovered 5th c. BC Thracian sanctuaries once used as a temple as well as a Thracian tomb). Upon arrival sightseeing tour of the Old Plovdiv including the 2nd c. AD Roman amphitheatre, The Ethnographic Museum, St. St. Konstantine and Helena Church and Jumaya Mosque. Dinner and overnight in Plovdiv
Breakfast. Departure to Sofia via Rila monastery (10th c.) - the biggest and most spectacular in Bulgaria, one of Europe’s oldest and included in UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage List. Sightseeing of the Church and museum. Lunch at Rila monastery. Transfer to Sofia. Accommodation. Farewell dinner at a traditional folk style restaurant with live music. Overnight in Sofia
Breakfast.Transfer to airport.
Booking is available min for 2 pax. The program and the order of the excursions and walking tours (day of the tour, departure time) can be changed. This tour program is not an official program and can not serve as a basis for reclamation.
