Discover Bulgaria
Join us for an unforgettable exploration of Bulgaria's most cherished wonders, where every step is a step back in time and every breath is an infusion of nature's most aromatic secrets.
30th May - 9th June
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Day 1: 30th May (Thursday) **Sofia
Pick up at Sofia airport
Overnight at Sofia
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Day 2: 31st May (Friday) **Perperikon, Plovdiv
Transfer and visit to the ancient Thracian sanctuary city of Perperikon, located in the East Rhodope mountains of Bulgaria.
Visit the 3000 years old ancient Thracian sanctuary and sacred site Utrobata cave (womb's cave), an hand carved cave dedicated to the Mother Earth (about 1.5 hours hiking), you will see an abundance of wild flora and maybe able to identify some aromatic plants that are native in the mountain.
Transfer to Plovdiv. City tour of Plovdiv, one of the oldest cities in Europe: walk through the labyrinth of the Old Town, visit the luxurious villa of a rose oil trader from 1800s, the ancient Roman amphitheater and stadium, Kapana art district
Overnight at Plovdiv
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Day 3: 1st June Sataurday **Karlovo, Pavel Banya
Transfer to Rose Valley. Visit to the Rose Oil Museum and Distillery - the only one in Bulgaria where part of the produced oil is made using the oldest technology known in Bulgaria.
Transfer to Karlovo - visit to The Old Town, visit to an old house of the Rose Oil producers family, tasting of rose liqueur and rose jam.
Visit to rose field in Sopot, private time in rose field, enjoy a glass of refreshing rose drink and traditional bulgarian pastry, listen to the rose production story from local farmer. You will also find various aromatic plants growing in the field.
Visit to a private botanical garden with over 500 species of plants at the foot ofStara planina mountain
Transfer to Pavel Banya and overnight in a SPA hotel to enjoy the famous Bulgarian natural healing springs.
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Day 4: 2nd June Sunday **Kazanlak, Strandzha
Transfer to Kazanlak. "Rose picking" ritual in village near Kazanlak.
Visit to the Rose Museum in Kazanlak, where you will learn the history of rose oil trading and various types of roses.
Festive parade of the rose.
Overnight at Hotel Perla Beach Club, or hotel on the Black Sea coast
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Day 5: 3rd June Monday **Balgari village, Strandzha mountain
Transfer to Balgari village. Inclusion in the fireside rituals (preparation of firedance) of moving the icons and consecrating them.
Trekking in Strandzha mountain - Eco-trail "In the kingdom of the Rhododendron ponticum”. Walk into an ancient mysterious forest survived since the ice age. You will discover an abundance of wild flora and medicinal plants with the mountain guide, some are unique to this area.
In the evening - Nestinar fire dancing in the village of Bulgari, part of the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage.
Overnight at Hotel Perla Beach Club, or hotel on the Black Sea coast
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Day 6: 4th June Tuesday **Brashlyan village, Begliktash, Sozopol, Sunny Beach
Walking tour in the ancient village and architectural reserve Brashlyan and presentation of a traditional folk ritual.
Visit to the mysterious Thracian cult megalithic complex Begliktash, built in alignment with astronomical events, where sacred rituals to the Mother Earth goddess and Father Sun god were performed 3500 years ago.
Transfer to Varna. Overnight at Varna Golden Beach Park Hotel
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Day 7: 5th June Wednesday **Varna, Balchik, Cape Kaliakra
Visit the Varna Archeological Museum, where the oldest gold artifacts of the world is displayed (4600 - 4200BC).
Visit Museum of Medical History in Varna. Discover the medicinal herbs garden, from ancient folk magic to modern medicine, and the mysterious ancient human adult skulls with frontal lobe fissure and elogated skulls from early bronze age (3000BC).
Transfer to Balchik and visit the Palace of the Romanian Queen in Balchik and the Botanical Garden of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, and put your plant identification skills to the test.
Wine tasting at the award winning royal winery.
Visit Cape Kaliakra, capital of Thracian King Lysimachus, succesor of Alexander the Great. Enjoy the stunning sunset overlooking the Black Sea.
Overnight at Varna Golden Beach Park Hotel.
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Day 8: 6th June Thursday **Veliko Tarnovo, Prokhodna cave
Transfer to Veliko Tarnovo, the capital of the medieval Bulgarian Empire. Walk back through time at the Tsarevets fortress and the ancient craft street Samovodsa bazaar.
Visit to the ancient Renaissance village and Arbanasi architectural reserve.
Transfer and visit to ancient sacred site Prokhodna cave (The God's eyes cave)
Sunset closing circle.
Transfer to Sofia. Overnight in Sofia.
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Day 9: 7th June Friday
** Depart to Hong Kong or join extended tourTwo Days Extended Tour
Two Days Extended Tour
7th June - 9th June
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Day 10: 7th June Friday **Boyana Church, Rila Monastery
Visit to the Boyana Church in Sofia, built in the 10th century AD, part of the UNESCO heritage.
Visit to the Rila Monastery, the largest monastery and most important historical monument in Bulgaria. Founded in the 10th century dedicated to the Patron Saint of Bulgaria, the hermit St. John of Rila, Rila Monastery is now part of the UNESCO heritage. In the mist of serenity and healing energy of the Rila Mountain, reflect on the learning from the tour.
Overnight at a SPA hotel in Sapareva Banya. In the city springs the hottest geyser in Europe of 103 degrees.
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Day 11: 8th June Saturday **Sofia
Walking tour of Sofia - the Church of St. Sophia, the monument of St. Sophia, the Basilica of St. George, St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, The Palace National Art Gallery, Presidential building, time for shopping on Vitosha Street.
Free time to explore the different museums in the capital city.
Optional activity: Skincare DIY workshop with rose.
Overnight in Sofia
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Day 12: 9th June Sun
**Depart to your home country
