Rose Festival - Guaranteed departure

ITINERARY: SOFIA — PLOVDIV — ASENOVA FORTRESS — BACHKOVO MONASTERY — KAZANLAK — KARLOVO — RILA MONASTERY — SOFIA

1 DAY                                               

Arrival in Sofia. Transfer to the hotel, accommodation. Walking tour of Sofia — St. George Rotunda, the Administration of the President, the National Archeological Museum, 16^th century Banya Bashi Mosque, St. Nedelya Church, National Theatre, former Royal Palace (now housing the National Art Gallery and the Ethnographic Museum), Russian Church, National Assembly Square, where in the middle of the square sits the impressive Tsar Osvoboditel (Emperor Liberator) monument erected in 1907 by the Italian sculptor Arnoldo Zocchi, St. Sophia Church, Bulgarian National Gallery for Foreign Art, Alexander Nevski Cathedral — the biggest one in Bulgaria and according to many — the most spectacular building in Sofia. Overnight in Sofia.

2 DAY

Breakfast. Drive to Plovdiv. Sightseeing of the Old town — Ethnographic Museum, Roman Stadium, St. Constantine and Helena Church, etc. Visit to the Roman Theatre, which was built in the 2^nd century AD under the rule of the Roman Emperor Trajan and is nowadays considered to be the largest surviving Roman construction in Bulgaria. Accommodation. Free time in the centre. Overnight in Plovdiv.

3 DAY

Breakfast. Drive to Asenova Fortress — one of the well preserved mediaeval ramparts in Bulgaria. Sightseeing of the complex — old citadel, St. Petka Church. Visit to Bachkovo Monastery — second largest in Bulgaria, it has been established in 11^th century and keeps the treasures of millennial tradition. Tour of the monastery complex — Church of the Nativity, Old Refectory, Monastery Panorama. Free time for a walk through the natural reserve Chervenata Stena (Red Wall) above the monastery and visit to the market street. Return to Plovdiv. Free time in the centre with possibility for a visit of Archaeological and History Museum. Overnight in Plovdiv.

4 DAY

Early breakfast. Departure for the Rose Valley. On the way stop at the rose massifs near Kazanlak for a photo break and observation of rose picking. Sightseeing of Kazanlak — walk around the historic area of the town and the Ethnographic Complex with demonstration of rose oil distillation, visit of Kazanlak Thracian Tomb, which dates back to the 4^th century BC and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Its murals and paintings are Bulgaria’s best preserved artistic masterpieces from the Hellenistic period. Visit to the local history museum with the most important artifacts discovered in the Valley of the Thracian Rulers. In the afternoon — drive to Golyama Kosmatka Tomb north of the town, where dozens of burial mounds have given the new name of Kazanlak region — Valley of Thracian Rulers. Accommodation in Stara Zagora area.

5 DAY            

Breakfast. Visit to the unique Museum of Roses. In the afternoon — visit to the Festival Parade Carnival — famous procession taking place on the streets of Kazanlak with traditional dancers and singers. Departure for Sofia. On the way — sightseeing of Karlovo — one of the major centres of rose production in Bulgaria — Memorial house of Vasil Levski, national hero of Bulgarian revolutionary movement form 19^th century, church of St. Nicholas, Centre for crafts and cultural tradition “Buhalov han” (Owl's inn). Accommodation and overnight in Sofia.

6 DAY

Breakfast. Drive to Rila Monastery — the most exquisite example of monastery art and architecture in Bulgaria. The church Nativity of the Virgin with its miraculous icon of the Virgin and splendid gilded iconostasis, the Monastery kitchen, Rila Monastery Museum keeping the long and heroic history of the monastery, the beautiful wood-carved cross, created for a period of twelve years by a monk called Rafael, Hrelyu’s Tower and many spectacular views from the mountain and the surrounding nature are the highlights of this tour. Return to Sofia. Upon request, evening panoramic tour “Sofia by night” and dinner at a traditional restaurant with folklore music and dances. Overnight in Sofia.

7 DAY

Breakfast. Transfer to airport and departure.

- Arrival and departure transfers; - 6 nights accommodation on BB basis at 3 * hotels in Sofia, Plovdiv, Stara Zagora area; - Air-conditioned motor-coach or minivan; - All excursions mentioned in the itinerary; - Professional English guide; - Special lectures on coach during long rides.

- Entry taxes for the visited in the itinerary sights; - Personal expenses, meals (lunch, dinner) and drinks, entry taxes for museums visited individually; - Evening panoramic tour “Sofia by night” and dinner at a traditional restaurant with folklore music and dances (optional) - 45 euro; - Single room (optional) - 109 euro.

For cancellation up to 3 days, a full refund will be given. For cancellation up to 1 days, 50% refund will be given.