2018 Kazanlak Rose Festival Tour,  June 2018

beginning of  June,2016-5 days/4 nights tour

Day 1.Sofia.  Arrival at Sofia airport. Our guide will meet you and assist for a transfer to hotel.Check in. Sightseeing  tour of Sofia, a city with 7000-year long history, including a visit to the impressive Alexander Nevski  Cathedral. Panoramic sightseeing along the University, the National Assembly, the Banya Bashi  Mosque,the Rotunda of St. George, Roman ruins, National Palace of Culture.Evening at leisure, to overcome the jet lag.

Accommodation in Sofia at*** Hotel , centrally located.

Day 2.SOFIA- Rila monastery – Sofia .  After breakfast drive to Rila Monastery - the largest in the Balkans, included in the UNESCO List of World  Cultural Heritage. It will captivate you with its unrivaled architecture and murals.  Enjoy a tour of the monastery, includingthe 14th century Hrelyo's Tower,the five-domed Birth of the Blessed Virgin Church and the original monastery kitchen from the 19th century. Late afternoon drive back toSofia.

Breakfast,accommodationin Sofia at ***Hotel , centrally located.

Day 3.SOFIA –Kalofer - Karlovo – Kazanlak-Stara Zagora .  Breakfast. You will drive east, to the Rose Valley. The Rose Valley includes Karlovo and Kazanlak fields, as well as some parts of the Nova Zagora fields. The total area is about 3,300 square kilometers.Drive via Karlovo to the village of Tarnicheni, close to Kalofer. Visit the local distillery and attend a lecture on rose water and rose oil distillation. Meet the local producers and taste the aroma of natural oils, produced here: rose oil, lavender oil,etc.Drive to Kazanlak and visit the Rose museum. This small museum will tell you the story of rose production and the industry standards, set by the Bulgarian producers centuries ago.

Dinner and overnight in Stara Zagora, located only 30 min drive from Kazanlak.

Brakfast,dinner,accommodationin Stara Zagora at the 3* hotel.

Day 4. Kazanlak-THEROSE FESTIVAL IN KAZANLAK -Plovdiv. Early morning: Visit the rose fields - you will participate in a rose picking in the rose fields of Kazanlak.  After that will go to the village of Skobelevo and visit the Ethnographic complex “Damascena”with its rose gardens and distillery.  At noon we will go  to Kazanlak to attend the street parade in Kazanlak, before driving to the Picnic place in an open-air restaurant with music,folklore dance show and wine.Late afternoon departure to Plovdiv(1,5 hrs drive). Bulgaria’s second largest  town, Plovdiv, is a worthy rival to Sofia. Its location is along  the river Maritsa, and its six hills, which are prominent features on the Thracian plane, indicates the strategic significance of the city. It is one of the oldest and most colorful towns in Bulgaria. The foundation stone was laid here,  it must have been over 5000 years ago. Old Plovdiv on Trimontium hill is the centre of Bulgarian national revival architecture at its height.

Breakfast,lunch,accommodation in Plovdiv at a 3* hotel .

Day 5.Plovdiv - Sofia airport  . Breakfast.You will enjoy a morning sightseeing tour, including a visit to the Old Town, the 2000 years old Roman Theatre; the Byzantine and mediaeval fortifications, the 15th century mosque. Walk along the narrow cobbled streets and admire the silence and tranquillity of this historic town. In the afternoon - departure to Sofia, a 2-hrs drop-off transfer to Sofia airport. End of services.

2018 TOUR PRICE :

690.EUR/1352 BGN/ p.p. sharing double/twin room,

230.EUR/460BGN/ p.p. single room supplement

INCLUDED:

•     2 overnights at a 3-star hotel in Sofia ,centrally located,

•     1 overnight at a 3-star hotel  in Stara Zagora,

•     1 overnight at a 3-star hotel in Plovdiv ,

•     6 meals, 4 breakfasts, 1 picnic lunch with folklore show & wine, 1 dinner in Stara Zagora,

•     participation in the Rose Festival in Kazanlak on June , 2018: Rose-picking ritual in the rose fields of Rosa    

•     Damascena distillery; Attend the Rose Parade with reserved seating,

•     Visit to 2 rose-oil distilleries  with lectures on rose oil traditions and production process,

•     transfers upon arrival and departure,

•     transportation by a/c car or van, according to above  program,

•     English- speaking guide throughout the tour,

•     all local taxes.

EXCLUDED:
*air fare, - airport tax,- additional meals,- tips for guide, driver,- items not specially mentioned above and / or in the itinerary,insurance, porterage at airport & hotels,tips.