Rose festival Tour
= SEE DEPARTURE DATES AND PRICES, SEASON 2009 =
8 days / 7 nights
Day 1. Arrival in Sofia
Arrival in Sofia. Transfer to Sofia Dedeman Princess Hotel 4****. Dinner and overnight in Sofia.
Day 2. Sofia & National Historic Museum & Boyana Church
Breakfast. City tour of Sofia including the Sveta Nedelya Square,the 4th century St George’s Rotunda, he Presidency, National Theatre, the City Garden, Russian Church St. Nicolas, Parliament Square, Alexander Nevski Memorial Cathedral with the most valuable collection of Bulgarian Icons (13-19th c), St. Sofia Church (6th c). Lunch and free time for leisure and shopping or optional excursion to the National Historic Museum and Boyana Church (UNESCO site). Dinner and overnight at Sofia Dedeman Princess Hotel, 4****.
DÍA 3. Sofia – Rila Monastery – Plovdiv
Breakfast. Departue to Rila Monastery (120km from Sofia) - the country's largest ecclesiastical and cultural temple. This is the most famous and the most fascinating monastery in Bulgaria, under UNESCO protection. Tour of the monastery and visit to the Monastery church, museum and kitchen "Magernitsa". Lunch in local tabern and continuation of the trip to Plovdiv. Evenning arrival at Plovdiv, accomodation at Dedeman Trimontium Hotel 4****. Dinner and overnight at Plovdiv.
Day 4. Plovdiv - Kazanlak
Breakfast and a walking tour of the Old Town of Plovdiv - imposing open-air museum situated on the three hills of the ancient Roman town of Trimontium. Visit the Ancient Stadium, the Ancient Theatre (a well-preserved Roman amphitheatre), the Ethnographic museum and other interesting sites. Lunch and free time for leisure or shopping or optional excursion to Bachkovo Monastery - one of the oldest monasteries in the Bulgarian lands and the second biggest in the country. It is mainly known for its original architecture, rich collections of old icons, jewelry, coins and church pottery. In the evening – departure towards the town of Kazanlak. Dinner and overnight at Kazanlak Palace Hotel, 4****.
Day 5. FULL DAY ROSE FESTIVAL
Breakfast and rose picking in the rose fields near Kazanlak. Visit to a rose distillery and smelling essential oils. Visit an authentic old distillery where Bulgarian cheese pastry, rose jam and “Rose” liqueur are offered. Lunch and visit of the festival in the centre of Kazanlak. Dinner and overnight in Kazanlak.
Day 6. Kazanlak – Shipka – Etara – Veliko Tarnovo
Breakfast and a walking tour of Kazanlak, visit to the Regional Historic Museum, the Ethnographic Complex Kulata and the ancient Thracian tomb (UNESCO site). Departure to Veliko Tarnovo via the Shipka mountain pass. Visit of the Russian Church - Memorial Church, built in commemoration of the Russian soldiers and Bulgarian volunteers of the Russian-Turkish war of Liberation of 1977 – 1878. Then we continue to the unique open air museum of authentic traditional crafts - Etara, created to preserve for the coming generations the appearance and the spirit of the old time Bulgarian mountain villages and the manufacturing traditions of the region. Lunch. Moving north in the evening we’ll arrive at Veliko Tarnovo. Accommodation in Grand Hotel Yantra, 4****. Dinner and overnight in Veliko Tarnovo.
Day 7. Veliko Tarnovo & Arbanassi – Troyan Monastery - Sofia
Breakfast. A walking tour of Veliko Tarnovo town and visit of the medieval fortress of Tsarevets, the old Marketplace Samovodska Tcharshia, the Forth Martyrs church and other exciting landmarks. Departure to Arbanassi, where we will visit the unique Holy Nativity Church. Lunch and departure to Sofia, visit to the Troyan Monastery. Evening arrival at Sofia. Dinner and overnight in Sofia Dedeman princess Hotel, 4****.
Day 8. Departure from Sofia
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport. Departure.
= SEE DEPARTURE DATES AND PRICES, SEASON 2009 =
