Do not think February is no good time for traveling! The 14th of February in Bulgaria is the holiday dedicated to the patron of the wine Saint Triphone Zarezan. The old custom, music, dances, the carnival holidays will warm the cold winter days. If you prefer to celebrate Saint Valentine's Day, which is on the same day, let's do it together, we celebrate both saints with good wine! There are five viticulture regions in Bulgaria. This wine tour reveals all of them, as well as some of the most beautiful natural sceneries.
Your Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Sofia International Airport. Accommodation in the hotel. Short rest. Dinner in a typical Bulgarian restaurant with a folklore show. Overnight. Included: (D).
Day 2: After breakfast we drive from Sofia to Rila Monastery and after visiting it to Sandanski - approximately 260 km. In the afternoon you will visit the Damianitza winery and its vineyard to get know the variety called Broad-leaved vine of Melnik, one of the oldest varieties and unique for Bulgaria. Tasting of 4 red wines. Located in the middle of Rila Mountain, the Monastery is a symbol of the Bulgarian Renaissance. Founded in the 10th Cent. by the hermit and holy man Ivan Rilski, it has fascinating collection of murals, icons, wooden-carvings, old weapons and coins, manuals and Bibles written on sheepskin. The monastery impresses the visitors with its harmony - buildings and colonnades, arches and tombs, spacious premises with paintings and icons. Included: (B), (L), (D).
Day 3: After breakfast sightseeing of Melnik. It's an exciting experience to taste wines in the oldest preserved cellar. The town of Menlik is an architectural reserve. The houses are amphitheatrically situated among Melnik golden rocks thus forming tiny streets with numerous workshops and cellars with wrought gates and shutters. In ancient times here a village of the Thracian tribe medi existed where the great leader of the Roman slaves Spartacus comes from. In the afternoon we drive to Borovetz. This day we will travel about 160 km /some of them in the mountain/. Included: (B), (L), (D).
Day 4: After breakfast we drive to Plovdiv. Winery visit and sightseeing. Special folklore dances and show. Overnight in Plovdiv. The town of Plovdiv is situated like a jeweled crown in the Thracian plain. The city's Old Town is preserved as an authentic 19th Century Renaissance open-air museum and features the amazing romantic architecture of that period. The famous ancient Philipoppolis Amphitheater, built in 343 A.D is also situated here. Included: (B), (L), (D).
Day 5: After breakfast we drive to Jambol and Sliven, to get know the sub-Balkan viticultural region. The distance is not more than 140 km. We take part in the Wine carnival and Mask festival in Jambol. Music, dances, fun and a lot of red wine! Overnight in Sliven, in a special house of 19th cent., restored in the typical renaissance style. Included: (B), (L), (D).
Day 6: After breakfast drive to Sungurlare valley to take part in the old habit "wine cutting". Visit of the wine museum and Slaviantzi winery /over 200 awards in international wine events/. Folklore dances, wine tasting with the local people. See how we celebrate Saint Trifon Zarezan - the patron of the wine producing. Back to the town of Sliven for an overnight. Included: (B), (L), (D).
Day 7: After breakfast we take part in the mask dances and the carnival of the fearful masks in Sliven. Tasting of the Sliven winery wines. Overnight in Sliven. Included: (B), (L), (D).
Day 8: After breakfast drive to Veliko Tarnovo. Sightseeing of Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi. This day you will get acquainted with the former Bulgarian capital, one of the most beautiful Bulgarian towns. Included: (B), (L), (D).
Day 9: After breakfast we drive to Sofia. Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria as well as the fifth capital of the country in the course of its 1300 years history. The town is located in the foot of Vitosha Mountain. It was established in the 5th Century BC as a Tracian settlement with its first name Serdika, possessing thousand years of history. And later it received its present name from the ancient Roman church "Sveta Sofia". The remains of the old Roman city with Basilica church of that time could still be seen nowadays. During your tour you will visit the most important sights of the town: the St George Rotunda, The Alexander Nevski Cathedral. The proximity to Vitosha Mountain offers the unique opportunity to get from the city center up to the mountain peak 2290 m in height within an hour. Included: (B), (L), (D).
Day 10: Transfer to the Sofia airport for your flight back home. Included: (B), (L).
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Included:
- 9 overnights in 3 and 4 **** hotels;
- F/B basis /breakfast, lunch, dinner, with the tasty local specialties of each region/;
- Coffee and bottled mineral water with the meals;
- A coach or mini-bus for all itinerary and transfers as per program;
- A guide in English or French during the whole trip;
- Folklore show in a special restaurant;
- All entry taxes for the places of interest and special guide’s fees.
Not Included:
- Medical insurance, tips, and tickets for the performances taking place /concerts, festivals that can be visited according to the period of stay of the tourists.
- Wine is not included with the meals.
Breakfast is continental.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Bulgaria
Food & Wine
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