Sunrise with a scent of Bulgarian roses

Sunrise with a scent of Bulgarian roses
Price from 490E

First day – June 2nd : Arrival at Sofia airport. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation at  hotel. Supper. Overnight.

Second day - June 3rd : Breakfast. The journey starts from Sofia with a city tour – “Alexander Nevski” Cathedral, National Art Gallery, National Theatre, “St. Sofia” Church, National History Museum. In the afternoon we head for Kazanlak, accommodation at **+ hotel near the town.
The traditional Rose festival is held in Kazanlak in the first week of June during the active flowering of the oleaginous rose - Rosa Damascena (Mill).
The festival is inaugurated by “King Sevt” and “Queen Rose” and ends with a carnival procession along the streets of the town.
17.00 We take part in a traditional Bulgarian folk dances course, lead by a professional choreographer and an orchestra. Issuing a certificate for all who had successfully passed the course.
19.30 Supper combined with a Bulgarian national style programme.
21.00 We are at the opening of the Rose festival. Overnight in the hotel.

Third day – June 4th “Rose Festival”
8.00 Breakfast.
9.30 “Thracian suite” – a morning concert
12.00 Sightseeing – the history and origin of the newly found Thracian vault “Ostrusha”
13.00 Picnic – barbecue with Bulgarian folk music accompaniment. Original “Rose oil” gift for every tourist.
15.30 Christian chants in the memorial church in Shipka
20.00 Supper and folklore programme. Overnight.

Fourth day – June5th
07.00 Breakfast
08.15 “Rose Valley - forever”

•     * Picnic in the rose fields, accompanied with traditional regional folklore and rituals;
•     * Authentic distillation of roses;
•     * Industrial distillation of roses;
•     * Tasting rose jam;
•     * Examination and scenting different oils and essences;
•     * Tasting liquor of roses

11.30 Carnival procession devoted to the Rose festival along the streets of Kazanlak and the central square.
12.30 Gala lunch
We set off for Plovdiv. Accommodation at hotel. Supper. Overnight.

Fifth day: After breakfast we visit the Antic theatre, “Nedkovich” house, “Zlatyo Boyadjiev” gallery, “Balabanova” house, the house of Stepan Hindilyan.
We head for “Bachkovski” monastery. Sightseeing in the monastery. After lunch we head for Sofia. Accommodation at “Renaissance”*** hotel. Supper. Overnight.
Sixth day: Breakfast. Transfer to the airport.


The price includes:

•     * breakfast, supper and 5 overnights in hotels 2**-3**
•     * Full programme at the Rose festival;
•     * Admission for all places of interest included in the programme
•     * Transportation
•     * Insurance
•     * Organised transportation during the transfers and travel

   Kazanlak is situated in the attractive “Rose valley” at the foot of Stara planina. The town is the natural geographical centre of Bulgaria , the crossroad of domestic and international tourism. The nature here has combined the beauty and the majesty of the Balkan with the fertility of the valley of “Tundja” river. The natural variety of the region creates excellent conditions for rest and sport during the summer as well as winter months.
The world’s famous Thracian Dome Vault, unique with its wall-paintings is situated next to Kazanlak.
The vault in mound “Ostrusha” is the biggest cemetery of the cult on the territory of Bulgaria with an area of 100 sq m. The oleaginous rose takes an important part in the history of the region of Kazanlak. It is an irrevocable part of local population’s way of life and the enterprise and industry of generations of rose-growers preserve these style of living. The Rose festival is conducted in Kazanlak every year during the first week of June in honour of the Queen of flowers. It was celebrated for the first time in 1903 when it was devoted to beauty and mercy. Today the festival is one of the most colourful events for Kazanlak and its guests.
The festival programme includes the crowning of Queen Rose and traditional rituals like rose-picking and rose-distilling, which reproduce the authentic atmosphere charged with conviviality, songs and dances from the Thracian region, “kuker” dances…
The festival continues with a procession along the streets of the city, in which the major part is given to the participants in the International Folk Fest, which is held parallel with the Rose festival .

  Plovdiv
The region of Western Gornotrakiiska lowland is distinguished with its plane lay and dense population. The major tourist opportunities here are related to the rich cultural and historical heritage.
The main cultural and regional centre is Plovdiv. Here you have the opportunity to enjoy a unique atmosphere, created by the six hills, the narrow alleys, the architectural complexes of the Old town, the numerous churches, museums and architectural sights. Traces of ancient Thracian culture can be seen on the territory of the whole region.
Sofia – Kazanlak – Shipka – Plovidiv – Sofia – 490 km (excluding the transfers and city tour, festival events)