7 Day Wine, Food and Culture Tour in Bulgaria

Day 1

• Upon arrival to Sofia airport, there will be a group transfer from the airport at latest 14:00.
• Your tour leader will transfer you to the ancient town of Plovdiv, which will take around 1.5-2 hours.
• Check in to your centrally located 4-star hotel.
• Head out for a fascinating guided walking tour of Plovdiv and Old Town Plovdiv
• Welcome dinner including wine

Day 2

• Breakfast.
• Head out to the first winery visit of your tour: Villa Yustina. Enjoy a guided tour of the vineyards and winery following the journey from grape to bottle.
• Lunch is served in the onsite restaurant.
• Visit to the Red Church of Perushtitsa (a church ruin from the early-christian era)
• You then head back to the hotel in Plovdiv.
• Dinner is on your own this evening.

Day 3

• Start the day at an organic winery called Zagreus and enjoy a show-around and tasting in the tasting room.
• Enjoy a traditional lunch in a village in the Rhodope mountains.
• Today features a visit to the second largest monastery in Bulgaria - Bachkovo Monastery. Time on your own to explore the monastery and surrounding grounds.
• Return to Plovdiv in the afternoon. Free evening to explore the city further and enjoy dinner in one of the many restaurants.

Day 4

• Breakfast.
• Today, we venture out to the Valley of Roses – the smallest wine region in Bulgaria and also famous for its longstanding tradition of producing rose oil.
• Enjoy two wine tastings of eloquent Bulgarian wines and delicious appetizers at two different wineries.
• Enjoy some free time in the evening to explore the city even further or relax in your hotel room.

Day 5

• Breakfast.
• Today, we visit two wineries in the Thracian Valley that are clear leaders in the region, and beautifully demonstrate the high quality of wines produced in Bulgaria and the enjoy showcasing the local regional grapes.
• A traditional lunch is served in a local restaurant in between winery visits.
• Return to Plovdiv and free evening.

Day 6

• Breakfast.
• We visit Rumelia wine cellar and enjoy a tour and tasting of 5 wines in the tasting room.
• After lunch, it is time to see the famous Panagyurishte Golden Treasure in the Panagyurishte Museum and marvel at the craftsmanship of the Thracians and the important role that wine had in Thracian culture.
• Return to Plovdiv.
• In the evening, we enjoy the last dinner together including wine.

Day 7

• Breakfast.
• Check-out of hotel
• Transfer to Sofia Airport (2 hours) or Sofia Centre.
• End of tour

Throughout this wine holiday, you will visit four cultural heritage sites, which include Bachkovo Monastery, Red Church of Perushtitsa, Panagyurishte Museum and Old Plovdiv (incl. entrance fees)

During this tour, you will visit seven Bulgarian wineries, which include Villa Yustina, Zagreus Winery, Chateau Copsa, Sopot Winery, Manastira Winery, Dragomir Winery and Rumelia Wine Cellar

The base for the tour is the Plovdiv region. All six nights will be spent at the ancient town of Plovdiv, European capital of culture 2019. Plovdiv is an eclectic city with wine bars, restaurants, cafes, and cultural activities. It is also Europe's oldest continuously inhabited city. This tour involves a lot of culture. What is wine without culture and what is culture without wine?

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Prepare yourself for a true foodie discovery of the Bulgarian cuisine. Bulgarian cuisine is diverse, hearty, fresh, and traditional. The cuisine is influenced by Turkish and Greek cuisine, but also has many Slavic and Balkan elements. There is, of course, influence from traditional Bulgarian recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation.

It is highly recommended to find a local "mehana" and sample some of the most popular traditional dishes such as shopska salad, hotchpoth, kavarma, kapama, kyufte, and kebapche. Vegetarian meals are also available. Please specify dietary or allergic information upon booking.

• Spend some free time discovering the 19th century houses in Old Plovdiv
• Take a walk in the Tsar Simeon Gardens (Central Garden) of Plovdiv by night and see the "Singing Fountains". Not sure what they mean by "Singing Fountains"? You will just have to visit to find out.
• Try a glass of rakia (Bulgarian wine brandy)

• 6 nights accommodation in 4-star hotel (standard rooms)
• Airport meet and greet
• All ground transportation mentioned in itinerary
• Daily breakfast, 5 x lunch, 2 x dinner
• Guided walking tour of Plovdiv and Old Plovdiv
• Private tour leader from Bulgaria Wine Tours
• Tour operator insurance from Armeec Insurance in case of non-provision of services
• Tours and tastings at 7 wineries
• Transfer from/to Sofia Airport or Centre
• Visit to Bachkovo Monastery, Panagyurishte Museum and The Red Church including entrance fees

• Extras and incidentals
• Flight tickets
• Meals and beverages not mentioned in the tour description
• Private transfers
• Single room supplement
• Tips
• Travel and medical insurance (please consult your insurance provider)
• Visa fees, if applicable

Recommended Airports

• A reservation requires a deposit of 30% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.