∗ From Sofia – our team will be waiting to greet you at the Sofia Airport or you can arrange your pick up point in advance with a member of our booking team.
∗ Tranfer to the town of Haskovo.
∗ Visit the monument of the Holy Mother of God. The monument is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and was unveiled in 2003. Standing at a total height of 31 metres (102 feet). The monument has been certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the tallest statue of the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus in the world.
∗ Visit to the Alexandrovo Tomb and the Museum Centre “Thracian Art Of Eastern Rhodope”. The tomb in the vicinity of the village of Aleksandrovo dates back to the IV century BC and is one of the most prominent monuments of the ancient Thracian culture.
∗ Visit Villa Bassarea Winery with wine testing and help with daily work (activities depend on the season, for instance planting, mulching the ground or harvesting grapes).
∗ Transfer to the SPA hotel at Haskovski mineral baths, free time.
∗ Dinner in the Hotel, relax at the charming atmosphere and get ready for the next day.

∗ Today after breakfast we will get to our first adventure in Rhodopes Mountain.
∗ Discover the antiquity temple and Sanctuary at Perperikon – It is one of the most popular tourist destination.
∗ Take part in some of the work in the sanctuary of Perpericon. Activities vary depending on the season and daily needs of the sanctuary, for instance to help with the excavation process or to help with the upkeep of the site as a temporary part of the archaeological team.
∗ Picnic lunch in a beautiful mountain valley, next to the park of Perperikon.
∗ Explore Thracian Tomb at the village of Tatul-Temple of Orpheus – The legends of Orpheus (Greek: Ορφεύς) are alive, Orpheus was considered one of the chief poets and musicians of antiquity, and is still a symbol in the art of music.
∗ Visit to the stone Mushrooms near Perperikon.
∗ Depart and head to the SPA hotel at Haskovski mineral baths, free time.

∗ Today after breakfast we continue our adventure in Rhodopes Mountain.
∗ Visit Gluhite kamani” /”Deaf stones”/is a rock cult complex, designed by the Thracian several millenniums ago.
∗ Picnic lunch in a beautiful mountain valley and help to keep nature clean.
∗ Participate in a nature preservation project of the mountain with a local organization from National Park Rila.
∗ Discover the medieval Mezek fortress (Neoutzikon) and Mezek thracian tomb.
∗ Depart and head towards the Hotel in town of Kazanlak.
∗ Check in, at the Hotel. Hotel Diamond: https://hoteldiamant.bg/
∗ Hotel dinner with local music, traditional costume dances and songs from the region. You will be able to chat with the musicians and dance and sing together.

∗ Today after breakfast we will be departing towards the valley of Thracian Kings.
∗ Visit UNESCO protected World Heritage Site, Royal Tomb of Kazanlak.
∗ The biggest tomb on Balkan peninsula, the tomb of Seuthes III (Ruler of the Odrysion kingdom of Thrace from c331BC to c300BC).
∗ Visit the valley of Thracian kings.
∗ Lunch in a thematic country restaurant, relax at the charming atmosphere, while being served delicious cooked food and taste local red wine.
∗ Enjoyable afternoon in the Architectural and Ethnographic Complex Damascena. The legends about Orpheus (Greek: Ορφεύς) are alive, Orpheus was considered one of the chief poets and musicians of antiquity, and is still a symbol of the art of music.
∗ Join in to help with some daily work in a Rose field (activities depend on season) and Rose oil production as you listen to the stories of Orpheus and the great Thracian tribes.
∗ Purchase some roses (when in season) or rose oil and give them away to local people in Kazanlak and Sofia.
∗ Boarding the coach and depart towards ”Spa and Wine Hotel Starosel”.
∗ Check in, at the Hotel. SPA Starosel residence is one of the pearls in the crown of Bulgarian Spa and Wine tourist. Spa and Wine hotel Starosel https://starosel.com/
∗ Dinner in the Hotel, relax at the traditional charming atmosphere, while being served delicious cooked food and get ready for the next day.

∗ Today after breakfast, there will be free time to enjoy the Spa and wellness facilities in the hotel.
∗ Visit Plovdiv, sightseeing tour. Plovdiv is the second largest city of Bulgaria. One of the oldest cities in Europe – the beginning of the history dates back to 6,000 years BC. In ancient times Thracians inhabited the Three Hills and built a fortified settlement – the largest city in Thrace. During the 4th century BC, Plovdiv was conquered by Phillip of Macedonia. The sightseeing tour includes:
– Ancient Forum and the Odeon.
– Ancient Roman Stadium.
– Archaeological and historical complex of Old town of Plovdiv.
– Ancient theatre.
– Plovdiv Regional Ethnographic Museum.
– Archaeological complex on the Nebet Tepe (one of the hills of Plovdiv) The earliest settlements on Nebet Tepe are dated back to 4000 BC
– Kapana District-Craft street. Kapana’s intriguing mesh of streets a place with its own distinctive spirit and unique atmosphere. The quarter has become one of the most magnetic city locations – a centre for artists, curators, culture managers, artisans, writers and musicians, and for people working for it. Here, you can pick up some supplies for your crafts workshop later today.
-Visit Craft workshop Rakodelnitsata: which is home to over 42 artists involved in crafting. What is unique about them is the wet plastering they do.
-Visit Studio Darvodelite: You can find various wooden products in the workshop, from decorations to practical items. The carpentry shop is located above the workshop itself, and an interesting fact is that the craftsman is working on recreating a life-size boat.
-Visit Studio “GG sisters”: they make from recycled paper. Besides the fact that you can leave with a bowl or a lamp, a decoration for your home or other beauty, they will happily accept your unwanted newspapers and magazines and breathe new life into them. What is characteristic of them is that they do not use any dyes, do not change the color of the paper and transform it into a completely natural form.
∗ Lunch in a thematic country restaurant, relax at the charming atmosphere, while being served delicious cooked food and taste local red wine.
∗ Visit small local businesses to see the local arts, crafts and product and perhaps purchase some souvenirs to take home.
∗ Discover the town of Hisarya, with impressive Roman remains,(Roman city of Diocletianopolis).
∗ Visit to the Thracian Cult Temple Starosel.
∗ Get back in the Spa and Wine hotel Starosel https://starosel.com/
∗ Wine tasting – The fines wine made by Thracian’s recipe.
∗ Spa in a Hotel – guests can enjoy thermal mineral water, unique style and first class facilities.
∗ Dinner in the Hotel and get ready for the next day.

∗ Today morning after breakfast, some free time to enjoy the Spa and wellness facilities in the hotel.
∗ We are boarding the coach and heading South. We continue our drive into Bulgarian country site. Whilst we drive through the country site, enjoy the amazing valley views. We then arrive at the town of Koprivshtica.
∗ Visit two craft workshops and take part of daily work:
∗ Craft workshop „Kupchinitsa” – Guest will get part of making woven rugs, kenar shirts and mesals, jewelry, copper, wooden, glass and ceramic vessels, costumes and parts of costumes from different regions of Bulgaria.
∗ Visit to the arts and crafts workshop for revival of old crafts. Guests will take part of the daily work.
∗ Discover Architectural and Ethnographic town of Koprivshtica.
∗ Lunch in a thematic country restaurant, relax at the charming atmosphere, while being served delicious cooked food.
∗ Visit to the “Lyuben Karavelov” Secondary School: laid the foundations of the new Bulgarian education. In the school yard there is also a summer stage, where various festivals are held. To support the school, we will help with some planned activities, like maintenance, event organisation or meet and chat with some children or elderly community members.
∗ Boarding the coach and head to the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia City.
∗  Check in, at the Hotel. Hotel Niky: https://hotel-niky.com/
∗ Dinner in a thematic country restaurant with live custom Bulgarian dance (Horo). You will do a cooking workshop to learn how to make some traditional dishes. The music group will enjoy the dinner together with you and you will have time to dance and sing together, talk about daily life and exchange stories.
∗ Get Back to the Hotel and get ready for the next day.

∗ Today after breakfast we will discover the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia city.
∗ Sofia tour:
–           Sofia tour. (English speaking guide)
–           Visit to the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
–           Rotunda Saint George.
–           Discover Complex Ancient Serdica.
–           Unravel National Institute of Archaeology.
∗ Visit small local businesses to learn about traditional Bulgarian crafts and products. If you wish, you can shop for some nice souvenirs to take home.
∗ Visit local market for food and supplies (The oldest market in Bulgaria).
∗ Bulgarian Arts and Crafts Tour.
You may choose to visit and do a workshop at one of the follwing places. Please let us know beforehand which one you would like to visit:

• Artikos – Shop Gallery “Crafts and Arts Workshop”: Crafts and arts workshop for traditional Bulgarian souvenirs, Icons and Crucifixes made from wood, metal, ceramics, made by hand. https://artikos.bg/en/
• Craft Blаiv: Bulgarian traditional craft workshop. Embroidered clothes, Ceramic dishes, Copper and metal household items from the region, Production of household curtains from the region. https://zanaiat.bg/
• Workshops Potoche: Small family work shop for traditional Bulgarian gifts and souvenirs. The work shops in run by mother and Daughter. https://www.potoche.bg/workshops/
• Bulgarian Tapestry: Creative workshop for Bulgarian embroidery and needlework: Bulgarian embroidery is a beautiful embroidery that is not just decoration. It is a story, a symbol, coded information. It is a testament to the rich spirituality of our ancestors and their pursuit of beauty. https://goblen-bg.com/

Bulgaria has an extremely rich tradition of arts and crafts – with many items and techniques unique to particular regions or towns. By looking at the craft traditions of Bulgaria, you’ll be able to learn a huge amount about the traditions and beliefs of the people… as well as the lifestyles of Bulgarian people throughout history.
∗ Transfer to the Airport.

We are glad that we spent memorable moments together and we will be happy to meet you soon!