Things to do in Stara Zagora Province, Bulgaria: The Best Cultural Tours

This amazing 2-day private trip taking you from the Romanian capital – Bucharest, to the neighboring country of Bulgaria is a great way to discover two unique countries full of East European charm. The trip starts early in the morning when we will pick you up from your hotel in Bucharest and begin our journey to Bulgaria, to the foothills of the Balkan Mountains. We cover so many interesting sights on the way through Ruse, Veliko Tarnovo, Gurkovo, Kazanlak, Stara Zagora and have the overnight in Plovdiv. There are 2 lunch included, wine tasting and walking tours in the cities of Ruse, Veliko Tarnovo and Plovdiv. The entrance fees for most of the sights are included in the price and getting into sights is as per the itinerary. Your private guide could customize this tour to fit anything you like. Enjoy with your private guide in a private comfortable car!

Inclusions: Lunch, Lunch, 1 night accommodation in a 4* hotel in Plovdiv, Breakfast and 2 lunches – in Veliko Tarnovo and Ruse, Wine tasting, Professional tour guide and driver, Pick up and drop off Bucharest, Personalized e-guide with all sights info for convenience

Exclusions: Private expenses and insurance

The first festival took place more than 100 years ago, in 1903. Today the Rose Festival is an international event, visited and enjoyed by thousands of tourists and guests of Kazanlak. Enjoy VIP access to the Festival of Rose this year! Choose between privately-guided and self-guided option. The Festival takes place in the last weekend of May every year.

Inclusions: Professional guide (if the privately-guided option is chosen), VIP access, Bottled water, Choose between privately-guided and self-guided option

Exclusions: Food and drinks, Overnights (could be arranged), Insurance, Personal expenses

It is a little known fact that over 60% of the worlds rose oil is produced in a few Bulgarian small valleys tucked between impressive mountain ranges. This is an exciting full day trip that will take you to a fairytale scenery of fields of roses, lavender and sunflowers towered by the rugged peaks of the Balkan Mountain. There your local guide will be revealing the secrets and splendour of the Bulgarian rose oil production at a renowned distillery. Later you will be visiting also visiting the elegant Russian style church of the Nativity and if time allows to the Shipka peak for great panoramic views. The famous Thracian tomb of Kazanluk (UNESCO) dating back from 4th century BC is also on your list of the Valley of Roses wonders list. On the way back the ride will be on a different road with completely different views to gaze at. Your English-speaking driver will stop you for a short break in Koprvishtitsa, a small town showcasing in the best way the Bulgarian Renaissance architecture.

Inclusions: Local guide in Kazanlak and Valley of the Roses, English-speaking Driver, Transport by air-conditioned minivan

Exclusions: Food and drinks, Gratuities, Entrance fee for Ethnographic Complex "Damascena", Entrance fee for a UNESCO Thracian tomb

In this one day tour, you will have the chance to get acquainted with the communist period (socialistic period) in Bulgaria. The socialistic republic of Bulgaria existed from 1946 until 1989. This is one of the most controversial parts of modern history. But one thing is for sure - like any other political system, communism (socialism) bequeathed us both things that we would like to forget and others that we can admire.

Inclusions: Local taxes, Professional guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Transport by private vehicle

Exclusions: Food and drinks, Gratuities

During this day tour you will have the chance to learn more about the mysterious Thracians, best known for the mythical hero Orpheus (ancient musician and thinker), Spartacus (Roman slave and gladiator, and leader of the famous slave revolt), as well as for the oldest golden treasure in the world. We will visit 5 of the masterpieces of the Thracian burial architecture, one of which UNESCO site, as well as the History Museum in Kazanlak. During our day of Thracian heritage exploration, we will have the chance to admire the picturesque landscape, which obviously was highly valued by the Thracians as well.

Inclusions: Professional guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Transport by private vehicle, Entrance fees

Exclusions: Food and drinks

Explore the world famous BULGARIAN UFO - the Buzludzha monument. This is a half-day tour to Buzludzha. You get picked from Veliko Tarnovo and we head to Buzludzha monument, which is located in Stara Planina (less than a 100km away from Tarnovo). At the Buzludzha monument, you won't be able to get inside, as it is forbidden by the government, but you will get to sneak peak inside and explore it from as close as possible. You get more than a 30 minutes rest time at the monument, which you can use freely. In addition, you can add extra time to your tour, so you could visit more landmarks on the way. See Buzludzha from our perspective - why was it build; what was it's original story; how did it develope; what was it's meaning to socialism in Bulgaria; what happened with it after the fell of socialism,; what do the bulgarians think of it; should it be reconstructed and much more. We will give you the opportunity to learn the maximum about the monument and it's cultural spirit.

Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle, Private transportation, Bottled water, Fuel

Exclusions: Restroom on board, Gratuities

Explore the picturesque Veliko Turnovo, the capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, boasting of many historical monuments including the imposing medieval fortress Tsarevets and the nearby Arbanassi - one of Bulgaria's most remarkable historic villages.

Inclusions: Fuel surcharge, Local taxes, Driver/guide, Live commentary on board, Local guide, Professional guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Private tour

Exclusions: Entrance fees: Tsarevets Fortress (3 EUR) - optional, Church of the Nativity of Christ entrance fee (3 EUR), Konstantsalieva house entrance fee (3 EUR), Food and drinks, Lunch, Gratuities

Kazanlak is the center of rose-oil extraction in Bulgaria and the oil-producing rose of Kazanlak is one of the most widely recognizable Bulgarian national symbols. Kazanlak is also in the area named The Valley of the Thracian Kings, because of the concentration of noble tombs, one of which is an UNESCO site. See sites that date back to the prehistoric era, and experience this hidden treasure of Bulgaria.

Inclusions: All taxes, fees and handling charges, Driver/guide in English, Hotel pickup, Hotel Drop off

Exclusions: Food and drinks, unless specified

Karlovo and Kazanlak are the center of rose-oil extraction in Bulgaria and the oil-producing rose is one of the most widely recognizable national symbols. Bulgaria is the major supplier of rose oil in the world for the cosmetic industry and Kazanlak's/Karlovo's rose gardens are the largest rose gardens in the whole world. Bulgaria is one of the very few places in the entire world that can grow this particular rose (Rosa Damascena or Rose from Damascus). Based on our long-term experience, we came to the conclusion that the festival organised by the local authorities can be very touristy and sometimes not quite well organised. In 2019 we are planning a different approach with a visit of a real rose-distillery starting from their own rose and lavender fields. We hope that our own arrangement, combined of course with the local municipality activities, would bring a much better experience for our guests.

Inclusions: Driver/guide, Professional guide, All Fees and Taxes

Exclusions: Food and drinks, Hotel pickup

In Bulgaria there are more than 120 monasteries! The interest in them we can explain with their role in the historical and cultural evolution of the Bulgarian nation. They survived the cruelty times of the middle ages and the Ottoman period, the vandalism, the natural disasters. They were the source of light in the dark ages of the people, making literally schools for education, science and religion.  Some of them are like open-air museums, still keeping their secrets. Join us to solve some of their mysteries, to see the biggest ones like Rila, Bachkovo, Troyan. Feel the spirit of the orthodox temples and look over the monks and the nuns. See the incredible frescos and icons, made by the different painting schools. Come to understand why these things are little pieces of heaven. 

Inclusions: Guide/driver, Accommodation in boutique hotels for 3 nights, Comfortable car, Private tour, Enterence fees for the museums

Exclusions: Food and drinks, Gratuities, Personal expenses