1 Day ARRIVAL IN SOFIA

Arriving at Sofia Airport and transfer to the hotel. Check-in. Dinner at a restaurant.Overnight in Sofia.

2 Day SOFIA - TROYAN - LIASKOVETS - VELIKO TARNOVO ( 260 km.)

Transfer to Veliko Turnovo- the capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. En route visit to Trojan to taste the famous Trojan brandies. Wine tasting and a lunch at Liaskovets Winery. City tour of Veliko Turnovo: visit to the medieval fortress of Tsarevets; the Old Marketplace Samovodska Tcharshia; and other landmarks. Dinner and overnight in Veliko Turnovo.

3 Day VELIKO TARNOVO - KAZANLAK - PLOVDIV (170 km.)

Early morning breakfast and departure for the Rose Valley. Rose picking in the rose field near Kazanlak. Visit to a Rose distillery and the Ethnographic Complex Kulata. Enjoying the aroma of essential oils and the taste of a rose jam and rose liqueur. Visit the ancient Thracian Tomb. Lunch. Departure to Plovdiv- the city on seven hills, spread on the both sides of the Maritsa River. Dinner at a restaurant in the Old town of Plovdiv. Overnight in Plovdiv.

4 Day PLOVDIV - BRESTOVITSA - PLOVDIV (50 km.)

City tour of Plovdiv after breakfast. Walking tour begins at the Forum of Philippopolis. Continues in the historic National Revival quarter, where cobblestone streets lined with Bulgarian Rivaval houses and churches, leads to the ancient Roman ruins, a small Ethnographic Museum, and an impressive Roman theater, still in use for cultural events. Lunch and free time for shopping, etc. In the late afternoon: transfer to Todoroff Wine Cellar for wine tasting and dinner. (Folklore performance of authentic Bulgarian customs could be arranged during the wine tastings - upon request). Overnight in Plovdiv.

5 Day PLOVDIV - BANSKO - MELNIK (220 km.)

Breakfast. Departure for Bansko - a colorful town, nested in the skirts of the magnificent Pirin Mountain, known as a famous ski resort as well. Stop for a lunch in a traditional tavern (mehana) and some shopping. Continue to Melnik to visit the Kordopulov's House. Wine tasting at the cellar on the top of the village, dinner at local tavern, and overnight in Sandanski.

6 Day MELNIK

Full day wine tour in No Man's Land in cooperation with the Damianitza Winery. The tour includes visit to the wine cellar Damianitsa following the wine path; lecture on the specifics of the wine region, grape sorts, traditional wine producing; wine tasting (5 wines - Damianitsa Rose, Melnishko wine from Hursovo, No Man's Land, Uniqato, Barrel sample); Lecture presenting the wine tasting rules, the role of the oak in the process of wines ripening, and various characteristics of the wines; Appetizers and mineral water; Visit to the No Man's Land Wineyard. Lunch. Dinner and overnight in Sandanski.

7 Day MELNIK - RILA MONASTERY - SOFIA ( 175 km.)

Breakfast. Continue to the Rila Monastery - the most famous and the most fascinating monastery in Bulgaria, under the UNESCO protection. Situated at 3,785 feet elevation, near the site where John of Rila lived and worshiped in a cave. The fortress-like complex, established at the time of the First Bulgarian Kingdom, was known as a center of learning and a place from where the Church exercised its power. Visit to the monastery and its museum. Lunch at a restaurant in the proximity. Continue to Sofia. Check-in at a hotel, dinner at traditional restaurant with fire dancing program.

8 Day SOFIA, DEPARTURE TO THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN

Breakfast. Transfer to the airport. Departure.