29 May 2010 SOFIA

Arrival in Sofia. Trasfer to a hotel and accommodation. Dinner and overnight.

30 May 2010 SOFIA

Morning sightseeing tour of the capital -a walking tour which includes the Rotunda of St. George (fourth century), National Archaeological Museum, The National Theater, the Russian church of St. Nicholas, Parliament Square, Alexander Nevski Memorial Cathedral with the most valuable collection of icons, etc. Free time for independent lunch. Afternoon - transfer to the Boyana Church (included in UNESCO list) and the National Museum of History. Dinner at a traditional restaurant with folk show and dance of fire. Overnight in Sofia.

The Fire dance
The fire dance, one of the oldest pagan rituals on the Balkan Peninsula has defied the persecution of Christianity and communism and survive over the millennium. The fire dance dates back to the Thracians, the oldest inhabitants of Bulgaria and the Dionysus rites, who worshiped the sun and believed in immortality. The "nestinari" dance barefoot on hot coals like their ancestors had done thousands of years ago. The main keys are the spirit preparation, the cold feet and the roar of a monotonious music by the drums. The performance begins at sunset, when the nestinari boss, a man wearing a white shirt and a red sash around his waist, throw the coals in a circle in the square. The lamps go off and the crowd is calm down. Only the drums resound. The nestinar dances around the circle carrying an icon and then suddenly walk through the fire. His feet sometimes touch lightly the group and other time press down the coals until put out the fire. His face is pale and his eyes- half closed. The fire dancers say they fall into a spiritual trance during the performance and it is believed to prophesy the future.

31 May 2010 SOFIA - VELIKO TARNOVO (250 km.)

Breakfast. Departure to Veliko Tarnovo. On the way wine tasting and lunch at one of the most famous wineries in Bulgaria. In the afternoon visit the authentic village nearby - Arbanassi. Highlighting the Constanceliev house that looks like a fortress and the Nativity Church of Jesus Christ "that has more than 3 500 images and scenes from the New Testament". Departure to the town of Veliko Tarnovo and tour one of the oldest towns in Bulgaria was established in 4 000 BC. It is considered as a heir of a prehistoric ancient Thracian culture. In 1185 the village became the center of the rebellion against the Byzantines and then it became the third capital of the medieval Bulgarian state. Durring XII - XIV centuries it was the most important center of political, cultural and religious life. The tour includes visit of the Tsarevets Forttress and strolling through the medieval marketplace Samovodska Tcharshia. Dinner. Overnight in Veliko Tarnovo.

Optional: we can organize the spectacle ¨Sound and Light¨ for you.

Through the power of music and colourful illumination, this spectacle treasuring up the history, grandeur and glory of the ancient capital city of Turnovgrad. The first version of the show was organized in 1985 to commemorate 800 years since the rebellion of the brothers Asen and Peter. The music, which has been composed specially for the occasion, is a leading element The very first sounds will take you to an unreal world, far back into the centuries when these lands were inhabited by Thracians, Slavs and proto-Bulgarians. The music theme evokes thoughts about the creation of the Bulgarian State in 681, the struggles for its consolidation and the peaceful constructive labour of the freedom-loving Bulgarian people.Gradually, the rhythm intensifies and new themes are introduced which symbolize the invasions of one enemy or another. By the power of music and dramatic lighting, this program aims to create an unforgettable and emotional image of the greatness and glory of the medieval capital of Bulgaria.This spectacle is not a reconstruction of the past but it is its interpretation and bridge to the present and the future.

1 June 2010 VELIKO TARNOVO - PLISKA - MADARA - VARNA (260 km.)

Breakfast. Departure to the first capital of the Bulgarian Kingdom - Pliska and the remains of its fortifications. Later we'll visit the Madara Horseman / listed in UNESCO /.
In the afternoon arrival in Varna - Bulgaria's third largest city in Bulgaria. Accommodation in a 3 hotel. Dinner and overnight in Varna.

2 June 2010 VARNA

Breakfast. Tour the cosmopolitan city of Varna. The city is founded as a Greek colony with the name "Odessa" and passed through several periods of dominance: Macedonian, Roman, Byzantine and Turkish. Varna has beautiful gardens and historic monuments from different periods. The group visit the Ancient Roman Baths, The Catholic Cathedral dating from the seventeenth century, the Museum of History, The Sea Garden, etc.. The afternoon is free. Overnight in Varna.

3 June 2010 VARNA - BALCHIK - VARNA (60 km.)

Breakfast. Departure to Balchik, a town situated 30 km north to Varna. It was founded in V century A.C. The town is famous with the largest and richest botanical garden on the Balkans and the palace of the romanian queen Maria. The palace complex consists of a central palace with a high tower, many buildings in a style typical for that time, the park with terraces, alcoves with stone columns and wonderful sea view. Lunch in the restaurant' of a farm for organic mussels. In th afternoon - visit to Cape Kaliakra and Fortress. Return back to Varna. Overnight in the town.

4 June 2010 VARNA - NESSEBAR (95 km.)

After breakfast departure to Nessebar. Walk through the historic center, declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage. The Old Town occupies a peninsula in the middle of the sea. It is famous with its 41 churches, the oldest of which dates from the fifth century There were also a Thracian settlement before becoming a Greek colony. The remains from the Hellenistic period include an acropolis and a temple of Apollo. From medieval times remains Mitropolia and a fortress. The interior of the church St. Stephan is covered with fabulous frescoes, dating from the sixteenth century. The rest of the afternoon is free. Overnight in Nessebar.

5 June 2010 NESEBAR - KAZANLAK ( 200 km.)

Breakfast. In the morning free time at leisure. Departure to Kazanlak. Visit a replica of the famous Kazanlak Thracian Thomb. 17:00 h. Hotel accommodation in the region of Kazanlak.
18:00 h. "Bulgarian Folk Dance" - a professional teacher teaches tourists and dance, the best will receive a diploma.
19:30 h. Gala Dinner.

6 June 2010 KAZANLAK - PLOVDIV (95 km.)

07:00 h - Breakfast;
08:15 am - Early departure by bus to the rose fields situated near Kazanlak city.
The tourists will each received a basket to participate in therose picking and collect the petals. The ritual is accompanied by folk songs
Following the rose picking the tourists will visit the factory for producing a rose oil. The tourists will see a demonstration of the process will taste ethereal essences, tasting "banitza"-a salty pastry, liqueurs and jams of roses.
12:00 h. - attended a carnival procession on the main street of Kazanlak.
13:00 - Lunch BBQ - with folklore program and gifts for every tourist.
Departure to Plovdiv. Upon arrival visit the Old Town. Tourists can stroll through its narrow streets, visit the ruins of the walls and the Roman Theater, and picturesque houses of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the church of St. Constantine and Helena, the Ethnographic Museum, the museum houses of Hindliyan and Balabanov. Entries for the ethnographic Museum and the Roman theatre are included. Dinner and overnight in Plovdiv.

The damascene Rose - Bulgaria is popular worldwide as the land of roses. The fragrant flower has been cultivated for over 300 years in our lands. In the early twentieth century 89% of the world rose plantations were concentrated in Bulgaria.
The largest rose gardens in Bulgaria are situated between the Balkan Mountains and Sredna Gora mountain range in central Bulgaria. The origins of the cultivation of oilbearing rose date back to the eighteenth century. You have to know that even the finest French perfumes contain a drop of the wonderful aroma of Bulgarian roses. The rose was brought to Bulgaria during the Ottoman rule from Persia. It's called rose damascene. Due to climatic and soil conditions in our country, the Bulgarian rose oil quality surpasses that of other producing areas. The best quality oil is extracted from the roses that grow in the famous Valley of Roses. The rose is very fickle and demanding plant on light conditions and soil. The most conducive for the roses is providing protected areas from wind chills. Frequent rains and cool temperatures in the period of flowering of roses, or in the months May and June reduced the content of ethereal oil. The rose gardens are usually planted and run for periods of 20 years, which involves choosing good terrain and soils prior to planting roses. In the town of Kazanlak, situated in the middle of the Valley of Roses there is a Rose Institute for researching and designing new technologies and new sorts of roses, top performers oily substance. A kilogram of rose oil is extracted from about 2 800 to 3200 kilograms of petals. Such amount is usually collected from an area of half an acre of rose gardens, depending on the care of the farmer. The collection and transport of the petals are performed carefully to avoid damaging them, baskets are used so that air to pass through them, avoiding moisture. Then they are spread in thin layers on the ground to facilitate drying, but not exposed to direct sunlight. Durring the first days of June each year, the famous Rose festival is held. In 1903, the people of Kazanlak organized first Rose Festival dedicated to Rose, its beauty and grace. The contemporary festival is based on the old traditions. The ritual of gathering roses are shown in many performance of authentic folklore and Bulgarian dances. In another ritual, the guests of the Festival are invited to taste the jam of roses and rose brandy. Then all the guests take part in a carnival procession.

7 June 2010 PLOVDIV - RILA MONASTERY - SOFIA (270 km.)

After breakfast the tour continues to Rila Monastery, a UNESCO declared World Heritage. It is the largest and most important monastery in Bulgaria. It is shaped as a fortress with 2 entrances. It was founded at the beginning of the tenth century. From this period have remained only Hrelew Tower and the Monastery Kitchen. The visit begins at the Museum Monastery where ancient icons, gospels and objects of worship are exposed. Lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon arrival in Sofia and accommodation. Overnight in Sofia.

8 June 2010 DEPARTURE TO THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN

Breakfast. Transfer to airport and departure to the city of origin.