Discover the Plum Festival in Troyan & Oreshak

Your journey will start at 09:00 when you depart for the Troyan Monastery. Founded the end of 16th century, the Troyan Monastery is the third largest monastery in Bulgaria. It is famous for its miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary, the Three-handed. You will have the afternoon at your leisure to enjoy the spa and the healing thermal waters of the nearby village of Chiflik. You can also have some fun with the piano bar at the hotel.

Included:
• Overnight stay: Hotel Alfaresort 3* or similar, village of Chiflik
• Meals included: breakfast and dinner

This day starts with a short drive to the Museum of Folk Art Crafts and Applied Arts in Troyan. It is one of the most engaging folk-art attractions. The museum displays a colourful range of traditional pottery, crafts and tools, along with kukeri costumes, designed to scare away evil spirits.

At 11:00, you will join the Plum Festival's opening ceremony. During the two festival days, you will dance horo (Bulgarian folk dance), will participate in the street workshops or will savour the plum delights and local rakia (plum brandy).

After lunch, you will enjoy watching traditional folk dances and try again the one of a kind Troyan rakia. In the afternoon you will return to Chiflik, where you can indulge spa and hot mineral springs for the rest of the day.

Included:
• Overnight stay: Hotel Alfaresort 3* or similar, village of Chiflik
• Meals included: breakfast and dinner

After breakfast, the group head to the village of Cherni Osam, for a unique experience at the Natural Science Museum. Spending some time in the museum, watching and listening to the animals and the wild nature will be enough to inspire you and brighten your day! The soul of the Balkan Mountain Range can be felt in the museum. Over 25 species of animals are displayed: birds of prey, wild boars, bears, wolves, herbivores like deer etc. The rest of the day you will enjoy the Plum Festival in the village of Oreshak. It is famous for its craft workshops and demonstrations and you will experience a pottery lesson there.

In the afternoon you will return to Chiflik, where you can enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

Included:
• Overnight stay: Hotel Alfaresort 3* or similar, village of Chiflik
• Meals included: breakfast and dinner

You will continue your journey with a drive to the charming town of Koprivshtitsa. It is well known for its fascinating history and authentic 19th-century architecture. You will learn about the dramatic Bulgarian History from your knowledgeable guide and will get the chance to visit original houses of local heroes. You will visit the beautiful Lutova House (The Blue House) with its woollen exhibits, rugs and blankets. You will cross the Kalachev Bridge, where the April Uprising in 1876 broke out. After lunch, you will take lovely photos with the monument of the legendary Georgi Benkovski. Your next stop will be the famous Panagyurishte treasure, a masterpiece of Thracian workmanship. Founded on 8th December 1949, it consists of a phiale, an amphora and seven rhytons, all made of solid 24-carat gold. The treasure weighs a total of 6.164 kg (13.5 pounds) and is arguably the single most valuable set of artefacts ever found on the territory of Bulgaria. Such precious metal vessels with symbols of social status are used to the ritual actions of the Thracian rulers.

Finally, you will depart for Plovdiv - European Capital of Culture 2019, where you will have free time to explore the city on your own.

Included:
• Overnight stay: Clepsydra Residence 4* or similar, Plovdiv
• Meals included: breakfast

Today you will explore the ancient city known as the “City of the seven hills’’. It is one of the oldest cities in Europe, founded 8 000 years ago. Today Plovdiv is the European Capital of Culture 2019. The unique Old town boasts beautifully decorated houses, fortress walls, ancient Roman Theatre and magnificent churches. You will walk through the buzzing pedestrian street, which is the longest one in Europe. You will visit the Muslim temple Dzhumaya Mosque, next to the Ancient Roman Stadium, the Ethnographic Museum and the fashionable Kapana art district. You will enjoy the stunning views from the top of Archaeological Complex Nebet Tepe.

You will have the rest of the afternoon to explore Plovdiv at your leisure. After a day filled with fun highlights, you will enjoy a dinner at a cosy traditional restaurant with your fellow travellers.

Included:
• Overnight stay: Clepsydra Residence 4* or similar, Plovdiv
• Meals included: breakfast

After breakfast you will depart for Sofia, to explore a city with a 7000-year-long history. Sights include one of the symbols of the Bulgarian capital city the 4th-century rotunda of St. George, the remains of the ancient city of Serdica, Banya Bashi Mosque and the mineral baths. You will have a short break at the fountains next to the famous Ivan Vazov National Theatre. You will pass by the National Assembly and take photo with the monument of King Liberator. Your tour will end with one of the most popular places in Bulgaria – the impressive Alexander Nevsky Memorial Cathedral. It was built in Neo-Byzantine style. The shine of its golden domes attracts attention from miles away.

You will have the rest of the afternoon to explore Sofia at your leisure. You can do some shopping, relax at a café on Vitosha street or buy souvenirs. Then, in the evening, you will have one last dinner with your travel companions, a chance to share your favourite memories from the Plum Festival tour.

Included:
• Overnight stay: Central Hotel Sofia 4* or similar, Sofia
• Meals included: breakfast and dinner

On your departure day, we will pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to Sofia Airport at least two hours before your flight.

Included:
• Overnight stay: N/A
• Meals included: breakfast