6-Day Private Boutique Tour: Wine and History of Bulgaria, Sofia

About this activity

With this, carefully selected itinerary, you will stay a bit out of the most touristic places of Bulgaria and get deeper into the atmosphere of our history, culture, way of living in different time periods, and, of course, the wine, which is seriously involved in it. We can say that this tour is more like a boutique one because it is a wonderful combination of nature, sightseeing, and traditions with 2 overnights in some of the best chateaus in Bulgaria, where you will enjoy great food, served with the appropriate wine.

For the rest of the evenings, you will enjoy beautiful towns and cities, like Trigrad, Melnik, and Plovdiv

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At a glance

Duration: 6 days
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–8
Guide: English
Operated by: BulTrips

Ages: Infants (0–2 years) · Children (3–11 years) · Adults (12–100 years)

What is included

Included

Included: 6 nights at recommended hotels
Included: Professional guide
Included: Entrance fees
Included: In-vehicle air conditioning: Air-conditioned vehicle

Not included

Not included: Lunches, dinners & beverages

Itinerary

Day 1 · Rila Monastery and the Wine capital of Bulgaria

Rila Monastery

5 hours Admission included

In the morning your guide will pick you up from your hotel/accommodation in Sofia. You will start your adventure by visiting first the biggest monastery in the Balkans. Rila monastery, part of the UNESCO World Heritage List, is situated in Rila mountain, an hour and a half drive from Sofia. The place is magical. The monastery is surrounded by the amazing beauty of the Mountain. You will learn a lot about the Bulgarian Medieval History and the Orthodox Christianity. After the guided tour of the complex, you will be able to enjoy it as much as you like by taking some free time to feel the atmosphere. Then, you can have a good traditional Bulgarian lunch.
Melnik

3 hours

Our journey will continue through a very scenic passage into the Pirin mountain. The region that we will head to is called the Balkan Tuscany. The region is famous for growing sorts of vines that you can’t find anywhere else. We will visit also one more medieval monastery and the smallest town in Bulgaria - Melnik. Melnik was the main stronghold of one Bulgarian aristocracy family in the 13th and the 14th century. During the Ottoman period, the town became the main wine production center and was exporting wines to many European countries. The most famous customer was Winston Churchill himself. We will overnight in this quiet little town.

Overnight: Melnik

Overnight in Melnik

Day 2 · The magical Rhodope mountains and Trigrad gorge

Villa Melnik Winery

2 hours Admission included

After breakfast, we will start our journey toward the Rhodope Mountains. First, we can make a stop in one of the good wineries in Bulgaria- Villa Melnik. You can try some of the most famous Bulgarian wines and learn a lot about wine-making in those lands by having a guided tour of the winery.
Orlovo Oko - Eagle's Eye viewpoint

4 hours

We will continue our journey through beautiful roads, mountain passages, and gorges. Our trip will lead us to Yagodina village where we can have a traditional Rhodope lunch. The place will be below the famous pike- the Eagle's Eye. If choose you can make an hour-long hike to the top where you will see a stunning view of the mountains. The hike is not hard and the efforts are totally worth it.
Diavolsko Garlo- The Devil's Throat

one hour Admission included

Our next stop will be an amazing cave- the Devil's Throat. The place is full of legends, mysteries, and it was believed that it was the entrance of the Underworld. When you get there you will understand why.
Trigrad

20 min

Our final destination for the day will be Trigrad. A charming town where we will overnight and enjoy an excellent Rhodope dinner.

Overnight in Trigrad

Day 3 · The Marvelous bridges and Bachkovo monastery

Shiroka Laka

2 hours

Our exploration of the Rhodope will continue. We will drive to a little town called Shiroka Laka. The town has beautiful local architecture. It is famous for its music school, keeping and developing the traditions of the bagpipe music instrument, spread in the Rhodope region. The town also has given birth to one of the main figures, responsible for saving the Bulgarian Jews during the Second World War. We will also visit his grave later in the day during the visit of Bachkovo monastery.
Marvelous Bridges

2 hours

The Marvelous Bridges are a set of unique natural bridges formed over millions of years through the process of erosion. These bridges are located in the Rhodope Mountains of Bulgaria and are considered to be some of the most stunning and unusual geological formations in Europe. Each bridge is carved from solid rock and is a result of the relentless action of water over time. The bridges vary in size, shape, and height, but all have a natural beauty that is truly breathtaking. Some of the bridges are over 100 meters in height and span up to 50 meters across. The tallest and most famous bridge, known as the Eye Bridge, is a popular spot for tourists and is considered one of the most beautiful and impressive natural wonders in Bulgaria.

After this natural beauty we will have lunch.
Bachkovo Monastery

one hour

The monastery is the second biggest monastery in Bulgaria. It was constructed in the XI century. Inside are buried two of the main figures, responsible for saving the Jewish population from being sent to the Concentration camps during the Second World War- Patriarch Kiril and Ekzarh Stefan.
Plovdiv

30 min

Our final destination for the day is Plovdiv. We will overnight in the heart of the city. You can enjoy its wonderful and artistic atmosphere, but also its intense nightlife.

Overnight in the historical center of Plovdiv

Day 4 · Exploration of Plovdiv and Zaara estate

Plovdiv Old Town

5 hours Admission included

We will dedicate most of our day to exploring this amazing city. Imagine yourself walking in the footsteps of ancient civilizations, unraveling the secrets of the past, and discovering the rich heritage of this fascinating region led by a highly educated guide who will do his best to make this day amazing. Each stop on this tour will transport you to a different era, and provide a unique perspective on Bulgaria's history and culture. We will visit most of its highlights and historical sites.
Stop 2

2 hours

After the tour of Plovdiv, we will check out our hotel and will depart for our final destination for the day- Zaara Winery. We will overnight in the complex, situated in the East part of the Rhodope. There, you will be able to try some more wonderful wines.

Overnight at Zaara state

Day 5 · The Thracian heritage and Chateau Copsa

Stara Zagora

5 hours

After a good breakfast, we will start our journey into the heritage of the ancient civilizations that have been living in those lands. We will start by visiting the city of Stara Zagora or Augusta Trayana as the Romans called it. This is an ancient city that was once a major center of trade and culture. As we explore it, you will gain a deeper understanding of the Thracians and the impact they had on the region. You will also visit an Architectural complex "The Museum of Religions". This place was spiritually important for more the two thousand years. Every culture has left its mark and all layers are visible in this amazing museum. After the walk, you will have lunch in the center.
Stop 2

2 hours

After Stara Zagora, we will continue toward the Valley of the Thracian kings. We will enter in some of the Royal tombs from the IV century that are excavated. One of them- the Kazanlak tomb, part of UNESCO World Heritage List, keeping amazing paintings from that era, giving so much knowledge about this civilization.
Stop 3

one hour

After this intense time travel, we will reach our final destination- Chateau Copsa. Situated in the middle of vineyards the place has a unique atmosphere. Here you can try excellent high-quality gourmet food and wines.

Overnight at Copsa

Day 6 · Back to Sofia

Koprivshtitsa

4 hours

After breakfast, our journey will move toward its end. We will drive on one of the most beautiful and scenic roads in Bulgaria. Our first stop will be a place of respect to the Bulgarian heroes from the struggle against the Ottomans, which has a wonderful view of the Central Balkan mountain. After that, we will visit an architectural reserve called Koprivshtica, with its amazing buildings from the late 18th and 19th centuries. It is like a time machine because it is perfectly preserved. You will learn a lot from our Revival period and uprisings against foreign rule. We will have lunch in a traditional Bulgarian restaurant.
Sofia

2 hours

In the afternoon we will reach Sofia. If you didn't have time to see the city our guide will make a short tour of our capital before checking in your hotel in the center of Sofia. You can learn a lot about the turbulent XX century and the multiple changes in our political system.

Sofia is a very vivid city and gives many opportunities to have a great time. Feel free to aks your guide for recommendations.

Overnight at 3-star hotel in Sofia city center

Meeting point and pickup

You can be picked up from your accommodation or go straight to the meeting point.

Meeting point

End point

Pickup points

Hotel Latinka
Aparthotel Bon Bon
Gloria Palace Hotel
Hilton Sofia
Hotel Europe Sofia
Hotel Premier Sofia Airport
Arte Hotel
Barocco Appart Hotel & Residence
Central Perk Apartments
Astoria Grand Hotel
TemGer M
Central Hotel Sofia

and 145 more pickup points

We can pick up the clients from any location in Sofia

Cancellation

Free cancellation

If you cancel at least 3 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel within 3 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.

If you cancel	You get back
At least 3 days before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

The operator may cancel if the weather does not allow it; you then get another date or your money back.

Good to know

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
We understand your concerns in relation to COVID 19, therefore we've taken the needed measures for you to feel safe. All our guides and drivers go through regular medical checks, wear masks during the tours and in each vehicle, we have a disinfectant spray. Furthermore due to the situation nowadays we organize tours only for small groups (up to 7 persons) and we have the option for private tours.