1st day     Sofia – Stara Zagora /240 km/       D
Arrival at Sofia Airport. Meeting by a representative of a local tour operator – MIEL Ltd. Transfer by car/bus to the city of Stara Zagora (duration – about 2 hours and 30 minutes). Accommodation at the hotel. Dinner with wine-tasting and overnight in Stara Zagora.
 
2nd day     Stara Zagora – ancient history              B, L
After breakfast at the hotel the day will start with a sightseeing tour of Stara Zagora. You will visit one of the most impressive archeological, historical and cultural highlights of the city – the Neolitic Dwelling museum; the Regional Historical Museum, the Roman Street leading to the Southern Gate of Augusta Trayana, the Antique Forum Augusta Trayana, and the Late Antique Public Buildings with Roman’s Mosaics. The tour continues with visit of the Orthodox Saint Martyr Dimiter Cathedral Church or Blessed Virgin Mary Church. Lunch. Free time. In the evening we invite you to enjoy opera or concert performance /up to the program/. Overnight in Stara Zagora.

3rd day     Stara Zagora – life-style and art      B, L
Breakfast at the hotel followed by visit of the house-museum “Town life – 19th century”, the Museum of Stara Zagora crafts and the City Art Gallery.  Then the program continues with a walking tour via central part of the city – the main Pedestrian Street, City park and vegetable and fruit market. After lunch, visit of the Museum of the Zagorka brewery. Here you will have the opportunity to taste life beer. Return to the hotel and free time for leisure. Overnight in Stara Zagora.

Optional: a special private concert – classical / Bulgarian folklore music in the hotel’s hall – 200 € / per group

4th day     Stara Zagora – Kazanlak /35 km/ 
   The Land of Thracian’s Kings / UNESCO Heritage     B, L, D
Breakfast and departure to the town of Kazanlak (duration – about 30 minutes). Accommodation at Hotel “Palas” and after a short break the program continues with a visit of the City Historical Museum. Here you can see one of the greatest golden collections and artifacts of the life of the Thracian’s Kings. Then you will discover the Kazanlak Art Gallery. After lunch in a restaurant you will go to one of the best UNESCO World Heritage in Bulgaria – the Thracian Tomb at Kazanlak. Then you will visit another unique Thracian tomb “Golyama Kosmatka”, which was recently uncovered and get world-famous for the golden mask of Sepht 3. One the way back you will stop to see one of the magnificent churches – the Golden Domes Russian Church. Return to the hotel and free time for leisure. The day will finished with a dinner in a traditional Bulgarian restaurant with a life folklore show. Overnight in Kazanlak.

5th day     Kazanlak – Roses and art        B, L
After breakfast the day will start with a visit of the Rose Museum which is unique in its presentation of the 350-year old history of Bulgarian rose growing and processing industry. Then the day continues with visit of the Ethnographic Complex “Kulata” (“Tower”) where you can enjoy the serene renaissance atmosphere of old Kazanlak and taste the famous Bulgarian rose oil and other different rose products. Your next stop is the luthier’s studio, where you will see the reproduction models of Stradivari and other musical instruments. Lunch. Free time or an opportunity to visit art studios for wooden plastic, artistic ceramic or painting and work together with the artists /optional/. In the late afternoon – visit the house-museum of Petko Staynov /a famous Bulgarian composer/. In the music hall of the museum you will listen to a private classical concert – especially for you! Return to the hotel. Overnight in Kazanlak.

6th day     Kazanlak – Sofia /280 km/ - UNESCO heritage     B, L
Early breakfast and departure to Sofia /duration of the transfer – about 3 hours/. Arrival at Sofia and accommodation at the hotel. After a short break and lunch, the day continues with visit of the Boyana Church (10th century) – UNESCO World Heritage, remarkable with its unique frescos. Next stop is the National Historical Museum, which is situated on the foot of the Vitosha Mountain and is one of the biggest historical museums on the Balkans. There you will find more than 650 000 cultural monuments, rich golden collections of artifacts and archeological and historical archives. Then you are going to visit the gorgeous Cathedral “St. Alexander Nevski” in the center of Sofia, followed by a walking city tour - the Russian church “St. Nicolay”, the Roman’s rotunda “St. George” and other archeological and architectural sights of the capital. Return to the hotel. Overnight in Sofia.

7th day    Sofia - departure        B, L
Breakfast at the hotel. Free time. Lunch in the hotel’s restaurant. Transfer to the Sofia Airport for your flight back to Brussels. END OF THE PROGRAM

The prices include:
• VIP Meet & Assist service upon Arrival and departure;
• Hotel accommodation on BB basis for 6 nights: /mentioned below or similar/
- 3 overnights in a hotel “Forum” 3* in Stara Zagora;
- 2 overnights in a hotel “Palas” 4* in Kazanlak;
- 1 overnight in 3*/4*/5* hotel in Sofia;
• 7 lunches in chosen restaurants;
• 1 dinner in a traditional Bulgarian restaurant with a life folklore show;
• Visit of ZAGORKA brewery museum and beer tasting;
• All transfers in deluxe vehicle throughout;
• Sightseeing tour of Stara Zagora – visit of the Neolitic Dwellings museum, the Regional Historical Museum; the Roman Street, the Antique Forum Augusta Trayana, Late Antique Public Buildings with Roman’s Mosaics, Orthodox Saint Martyr Dimiter Cathedral Church or Blessed Virgin Mary Church, house-museum “Town life – 19th century”, the Museum of Stara Zagora crafts and City Art Gallery;
• Ticket for opera or concert performance in Stara Zagora;
• Sightseeing tour of Kazanlak – visit of Historical Museum, Art Gallery, Rose Museum, Ethnographic complex “Kulata”, luthier’s studio and house-museum of Petko Staynov;
• Rose-tasting – tasting of rose water, rose oil and lavender oil;
• Private classical concert /piano, violin/ in the house-museum of Petko Staynov;
• Sightseeing tour of Sofia – visit of Boyana Church, National Historical Museum, the Cathedral “St. Alexander Nevski” and etc.;
• French or English speaking guide services.

The program could be rearranged according to the interests of the tourist.

The prices don’t include:
• Air tickets to/from Sofia;
• Optional activities and services not included in the program;
• Extension of the program;
• Personal expenses, tips for driver and guide.

Recommended hotels according to the program:
Cities Hotel WEB
Stara Zagora Forum 4* or
Unicato 3* www.hotelforum.bg
www.uniqato.com
Kazanlak Palas 3* www.hotel-palas.com
Sofia Anel 5* www.hotelanel.com

The key locations of the tour:

The highlights of Sofia - founded 7000 years ago Sofia is the second oldest city in Europe. It is the capital of Bulgaria since 1879.In this city life never ends. The intertwining between the antique,well-preserved, and the new will fascinate you.As you walk in the streets you can feel the history that whispers you the deepest secrets of this important city. www.sofia.bg/en

Stara Zagora – incredible artefacts from 8 000 years history - Neolithic dwellings from the 6th century BC, The Antic Forum of  Augusta Trayana - Vereya Roman ruins,  The Memorial to Stara Zagora Defenders in 1877 and much more. www.stara-zagora.travel

Kazanlak - a town located in the end of the Valley of Roses. It is the centre of rose oil extraction in Bulgaria and the oil - producing rose in Kazanlak is one of the most widely recognizable national symbols. www.tourism.kazanlak.bg/en/index.html

Contact  : MIEL LTD