Author: KADASTRA AGENCY

www.tourism.kadastra.com

If you want to come closer to the spirit of time gone by, to live for a while far from the urban vanity and bustle, to wake up in the morning with the ringing of cow-bells and the cock-a-doodle-do of cocks hailing the dawn, then you should come to the Rhodope mountain.
The Rhodopes have prepared a gift of theirs for every single sense - your eyes will be full of colour, a song will be resounding in your ears together with the murmur of the highland brooks and the sound of cow-bells, you can taste crystal pure water gushing out the countless fountains. Your soul will find peace and relish!
The natives will welcome you cordially and accommodate you in a lovely village house, which combines Rhodope atmosphere with modern comfort; they will let you to taste local dishes, they will sing and dance for you and even teach you how to play their bagpipe and dance their “horo”-dances.

1st day

You arrive at Sofia Airport, where we - your guides and interpreters - will be waiting for you. We will leave for a lovely small village named Breznik situated at the foot of the Rhodope mountain, where you will stay in a modern hotel complex. After a short break we will set off for a neighboring small town named Kuklen where in the authentic atmosphere of a typical Bulgarian house the housekeeper will prepare especially for you traditional Bulgarian meals such as banitsa, flat loaf, tutmanik, stuffed cabbage leaves, etc. You have the opportunity get acquainted with the traditional Bulgarian cuisine and the specialties of fixing a meal. You‘ll be able to take part in the cooking process. At the end we’ll all sit around the table and have dinner together.

2nd day

We leave for Bachkovo village after breakfast. There we will visit the Bachkovo monastery built in 1083. For centuries it is a spiritual and culture center of the Rhodope mountain region. After seeing the monastery we will have a launch in a local restaurant. On our way back we will stop at the Asenova fortress, which is built in the middle ages. It is situated on a rocky hill above the left coast of Asenitza river. The earliest archeological artifacts are from the fifth – sixth century before Christ. The Thracians, having seen the inaccessibility of the area, built a fortress there. Afterwards the fortress has been in occupation of the Romans, the Byzantines and the Bulgarians.

3rd day

On the third day we will visit a boutique wine cellar, which is an heir of a rich culture, traditions and inspiration handed down for centuries. Here you’ll be welcomed with bread and salt by an old Bulgarian tradition and will be acquainted with the history of the cellar. You will learn about the technology of producing wine in the fermentation room. You will enjoy a professional tasting of high – quality wines in the authentic atmosphere of the wine – tasting hall. You’ll be surprised by local culinary specialties, accompanied by appropriate drinks in the traditional Bulgarian restaurant. An interesting folklore program and a demonstration of typical Bulgarian crafts and traditions will take care of your good mood. At the end of the day we’ll set off for Eco - hotel “Zdravets”.

4th day

This day is dedicated to your relaxation in the spa-center of the hotel. You will have a closed swimming pool, tangentor, fitness, football field, mini - golf, sauna, steam bath at your service. The hotel is situated at the foot of the Rhodope mountains which allows you to take a walk in the nature and to breathe the crystal clear air. We’ll diversify the evening after dinner by teaching you to Bulgarian national dances in one of the halls of the hotel. And…. why not allowing you teach us?!

5th day

After breakfast we will go sightseeing Plovdiv - a town which successfully combines in a unique way the Antiquity, the Middle ages and the Renaissance architectural styles. The old town of Plovdiv is declared for one of the objects under the protection of UNESCO. The houses are architectural and cultural monuments. One of the sights of the town from the Antiquity is the Antique theatre, also known as the Amphitheatre. Another one is Nebet tepe. There are ruins, left from prehistoric time and from Roman time as well. After this tiring but interesting walk we will have launch in a traditional Bulgarian restaurant. The rest of the day we will spend on a shopping tour in Plovdiv.

6th day

Heading on to Sofia and a farewell after what we believe will be a five - day experience.

About the Author:

This trip will give you the opportunity to touch and feel the magnificence and untouched beauty of some of the most remarkable Bulgarian mountains. You will have the privilege to feel the hospitality of the hard working local people, to enter an unknown world of fairy tales and legends, to have fun in a way that you have never dreamed of, to taste the traditional kitchen in the Rhodope region and to be enchanted by the magnificence of the Bulgarian national song. At the end, you will feel like home and your only wish will be to return to Bulgaria again!