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Contact us: +359 (0) 884 455 405 I [email protected] I www.bulgariawinetours.com I
Valid from 07.11.2017 Valid until 31.12.2018
Yakata & Western Thrace
Bulgaria
- The Thracian Valley -
Tour Code: YakataA6D
• Visits to 6 wineries
• Plovdiv - European Capital of Culture 2019
• The Thracian Valley Wine Region is 2nd Best Wine Travel Destination of 2017 by Wine Enthusiast
• Private Tour Leader
Contact us: +359 (0) 884 455 405 I [email protected] I www.bulgariawinetours.com I
Overview
Enjoy a 6-day wine tour in the undiscovered wine country of Bulgaria. Taste unique local wines such as Mavrud and Rubin, and discover the stories behind the wines. Learn more about the wines, terroir, winemaking and history of Bulgaria in the traditional wine region surrounding Plovdiv – the Thracian Valley Region. The Thracian Valley is Bulgaria’s largest wine region. It is an under-the-radar wine region that was recently selected as Best Wine Travel Destination of 2017 by Wine Enthusiast. Explore Plovdiv and its many layers of history from the Thracian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman eras. Plovdiv will be European Capital of Culture in 2019. Enjoy the city before the crowds of people discover its magical atmosphere. Sample local Balkan foods. Discover cultural gems. Have an unforgettable experience!
Tour Itinerary1
Day 1. Arrival to Plovdiv
Arrival to Sofia Airport. Welcome by Tour Leader. Transfer to Plovdiv (2h). If time permits, your Tour Leader will lead a guided walking tour of Plovdiv and Old Town Plovdiv. If there is no time for a walking tour due to a late arrival, the walking tour will be moved to Day 2. Check-in to 3-star hotel. Tasting of a selection of typical Bulgarian wines at enoteca. Free evening.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel, standard double rooms
Meals: None
Day 2. Wine Tasting in the Yakata Micro-Region
Visit to the modern winery Villa Yustina, where the winery guide will give a tour of the vineyards, explain the winemaking process, and end with a superb tasting in the charming tasting room. Visit to Todoroff Wine Cellar for lunch and a wine tasting. Return to Plovdiv. The evening is free to enjoy on your own.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel, standard double rooms
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Day 3. Wines from The Valley of Roses and The Thracian Kings
Our first stop for the day is the charming Starosel Wine & SPA Complex, where you will tour the winery and taste
1 Timings may vary and depend on the pace of the tour. Name of wineries and tour leader will be provided in the travel service voucher once the booking is confirmed
a selection of the wines produced here. Lunch is served in the restaurant alongside the wine. Not too far away is the Thracian tomb of Starosel, where the ruins tell the story of how wine was made back in Antiquity. We head back to the hotel in Plovdiv. Dinner is on your own this evening. We are happy to help with dinner reservations upon request!
Accommodation: 3-star hotel, standard double rooms
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4. Bachkovo Monastery, Bulgarian Cuisine and Wines
Visit to Asen’s Fortress - a medieval fortress located on a high, rocky ridge in the Rhodope Mountains close to the town of Asenovgrad. We continue to the second largest monastery in Bulgaria - the Bachkovo Monastery, and take some time to explore this spiritual centre for the Orthodox church. Lunch is served in a local restaurant, where we get to taste fresh, rustic, wholesome, flavourful food that Bulgaria is known for. We visit a quality organic wine producer in the Plovdiv area to taste a selection of 5 wines that are sure to impress your palate. Return to hotel. Free evening.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel, standard double rooms
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 5. Exploring the Thracian Valley
After breakfast, we head out to the high-quality wine producer Dragomir Estate. Tasting of 5 wines. Visit to a second winery. Lunch. Return to Plovdiv. Free evening
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 6. Departure
After breakfast, check-out and transfer to Sofia (2h).
- End of Tour -
Included in the tour
o All ground transportation mentioned in itinerary
o Meet & Greet at Sofia Airport upon arrival
o 5 nights in 3-star Plovdiv hotel in standard ensuite double room
o Meals as per itinerary
o Tours and tastings at 6 wineries + local enoteca/urban wine cellar in Plovdiv
o Guided walking tour of Plovdiv and Old Plovdiv
o Visits to Asen’s Fortress, Bachkovo Monastery & Starosel Thracian Tomb (incl. entrance fees)
o Tour leader from Bulgaria Wine Tours
o Tour operator insurance from Groupama Insurance in case of non-provision of services
Contact us: +359 (0) 884 455 405 I [email protected] I www.bulgariawinetours.com I
Not included in the tour
o Flight tickets
o Private transfers
o Meals and beverages not mentioned in the tour description
o Alcoholic beverages not mentioned in the tour description
o Travel and medical insurance (please, consult your insurance provider)
o Visa fees, if applicable
o Extras and incidentals
o Single room supplement
o Tips
Price • EUR 790 per person
Recommended Travel Period
The best time to travel to Bulgaria for a wine tour is in the spring (March-June) or fall (September-November).
Recommended Packing List
o Cash (BGN)
o Camera, mobile phone, chargers
o Sun lotion, sun hat, sun glasses
o Insect repellent
o Notebook for tasting notes
o Comfortable walking shoes
o Jacket for chilly evenings
o Passport & other important documents
Quick Travel Tips
o In Bulgaria, nodding one’s head means “No” and shaking it means “Yes”
o Most young people in Bulgaria speak some English. People of 40+ years of age usually do not speak English, but might speak Russian, German or French. If you need to ask something in English, it is better to approach a young person
o Tipping in restaurants is not mandatory, but usually people leave a tip of around 10% of the total bill
o Most places in the big cities take debit and credit cards, but it is advisable to take some cash with you, especially if you are traveling outside of bigger cities
o Most places do not take American Express credit cards. The most widely used debit/credit cards are Visa and Mastercard
o The exchange rate to Euro is fixed at: 1 BGN (Bulgarian lev) = 1.95583 EUR
o Some international banks such as: Unicredit, Raiffeisen, Societe Generale, Allianz Bank, TBI Bank, Procredit Bank, ING Bank, BNB Paribas have branches or are present in Bulgaria
o There are foreign exchange bureaus in all airports and larger towns
o Wi-Fi coverage is good in Bulgaria and almost any café, hotel or a restaurant (especially in big cities) will have free Wi-Fi.
o EU citizens do not require a visa for Bulgaria. Schengen Area visa holders do not require visas for Bulgaria for a stay of up to 90 days. For more information on visas, visit http://www.mfa.bg/en/pages/109/index.html or contact the respective institutions in your country.
Wine Country Winemaking in Bulgaria dates to Thracian times more than 5 000 years ago. In the 1970s, Bulgaria became one of the largest wine exporters in the world. However, demand for Bulgarian wine declined after the fall of the Soviet Union. Since 2007, numerous small and medium-sized wineries have been established, focusing on quality rather than on quantity. They have consistently won awards at prestigious international competitions. These wineries continue the centuries-old tradition of winemaking on these lands and tell the stories of the skillful Thracians in a modern and unique way. Discover Bulgaria’s many local grape varieties. Grab the chance to try many interesting wines from old and modern wineries. Discover the rich tradition of winemaking in Bulgaria.
Thank you for travelling with us!
Contact us: +359 (0) 884 455 405 I [email protected] I www.bulgariawinetours.com I
