The Thracian Valley Wine Region
Valid from 24.01.2018 Valid until 31.12.2018
Young Wine Festival & Wine Tour
Customized itinerary for BULGAARS WIJNCENTER
- The Thracian Valley-
Tour Code: Yakata5D_CUSTOM
• Young Wine Festival feat. 20+ Bulgarian wine producers
• Plovdiv - European Capital of Culture 2019
• Private Tour Leader
Overview
Enjoy a 5-day wine tour in the Thracian Valley Wine Region. Stay in the town of Plovdiv - Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited city and European Capital of Culture 2019. Taste intriguing varieties such as Mavrud and Rubin, and listen to the stories from the winemakers of the long history of winemaking on these lands and in this area. The annual Young Wine Parade is one of the most authentic and charming wine festivals. The wine producers exhibit their young wines in the old 19th century houses of Old Town Plovdiv Have an unforgettable experience in Bulgaria!
Tour Itinerary[1]
Day 1 |Wednesday November 21 2018
Sofia Airport - Sofia
Group arrival to Sofia Airport. Group transfer to Plovdiv (2h). Check-in to 3-star hotel.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel (shared standard double room)
Day 2 |Thursday November 22 2018
Plovdiv - Villa Yustina - Plovdiv
Today, we visit the acclaimed Villa Yustina winery located close to Plovdiv. Enjoy a tour of the vineyards and winery. Tasting of five wines paired with lunch in the charming tasting room.Return to Plovdiv (45 min). Walking tour of Plovdiv and Old Plovdiv. Free evening to enjoy Plovdiv on your own. Your Tour Leader will be happy to give recommendations for restaurants and assist with restaurant bookings.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel (standard double room)
Meals: Breakfast &Lunch
Day 3 |Friday November 23 2018
Day in Plovdiv
The morning is free to relax and enjoy Plovdiv on your own. At midday, your Tour Leader will meet you in the hotel lobby and together the group will walk to the Young Wine Festival in Old Plovdiv. Wear a warm jacket and comfortable shoes, and remember to bring a little cash for wine purchases and wine tastings. In the charming cobblestone streets of Old Plovdiv, over 20 Bulgarian wine producers will be exhibiting their wines in the beautiful 19th century houses in Old Plovdiv. Spend the day wandering around the open-air festival and tasting wines from each stand.There will be ample opportunity to try Bulgarian food in one of restaurants in Old Town or on the main street of Plovdiv. The day is free to drink wine, try traditional food and immerse yourself into the atmosphere of Plovdiv.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel (standard double room)
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 |Saturday November 24 2018
Plovdiv - Zagreus - Bachkovo - Plovdiv
Visit to the 100% organic Zagreus winery for a tour and tasting. Mavrud is king at this winery, and we get the chance to taste different types of Mavrud. Enroute to our next destination, we stop to enjoy a Bulgarian lunch. Visit to the Bachkovo Monastery – the 2nd largest monastery in Bulgaria. On the way back to Plovdiv, we enjoy one more wine tasting at an urban winery or a local enoteca. Drop-off at the hotel. Free evening.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel (standard double room)
Meals: BreakfastLunch
Day 5 |Sunday November 25 2018
Plovdiv - Sofia
Free time to explore Plovdiv. Group transfer to Sofia Airport. Arrival to Sofia Airport around 2 hours before departure.
Meals: Breakfast
- End of Tour -
Net Prices
Group Size: Min. 6 persons, Max - 20 persons
- EUR 610 per person
- Single Supplement: EUR 40
Included in the tour
- Flight tickets – return flight BRU/SOF/BRU, one hand baggage till 10 kg, one baggage till 23 kg
- All ground transportation mentioned in itinerary
- Group transfer from/to Sofia Airport
- Meals as per itinerary
- Accommodation in 3-star hotel (Plovdiv) in shared standard double-rooms
- Tastings at Villa Yustina, Zagreus Winery and urban winery/local enoteca
- Guided walking tour of Plovdiv and Old Plovdiv
- Free day at the Plovdiv Young Wine Parade Festival 2018
- Visit to the Bachkovo Monastery
- English-Speaking Tour leader from Bulgaria Wine Tours
- Tour operator insurance from Groupama Insurance in case of non-provision of services
Not included in the tour
- Private transfers
- Meals and beverages not mentioned in the tour description
- Alcoholic beverages not mentioned in the tour description
- Travel and medical insurance (please, consult your insurance provider)
- Visa fees, if applicable
- Extras and incidentals
- Single room supplement
- Tips
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
- Cash (BGN)
- Camera, mobile phone, chargers
- Sun lotion, sun hat, sun glasses
- Insect repellent
- Notebook for tasting notes
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Jacket for chilly evenings
- Passport and other important documents
Quick Travel Tips
- In Bulgaria, nodding one’s head means “No” and shaking it means “Yes”
- 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
- Tipping in restaurants is not mandatory, but usually people leave a tip of around 10% of the total bill
- 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
- Most places do not take American Express credit cards. The most widely used debit/credit cards are Visa and Mastercard
- The exchange rate to Euro is fixed at: 1 BGN (Bulgarian lev) = 1.95583 EUR
- 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
- There are foreign exchange bureaus in all airports and larger towns
- Wi-Fi coverage is good in Bulgaria and almost any café, hotel or a restaurant (especially in big cities) will have free Wi-Fi.
- 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 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 modernwineries. Discover the rich tradition of winemaking in Bulgaria.
You have to send your Booking Form to
not later than 30September 2018.
Your booking would be definitive only after receiving deposit 305 EUR on account BE65 0016 1504 9996 – Valentina Grueva with communication tour code and your name
Thank you for traveling with us!
Thank you for travelling with us!
[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