Tour Date: 30/5 – 10/6/2027 (12 days)
Tour Fee : RM 8,600
Booking deadline : 15/2/2027
Travel style : Road trip
Group size : min 9 pax, max 13 pax
Age limit: 16 – 60
Spring in late May is the rose-picking season in Bulgaria when the annual Rose Festival full of sights and sounds takes place. Let’s journey into the Rose Valley, experience rose-picking at village farm, gain insights into centuries-old method in making rose water and essential oil. Bulgaria is also rich with cultural heritage from ancient Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, and Communist era. The country is also blessed with beautiful nature, from the undulating Balkan Ranges to azure blue highland lakes.
*All images for reference only
Board a morning flight from Kuala Lumpur to Bulgaria via Istanbul. Arrival in Bulgaria capital city Sofia at night, transfer to hotel. (Remarks: those embarking from a third country may opt to meet the group in Sofia)
Morning guided walking tour in the city center of Sofia, which is rich in history, with remains from ancient Roman times, Ottoman period, and Soviet Communist era. Iconic sights include Serdica ruins (4th century Roman city rediscovered during metro construction in 2010), the religious tolerance square surrounded by synagogue, church, and mosque from different period.
Transfer by chartered vehicle to imperial capital of second Bulgarian Empire – Veliko Tarnovo. En-route visit Prohodna Cave, best known for the “Eyes of God”, referred to two eye-shaped holes illuminating the cave and granting a peek at the sky. Also visit a medieval rock church and rock house near the cave. After lunch, continue the journey to Veliko Tarnovo, arrival in late afternoon, pick a cafe with terrace overlooking the river valley to enjoy sunset view.
Tucked in hills clinging to the dramatic bends of Yantra River, Veliko Tarnovo is best explored on foot. Morning hike up to the medieval fortress Tsarevets, spend a few hours exploring the massive walls and ruins perched on hilltop. Afternoon, free & easy to explore the Old Town and Samovodska Charshia lined with cafes and craft shops, a great place for souvenir hunting.
Transfer to the Rose Valley, mid-May to mid-June is the harvest season of roses, when the annual Rose Festival takes place. Enroute visit the Communist-era relic Buzludzha monument, built in 1970s on a hilltop as the memorial house of Bulgaria Communist Party but abandoned after independence. Later, proceed to a village holiday villa for a quiet stay surrounded by farmland, explore the surrounding rose and lavender fields. At night, enjoy a self-cooked dinner.
Visit a rose farm distillery, observe how rose-picking is done and learn about the process of making rose water and rose oil, which is so precious that it is known as liquid gold. Afternoon visit Kazanluk, the main city of Rose Valley, during the Rose Festival the city’s pedestrian commercial zone is lined with stalls selling all sorts of rose products.
Attend a traditional rose-picking ritual in the morning. Local ladies in traditional costume would perform dances, while masked men wearing belts attached with bells would perform a ritual to expel evil spirits to welcome a good harvest. After lunch, transfer to Plovdiv, a short hike up to Bunardzhik Hill (Liberator’s Hill) for panoramic view of the city. At night, check out the city pub district called Kapana.
Plovdiv is the second largest city of Bulgaria and rich in history, as it had been fought over by the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Turks over the centuries. Morning guided walking tour to explore the Old Town, lined with cobbled lanes, dotted with Roman ruins, ancient churches, and 19th century National Revival architecture. Afternoon free & easy, one may stroll the pedestrian walk lined with shops and cafes.
Early morning transfer to the foothill of Rila Seven Lakes at 1585m, take chair-lift up to 2150m where the Lower Lake (first of 7 lakes) is located. Check-in to a chalet near the Lower Lake and have a snack before hiking along the Seven Rila Lakes Cirque to visit the other blue pearls: The Twins, The Eye, The Kidney, The Fish Lake, The Trefoil, and The Teardrop. The highest point is about 2500m. Back at the chalet by the Lower Lake for dinner and overnight stay.
After breakfast, take chair-lift down to foothill, and then drive to Rila Monastery. Founded in the 10th century (but rebuilt in 19th century after being destroyed by fire), Rila Monastery is the biggest orthodox church in Bulgaria, it is listed as a Unesco World Heritage. Late afternoon back in Sofia, wind down and relax.
Depart from Sofia on board a morning flight, transit in Istanbul, connecting flight in the late afternoon, arrival the following day.
Early morning arrival in Kuala Lumpur, end of tour.
A non-refundable deposit (unless tour cancelled by LevArt) of RM 2,300 is payable to secure booking. Balance fee RM 6,300 to be collected upon booking deadline or when the tour is fully booked.
Full terms & conditions (eg: cancellation policy) please click here.
Out of curiosity, Fish would find all sorts of excuses to be on the road. Participating in Marathon abroad, being a volunteer in charity trips, backpacking, or just to admire sun-glow over the tip of a mountain, all these motivated her to travel spontaneously. During travel, she especially likes to explore public parks and local markets to feel the vibes of daily life and tatse local delicacies.
She likes to record her journeys through photography and writings. Be it solo or group travel, she could find joys in different paces and experiences. In 2023, she published a book entitled “Early Departure”, depicting her travel around South East Asia. She also keeps an online travel blog named Fishagrams: Round the World Diary.
