Valley of Roses and Koprivshtitsa

An exciting full day trip revealing the secrets and splendor of the Bulgarian rose oil production, the ancient Thracian tomb of Kazanlak and the breathtaking mountainous area of the Freedom monument in Shipka.

As a bonus on the way back to Sofia you will have free time to explore on your own the charming town of Koprivshtitsa showcasing over 200 different Bulgarian Renaissance types of mansions.
An early start from Sofia will take us across the fertile Thracian Plane. We will arrive in Kazanlak in about 3 hours and we will visit to the famous Thracian tomb dating back to the 4th century BC, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Then we continue east to the Ethnographic Complex Damascena, located in the heart of the Valley of Roses, where you will learn why Bulgaria is famous for rose oil production.

The next stop is the iconic Memorial Temple of the Birth of Christ, built between 1885 and 1902 in Russian Moskovite style, a beautifully located Eastern-orthodox architectural jewel. If time allows we can "venture" further up the Balkan Mountains for great views from the Shipka peak.

On the return journey to Sofia we will use a different route via the road between the majestic Balkan Mountains and the gentle hills of Sredna Gora Mountains. A planned stop in Koprivshtitsa will give the advantage to explore this Revival Period architectural gem.