On this excursion from Sofia, we'll tour the Rose Valley, see how Damascena rose oil is made, and visit the Buzludzha Monument, one of the most Instagram-famous places in Bulgaria.
Rose Valley Tour + Buzludzha Monument
At the appointed time we'll meet behind Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. From here, we'll leave Sofia behind and make our way toward the famous Rose Valley.
Did you know that rose cultivation in Bulgaria dates back to the 16th century? Three centuries later, the country became the global leader in rose oil production. To learn more about this, we'll visit the Damascena Ethnographic Complex and find out why this is one of the best places in the world to grow this type of rose for the extraction of its precious oil.
Next, we'll go to the town of Kazanlak, where the annual Rose Festival is held during the harvest, between the months of May and June. We'll enjoy a leisurely stroll through this town before taking time for lunch.
After some free time for lunch, we'll go to the Buzludzha Monument, a curious UFO-shaped construction perched on a historical peak in the Central Balkan Mountains. It's an abandoned Soviet structure built by the Bulgarian communist regime. You won't be surprised to know that this monument is Instagram-famous, so much so, in fact, that artists like Rita Ora have used it to shoot their music videos!
Before starting on our way back, we'll stop in the town of Shipka to see its Memorial Church, built in honor of the soldiers who perished in the war between Russia and Turkey. Finally, we'll return to Sofia and drop you off at the starting point, where we'll arrive after a total of 10.5 hours.
Transportation only option
When booking, you can choose to take the tour with a guide, as described in the itinerary, or book an option that includes transportation only.
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