Home to some of the best boutique wineries in the country is the Western Thrace wine region – one of the most famous wine regions in Bulgaria and the wine region that surrounds the town of Plovdiv. Western Thrace is the birthplace of one of the main local varieties – Mavrud, which is present in the tastings of almost each winery visited. On this tour, you will stay in Plovdiv – the oldest continuously inhabited city in Europe. Experience the vibrant ambiance of Plovdiv and let yourself get taken back into the long and tumultuous history of the oldest living city in Europe and one of the oldest in the world. Witness the leftover ruins from civilizations that are long gone but once had Plovdiv in their stronghold. The Thracians, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Greeks, the Ottomans, the Slavs and the Bulgars – everyone has left their mark in Plovdiv. See the city through a different perspective – the food! – as we eat our way through the city. Visit Bachkovo monastery – the second largest monastery in Bulgaria. Visit 5 of the best wineries in the region! Meet the custodians of the vineyards and let them tell the story behind Mavrud and the other grapes of the region. Broaden your knowledge on the Thracian tribes that once ruled these lands and started the wine making tradition that Bulgarians proudly carry forward. Sense the buzzing atmosphere in Plovdiv. Taste the noteworthy wines. Sample the fresh food. This tour offers a great combination of wine, food, nature, culture and heritage. Join us on a discovery of the wines and culture of Plovdiv!
Plovdiv Wine & Culture Tour (Private 6-Day Tour)
Day 1: Arrival and Plovdiv Walking Tour featuring a wine tasting
Arrival to Sofia Airport. Welcome by English-speaking Tour Leader. Transfer to Plovdiv (2h). Check-in to 3-star hotel. If time permits, your Tour Leader will lead a guided walking tour of Plovdiv and Old Town Plovdiv, which ends in the best way possible: an urban wine tasting! Enjoy your first wine tasting of your wine tour in an urban tasting room/wine bar in central Plovdiv. Enjoy a welcome dinner in the evening. If there is no time for a walking tour due to a late arrival, the walking tour will be moved to Day 2.
Meals included: Dinner
Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Plovdiv
Day 2: The Wines of Plovdiv
Start the day with a scenic drive to Manastira Winery, where the winemaker will welcome us inside to tour the winery. End the visit with a spectacular wine tasting in the tasting room. Continue to Villa Yustina for a lunch at the winery before embarking on a guided tour of the winery. Enjoy a tour of the vineyards, follow the journey from grape-to-bottle and end with a magnificent wine tasting in the tasting room. Return to Plovdiv. The evening is free to enjoy on your own. Your Tour Leader will be happy to assist with restaurant recommendations and reservations.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Plovdiv
Day 3: The Food of Plovdiv
First thing in the morning, we head to Dragomir Estate. At Dragomir Estate, we will taste the splendid wines produced at this high-quality local producer. Return to Plovdiv to take part in another walking tour but with a twist – a food walk! We take another walk of Plovdiv but explore the city not through culture but through food. Taste the different foods of Plovdiv and visit a local vegetable and fruit farmers market! The rest of your day is free to enjoy the other sights of Plovdiv. Your Tour Leader will be happy to assist with restaurant recommendations and reservations.
Meals included: Breakfast, Light Lunch (food walk)
Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Plovdiv
Day 4: Introducing The Thracians
Our day starts with a drive to the town of Panagyurishte. Visit to Rumelia Wine Cellar for a tour and wine tasting. Lunch is served in a local Bulgarian restaurant before heading over to Panagyurishte Museum to see the famous golden treasure. The Panagyurishte golden treasure is a masterpiece of Thracian craftsmanship consisting of a phiale, an amphora and seven rhytons made out of 24 carat gold. We head back to Plovdiv. Dinner is on your own this evening. Your Tour Leader will be happy to assist with restaurant recommendations and reservations.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Plovdiv
Day 5: Organic Wine & Bachkovo Monastery
After breakfast at your hotel, we head to a quality organic wine producer in the Plovdiv region called Zagreus Winery to taste a selection of 5 wines that are sure to impress your palate. Zagreus Winery specializes in Mavrud wines. Continue to the village of Bachkovo for lunch. Lunch is served in a local restaurant, where we get to taste fresh, rustic, wholesome, flavorful food that Bulgaria is known for. Visit the Bachkovo Monastery and take some time to explore this spiritual centre of the Orthodox church. Return to Plovdiv and rest a little before dinner. This evening, we enjoy a special farewell dinner including wine.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Plovdiv
Day 6: Departure
Morning departure for Sofia airport or Sofia center from Plovdiv. 2-hour transfer to Sofia.
Included in the tour price
✓ Airport pick-up on Day 1
✓ Airport drop-off on Day 6 to either Sofia airport or Sofia centre
✓ All ground transportation with a car or minivan included in the tour’s itinerary
✓ 5 nights at a 3-star hotel in Plovdiv
✓ Guided walking culture tour of Plovdiv
✓ Guided walking food tour of Plovdiv including a visit to a vegetable and fruit farmers market
✓ Tours and Tastings at 5 wineries, including appetizers and water
✓ Lunch on Day 2, Day 3 (light lunch), Day 4 and Day 5
✓ Dinner on Day 1 and Day 5
✓ Visits to Plovdiv Old Town, Panagyurishte Museum & Bachkovo Monastery (incl. entrance fees)
✓ Breakfast on all days except for Day 1
✓ English Speaking Tour leader from Bulgaria Wine Tours
✓ Tour operator insurance in case of non-provision of services
Not included in the tour price
- Flight tickets
- Private transfers
- Meals and beverages not mentioned in the tour description
- Travel and medical insurance (please, consult your insurance provider)
- Visa fees, if applicable
- Extras and incidentals
- Tips
Price of the Plovdiv Wine & Culture Tour:
€ 710 per person for a group of 6 persons (*)(**)
€ 790 per person for a group of 4-5 persons
€ 840 per person for a group of 2-3 persons.
Single supplement: EUR 70
Contact us for a quotation for groups larger than 6 persons.
* The BGN/EUR exchange rate is fixed at 1 EUR = 1.95583 BGN (http://www.bnb.bg/?toLang=_EN)
** Price per person is based on double occupancy e.g. two persons sharing a room
Payment Policy:
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A deposit of 30% of the total tour cost is required to be paid within 7 days of the invoice issue date.
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The balance of the amount due to the Company must be paid no later than 45 days before departure.
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In the event that the Client makes a booking within 45 days of departure of the tour, the full tour price must be paid up-front.
Payment method:
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Bank transfer
Bulgaria Wine Tours Ltd.
Bank name: Raiffeisen Bank
Bank address: 1 Knyaginya Mariya Luiza Str., Plovdiv 4000
BIC: RZBBBGSF
IBAN: BG09RZBB91551005461558
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Credit or debit card
We accept credit/debit card payment. Information will be provided along with your booking.
Please, refer to the Booking Terms & Conditions for more detailed information about payment.
Arrival/Departure
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Transfer on Day 1 is from Sofia airport to Plovdiv at latest 14:00 or at an agreed time.
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A representative from Bulgaria Wine Tours will greet you in arrivals hall. The representative will have a Bulgaria Wine Tours sign.
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Transport time between Sofia airport and Plovdiv on Day 1 is about 2 hours.
Visa Requirements
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In general, EU citizens do not require visas to travel to Bulgaria. Citizens of some other countries also do not need visas to travel to Bulgaria. For visa requirements to enter Bulgaria, please consult the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs at: http://www.mfa.bg/en/pages/109/index.html or the respective institutions in your country of residence.
Insurance
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You are encouraged to purchase travel and medical insurance at your own judgement.
Notes
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The tour does not require any special medical condition or fitness level. The tour does not involve intensive walking, hiking, or other physical effort apart from the normal efforts for sightseeing.
Additional services or surcharges
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Please contact us for prices and information on extra overnights in Sofia or Plovdiv
For any questions, please contact us at: +359 (0) 882 602 021 or email us at: info@bulgariawinetours.com
Why Choose Us
✓ Because we are the original tour operator in Bulgaria specializing in wine tours.
✓ Because we have visited each and every winery, hotel and place we offer on this tour in order to ensure the highest possible quality of the offered services.
✓ Because we work closely with the wineries and the hotels offered on this tour and we are flexible to accommodate your wishes.
✓ Because we have made academic research on the potential of wine tourism in Bulgaria: https://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/search/publication/4091904.
✓ Because we are promoting alternative tourism and helping the development of rural regions in Bulgaria.
✓ Because you will be supporting a young start-up.
✓ Because we will make sure you have fun and enjoy the tour!
Tour Map
