Rural Tours Bulgaria
Experience The Real Bulgaria
Why Bulgaria?
Bulgaria is one of Europe’s best kept secrets – a fascinating country on the eastern fringe of Europe, rich in history, culture and tradition, with its own Cyrillic alphabet, resourceful and hospitable people, and with a fantastically rich countryside. Only 18 years after the end of Communism, Bulgaria has just entered the EU and is a country in transition, but life in rural areas still carries on at an unhurried pace. A visit to Bulgaria is a fascinating insight into a different pace of life, which is likely to make you reflect on our own hectic lifestyle in the UK. One of the unique aspects of the trips is the opportunity to meet local people and really get insight into the culture too.
The Central Balkans, Near Kalofer
Following seven successful group visits to Bulgaria between 2004 & 2008, two trips are planned in 2009 to give an opportunity to experience at first hand Bulgaria’s amazing countryside, crafts & culture. Please contact Phil Lyth as soon as possible if you are interested in joining one of these. Other tours can also be organised if you have your own group. Key to the success of the trips is our excellent local guide and interpreter, Liliya Brezina, who is looking forward to meeting our groups this year and introducing you to her native Bulgaria.
The cost for the week is around £350 per person (This will be confirmed at time of booking due to variations in the exchange rate). This price includes minibus transport, local guide/ interpreter, organising fees and accommodation (rooms in private houses - simple and basic, but clean and comfortable). Food and drink is extra, but prices are still quite low. We usually organise a "kitty" on arrival and cover the food for driver and guide out of this too. The flight with Bulgaria Air from
The trips are organised by Phil Lyth through FWAG, The Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, a charitable organisation to which any profits will be donated (see www.fwag.org.uk for more details on FWAG).
Dates for 2009 are:
SPRING – Sunday 17th – Sunday 24th May
AUTUMN – Sunday 25th October – Sunday 1st November
Please email phil.lyth@fwag.org.uk if you are interested in joining one of these trips. A deposit of £25 per person payable to "FWAG" will be requested (returnable if the trip doesn't run).
Itineraries include a wide variety of sites & activities from eco-trails & wildlife sites to historic monuments, farms and craft workshops. Meeting locals, sharing meals with them, and learning about their culture is a key feature.
This years itineraries will be designed to suit the interests of the group when this is known. For example of previous programmes please see below.
Examples of last years itineraries - SPRING
Sunday – Flying from Manchester to Sofia, we will arrive 2300 and transfer to accommodation in Samokov, a small town south of Sofia and at the foot of the majestic Rila Mountains. Samokov is famous for its wood carving and icon painting school, and was historically an important iron-ore mining centre.
Monday – After breakfast and “orientation” we will spend a day in the Rila Mountains, enjoying the scenery and wildlife, particularly the fantastic array of spring flowers. Rila has a rugged alpine beauty with rocky ridges and peaks, and many sparking lakes and streams – Rila derives from the Thracian word meaning “rich in water”. If the weather is suitable we will take the cable car and walk towards Mt. Musala (2925m) the highest summit in the entire Balkan peninsular.
Tuesday – Leaving Samokov after breakfast we will drive to Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s second city, and the historic “Phillipopolis”. After a visit to the Roman amphitheatre we will drive a few miles to the south into the Rhodope Mountains, visiting the incredibly situated Assenovgrad Fortress. The night will be spent in this area, either in Bachkovo Monastery or local rooms.
Wednesday – The day will be spent in Chernovata Stena Reserve (The Red Wall) where more than 600 species of plants grow, many of them local endemics. We will be guided by Dr Tseno Petrov, and will discuss habitat issues including management for Imperial Eagle and Suslik (European Ground Squirrel).
Thursday – Leaving Rhodope we will drive across the Thracian Plain with a stop at a former Communist Collective Farm now run as a Co-operative. This should be a fascinating visit for anyone from an agricultural background. Continuing north we will arrive at our rooms Kalofer, an attractive small town at the foot of the Central Balkan Mountains and in the Valley of the Roses and home of the Kalofer longhair goat.
Friday – Early morning rose-picking is a truly memorable experience which is well-worth getting up early for! Bulgaria is one of the world’s major producers of rose oil, and the petals need to picked while still covered with dew. Later we will take the chair-lift from Sopot onto the top of the Central Balkan Mountains, home to wolves and brown bear, with a walk to Dobrilla Hut if time permits.
Saturday – In the morning we will take a walk on the beautiful Byala Reka (White River) Ekotrail & then have lunch at the Chipevi family farm and a tour around this traditional mountain farm. In the afternoon there will be free time to explore Kalofer.
Sunday – After breakfast we will drive back to Sofia for the 1515 flight home, stopping for a look around the capital if time permits.
Examples of last years itineraries - AUTUMN
Sunday – Flying from Manchester to Sofia, we will arrive 2300 and transfer the short distance to an hotel at Boyana, on Vitosha Mountain.
Monday – After breakfast and “orientation” we will take a walk on Vitosha Mountain, over 2000m high, dominating the southern skyline of the Bulgarian capital. Later we will visit the National Museum of History, for an introduction to Bulgaria’s cultural and historical heritage in a fascinating soviet-style building dating dating from 1974, and where in 1989 the last communist leader, Todor Gzivkov,was removed from power. Later in the afternoon we will drive to Bachkovo Monastery on the edge of the Rhodope Mountains for the night.
Tuesday – After breakfast we will walk in the nearby Chernovata Stena Reserve (The Red Wall) where more than 600 species of plants grow, many of them local endemics, guided by Dr Tseno Petrov. In the afternoon we will drive to Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s second city, and the historic “Phillipopolis” and visit the Roman amphitheatre, carrying on to Kalofer for the night - an attractive small town at the foot of the Central Balkan Mountains and in the Valley of the Roses and home of the Kalofer longhair goat.
Wednesday –Driving for about an hour we will visit the Thracian Cult Centre at Starosel, on the southern flank of the Sredna Gora Mountains, and the nearby Starosel winery. The afternoon will be spent in the nearby Roman spa town of Hissariya, with an optional swim or massage! The night will be spent in Kalofer.
Thursday – In the morning we will take a walk on the beautiful Byala Reka (White River) Ekotrail & then have lunch at the Chipevi family farm and a tour around this traditional mountain farm. In the afternoon there will be free time to explore Kalofer.
Friday – Leaving Kalofer we will drive north over the Central Balkan Mountains, stopping to visit the historical peak of Buzludja where a “space-age style” communist monument was built in the rememberance of guerilla fighters who perished during WWII. Near the town of Gabrovo we will stop at Etara Ethnographic Complex – a fantastic working craft museum and great for Bulgarian souvenirs! We will then carry on to nearby Tryanva, famous for its woodcrafts, staying in local rooms for the night.
Saturday – The morning will be spent in the Veliko Turnovo, the historic capital and one of the most beautiful mediaeval towns of Bulgaria. In the afternoon we will visit the nearby Dryanovo Monastery and walk in the beautiful wooded limestone gorge of the Dryanovo River.
Sunday - An early start will be needed to drive back to Sofia for the 1250 flight home.
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