Culture and cuisine are on offer on this Bulgarian adventure
Take a break from regular life and immerse yourself into the simple, happy farm life of Bulgaria on the Bulgarian Culture and Cuisine Tour. During this culture and cuisine tour, you will taste some of the best local meals and wines straight from the source, learn how to prepare them, and have a great time exploring the old traditions of the region. Combine all that with the marvelous scenery of Rila and Pirin mountains, the crystal clear air and the healthy lifestyle here, and you won’t be able to help but relax.
Visits to farms, cooking with the locals, wine tastings–it’s all about the best this region can produce on the Bulgarian Culture and Cuisine Tour!
Highlights of the Bulgarian Culture and Cuisine Tour
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Bulgarian Culture and Cuisine Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Sofia
Arrive at Sofia airport, where your guide will meet you. Pay a visit to the biggest and most important monastery in Bulgaria – the Rila Monastery – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you will be able to taste some of the best Mekitsi, which are traditional Bulgarian pastry sweets.
Next is a transfer to a small village deep in the forests, where you will be welcomed in a nice family hotel.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Pirin
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 Bulgarian Dishes or Wine Making Experience
After breakfast it is time for a transfer to the town of Bansko, an old-style settlement now developing as a big ski resort. Short tour of Bansko and lunch in a traditional tavern. Here you will visit the local beekeepers.
Return back to your lovely accommodation as the hosts have some great activities for their guests – you can either be shown typical Bulgarian dishes and how to prepare them or shown the process of making wine and rakia and how the farm is maintained.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Bansko
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3 Soup Preparation and the Mandra Tour
Begin with breakfast and transfer to a nearby eco farm, situated beautifully in the forests. Here you will have the opportunity to observe how the farm works and taste all the food produced here – fruits and vegetables, herbs and juices. Later you will prepare your own lunch and the hosts will guide you through the preparation of traditional Bulgarian cold soups (tarator), barbecue, and salads.
In the afternoon, transfer to the nearby village of Dobarsko to visit a “mandra,” a small local factory for Bulgarian yellow and white cheese and also the masters of Bulgarian salamies to taste their products. Return to the family hotel.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Bansko
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4 The Wine Capital Tour
Transfer to the picturesque town of Melnik, the Bulgarian wine capital. Tour the magnificent old town of Melnik and the Rojen monastery. Eat lunch in a traditional folklore restaurant.
In the afternoon, it is once again time for tasting. Melnik is the home of world-famous Bulgarian wine cellars. Here you will have the opportunity to try some of the amazing local red wines.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Bansko
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5 Walking Tour in Rila Mountains
Today you will have a picnic in the woods. A short, pleasant walk will take you to a stunning location in the forests, where you will make your own campfire and prepare lunch. Your guide will tell you more about the wildlife in the Rila Mountains and how to recognize the bird songs.
In the afternoon, return to your nice family hotel.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Bansko
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 6 Departure
After breakfast, you’ll head back to Sofia and the airport. Safe travels.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Bulgarian Culture and Cuisine Tour Price and Dates
This guided gastro tour in Bulgaria is always run as a private tour for your group only and the price per person depends on the size of your group.
Prices below are per person:
- Guided group of 2-3: $1,825 USD per person
- Guided group of 4-5: $1,225 USD per person
- Guided group of 6+: $1,095 USD per person
Accommodation on the Bulgarian Culture and Cuisine Tour
This tour is based in hotels. Hotels on this trip will be booked once your reservation has been confirmed.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
Rooms are double occupancy. You can pay a supplement to have a private room in a hotel where possible (please enquire for the pricing). Solo travellers may be required to pay a supplement.
Hotels on Standard Tour
Hotels along the Bulgarian Culture and Cuisine route
A suitable hotel will be chosen each night along the route. Expect hospitality and great meals.
What’s Included in the Bulgarian Culture and Cuisine Tour?
Meals
5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 5 dinners are included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 5 nights are included.
Transportation during the Tour
All personal and luggage transfers, including airport pick up and drop off, are included.
Also Included
- Licensed English-speaking guide
- Tickets to museums and historical monuments
- Entrance fees for all entertainments, mentioned in the program
Not included
- Drinks during dinners
- Tips and personal expenses
- Visa
- Flights
- Travel insurance
- Meals not previously mentioned
- Anything not mentioned as included
Optional Extras
- Additional nights before or after the tour
- Single occupancy upgrades where available
Frequently Asked Questions about Bulgarian Culture and Cuisine Tour
Adventure Trails is a boutique tour operator specializing in all kinds of outdoor-based tours in Bulgaria.
Adventure Trails creates innovative tours that capture the most special parts of Bulgaria. Clients looking for an adventurous and active trip can choose from trekking, biking, climbing, and cultural tours.
The accommodations and transportation during the tours are always carefully selected for their quality.
Learn MoreMap of Bulgarian Culture and Cuisine Tour
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Local Guide
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Stoyan is one of the most experienced guides at Adventure Trails. He has 12 years of guiding under his belt. Stoyan is comfortable in all kinds of adventure activities, but he is especially comfortable when it comes to mountaineering.
- Q: What is your favourite tour to lead and why?
- A: I like every trip I guide, but my favourite are the winter snowshoeing tours, as this is when the mountains are at their best.
- Q: What is one experience anybody visiting Bulgaria should have?
- A: For active tourism, I would say climbing Mt. Vihren in the Pirin range. In terms of cultural-historical tourism, I would say visiting Plovdiv, the most ancient city in Europe. We like to combine both active and cultural-historical tourism in our tours.
- Q: What do your guests like best about the trips you lead?
- A: The fantastic scenery, the excellent food, accommodations, and hospitality, the perfect organization, the interesting conversations, and the berries in the forests!