Day 01
Karlovo Rose Festival and Rose Valley Traditions
- Start the day early from Sofia, as the rose-picking ritual begins in the morning before the sun dries the rose petals. At 9:00, rose-picking starts in the rose gardens around Karlovo or Kazanlak. This beautiful ritual has been celebrated for over a century and includes local singing and dancing performances.
- Take a distillery tour with detailed explanations of the local rose traditions, the distillation process, and the importance of roses for the area's development.
- Have lunch in a warm and welcoming traditional restaurant in a nearby village.
- Visit the Thracian Tomb and the Shipka Monument in the afternoon. Some of the official festival activities also include visiting Karlovo's main square.
- Enjoy local dancing and singing performances. The performances are different every day.
- Admire roses all over the town.
- Learn about Bulgarian traditional customs through "The Bread of the Bulgarians: Ritual, Customs and Faith".
- Return to Sofia at around 19:00.
