Bulgaria · Culture

The Valley of the Roses and Koprivshtitsa 12 hrs Full Day Tour from Sofia

12 Hours Round trip from Drashkova Polyana Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Full-day trip from Sofia to the Valley of Roses and Koprivshtitsa
  • 02 Learn about Bulgarian rose oil production with a local guide in Kazanluk
  • 03 Visit the Damascena rose distillery
  • 04 Enjoy scenic views between the Balkan and Sredna Gora mountains
  • 05 Stop at the Shipka Monument if time allows
  • 06 Explore the cobbled streets and 19th-century mansions of Koprivshtitsa
  • 07 Travel by air-conditioned minivan with an English-speaking driver and guide

Discover two of Bulgaria’s most distinctive regions on this full-day journey from Sofia. Travel through the countryside to the famous Valley of Roses, where a local guide introduces the traditions of rose oil production in Kazanluk and at the Damascena rose distillery, set against the backdrop of the Balkan and Sredna Gora mountains.

Along the way, enjoy the chance to take in panoramic mountain scenery at the Shipka Monument if time allows, then continue to Koprivshtitsa, a beautifully preserved town known for its Bulgarian Renaissance architecture, cobbled streets, bridges, and 19th-century mansions. This is a rewarding day out for travellers interested in culture, landscapes, and local heritage.

You will pay a visit to the Damascena rose distillery where the whole process of rose picking and rose oil production will be revealed and explained to you.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 12 Hours
Tour type Shared
Activity level Easy
Accommodation Not included
Transport Included
Wheelchair access No
Cities Sofia, Kazanlyk, Koprivshtitsa
Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Departing from Sofia

Your activity-packed day starts at 7:00 am behind Vasil Levski Monument ( in front of Embassy of Slovakia).

Hop aboard on a small minibus (usually with Wi-Fi) to head south and enjoy a scenic drive through the Bulgarian countryside.

Local Tour of Kazanluk

You will meet your local guide at the town of Kazanluk. The town is located in the heart of the Valley of Roses where over 60% of the world's rose oil is produced and more lavender oil than in the famous Provence, France. From here starts your guided exploration of the lush natural beauty of the valley locked between the Balkan and Sredna Gora mountain ranges.

Kindly note that the roses are blooming only once a year from mid-May till mid-June. For the rest of the year, you will not be able to observe blossoming rose fields.

Visit to Damascena rose distillery

You will pay a visit to the Damascena rose distillery where the whole process of rose picking and rose oil production will be revealed and explained to you. It will be one of the most aromatic experiences you will experience in your lifetime.

Shipka Monument

If time allows, you will be driven to the Shipka Monument from where fantastic views on both sides of the Balkan Mountains will widen before you.

Koprivshtitsa tour

Koprivshtitsa is a living town, but also an architectural reserve, that is a 2-hour drive from the town of Kazanluk. You will have time to independently discover and marvel at the 19th-century mansions the town is well-known of. You will have enough time to stretch your legs by meandering along the cobbled streets and the numerous small bridges.

Arrival in Sofia at Vasil Levski Monument (Embassy of Slovakia)

After another 2-hour transfer, you will arrive back at the original point, where your tour has started in the morning.

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Drashkova Polyana 3 cities · 12 Hours

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • English-speaking guide
  • English-speaking driver
  • Transport by air-conditioned minivan

What's Not Included

  • Entrance fee for Ethnographic Complex 'Damascena'
  • Entrance fee for a UNESCO Thracian tomb

Know before you go

  • PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION NEARBY
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Not stroller accessible
  • Not suitable for pets
  • Infants must not sit on laps
  • Infant seats unavailable
  • During peak periods vehicles without Wi-Fi may be used.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Drashkova Polyana, BG
Tour start
Drashkova Polyana, BG
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 12 hours finish where they began, in Drashkova Polyana.

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