Highlights of the Dine and Wine Tour

We offer you a 5 day tour in a picturesque area of Melnik. Enjoy this tour of the medieval Rozhen monastery, The Melnik Pyramids, Rupite, Vanga’s house and the best wines of this beautiful part of Bulgaria. The region is famous also with its specific sort of grape. Melnik area is the perfect place for wine tasting, and there are numerous very special wine cellars in the area, where you can learn the history of the magic drink.

Sofia

Sofia is Bulgaria’s capital and its largest city. Founded thousands of years ago, today the city continues to develop as the country’s cultural and economic center. At present, the city has a population of 1,250,000. Modern, vibrant and historical place with various monuments, old buildings, churches and museums.

Melnik

The smallest town in Bulgaria, situated in the south slopes of Pirin, among sand pyramids with queer forms. Melnik is a special place. The first written evidences for the Melnik Fortress refer to the beginning of the 11th century. One of the oldest houses on the Balkan Peninsula is the Boyar’s House which was a residence of Despot Alexius Slav. Here the old times are preserved and wait to be discovered.

The Rozhen Monastery is located among eroding sandy mounts, with the mass of the Pirin filling the horizon. With mediaeval origins uncertain, but probable, the monastic complex is a fortress-like compound with the shape of an irregular hexagon. Inside, it is a delightful and peaceful place, with cobble-stone pavement, a cosy little church painted with mediaeval murals, and living quarters adorned with wooden porches, with vines climbing on them. An old water fountain is running, filling the air with its murmur.

The Melnik Pyramids, one of the most interesting natural attractions in Bulgaria. They are rock formations scattered over an area of 50 square kilometers. These unique natural formations attract tourists from all over the world. These fantastically sculpted rocks have assumed the most varied shapes and details, resembling stone mushrooms, haystacks, minarets, alpine ridges and peaks, swords, obelisks, Egyptian pyramids, Gothic cathedrals, and so forth.

Rupite is a protected area famous for its healing mineral springs with a temperature of 74° C and capacity of up to 35 l/sec. Via Aristotelis passes through this area. This is one of the two basic bird migration routes through the territory of the country. The remains of an ancient town, existing within the period from 4th century BC to the 6th century AD are located along the south slopes and at the foot of the volcanic hill Kozhuh. According to explorers, this was the main town of the Thracian tribe Sints – Heraclea Sintica.
The memorial temple “St. Petka of Bulgaria”, built in 1994 is situated in the locality of Rupite.

Vanga’s house was the place, where the famous Bulgarian prophetess was received and helped of people in need. The small-house is located within the new built monastery complex around the chapel of Vanga. From the windows, the visitors are able to see the arrangement of the rooms, their furniture and some belongings of the prophetess. The locality is mostly famous as a place related to the prophet Vanga, and by this it attracts thousands of worshippers and tourists. Vangeliya Gushterova (1911 – 1996), is the full name of the prophet, was famous around the whole world with her multiple prophecies which had come true.

Program of the tour

Day 1

Arrival to Sofia airport. Assistant and transfer from the airport with private car and accommodation in 4* or 5* hotel in the center of Sofia .  Dinner at typical bulgarian restaurant. Overnight.

Day 2 

After breakfast -Sofia city tour. 

The town center is compact and rich of archaeological sites, architectural, historical and cultural monuments . all of its treasures are in a short walking distance from each other. All of Sofia’s major highlights will be close to your hotel. This day you will visit:

• Alexander Nevski Cathedral (the second largest Orthodox Cathedrals in Europe)
• The National Essembly (The Parliament)
• The Monument of Alexander II of Russia (Alexander the Liberator)
• St.Sofia Church
• The Russian Church
• The Former King’s Palace
• The National Theater
• The City Garden
• St. George Rotunda (the oldest building in Sofia)
• The Eastern Gate of Roman Serdica
• St. Nedelia Church
• The Monument of St. Sofia
• St. Petka Church

After lunch we continue to Melnik by bus or private car.  Dinner and overnight in Melnik or Sandanski  3*,4* or 5* hotel.

Day 3 

The starting point of our journey is Melnik city tour, full day guided program with lunch, dinner and wine tasting.This day you will be impressed by

• Boyar’s House 
• Kordopulova House
• Pashova House
• The church (basilica) St. Antonius
• The Monastery “St. Virgin Mary Spileotisa
• The remains of the church “St. Varvara”
• Metropolitan’s Church “St. Nikolas the Wonderworker”
• Churches “St. Peter and St. Paul” and St. John the Baptist”.

Before dinner we will visit Wine Cellar Villa „Melnik“ – a family-owned producer of great wines from indigenous and international grapes with a distinct Melnik character. All winelovers can enjoy wines and the gorgeous views from tasting room. And the end of the day we will have a dinner in recommended restaurant of us in the town of Melnik. Overnight.

 Day 4

Breakfast. Today we will visit the Rozhen Monastery and our next stop is „Golden Rozhen“ Winery. The Wine Cellar will surprise you with its unique selection of traditional and new wine brands with a diversity of tastes and aromas, with excellent qualities. Here you can taste  Melnik 55, Melnik Ruby and the emblematic Broad Melnik Vine for the region since ancient times have not been neglected either. Free time and dinner. Overnight.

Day 5

Breakfast at your hotel. Before we go to Sofia we will visit the magical Rupi and Vanga’s house an optional visit of Rupel Winery . Wine tasting is organized for everyone, accompanied by an introduction to the cellar’s technological base and a walk through the vineyards. Тransfer to Sofia. Overnight

Day 6

Private transfer to the airport.