At a glance
Duration: A fixed-date 4 days/3 nights tour
Start/End: Sofia,Bulgaria
Type: Private or small-group guided cultural itinerary focused on roses,heritage and local traditions (min.2 guests)
Starting Day: May 27, 2027
Key experiences: Rose picking, Parade/festival attendance, rose-oil distillery visits, and cultural sightseeing in Sofia, Karlovo, Kazanlak, and Plovdiv
Main destinations: The Rose Valley,Rose fileds in Karlovo, Rose Festival on May 29,2027,Sofia,Plovdiv
Transportation: Comfortable sedan or minivan with driver/guide
Inclusions: hotel accommodation, breakfast, private transportation and guiding, distillery & Rose museum visits
Rates start at: 530€ for a group of 6
Please note: This is a fixed-date seasonal tour; only the sightseeing experiences can be customized.
Highlights:
- Join the Rose Festival in Karlovo on May 29,2027, including the parade with reserved seating and local festivities.
- Take part in rose picking
- Learn firsthand how roses are harvested
- Visits to authentic rose-oil distilleries, with demonstrations
- Meet local experts in Rosa damascena cultivation, harvesting, rose-oil production, and distillation
- Visit the rose museum and rose heritage experience in Karlovo and Kazanlak
- Enjoy heritage sightseeing in Sofia, Karlovo, Kazanlak, and Plovdiv.
Experience rose picking in Bulgaria’s Rose Valley during the Karlovo Rose Festival, with cultural visits, rose oil distilleries, and heritage sightseeing along the way.
Rose Festival Bulgaria Karlovo Tour
May 27 - 30, 2027
4-Day/ 3-Night Tour
27 May 2027| Thursday - Day 1 – Arrival in Sofia
Welcome to Sofia! Upon arrival, our guide will meet you and assist with your transfer to the hotel. After check-in, enjoy a short break to refresh at
Later, begin a guided exploration of Sofia, a city with more than 7,000 years of history. Take a walking tour through the city center and see the Rotunda of St. George, Banya Bashi Mosque, Roman ruins, the National Theatre, and the National Palace of Culture. Visit the impressive Alexander Nevsky Memorial Cathedral, one of Sofia’s most iconic landmarks.
The evening is at leisure to relax and recover from jet lag.
Accommodation: Hotel Niky, 3-star, or similar centrally located hotel in Sofia.
28 May 2027| Friday - Day 2 – Friday: Sofia – Karlovo – Hisaria
220 km | approximately 3.5 hours
Begin the day with a visit to the State Laboratory “Bulgarian Rose” for a presentation on the current state of oil-bearing rose cultivation. Learn about the history and best practices of rose-oil distillation, the quality of Bulgarian essential oils, their producers, and leading organic essential-oil companies.
Next, visit the Botanical Rose Gardens at Sofia University to explore their diverse collection of rose varieties.
Leave Sofia and travel east toward the Rose Valley and the rose fields of Karlovo. The Rose Valley encompasses the Karlovo and Kazanlak fields, as well as parts of the Nova Zagora region, covering a total area of approximately 3,300 square kilometers.
In the village of Tarnicheni, near Kalofer, visit a historic local distillery that was built 116 years ago and remains in operation today. The distillery is known for producing some of Bulgaria’s highest-quality rose oil. Experience the traditional rose-oil distillation process firsthand, meet local producers, and sample the aromas of natural oils produced at the distillery, including rose and lavender oils.
Continue to Hisaria, a popular Bulgarian spa resort renowned for its therapeutic mineral waters since Roman times.
Check in at the hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure.
Accommodation: Hello Hisar Hotel, or similar, in Hisaria for 2 nights. Hello Hisar is rated “Fabulous” (8.8/10).
29 May 2027| Saturday - Day 3 – Saturday: Karlovo Rose Festival
170 km | approximately 3 hours
Depart early in the morning for the rose fields to experience the Karlovo Rose Festival and take part in the traditional rose harvest. At approximately 8:30 a.m., arrive at the rose fields during the peak of the harvest season. Participate in the traditional hand-picking of the roses and learn firsthand how the flowers are carefully harvested. You will also have the opportunity to experience traditional rose-picking folklore and customs before continuing to the main square in Karlovo.
At 10:30 a.m., attend the colorful street parade and Rose Festival celebrations, featuring the newly elected Rose Queen. Following the festivities in the main square, visit the Karlovo History Museum for a demonstration of traditional rose-oil distillation. Continue with a visit to the “Old Karlovo” complex, a charming historic area featuring beautifully preserved traditional houses that have been transformed into art workshops and galleries showcasing both traditional and contemporary arts and crafts.
In the afternoon, enjoy some free time to explore downtown Karlovo and browse the open market, where local producers offer regional foods, natural products, and bio-cosmetics.
Later, drive approximately 50 minutes to Kazanlak to visit the Rose Museum and another rose-oil distillery. Meet local producers for an informal discussion about the quality of Bulgarian rose oils and learn more about the distinctive production process.
At 7:30 p.m., return to Karlovo to attend the evening concert in the main square.
Later in the evening, drive back to your hotel in Hisaria, approximately 25 km / 30 minutes away.
30 May 2027|Sunday - Day 4 – Sunday: Hisaria – Plovdiv – Sofia Airport
200 km | approximately 2.5 hours
Following breakfast, depart for the Karlovo rose gardens for another opportunity to experience the traditional rose-picking before continuing toward Sofia Airport.
Time permitting, stop in Plovdiv for a two-hour walking tour through the city’s historic center. Discover the magical atmosphere of one of Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited cities and explore its rich cultural heritage, historic streets, and artistic vibe.
In the late afternoon, continue to Sofia Airport for a transfer of approximately 2 hours. The tour ends upon arrival at Sofia Airport.
Hello Iskra,
Just a short note to say “Thank you” for organising such a wonderful itinerary and tour for end of May 2023!
We appreciated the personal touch of you coming to the hotel to greet us on our arrival in Bulgaria, and checking that everything was to our satisfaction.
We very much enjoyed the history and cultural lessons from our guide Lubo, who was the perfect choice of driver/guide. He has an unquenchable love of Bulgarian history, culture, way of life and customs which he told us about while he drove us to, and at, the various destinations. He was able to answer almost all of our questions, any that he was unable to answer, he took the time to ask the people concerned and then fed back to us. Lubo also kept an eye out for us, making sure that we were safe and within his field of vision when we wondered off to explore. In short – Lubo makes an excellent ambassador for any company.
We found the tour to be very well thought out and planned, the pace of the tour was just right, and the hotels to be of good quality. We also appreciated the VIP seating at the street parade in Karlovo.
The highlights of the tour were: the visit to the Enio Bonchev distillery and museum; the rose field festival at Karlovo; Bachkovo Monastery; tour of Plovdiv; along with visits to the various monasteries; cathedrals; churches; mosque – we managed to fit in so much in so short a time – which we would not have been able to had we not had a guided tour!
We look forward to booking with you again next time we visit Bulgaria.
Cordial regards,
Alan and Jooles