Exclusive TUI itinerary
Firstly the positive. The guide was very well informed and imparted lots of useful information. Now the less positive. The Bee Farm stop was oversold. It probably was once a bee farm but there is no evidence of it being so now. The stop at the hilltop village was ok, but listening to tuneless bagpipes and a folksong that we had now clue of content laboured on. The winery was not a tour. We saw nothing of production but went straight to a tasting, then of course to the shop to purchase.
Nestled in the Balkan Mountains, two traditional Bulgarian villages take this spotlight on this morning tour. You'll learn about authentic rural life, visit a bee garden, and learn how typical Bulgarian treats are made. Ivaylo, one of our guides, says “the slow-paced life in the village of Erkech, combined with the serene mountain atmosphere and scenic views, makes this tour the perfect nature escape.”
First, you'll stop at a bee garden in the village of Kosharitza, where you'll see first-hand how honey is made, and sample some of the produce – there's pure natural honey, as well as mead and sweet honey brandy made here. Then, you'll head over to Erkech – this part of the tour is all about getting to grips with how the locals live. You'll see how wool has been made for hundreds of years, and how brandy is distilled, before a tasting session. Then, you can show off your cooking skills in a competition making banitza, a typical Bulgarian pastry.
And for younger guests, there's plenty of fun in store. There's a playground with swings, slides, seesaws and a bunch of games, like badminton, skipping ropes, hoops and more. Plus, kids can get hands-on with making Bulgarian martenitsa, which are small woollen dolls worn on 1st March, known as the day of Baba Marta, to celebrate the end of winter.