Valley of the Thracian Kings: Exploration Journey Into the Mysterious Ancient Heritage
5.0
15 Ratings
Kazanlak
Embark on an exploration journey into the mysterious ancient heritage of the Thracian Kings. Discover the myths, legends, and archaeological wonders of this ancient civilization.
Duration:
10 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak - The region of the Valley of the Thracian Kings, also known as the Valley of the roses (center for the production of rose oil) was preferred burial ground for the Thracian nobility. This practice bequeathed us about 1,300 tumuli, from which approximately 300 are excavated. The most famous one is the Thracian tomb of Kazanlak, recognized as a masterpiece of the Thracian artwork. The tomb dates from the end of the 4th century BC and due to its well preserved and original frescoes it has been listed as UNESCO world heritage site. In our itinerary, we are planning to visit 4 more Thracian toms which are very different from each other and will fulfill the picture of this amazing ancient civilization. Grifoni tomb dates from 5th century BC. It consists of three chambers and one corridor. Many valuable artifacts
- works of art were found at the site. It’s one of the richest Thracian burials found till now. The last stop will be the Ostrusha tomb, which dates from the 4th century. It’s mainly famous for its unique ceiling- a combination of relief and fine decoration - different portraits, colorful figures, and floral ornaments.
- Iskra Historical Museum - When we finish with the toms, our final visit will be the Regional archaeological museum where we will see the artifacts from the tombs and some masterpieces of the Thracian art and material culture. After this visit, we will have 2 and a half hours of a beautiful drive back to Sofia.
What's Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Professional guide
- Entrance fees
- Transport by private vehicle
What's Not Included
- Food and drinks
Additional Information
On this full-day excursion, you’ll delve into the enigma of the Thracians, renowned for legendary figures like Orpheus (an ancient philosopher and music maestro) and Spartacus (a gladiator and Roman slave who led a historic rebellion). Notably, the Thracians are also credited with the world’s oldest recorded gold treasure. Our tour includes visits to five significant examples of Thracian sepulchral art, including a UNESCO World Heritage site, as well as a trip to the Kazanlak History Museum. As we spend our day uncovering the legacy of the Thracians, we’ll also get to appreciate the scenic landscapes they held in high regard.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- We understand your concerns in relation to COVID 19, therefore we’ve taken the needed measures for you to feel safe. All our guides and drivers go through regular medical checks, wear masks during the tours and in each vehicle, we have a disinfectant spray. Furthermore due to the situation nowadays we organize tours only for small groups (up to 7 persons) and we have the option for private tours.
Location
Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak
General Radetski St., Parc Tubelto
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(15 Ratings)
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Murphdean
Apr 21, 2024
Wonderful day trip! - Our tour guide, Metodly, was wonderful -- engaging, knowledgeable, and fun. We learned about ancient Thrace and about modern Bulgaria. In addition to touring the tombs and other sites, he took us to an archaeological museum and led us to the most interesting historic (and prehistoric) artifacts. It's great to visit a museum with someone who already knows the collection and can direct your attention to key items. He has a love for history and ancient culture, so the tour was never dull.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Calvin_p
Apr 10, 2024
Awesome archeology tour - Our guide is actively pursuing archeology so we received so much insight on all of the Thracian history. It was a great experience learning about how the tombs were maintained over time and excavated. From our stops at the Thracian tombs we could also see Shipka and Buzludzha in the distance.
Review provided by Viator
Laura_m
Sep 26, 2023
Hey Rich Experience in ancient and modern Bulgaria - If you’re into history and archaeology, then this is a great tour for you. We saw four tombs, one of which was a reconstruction, an excellent one. The tombs are in the countryside, so you get to see a lot of rural Bulgaria - towns and small villages, industry, mountains, plains and agriculture. Our guide, Lyubo, spoke great English, and was lively and entertaining. He has a masters in history and was therefore very knowledgeable and able to give in-depth explanations of the history of the tombs and Bulgaria in general. It was all interesting. I learned a lot on this tour!
Review provided by Viator
506rics
Jul 1, 2023
Unexpectedly delightful - The fact that these tombs are under-recognized is a shame. There isn’t a huge museum or complex here, but the display and artistic accomplishments are well worth the time to go through it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Susan
Oct 8, 2022
Great Day in the Valley of the Kings - I was surprised that more people were not visiting the Valley of the Thracian Kings. It is so integral to the part of the history of Bulgaria and Meto, my guide, made the experience come to life. This tour was one of the highlights of my month-long trip.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Vladimir
Sep 20, 2022
A fantastic opportunity to learn about the ancient Thracians and taste and smell the valley of the roses in surrounding area of - The trip is fantastic opportunity to learn about the history of ancient Thrace and the culture of its people through the tombs and artifacts. The valley is also offers wonderful views of the surrounding mountains and historical monuments. Kazanlak is also a vibrant and colorful town with rich history.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Maryellen_s
Apr 27, 2022
excellent - This was an outstanding tour. The guide is a trained and well educated historian who really explained things brilliantly and put Thracian history into the broader context of Bulgarian history in general. The tombs were really interesting and the museum was great too! Highly recommend this tour!
Review provided by Viator
Jayel_h
Nov 12, 2021
A Treasured experience. - Having the opportunity to learn a little bit more of the history of Bulgaria. Mr Meto ,the tour guide with professionalism, provided to me excellent knowledge of the Thracian heritage and many other topics
If you love History and Mythology. This is the tour to learn a little bit more about Orpheus ,Spartacus etc.
Review provided by Viator
Christa
Sep 15, 2021
Wonderful trip to the bulgarian vallwy of kings - A perfect tour with a very nice and comoetant guide. We had an interesting and great day. We can recommend thisvtour to everyone who make holidays in bulgaria. Thank you for this expieriance
Review provided by Viator
Rosemary_r
Mar 12, 2020
Tomb of the thracian kings - Hello thank you for the wonderful trip yesterday. Daniel was very knowledgeable about the whole thing. He took me to a lovely restaurant for lunch. I would really recommend the whole trip.,thanks rosemary Rowley
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Review provided by Viator
