Skrebatno

A warm welcome by local community. A lunch with traditional home made dishes

Gelina is the name of the bride in the Bulgarian Muslims` villages in the region of Ribnovo. For us local women will recreate the Gelina ritual: the bride’s face painted white, adorned with glitter and a mirror in her hand. We will learn why she walks with her eyes closed, looking only into the mirror to guard her beauty and protect herself from the evil eye. In the afternoon we join a real Ribnovo wedding – gifts on stage, music on the square, dancing and dazzling traditional dress. At the community center we will see the bride’s trousseau displayed in front of the whole village, then follow the musicians to the square, where we will join the circle dances and taste homemade local pastries.

Kovachevitsa

Kovachevitsa walking tour with a local guide Step into a mountain village that feels frozen in the 18th century. With our local guide you’ll wander along cobbled lanes lined with massive stone houses, hear the story of the low-built church of St. Nicholas and its barber-benefactor in Constantinople, and discover why Kovachevitsa has become a beloved set for films and period dramas.

Culinary class: rolling traditional banitsa In a cozy village kitchen we join local women for a hands-on pastry workshop. You’ll learn how to knead the dough, stretch it into paper-thin sheets and roll your own Western Rhodope banitsa, filled with fresh local ingredients. While the pastry bakes, we share stories and recipes – then enjoy our golden, fragrant creation together.

Leisurely walk through Leshten Leshten welcomes us with stone-and-wood houses perched on steep slopes, overlooking the Rhodope ridges. On our walk through the narrow streets we’ll admire the traditional architecture, peek into old village courtyards and feel the quiet, authentic rhythm of rural life that still preserves the true spirit of the Bulgarian village.

Wine tasting at Uva Nestum by the Mesta River We end the day at the elegant Uva Nestum winery and spa complex, set near the banks of the Mesta River. During a guided tasting we sample several estate wines, with a special focus on their signature Rubin–Merlot blend: deep ruby color, rich aromas of blackcurrant, dry leaves and smoke, a full, velvety body with notes of elderberry, chocolate and a long, spicy finish.