Swap tulip and lavender fields for lesser-known Rose Valley in Europe – and flights cost just £17
FOR the last several years, tulip, sunflower and lavender fields have swamped social media feeds.
Fuelled by the need for fresh selfies, visits to fields of colourful flowers became a must during the Covid-19 pandemic.
While lavender and sunflowers have been grown in the UK for years, lavender fields attracted a surge of interest during the pandemic.
And it seems like this surge is here to stay, with sunflower fields in the UK proving to be a popular way to spend the afternoon last year.
Brit holidaymakers who want to visit a field of flowers might want to swap the UK’s lavender and tulip fields for the Rose Valley in Bulgaria.
Located south of the Balkan Mountains, the Rose Valley is entirely unique to Bulgaria.
The Rosa Damascena, also known as the Damask or Castile rose, was imported into Bulgaria in the 16th Century.
Because of the favourable growing conditions in Kazanlak, the rose field, and its subsequent production, thrived.
Not only is the Bulgarian Rose an important national symbol, the Valley of the Roses has become one of the biggest producers of rose oil in the world.
Roses are carefully picked between May and June, with a Rose Festival held at the beginning of June.
The flowers are carefully cut one-by-one before being laid in willow baskets, which are then sent to the distilleries.
Tourists can join the harvest during weekends, or when special reenactments are organised at the local villages.
Public buses are said to run from Kazanlak (a small town in the heart of Rose Valley) to the flower field.
Holidaymakers can also book themselves onto day tours from cities like Sofia and Plovdiv.
Tourists should aim to visit the Rose Valley between May 20, 2024, and June 20, 2024, when the roses are in bloom.
The attraction has been praised by holidaymakers on TripAdvisor.
One person wrote: “It was a great experience being in the Rose Valley. When you get there, you can lose your mind from the amazing smell of roses.
“The rituals of picking roses are breathtaking -if I have a chance, I would love to see it again.”
Another person added: “This is something that is not very well publicised. If you have the time, don’t miss it, as we thoroughly enjoyed the trip.”
Located in the centre of the Rose Valley, there are several other attractions in Kazanlak, including the Museum of the Roses.
The tiny museum opened in 2017 and provides visitors with a history of town’s rose oil production.
There’s also the Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak, which is a Unesco World Heritage Site.
The monument is home to well-preserved frescoes that date back to the 4th century BC.
Located between three major airports, including Sofia, Plovdiv and Burgas, holidaymakers flying from the UK have endless flight options to arrange a visit to Kazanlak.
British Airways, Ryanair and Wizz Air all operate direct flights between the UK and Sofia, with prices starting at £17 for a one-way ticket.
From Sofia, the Bulgarian capital, it’s a three-hour drive to Kazanlak.
Wizz Air also operates flights from London Luton to Plovdiv, with fares starting from £30 for a one-way ticket.
The drive from Plovdiv to Kazanlak takes one hour and 40 minutes.
Fares between the UK and Burgas are slightly more expensive, with one-way Wizz Air flights starting from £44.
In the car, it takes two hours to reach Kazanlak from Burgas.
Accommodation in Kazanlak is relatively affordable too, with an overnight stay at Hotel Plas (a four-star hotel) starting from £52 per night, based on two people sharing a room.
For something a little fancier, there’s also the Kings’ Valley Medical & Spa Hotel where stays cost £127 per night, based on two people sharing a room.
Three flower fields to visit in the UK
- Garson Farm in Esher, Surrey, has sunflower and dahlia fields for the photo opp, as well as PYO fruit and vegetables. Visitors have to buy a farm pass to visit, which costs £5 for an adult and £2 for a child.
- Hitchin Lavender, which made its name thanks to the purple blooms, has a lavender museum, as well as a wild flower meadow. Entry to the fields costs £7 when bought in advance online.
- Norfolk Tulips is reminiscent of one of the most famous attractions in The Netherlands. The field is full of rows and rows of tulips in every colour. Entry tickets cost £5 and all proceeds go to a chosen charity.
One city in Bulgaria has been likened to “little Vienna” thanks to a striking similarity in some of the architecture.
And this “Timeless” Bulgarian city doubles for Rome – but with fewer crowds and £44 flights.
