Self Sufficiency with a difference

Rising food prices, environmental impacts, food miles, sustainability and knowing-what-you-eat are all good reasons for becoming as self sufficient as possible.  Your way of life will never be the same again after learning how to be ‘Efficiently Self Sufficient’.

Day one –   

• Arrive Sofia Airport – collected from the airport.
• Travel to Vidin and Hotel Rovno
• Welcome dinner at the hotel.                             

Day two –

• Guided tour of Vidin including a visit to the art and craft museum.
• Visit to El Bi the local cheese and yoghurt manufacturer.
• Lunch at Mystique restaurant, Vidin before heading off to the village of Vruv  to meet Yana who will show you the art of pickling and comfiture.  Many vegetables and fruits are pickled or turned into comfiture in this region, the techniques are unusual and foolproof and Yana will guide you through the  procedures.
• During the afternoon Yana will also demonstrate and cook one of Bulgaria’s classic pastry items…Makitsa.  Similar to that of a doughnut, a warm Makitsa is wonderful!
• Before heading back to Vidin we will start tomorrow’s bread making process.
• Traditional Bulgarian dinner at a local restaurant.
• Return to the hotel.

Day three –

• Bread is an important part of the Bulgarian diet and collectively you will produce a variety of different breads – including preparing and baking celebration breads from this region.  After this practical exercise you will be able to transfer the same techniques and produce wonderful bread at home!
• Lunch will include freshly baked bread, local cheeses and other regional specialities.
• Compotting as a method of preserving over a wooden fire has been carried out in this region for centuries – there is something special about eating your own fruits such as pears, peaches and plums throughout the winter months as a result of compotting.  The technique is simple and rewarding, and it’s  possible that after watching and working with Yana during this session, you will never buy a tin of peaches ever again!
• Traditional Bulgarian dinner at a local restaurant.
• Return to the hotel.

Day four –

• Belogradchik is famous for its rock formation which dates back to prehistoric times, and these rocks offer wonderful panoramic views of the Danubian plane.  Once a Roman fortress, the rocks also contain numerous legends and interesting stories.
• After lunch we travel back to Vidin where you can relax and go shopping in the centre of town.
• Bulgarian dinner at a local restaurant.
• Return to the hotel.

Day five –

• Back to Vruv for cheese making with Bizerka, who will show you how to prepare and make home-made cheese from fresh goat or cow milk – almost every family in rural locations make their own cheese.  Whilst many people have an idea how to make cheese, many are too scared to try.  We are sure that after watching and learning from Bizerka you will be more confident to produce some yourself.
• Possibly a late lunch.
• The making of ‘Bop’ – this is one of those simple dishes which tastes amazing!  Made with white kidney beans, tomatoes and peppers this dish is nutritious, filling and healthy.  Bizerka makes great ‘Bop’ and like many products from rural areas ‘Bop’ is stored for winter.

Day six –  

• 8.30 am coach to Sofia
• Hotel accommodation at the Hotel BudaPest, Sofia
• Lunch at the hotel.
• After lunch, guided sight-seeing tour of Sofia, the Capital of Bulgaria
• A chance to shop in Sofia before returning to the hotel.
• 7.30 pm transfer to local restaurant for dinner.
• Return to the hotel.

Day seven –

• Breakfast.
• Transfer to the airport.
• Flight home.

Price

The price includes transfers from and to Sofia airport, breakfasts, lunches where indicated, all evening meals (excluding drinks), ingredients to produce self sufficiency items, transport in and around the region and entrance to Belogradchik rocks.

Single occupancy                 € 495.00   (Excluding flights and travel insurance)

Twin/double occupancy    € 414.00   (Excluding flights and travel insurance)

Special information

As this visit is very much ‘hands-on’ and to ensure that you get as much from this trip as possible the organisers have restricted the number of participants to a maximum of 12 persons.

Unfortunately Bulgaria is not very wheelchair friendly, however…every effort will be made to make your stay enjoyable.If anyone has specific dietary requirements please inform the organiser when you book.

Who are you helping?

VisitingVidin.com has been established to helping the people of this region andlocal people are actively engaged in the planning and delivery of some aspects of this trip – at no point is anyone being exploited.Furthermore, profits from this trip and any others will be transferred to Phoenix-Inspire, a non-profit charity registered and based in Bulgaria.Phoenix Inspire aims to teach young people from disadvantaged backgrounds the necessary skills to gain meaningful employment in the hospitality industry.For more information about Phoenix Inspire please visit www.phoenix-inspirebg.org

Visitingvidin.com is affiliated with the Bulgarian travel company Rual Travel www.incomingbulgaria.com.  Rual Travel Ltd, Tour operator registration No 00062, 113 G.S. Rakovski Street, Sofia 1000, Bulgaria.  Bulstat number 12185548

Find out more about Bulgaria

Find out more about Vidin