Valley of Thracian Kings tour: 5 tombs & UNESCO site

Five Thracian tombs spanning the 5th to 4th centuries BC, each one built differently.

A full-day tour from Sofia into the Valley of the Thracian Kings, a burial ground for Thracian nobility that holds about 1,300 tumuli. You visit five masterpieces of Thracian tomb architecture (including the UNESCO-listed Kazanlak tomb with its original frescoes), and the Regional Archaeological Museum in Kazanlak, where artifacts from the excavations are displayed. A professional English-speaking guide leads the route. Hotel pickup and entrance fees are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Thracian tombs and museum

• Visit Thracian tomb of Kazanlak
• Explore Grifoni tomb
• Visit Ostrusha tomb
• Tour Regional archaeological museum
• Drive back to Sofia

The experience

What made the Thracians choose this valley? The landscape itself. The Valley of the Thracian Kings, also called the Valley of the Roses for its rose oil production, was the preferred burial ground for Thracian nobility from the 5th century BC onward. About 1,300 tumuli dot the region. Roughly 300 have been excavated. The Thracian tomb of Kazanlak, dating from the end of the 4th century BC, is the most famous: recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site for its well-preserved original frescoes and masterful artwork. But it is only one stop on the day.

You visit four other tombs, each one different. The Grifoni tomb, from the 5th century BC, consists of three chambers and a corridor. It is one of the richest Thracian burials found to date, filled with valuable artifacts and works of art. The Ostrusha tomb, from the 4th century, stands out for its ceiling alone: a combination of relief and fine decoration with different portraits, colorful figures and floral ornaments. After the tombs, the Regional Archaeological Museum in Kazanlak holds the artifacts pulled from these sites and other masterpieces of Thracian art and material culture. The return drive to Sofia takes two and a half hours.

The tour runs ten hours total, with hotel pickup and drop-off included. A professional guide who speaks English leads the route, and all entrance fees are covered. Groups stay small, up to seven people, and private tours are available if you prefer to book alone or with your party only.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Sofia.
• professional English-speaking guide.
• entrance fees to all five Thracian tombs and the Regional Archaeological Museum.
• private vehicle transport throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesWednesday and SundayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by BulTrips

Is this one for you?Pick this shared tour if you want a guide's expertise on Thracian burial sites and artifacts, and prefer moving with a group. Book privately if you'd rather explore at your own pace with just your party.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What is the Kazanlak tomb and why is it famous?

The Thracian tomb of Kazanlak, dating from the end of the 4th century BC, is a masterpiece of Thracian artwork recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site. It is famous for its well-preserved original frescoes and fine decoration, making it the most celebrated of the approximately 300 excavated tumuli in the Valley of the Thracian Kings.

How many Thracian tombs do we visit on this tour?

You visit five Thracian burial sites. The Kazanlak tomb is the UNESCO-listed centerpiece, and four others (including the Grifoni tomb from the 5th century BC with three chambers and the Ostrusha tomb from the 4th century with its decorated ceiling) each show different styles of Thracian burial architecture.

What is the Ostrusha tomb known for?

The Ostrusha tomb, dating from the 4th century BC, is mainly famous for its unique ceiling, which combines relief and fine decoration with different portraits, colorful figures and floral ornaments: a distinctive example of Thracian artistic skill.

What will we see at the Regional Archaeological Museum in Kazanlak?

The Regional Archaeological Museum holds artifacts excavated from the Thracian tombs you visit, along with other masterpieces of Thracian art and material culture, giving context to the burial sites and the civilization that built them.

How long is the drive back to Sofia after the museum?

The return drive to Sofia takes two and a half hours, completing the ten-hour day tour from your hotel pickup in the morning.