Adventure gastro tour “Truffle hunting – from the forest to gourmet dishes”

Our walk begins in Veliko Tarnovo – the city that was twice the Bulgarian capital – once of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom and once again after the Liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman slavery. We visit the Tsarevets fortress with the patriarchal church, the church “St. Forty Martyrs ”, the Museum of Wax Figures, Samovodska Charshiya – the original old bazaar with shops, in which authentic crafts for the region are preserved. At noon the gourmet tasting begins – we try three types of wine from the wine regions of Lyaskovets and Suhindol, skillfully combined with cow cheese with truffles, duck terrine with pieces of truffles and fat duck liver, goat sausage with truffles, bread with cream cheese, and for Digestive – the first Bulgarian brandy with truffles. In the early afternoon, we stop at Dryanovo Monastery “St. Archangel Michael”, founded during the reign of Tsar Kaloyan. The Holy Monastery played a key role in the preparations for the April Uprising. In the afternoon we arrive in the cozy town of Tryavna and walk along the old square “Captain Grandfather Nicholas” with the clock tower from 1814, visit the Tryavna school with the Museum of Crafts, the Humpback Bridge from 1844-1845, Daskalov House. There is an opportunity to see the house-museum of Angel Kanchev, the native house of Petko and Pencho Slaveykovi, the Church of St. Archangel Michael. Accommodation in a guest house in Tryavna. For dinner, the main dish is meat with truffle sauce. Overnight. There is an opportunity to see the house-museum of Angel Kanchev, the native house of Petko and Pencho Slaveykovi, the Church of St. Archangel Michael. Accommodation in a guest house in Tryavna. For dinner, the main dish is meat with truffle sauce. Overnight.

Early in the morning after breakfast with traditional food for Tryavna, we embark on a great adventure – truffle hunting high in the Balkans. People once believed that truffles are formed by thunderstorms that fall near trees, that they “ripen” just at the full moon, that they appear in mystical places or under enchanted trees. Others thought that in order to find the best truffles, they must be endowed with magical abilities and that they themselves could enchant, heal, bring good luck or misfortune. All the superstitions and legends surrounding truffles are understandable given the limited places in which they are located, their exceptional taste, their price as jewelry, and the unique way in which they are collected. They grow spontaneously under only a few species of trees, under strictly defined soil and climatic conditions. Collecting truffles is an art and resembles the search for treasure. To search for this treasure together, we will travel in off-road jeeps in the Stara Planina forest, cross the forest, and specially trained dogs will help us find our first truffles. A professional guide will answer all questions in the field. We return after 4-5 hours. We have lunch in the house, and before leaving Tryavna we can enjoy the most famous local specialty – sand coffee, served in ceramic cups with white jam. Each participant in the truffle hunt will receive a certificate plus a surprise gift. We return after 4-5 hours. We have lunch in the house, and before leaving Tryavna we can enjoy the most famous local specialty – sand coffee, served in ceramic cups with white jam. Each participant in the truffle hunt will receive a certificate plus a surprise gift.

NOTE: For truffle hunting in the forest, the participants in the tour should wear appropriate, if possible high shoes and their feet should be covered.