Rose Valley Retreat May 2027 (Bulgaria)
During the month of May, the Kazanlak region of Bulgaria, also know as the Valley of Roses, turns into Rose Country, as thousands of acres of rose bushes blossom, covering the fields with their in sweet fragrance and beautiful blush color. These are the Damascena roses, known for their delicate pink petals, heavenly scent and high oil content. This small area of Bulgaria produces up to 80% of all the rose oil in the world- and a lot of it is produced organically.
Our Lady of The Rose, Women’s Retreat
May 28th - June 1st
It is with great joy that we invite you to join us, Iselin and Issia, in May 2026 for a women’s retreat in the land of roses. A retreat put together to offer rest, nourishment and inspiration, as we journey with the medicine of the Rose. Our days will be spent in quiet rose tea meditations, restorative yoga and gentle breath work, making our own rose remedies, and an introductory workshop to natural dyes. We will also venture into the rose valley; visiting both the rose fields and distilleries, and participating one morning in the rose harvest.
During our retreat days, or schedule will include:
Rose tea ceremonies
Gentle yin yoga
Guided breathwork
Herbal medicine workshop
Natural Dye Workshop (You will dye your own silk shawl)
Women’s circles
Storytelling
“My experience of working with Roses has been one of gentle unfolding, a slow unfurling of my own petals.
I find the rose to offer beautiful guidance and support when exploring the more subtle layers of my inner territory, and a medicine that guides me home to myself, and to explore the tendrils of my own heart.
Working with plants, particularly the non-psychedelic ones, requires patience and a willingness to show up. It requires a deep willingness to listen.
As we set out to learn from the plants, we often find that really we are learning about ourselves; it is a path that offers gentle refinement of our own beings and inner-altars.
Whereas a lot of modern spiritual practices takes us “up” and “out” as a means to transcend the body and ascend (masculine), I experience working with plants rather as an invitation to go “down” and “in”. An invitation to be with the earth and with the body.
They offer a tangible, earth-based and very Venusian (and Taurean) medicine that is of the Feminine nature.”
ACCOMODATION OPTIONS AND PRICING
Our retreat will be held at The Nest, a hidden gem in the Stara Zagora province, located in the Upper Thracian Plains, near the city of Kazanlak. The building a beautiful circular bulding with a panoramic roof terrace that offers 360⁰ view towards the entire Rose Valley surrounded by the Balkan mountains. It is a favorite place for watching the sun rise and set, and the inner circle of the atrium lets you see the night sky like inside a giant telescope. Our water comes directly from a nearby spring, and we are delighted to be offering nourishing meals made with as many local (and home-grown) ingredients as possible, including eggs and goats milk from the neighbors.
The Nest offers three spacious studios and three rooms, each having its own direction and ambience. We offer both single room and shared accommodation during our retreat.
PRICE LIST
Early Bird Private Room: €1150
Early Bird Shared Room: €999
Regular Price Private Room: €1350
Regular Price Shared Room: €1150
The prices includes accomodation, all meals and snacks, and workshop material. It does NOT include flights, airport transfer or other expenses/shopping/experiences you wish to add to your stay.
For bookings and inquires, please contact Iselin via mail:
athousandrosesapothecary@gmail.com
About your facilitators
Issia Miller
Issia…
Iselin Amanda Stoylen
The wisdom of the female body is an incredible inner resource; a resource we may connect with in order to bring about healing and wellbeing from the inside out. I believe we all carry an inherent blueprint of wellness and wellbeing, and often the “work” that leads to positive transformation is more about undoing and remembering, rather that doing and accumulating more information.
My practice as a herbal medicine practitioner is rooted in a vitalist herbalist approach, bridging mind, body, heart and spirit. I draw upon wisdom from medical astrology, western herbal medicine, traditional folk medicine and ayurvedic medicine, alongside modern research.
When I am not traveling for work, I spend most of my time at home talking to the plants, down by the creek, or by my loom. I am deeply passionate about women’s ancient crafts- in particular spinning and weaving. I also have a small skincare brand, A Thousand Roses Apothecary.
