The picturesque mountain hamlet of Gela, Bulgaria is the location of Villa Gella, with six en-suite bedrooms (each with its own wood-burning fireplace and decorated from the owner’s private art collection), an indoor swimming room and wellness area equipped with a steam bath, and a kitchen presided over by a professional chef. Villa rental includes all of this, plus a caretaker, laundry services, daily cleaning services, breakfast and three-course dinners with wine. In the spotlight: local game and fish, traditional breads and pastries, mountain berries, and branza — a delicious handcrafted sheep’s milk cheese. Dinners include local dishes such as palneni tchushki, made from a mouthwatering blend of rice, minced meat and vegetables stuffed into a capsicum pepper and then baked or steamed.

Wondering how to spend the days? Easily arranged excursions include trips to the caves at Devil’s Throat, Yagodinska Peshtera and Uhlovitza where you can hike above and underground. Other add-on options include cooking, painting and folklore music lessons, hiking with a local botanist to Dospat and Smolyan lakes or Mount Perelik and Mount Orpheus, skiing and snowmobile excursions at Pamporovo ski resort, spa therapies, and wine tastings featuring Terra Tangra and a selection of Bulgarian vintage wines.

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