Tour highlights: 
♦ Central Balkan National Park – are the longest (550 km) and the biggest of all mountains in Bulgaria.
♦ Etropole Monastery -

Itinerary:

Day 1. Sofia – Etropole
Arrive Sofia and transfer to Etropole and Elen Hunting Lodge for overnight.

Day 2. Elen-Kokalsko
Today’s ride to Kokalsko wanders through white pine, fir and spruce forests. At a distance we will see locals with strings of pack horses bringing in their winter firewood and herders tending small flocks of sheep. Picnic lunch and accommodation in Kokalsko guest house.
4 hours in the saddle.

Day 3. Kokalsko-Murgana
We ride mostly uphill today to reach the mountain hut of Murgana (1400 m. asl.)
The ride offers magnificent views over Central Balkan National Park.
4 hours in the saddle, accommodation in dormitory with shared facilities.

Day 4. Murgana – Elen (Etropole)
5 hours downhill ride back to Elen hunting lodge.

Day 5. Elen – Boykovets
Todays ride offers good possibilities for trot and canter.
4 hours in the saddle.

Day 6. Boykovets – Etropole Monastery
Head out on horseback to Etropole Monastery. Located at the foot of Cherni peak, it is approximately 5 km north of Etropole. The monastery was first built in the 11th century but its present day construction dates back to 1858. Its cross-like form is said to be one of the most precious architectural monuments from the Bulgarian Renaissance period. Lunch will be served near the monastery followed by a tour of the grounds.
4 hours in the saddle.

Day 7. Etropole Monastery – Elen Hunting Lodge
Our last day of riding winds up a mountain trail through a dense beech forest. The return ride takes us through small villages where we will see local residents tend to their evening chores; bringing in their cows for milking, feeding the pigs and chickens, and working in their gardens. 3,5-4 hours in the saddle.

Day 8. Sofia Airport, departure

Price includes:  ► 6 nights in lodges ►family-run hotels in rooms with private facilities ►1 night in mountain chalet with shared facilities ►all meals ►luggage transport ►saddled horse ►English speaking guide.

Other expences: ►Single room supplement 150 EUR (6 nights) ►tips ►alcoholic drinks.

Good to know: 
►Horses and tack:
East Bulgarian ,Gidran, Anglo Arab and Arab breed (Shagia and full-blooded); English, Western and military saddles, the riding is on a mountain region , but every day there is a possibility to gallop.

Recommended travel period of the year:   May-October

Rila is the highest mountain range of Bulgaria and the Balkans, with its highest peak being Musala at 2,925 m. The name Rila is allegedly of Thracian origin and is thought to mean “well-watered mountain”, owing to Rila’s abundance of glacial lakes (about 200) and hot springs in the faulty areas. Here you will find the charming mountain resort of Borovets, established at the end of 19^th c. as a hunting area for the Bulgarian kings. Since then it has gradually developed into the friendly alpine ski resort that it is today. Situated at 1350 m above sea level on the northern slopes of the Rila Mountains among age-old pine woods, Borovets is located at the foot of Musala peak. The resort is easily accessible by road, at a distance of 73 km from Sofia and 126 km from Plovdiv. The nearest town of Samokov is only 10 km away. But Borovets is not only a famous winter resort – it attracts tourists in the summer too with the many possibilities for hiking, horseriding, trekking etc. With this program we would like to offer you the unique possibility for an equestrian holiday among the beautiful nature of Rila Mountains.

Tour Highlights:
• Rila Mountains – the highest in Bulgaria and on the whole Balkan Peninsula with Mount Musala – 2925 m a.s.l.
• Borovets – the oldest international and most popular mountain resort in Bulgaria.

Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival to Sofia. Meeting with a local representative and transfer to Borovets (about 1 hour). Accommodation in 4* Hotel – this is our base for the next 3 nights as all starting points for the riders in the next days are within 5-minute walk from the hotel.
Day 2: We leave the hotel and head to the Varniko area and Hunting Well area. After we pass by Varovita Cheshma area we will stop for a break and lunch. We continue riding to Pashanitsa area, Malka Lukovitsa area and we end this tour at the hotel. /riding: 7 hours/
Day 3: After breakfast we start riding towards Black Rock area and Gvardeiska Polyana area. At Chakur hut we will have break and lunch. The riding tour continues to Sitniakovo area and Borovets and ends at our complex. /riding: 7 hours/
Day 4: Today our aims are Malka Lukovitsa area and Golyam Giol, where we will stop for lunch. After that we will ride to Borovets passing by Shumnatitsa chalet to reach our hotel. After the end of the riding tour – transfer to Sofia for onward flight or possibility for one more night at the hotel or accommodation in Sofia. /riding: 5 hours/

Departure: Every Thursday

Price without flight ticket: 360 EUR

Accommodation and food: We stay overnight at a 4* hotel. Breakfast and lunch-pack included

Price of extra services: Single room supplement: 50 EUR

Included in the price: 3 nights at 4* hotel with breakfast; lunch snacks; late check out on day 4; qualified English speaking riding guide; saddled horse; pick up/drop off at Sofia airport; VAT and all local taxes.

Not included in the price: flight tickets; insurance; meals, not mentioned in the program; tips; other personal expenses; additional nights in Borovets or Sofia

Practical Information:

Horses: Shagya Arabs, East-Bulgarian breed, Anglo-Arabs and other warm blood horses – all well broken and calm. The height of the horses is from 150 to 165 cm.

Pace: 4 to 7 riding hours per day. Ranges from a walk on the steeper slopes to a faster pace on the open spaces, which are great for long canters. Usually 50 % walking, 25 % trotting and 25 % cantering.

Saddles: Western. English available upon request.

Level: (3 to 4 out of 5) Intermediate

Age: Min. 12 – Max. 75

Weight: Max 220 lbs (100 kg)

Guides: The riding guides are experienced and professional. They know all the horses and routes well. They have a sound knowledge and awareness of safety.

Six days of riding in the Rodopi –the land of high peaks and deep river gorges, weird rock formations, lush meadows and dense forests. The green and 225 km (139 mile) long mountain ridge of the Rodopi Mountains is situated in southern Bulgaria, with 20 percent of the range extending into Greece. The highest peak is around 2,000 m (6,561 ft) high, with the average height around 800 m (2,624 ft). With their pleasant climate the Rodopi Mountains are the perfect place for horse riding, offering a variety of terrains in which one can experience of all tipes of riding. Your horse will walk in a small woody paths, it will trot on an ancient roman roads and it will gallop on a meadows wide open. The mountain will enchant you with its pre-historic caves, ancient Roman roads and bridges, fortresses and churches. The region has a wealth of traditional architecture and folklore: en route we visit remote villages, old churches and one of Bulgaria’s finest monasteries Bachkovo. According to mythology, this is the homeland of Dionysus, the God of wine. Today this is the area where a native grape variety Mavrud is cultivated. The robust Mavrud red wine can be sampled at the well-known wine cellar Villa Vinifera, included in our itinerary. Beautiful landscapes, picturesque small villages, exotic sites, great wines – come join us for an unforgettable holiday!

Highlights:

• Chernatitsa Mountain Ridge and Tumrash Nature Reserve – Natural habitat of brown bear, red deer, wild boar, capercaillie, chamois and roe deer.

• Old City of Plovdiv – Built on seven hills, having 5000 years of history.

• The Miracle bridges –a natural phenomena in the heart of the mountain and presents two stunning stone arches made from the collapse of a huge cave.

• Bachkovo monastery – Bulgarias second biggest monastery, built in the 12 th. century with some of the best preserved wall paintings.

  
  

Itinerary:
Day 1: Plovdiv: Arrive Sofia or Plovdiv airports and transfer to Plovdiv. Transfer time from Sofia is 1,5 hours and from Plovdiv Airport – 30 min.

-/-/-

Day 2: Brestovitsa ride:

After breakfast there is a short transfer to our stables in Brestovitsa village, 20 km away from Plovdiv. The village is famous with for its high quality red wines.

After a short introduction with the horses the riding begins. Our first aim for the day is one of the first Christian churches in the area, built by the Roman emperor Anastasij in the 4 th century. He built it after winning a battle over the local tracian tribe Bessi, with which he introduced the Christianity over the local population. We arrive by the Church riding over a beautiful open area without any serious inclines and declines, perfect for the rider and the horse to get used with each other. The terrain allows to go on trot or canter. The ride continues to the small town of Perushtitsa, where we stop at the local monument.The riding for the day ends back in Brestovitsa with wine tasting in Villa Vinifera winery.

Drive back to Plovdiv, free time to explore the city.

5 hours in the saddle; 30 % canter, 30% trot, 40 % walk.

B/L/-

Day 3: Brestovitsa-Vrahovrah: Our ride starts from Brestovitsa, going uphill in the Rodopi mountains. We pass trough the beautiful meadows of the area of Leshten enjoying gorgeous views both North to the Thracian valley and South towards the our stables up and more even the horses can trot and canter again.

We eat lunch in a local shepherds house enjoing fresh made cheese and milk. From Leshten we continue on towards the area of Brjanovshtitsa and further up into the mountain until we reach Vrahovrah where we stay for the night at a small mounatian hotel – 1300 m. above sea level.

5-6 hours in the saddle, 15 % canter, 25% trot, 70% walk.

B/L/D

Day 4: Vrahovrah-Persenk: After breakfast we continue riding along the Vrahovrah ridge passing the villages of Churen, Lilkovo and Sitovo. While we are riding we can enjoy gorgeous panoramas, beautiful forests and views towards one of the highest peaks in the mountain – Modar. The ride of the day is on the ridge of the mountain and is without any big ascents and descents. One can enjoj canter and trot . At the end of the day we reach the area of Mt. Persenk( the second highest in the mountain) where we stay for the nigh into “Persenk Guest house”. 5 hours in the saddle, 25-30 % canter, 25-30% trot, 50-40% walk

B/LP/D

Day 5: Persenk-Orehovo: Today our ride continues towards the area of the Miracle bridges, staring from an altitude of 1300 m. We ride for about an hour further south on Chernatitsa ridge and then we make a short ascent up in order to go east toward the Miracle bridges. We continue riding while passing trough forests and meadows until we reach the natural phenomena of the Miracle bridges – two stunning stone arches made from the collapse of a huge cave, where we have a picnic lunch. After lunch we continue riding for another 2,5-3 hours toward the village of Orehovo passing trough the meadows of the area Kabata, and seeing another natural phenomenon which is called , Vaklite dupki( a steap descent into a rounded gorge).

Those wishing to visit Bachkovo Monastery after lunch, can leave their horses with the guide, driving 30 km on asphalt road.

This trip is optional and can be arranged from Plovdiv as well (50 EUR for the whole vehicle and English speaking guide).

6-7 hours in the saddle, 15 % canter, 30% trot, 65% walk.

B/LP/D

Day 6: Orehovo-Zdravets: Today we are heading south-east the Chernatica ridge, trough the meadows of Srednite livadi and towards Bjala Cherkva area. After a short ascent we can enjoy gallops trough the meadows and as well as breathtaking views. After reaching the area of Bjala Cherkva we make a descent on a soft road in the forest until we reach the “ECO hotel Zdravec” where we are staying for the night. There we can enjoy the excellent spa and pool centre of the hotel. 4.5 -5 hours in the saddle, . 25 % canter, 25% trot, 50% walk.

B/LP/D

Day 7: Zdravets-Hrabrino-Plovdiv: Our ride today takes us through pine and oak forests, until we reach the gorge of Pepelashka river, where we have lunch by the rocks on a 150 meters cliff, while enjoying the splendid view. The ride continues on a soft road, great for gallops toward the village of Izvor and Hrabrino. We pass trough the village of Hrabrino and then we go down to Tamrash river which we cross trough an old Roman bridge. We continue up the hill until we reach again the meadows of Leshten, where our horseirding ends and our vehicle takes us back to Plovdiv. A farewell dinner with folkolore programme can be arranged upon request. 4 hours in the saddle, 15 % canter, 25% trot, 65% walk.

B/LP/-

B – breakfast, L – lunch, LP – lunch pack, D – dinner

Departure dates 2011:

29May, 12June, 26June, 10July, 24July, 07Aug, 21Aug, 04Sep, 25Sep, 16Oct

Price: 590.00 EUR   Supplement for departures 26June-21Aug: 60 EUR

Accomodation and food: We stay overnight at local guesthouses and small family-run hotels in rooms with private facilities.  7 breakfasts, 4 dinners, 6 lunches.

Price of extra services: Single room supplement: 85 EUR

Included in the price: 7 overnights in guesthouses and family-run pensions in rooms with en-suite facilities, breakfast, 6 lunches (lunchpacks), 4 dinners; riding guide; English-speaking interpreter; saddled horse; luggage transfers from point to point; pick up/drop off at Sofia or Plovdiv airport; VAT and all local taxes.

Not included in the price: Eveneing meals in Plovdiv (days 1,2 and 7), map (could be requested in advance when booking the tour); insurance; alcoholic drinks; tips; other personal expenses, optional trip to Bachkovo Monastery on day 5 (50 EUR for the vehicle)

Practical Information:

Horses: East-Bulgarian and Karakachan breed,  – all well broken and calm. The height of the horses is from 150 to 165 cm.

Saddles: Western. English available upon request.

Tour difficulty and riding experience: We expect that you are confident with trot and canter. For the most experienced and demanding riders on days 2,3, 6 and 7 there are good stretches for galloping. Some of our guaranteed departure dates are reserved for beginners – please, call us or send us a mail to learn more.

Weight limit: 220 lb (100 kg).

Age: Min. 12 – Max. 75

Guides: The riding guides are experienced and professional. They know all the horses and routes well. They have a sound knowledge and awareness of safety. An English speaking guide follows the group in a jeep with a mobile phone connection.

Group size: 3-6 riders