Do you enjoy riding? Do you like mountains? If yes, then we have just the right holiday for you: six days of riding in the Rodopes –the land of high peaks and deep river gorges, weird rock formations, lush meadows and dense forests. 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!

Country region: Southern Bulgaria

Price without flight ticket: 590.00 EUR

Trip plan:
Day 1. Our guide welcomes you at Sofia / Plovdiv Airport. Transfer to Plovdiv – the second biggest city in the country.
Day 2. A short transfer takes us to Brestovitsa, where we meet the horses. Today we make a loop-like ride, passing along the small town of Perushtitsa and back to Brestovitsa, to visit a local winery, where we have lunch and taste local wines. In the afternoon we head back to Plovdiv for a short stroll in the old quarters of the town and dinner.
/hours in the saddle: 3/
Day 3. We start in Brestovitsa again, this time heading south and up in the mountains, to reach Varhovrah resort, where we stay overnight.
/hours in the saddle: 4-5/
Day 4. We continue the ride, passing through several tiny villages, following Varhovrah ridge with great panorama views, to reach Persenk hut, where we stay overnight.
/hours in the saddle: 5/
Day 5. The ride today takes us to Chudnite Mostove – a unique rock formation in the heart of the mountain. After lunch we take the bus to visit Batchkovo Monastery. The horses will be waiting for us at Orehovo village, where we stay overnight.
/hours in the saddle: 4/
Day 6. We head up towards Chernatitsa ridge, pass through deep woods and vast meadows, along Biala Cherkva and down to Studenets area where we stay overnight.
/hours in the saddle: 5-6/
Day 7. On our last ride we reach the meadows of Leshten, where we say goodbye to the horses, and have transfer to Plovdiv for a farewell dinner.
/hours in the saddle: 4/
Day 8. After breakfast we get a transfer to the airport in Sofia/ Plovdiv for departure.

Accomodation and food: We stay overnight at local guesthouses and small family-run hotels in rooms with private facilities. Breakfast, lunch pack & dinner included (first meal dinner on day 1, last meal breakfast on day

Price of extra services:   Single room supplement: 85 EUR

Included in the price:   7 overnights in guesthouses and family-run pensions in en-suite rooms on fullboard; 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.

Excluded from the price:   map (could be requested in advance when booking the tour); insurance; alcoholic drinks; tips; other personal expenses.

Practical information:   HORSES: Most of the horses belong to the local East-Bulgarian breed with a mid-height of 1,50 cm, they are well known as thoughtful and tough, and are thus extremely well-adapted to the mountainous region of the Rodopi Mountains. The maximum weight limit of the riders is 95 kg.EXTENSION AT THE BLACK SEA COAST: we have a unique proposal, which gives you the opportunity to stay on a sea holiday for extra week after your active tour at an incredibly low price in Sozopol, Nessebar, Sunny Beach, Lozenets, St. Vlas, Golden Sands etc. and all this with arranged transportation right after your tour and before your departure flight. For more information please check “Vacation extensions” below. LOW_COST FLIGHTS TO BULGARIA: please check: Wizz Air – http://wizzair.com/; Sky Europe – http://www1.skyeurope.com/; Easy Jet – http://www.easyjet.com/; Germanwings – http://www.germanwings.com/; My Air – http://www.myair.com/; Penguin Travel – http://www.flybulgarien.dk/; Norwegian Air Shuttle – http://www.norwegian.no/. In summer time there are loads of opportunities to book a cheap flight to Bourgas or Varna Airport instead of landing at Sofia Airport. We can arrange for you a bus or train ticket to the starting point of the active tour with transfer to the central bus/railway station in these towns, picking you up at the airport upon arrival or vice versa at the end of your tour (this would only cost you appr. 20-30 Euro per car + the bus/train ticket price itself).

Recommended travel period of the year:   June – September

Group Size: 4-8 riders