Horseback Riding in Bulgaria
BALKAN HERITAGE RIDE |
Riding through a meadow
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Your destination in the Balkan Mountains of Bulgaria will give you a glimpse at one of eastern Europe’s oldest civilizations. Riding through the countryside here is like taking a tour through an open-air museum.
Balkan culture is displayed in hand-decorated churches, carefully laid cobblestone, centuries-old monasteries, and enduring folklore. The scenic landscape of the Balkan Mountains where you ride has an abundant rivers, lakes, mineral springs and mountains. Its plant and animal life is fertile.
Combined with its remarkable cultural, historical, ethnographic and architectural diversity, Bulgaria is unarguably an attractive and unforgettable destination for adventure travel on horseback.
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| Itinerary |
| Day 1: | Plan your flights to arrive at the Sofia airport early morning. Once everyone has arrived you will be transferred by mini-van to the hunting lodge just outside of the small agricultural town of Etropole. This 100 km transfer will take approximately 1 hour. Settle into your room before gathering for a welcoming lunch. After lunch riders head to the stables to meet the horses. A short afternoon ride is scheduled to adjust tack and become familiar with your mounts. |
| Day 2: | Today’s trek will take you to the foot of Sveshti Plaz peak. This peak rises to 1,888 meters above sea level. Enjoy an open air lunch while admiring the pastoral beauty of this mountainous countryside. Each day you will experience trot, canters and some gallops. There will be time after riding to relax or explore the surrounding area on foot before gathering for dinner. |
| Day 3: | After a leisurely breakfast it’s time to tack up and head out for a full day on horseback. The morning ride takes you up steep slopes to the Kokalskoto Tourist House. Here you will stop for a leisurely lunch and short siesta. The afternoon’s return ride wanders through white pine, fir and spruce forests. At a distance you will see locals with strings of pack horses bringing in their winter firewood and herders tending small flocks of sheep. |
| Day 4: | Enjoy a morning ride before gathering in the minibus for a scenic drive to the little town of Koprivshtitsa. Koprivshtitsa is a unique town full of museums and authentic architecture dating back to the Bulgarian Renaissance period. Lunch will be at a local tavern. Explore the town on foot while your English speaking guide regales you with the local history and folklore. Return to Etropole in the late afternoon. |
| Day 5: | Head out on horseback to the 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. |
| Day 6: | Load up in the minibus for long day of touring. First stop is the Rila Monastery, famous for its painted scenes of Orthodox iconography on the frescoes, ceilings, arches and cupolas, and intricate wood carvings in the church interior. Lunch will be at an open air café on our return to the city of Sofia where we will visit the churches St. Sofia and St. Petka, the St. George Rotunda (dates back to the 4th century), the St. Alexandar Nevski Cathedral and the Crypt (Icon museum). You will have free time for walking and shopping before returning to Etropole in the late afternoon. |
| Day 7: | Your last day of riding winds up a mountain trail through a dense beech forest. At times it’s difficult to see sunlight through the heavy timber. Wildlife is plentiful in these woods; you are likely to see red stag and mouflon sheep as you enjoy lunch in a clearing near the top. The return ride takes you through small villages where you 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. Linger over dinner before saying goodbye to new found friends. |
| Day 8: | Following breakfast, guests are accompanied to the Sofia airport in time for departing flights. |
| THIS ITINERARY IS FLEXIBLE. CHANGES MAY OCCUR DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. |
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The edge of a farm along the trail
A quiet walk along tall trees
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| Pricing and Dates |
| Length of Ride | 8 days, 7 nights and 5 days riding. |
| Riding Ability | Intermediate |
| Group Size | Minimum-2 Maximum-10 |
| Riding Per Day | 5-7 hours |
| Pace | Moderate |
| Tack | English or western |
| Horses | English/Arab crosses |
| Weight Limit | 200 lbs. |
| 2010 Dates | May 29-June 5, July 10-17, August 14-21 and September 4-11
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| 2010 Price | May - June $1,295
July - September $1,345
Non-riders $955 |
| Single Supplement | $220 |
| Additional Information | A point to point ride will be coming soon. Please call or watch for this new itinerary. |
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