Balkan Mountains, Bulgaria
Overview
Reviews
“It was a fantastic experience. We were riding through the beautiful places in the Balkan Mountains on very hard working and brave horses. It was challenging and sometimes difficult but thanks to our guides always safe. Fantastic guide always polite and helpful. I was impressed with his knowledge of horses and the history of Bulgaria. He translated everything into French and English.”
Horses
Type of horses:
Native east Bulgarian crosses, Hanoverian and Arab.
Nature of horses:
Well trained, calm, responsive and sure footed
Height of horses:
13.2 hh -16.2 hh
Weight limit:
90 kg - however, experienced heavier riders may be accommodated by prior arrangement.
Tack type:
Western - quality tack that has been mostly imported from the US
Travel Advice
Please ensure you read the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) advice before you travel.
Ride Description
Situated on the northern side of the Balkan Mountain Range in Bulgaria, on the outskirts of the mountain village of Apriltsi, lies this fantastic riding centre which offers two beautiful trail rides and based programmes. Here in the heart of Bulgaria the riding is sensational - far away from traffic, work and everyday life, you can ride right into the mountains to find the freshest air and the cleanest rivers. Nature is everything here and the wildlife adds to the sense of adventure with the smell of the roses and Lavendula, the taste of the cool, white wine made from the local grapes, the real yoghurt and the sun-ripened tomatoes. The stables are surrounded by beautiful fields, a little creek and a mountain lake with green and blooming meadows all around. There is also a little Western bar where guests can enjoy a drink and watch the grazing horses. The views of Mt Botev, standing at 2395m, add to the feeling of the riding centre and the Central Balkan National Park lies just next door. A brown bear is the symbol of the park and you will often see their tracks during your rides.
Riding here is based on the fantastic scenery and famous hospitality that Bulgaria has to offer and if you want to get back to nature, with the help of natural horsepower, then this is the right choice for you. Encounters with the charming local people add an element of culture to the trips and help to make the setting even more ideal for a horseback adventure. The centre uses local East Bulgarian horses or these crossed with Arabians. The local horses are known as being tough, thoughtful and wise and when crossed with the famous strength and stamina of the Arab, it makes for a satisfying companion. The horses are healthy, taken good care of and are accustomed to the mountainous terrain. They are always given days off to ensure that they are in good shape for the rides and riding is in Western tack which is comfortable for the lengthy trail rides and supportive for the challenging mountain riding.
The mountain riding and adventures in the wilderness will show you why horse riding in Bulgaria is something special and with a sure-footed horse and a trusty guide, you are sure to enjoy the experience.
See Programmes.
Food & Accommodation
For the based programme, you will stay in a guesthouse together with the other riders in double rooms. All guest rooms have their own private bathrooms and a balcony or terrace. The guesthouse has a lovely large garden which guests are welcome to use, together with a barbecue, as well as a communal dining room which is available for use when meals are not being served.
Guesthouse accommodation in Bulgaria is comparable to a B&B in England and, of course, you have some privacy during the stay. Full board meals are included with the programmes and these meals will be taken in the house or outside in the garden. During the daily rides, a picnic will be organised for lunch or you will bring a packed lunch in your saddlebags.
On the trail rides, accommodation varies depending on the ride you choose. Some may offer limited shower facilities due to the remote nature of the trail and some, like the mountain huts, are really very basic. Expect to be staying in a mixture of hotels, guesthouses, chalets and mountain huts during your trail ride.
During the riding programmes, all meals are included. Other soft drinks, wine, beer and alcoholic drinks are not included but are available to buy at each overnight stop (payments in cash). The water in this area of the mountains and predominantly clean and safe to drink.
Breakfast will typically be comprised of cold cuts of meats, cheeses and fresh bread, as well as homemade yoghurt, french toast, cake, seasonal fruit and cereal. Herbal or fruit infusions, such as mountain tea, and coffee are readily available with breakfast, or you may wish to try some locally made Banitsa instead.
Lunch will generally be taken at a local restaurant, at private homes on the route or will be a picnic carried with you in your saddlebags. Dinner will be served at your host accommodation each night and will consist of plenty of local and traditional dishes typical of this area of the Balkan Mountains. These meals will usually be hearty and include salad, hot or cold soup to start, a main of meat or fish (or vegetarian alternative)served with seasonal vegetables and side of bread, boiled grains or polenta, as well as a sweet to finish.
Bulgarian cuisine includes a fair amount of dairy due to the regions wonderful pastoral heritage. Special dietary requirements may be accommodated with prior arrangement.
Activities
For those taking part in the trail programmes, you will find that there is not a lot of free time or possibilities to take part in other activities. However, those who are staying at the base for the stationary programme, a variety of optional activities and tours are offered at an additional cost (payable locally).
These activities might include a visit to the local town of Troyan, about 25 km away, to see the monastery and to enjoy some shopping. Troyan is a pleasant, metropolitan town with a variety of shops and cafés to explore. Or, slightly further away (50km), you will find the city of Gabrovo and the famous ethnographical museum Etara showing the history of medieval Bulgaria.
Additional costs for these trips will be dependent on distance travelled and number of participants.
Further Details
Languages: English, French
Health requirements: No special requirements
Age limit: None within reason
Tuition: No
Included: Accommodation, meals, transfers from and to Sofia airport and riding as per itinerary.
Not included: Flights, travel insurance, other drinks, extra tours or activities, tips and personal expenses.
Travel Information
The riding base is situated approximately 180 km from Sofia (approximately three hours by car). You will be met in the airport by a transfer guide with a sign "Riding Base Balkan"
Airport: Sofia
Alternative Airport: Plovdiv
Programmes
Balkan Mountain Trail
| This is our partner's classic trail ride, following a route over two mountains in the Balkan range. The ride features unspoilt landscapes, a chance to experience the real life of villages and the opportunity to witness the local culture from horseback. During the trail you ride through the Balkan National Park and the lower mountains of Sredna Gora, as well as through the famous Valley of Roses. During the rose growing season, this valley is filled with the scent of rose petals and you will find the region carpeted in small white and blush pink blooms. This trail follows ancient paths that have connected the North of Bulgaria with its Southern parts for hundreds of years. Saturday: You will be met by a representative from the riding stables in Sofia airport arrivals hall at the agreed meeting time. Having safely met your driver, you will transfer, together with your travel companions to a hotel in Sofia. You will enjoy a traditional welcome dinner . Sunday: Sofia - Apriltsi After your first breakfast complete with famous Bulgarian yogurt, you will be transferred by car to Apriltsi a journey of c.180 km, around 3 hours driving. You will be introduced to your horse for the week, which will have been matched to you using information provided prior to your arrival. Then you will make your first leisurely ride out of the town of Apriltsi in order to get to know your horse and its ways. Today's ride will begin in the fields and low areas of the riding base and will continue through small villages and agricultural areas. The ride is easy and gives guests a chance to make any changes they need to prior to the ride. Overnight in a guest house, rooms with private facilities. c. 3 hours riding Monday: Apriltsi - Tabite After breakfast you will start riding in the surrounding fields and will continue through small villages and at a creek your guide knows a good place for the lunch. During hot days it is possible to jump into the pool or the cooling mountain creek. After lunch the first mountain experience of the trail is waiting and you ride uphill for roughly 3 hours and enter the Central Balkan National Park. Overnight in Tabite Lodge. c. 5 hours riding Tuesday: Tabite - Kalofer Monastery The trail continues through the National park, one of the most valuable and largest protected areas in Europe, over the Balkan Mountains and with splendid views to the highest peak in the Balkan Range; Mt. Botev (2395 m) and from this high the Mariza plains open up in the horizons. After 6-7 hours ride the day ends at a small monastery, still functioning and with a nice monastery garden and a small church. After the ride we recommend a short walk to Byala reka; an eco-path in the canyon with plenty of bridges over the flossy river). Dinner and overnight in the monastery. c. 6-7 hours riding Wednesday: Kalofer Monastery - Svezen Hut In the morning you will have time to explore the monastery and the life in the fields. Here you will meet sheep and shepherds and busy farmers in the field. After lunch the trail will pass through the Valley of Roses, blooming from mid May to mid June, followed by a beautiful old forest. After nearly 5 hours you are exactly on the top of the Sredna Gora Mountains, where you will overnight in the chalet Svezhen (1050m). From the top you have a splendid view to the Rila and Rhodopi mountains. c. 6-7 hours riding Thursday: Svezen Hut - Triglav Hut After an early breakfast you will head back to the North, riding through small villages in the Rose Valley. You will stop for lunch in a private house and then start ascending the mountain. You pass one of the checkpoints of the national park and the scenic waterfall Babsko (54m) until you reach the mountain hut Triglav for overnight. c. 8 hours riding Friday: Triglav Hut - Apriltsi - Sofia Your trail will continue over the mountains with great views to the peaks Zelenikovets, Kurtbashitsa, Kolata and the sharp pyramid of the peak Maragidik (1889m). You start the descent riding through the centuries-old beech forest and at Ostershka River you will enjoy your last lunch before you start riding through the villages and back to the stables, where it all started. Transfer back to Sofia for overnight where you will spend the night in a 3 star hotel. c. 5-6 hours riding. Saturday: Transfer After breakfast you will transfer to Sofia Airport for your departure flight. | |
| Accommodation: | The Balkan Trail is based on seven nights full board accommodation. Two nights in centrally located 3*** hotels in Sofia Three nights in lodges/huts in rooms with private facilities One night in monastery and one night in mountain hut (day 6) in rooms with shared facilities |
| Minimum group size: | 1 |
| Maximum group size: | 8 |
| Ability description: | Intermediate and above. |
| Type of ride: | Trail |
| Total riding time: | 5 - 7 hours riding per day |
| Departure dates: | 2020: 5-12 September, 19-26 September, 3-10 October, 10-17 October, 17-24 October. 2021: 29 May-6 June, 12-19 June, 3-19 July, 24-31 July, 14-21 August, 4-11 September, 25 September-2 October, 9-16 October |
| Pricing: | 2020/2021: £801 per person Price includes 7 nights shared room accommodation, full board meals, riding, pick up/drop off at Sofia airport, local guide and English-speaking translator, as well as luggage transportation between overnight stops. Single occupancy is £18 per person per night, for those who do not wish to share a room. Please note that single rooms are subject to availability and may not be possible every night on this trail. The price does not include: tips, drinks (except water) and other personal expenses, maps, flights or travel insurance. Note: All programmes and itineraries are weather dependent; in the face of adverse, or unexpected, weather conditions reasonable attempts will be made to provide equivalent riding. All programmes are accurate at the time of writing. However, the team may adapt or modify details, whilst aiming to provide a similar experience. |
Balkan Base Stay
| This is a based stay, riding out each day from the primary stables where all the trail programmes start. It is a beautiful setting for a riding holiday and you are accommodated in the family hotel at Apriltsi. A stay at the Balkan base is for all riders of all abilities, also ideal for groups/school groups and friends. There are plenty of lush hills and natural riding paths in the stunning valleys, up to the mountain peaks. Many of the tracks offer perfect opportunities for galloping. For the experienced rider there are many possibilities for challenging riding in the mountainous terrain. Ride through mountain rivers, up and down steep mountain paths and across open plains. The terrain offers rides for every type of rider. The riding guides have a great knowledge of the local area and know what to show you. The pace will be adapted to suit the group. Saturday: You will be met by a rep from the stables in Sofia airport and will transfer to the village of Apriltsi in the Balkan Mountains. Transfer to Aprilsti is c. 180 km, taking roughly 3 hours. Your accommdoation for the week will be in a cosy new guesthouse located in the centre of the village. Rooming is based on twin/double occupancy (unless otherwise arranged) with a private bathroom for each room. This evening you will enjoy a welcome dinner together with other guests. Depending on the time you arrive in Apriltsi, there may be a chance to meet your riding guide for the week and to talk about the program ahead. Sunday: After breakfast you walk down to the stables to meet the horses. The riding guides will introduce you to your horse and explain how they ride in the mountains there, about the horses and about rules in the mountains. You start your riding in the morning and lunch may be a picnic close to the stables. After lunch you leave the riding base for a horse riding tour around Apriltsi (12 km long), taking about three hours. Monday: After breakfast you will meet up with the horses and leave the village on horseback for a ride to the green meadows. Here you ride will be able to ride at walk, trot and canter and for the experienced rider there is a chance to have a good gallop. From the meadows you ride to the river where you will enjoy lunch. After the break you ride for two more hours back to base. Tuesday: Today you ride up in the mountains and you’ll pass a wild life area. The ride will take place over 1000 m above sea level and you will have a relaxed lunch in the mountains. In the evening you might ride out to see the wild life in the area of Apriltsi. Wednesday: Following breakfast, you will ride over the hill top of Ostrets and Peperi, under the Black Peak (1500m) to a small monastery. Lunch is in the monastery garden. In the afternoon, you will ride back to the base through the field and meadows, along the riverbank. Thursday: Today you ride into the National park. The ride will take you through the beautiful countryside to Vidima, a small village. You will continue to the Vidima Waterfall, one of the biggest in Bulgaria (1350 m above sea level). From here you will dismount and walk up a small eco-path while the horses rest. After lunch you ride in the park and will enjoy all the hidden treasures of the nature in that area. Friday: Today you will get to choose your route as a group between all the possibilities in the area. If you and the group prefer mountain riding you’ll ride in the mountains. If you would like to ride to one of the small villages, a monastery or other sights you can do that. Whatever is chosen you will enjoy the picturesque landscape. In the evening you enjoy a farewell dinner. Saturday: After breakfast you will pack the car, say goodbye to the guides, guests and your equine friends before leaving for the airport. This is just an example itinerary, this may vary according to new paths that have been found, the ability and requirements of the group. | |
| Minimum group size: | 2 |
| Maximum group size: | 10 |
| Ability description: | All abilities can be catered for. |
| Type of ride: | Based with daily trails. |
| Total riding time: | Flexible day rides. |
| Departure dates: | Dates available for suit for a minimum of 2 pax, with arrival and departure on consecutive Saturdays. |
| Pricing: | 2020: £796 per person Price includes 7 nights shared room accommodation, full board meals, riding, pick up/drop off at Sofia airport at set times, local guide and English-speaking translator. Single occupancy is £13 per person per night, for those who do not wish to share a room. Please note that single rooms are subject to availability. Group Discount: There are discounts available for groups who book at the same time. 8 riders £67 discount per person 7 riders £45 discount per person 6 riders £36 discount person person 4-5 riders £22 discount per person The price does not include: tips, drinks (except water) and other personal expenses, maps, flights or travel insurance. Note: All programmes and itineraries are weather dependent; in the face of adverse, or unexpected, weather conditions reasonable attempts will be made to provide equivalent riding. All programmes are accurate at the time of writing. However, the team may adapt or modify details, whilst aiming to provide a similar experience. |