Day 1 - Arrival
Riding: No riding.
You will be met at Sofia airport at 16:00 and transferred to Plovdiv city which is considered the cultural capital of Bulgaria. This afternoon you will explore Plovdiv, finding traces of civilisation much older even than the Romans. The historic centre is more than 8000 years old and if there is time you can visit the Ethnographic Museum and the ancient theatre, one of the best-preserved still in existence. Dinner and overnight at a hotel attached to a riding centre on the outskirts of the city.
Day 2 - Hisarya
Riding: 5 hours
After breakfast you will be transferred to the start point of the ride. The horses will have been transported here already from their home in the Rhodopes.
Once you are matched with a suitable horse you will begin your ride in the direction of Hisarya, the most famous spa centre in the country with 22 healing mineral springs. Aside from being a famous health resort, Hisarya is also notable for its history as it is full of archaeological findings dating back to Thracian times and even the Roman Empire. After the ride you will have some free time - if you like then you can walk or take a taxi from your hotel back to Hisarya to explore the Roman baths, aqueducts, bastions and fortified walls.
Today's ride is around five hours with smooth fields allowing for good canters.
Overnight tonight is at a 4* spa hotel.
Day 3 - Hisarya to Starosel
Riding: 3 - 4 hours
Today's terrain is a combination of flat and hilly and the trail passes by fields and vineyards, meadows and oak forests. Earlier in the day will ride under Hisarya's gate known as 'The Camels' which dates back 2000 years and stands 20m high, making up part of a Roman city wall. Today's landscape has changed from the previous day and includes some climbing of the Sredna Gora Mountains.
Today's ride time is around three and a half hours and lunch is a picnic from the saddlebags, eaten beside beautiful meadows. After the ride there is time to enjoy the spa facilities and then at around 6pm there will be a wine-tasting. Dinner and overnight at this winery and spa hotel in Starosel.
Day 4 - Eagles Rock Spa Complex
Riding: 5 hours
Before mounting your horse today, there is time to visit the largest Thracian temple complex in the Balkans, where excavations are still taking place. This was built in the 5th and 4th centuries BC.
Today you are headed for the highest point of the ride at around 1800m in the heart of the Sredna Gora Mountains - along the way you will encounter panoramic scenery before stopping for lunch in the restaurant of an old lodge.
Tonight you'll sleep in another spa hotel with pool, sauna and jacuzzi.
Day 5 - Valley of the Roses
Riding: 4 hours
Today's destination is the famous 'Valley of Roses' and another mineral spa centre called Aqua Termi. During today's ride you will travel through a protected beech forest with amazing old trees and will climb the "peak of the Wolves", on top of which you can enjoy beautiful views over the valley. In the right time of year you may be able to smell the roses as you canter.
Overnight at a spa hotel.
Day 6 - Lake Pyasachnik
Riding: 4 hours
Today you will ride for around four hours and it is your guide Bogdan's favourite day. You will ride along the edge of the biggest lake in the Thracian region, Lake Pyasachnik, and in hot weather and suitable conditions and it sometimes possible to swim there. The day includes plenty of lovely canters along beautiful meadows.
Today you are headed for Boutique Complex Trakiets which is both a spa centre and Bulgaria's most renowned jumping stable. You will spend the night here.
Day 7 - Tsaratsovo
Riding: 3 - 4 hours
On this last day of riding you will cover the smooth terrain of vineyards and fields on your way back to the riding centre where you started. Your route includes crossing a beautiful river and plenty of faster riding. Early in the afternoon you will return back to where you started and will say goodbye to your horse.
In the afternoon you will have some leisure time and can take a walk or watch the training sessions at the stables.
Tonight you will sleep again at the same hotel as the first night, attached to the wonderful riding centre.
Day 8 - Departure
Riding: No riding.
After breakfast there will be a transfer to Sofia for your trip home. The journey takes around 90 minutes (120km) by minibus.
NB. The itinerary may be modified for reasons of safety, weather or unforeseen circumstances.
| Accommodation |
All nights spent in clean and comfortable hotels, in shared rooms with private bathrooms. Many hotels also have a spa. |
| Experience |
Experienced
Riders must be fit and willing to ride long, fast canters of several minutes at a time and to have many canters throughout the day.
The riding is not overly technical but you should be confident in the saddle at all paces, able to prepare your own horse and fit to cover the distance required at a good pace.
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| Minimum group size |
2 |
| Maximum group size |
8
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| Departure windows |
March 25, 2023 - April 1, 2023
April 8, 2023 - April 15, 2023
April 22, 2023 - April 29, 2023
May 6, 2023 - May 13, 2023
May 20, 2023 - May 27, 2023
June 3, 2023 - June 10, 2023
Aug. 26, 2023 - Sept. 2, 2023
Sept. 9, 2023 - Sept. 16, 2023
Sept. 23, 2023 - Sept. 30, 2023
Oct. 7, 2023 - Oct. 14, 2023
Oct. 21, 2023 - Oct. 28, 2023
Nov. 4, 2023 - Nov. 11, 2023
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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.
