Penguin Travel

Many and varied are the mountains in Bulgaria, but Teteven Balkan combines the best of them all - picturesque valleys with sparkling rivers and ancient forests with hidden meadows, high ridges and tops, crowned with rocky peaks revealing spectacular views, and villages scattered at the foothills, where life is lived with an old rhythm. This part of Stara Planina, or Balkan, is loved by tourists both for the preserved nature and for the pleasure of touching the authentic life of the local people: tasting home-made rakiya with home-made appetisers is an integral part of the experience.

A great part of Teteven mountain is located within the limits of Central Balkan National Park, the forests and the animals of Boatin and Tsarichina reserves are also here, and the Morovitsa and Benkovskata caves evoke times long gone by. Still, besides the beautiful nature, the region offers unique cultural attractions – Glozhene Monastery St. George, housing a 1000-year icon, sits like a sentinel on high inaccessible cliffs, and Chertigrad - a Thracian fortress that dates back to before Roman times.
The tour is diverse. At the beginning and at the end, the ride is in the lower part of the mountain – among pastoral scenery and picaresque villages, and for two days the route follows the crest of the mountain at 2,000 metres above sea level. There are areas where it is possible to ride at a trot and canter, but there are also steep sections where the horses must be led.

This trail ride between villages and remote mountain huts with only pack horses for support is more of an expedition than a riding holiday.

Tour highlights:
Stara Planina or Balkan is the longest Bulgarian mountain stretching from its western border all the way to the Black Sea to the East, dividing the entire country into two. Its old name is the Balkans, which has also given the name of the Balkan Peninsula. A great part of Bulgarian history is related to Stara Planina. Fighters against the Ottoman rule hid in its forests and the Bulgarian spirit revived in its towns in the XVII and XVIII centuries.
The Glozhene Monastery „St. George“ was founded in XIII century. It is situated on an extremely scenic place, perched on high cliffs from where a spectacular view is revealed. Vasil Levski- the Apostle of Freedom- found refuge in it in Turkish times.
Chertigrad is a Thracian fortress from the Antiquity, which was used by the early Middle Ages. Its ruins are located in a beautiful place high above the valley of Cherni Vit river.
Morovitsa cave is more than three kilometers long. It is inhabited by a colony of bats, and in the ancient times it was also inhabited by primitive people.
Central Balkans National Park covers the high central part of Stara Planina. On an area of 70 000 hectares ancient forests and many animals, including representatives of endangered species, find tranquility from the aggressive human impact. The best preserved beech forest on the Balkan Peninsula is in the Boatin reserve. The average age of the trees is 130 years. The reserve is protected under the UNESCO “Man and Biosphere” Program.


Itinerary:
Day 1. Arrive Sofia. Transfer and overnight.
Day 2. Golyam Izvor – Bankov Dol
Transfer from Sofia to the village of Golyam Izvor ( 1hour). Meeting the horses. The tour starts with a ride to Glozhene monastery where we will have a break for lunch. Then, the route passes near by Morovitza cave where we will go for a short walk and after it the route continues to Bankov Dol area. Overnight.
The terrain is mountainous but the vertical drops of the route are not large. The ride is along dirt roads and paths through meadows and deciduous forests, typical of the lower part of the mountain.
4 hours of riding.
Day 3. Bankov Dol – Yamna village.
Today’s route continues in the lower part of the mountain, but in the direction of the mountain central ridge. The terrain is similar to the one from the previous day. Possibility to ride at a trot and gallop in some areas. On the way - a stop at Benkovski cave (Benkovski is one of the greatest Bulgarian revolutionaries from the era of the Ottoman rule) and at the ruins of Chertigrad fortress. Overnight in Yamna village.
5 hours of riding.
Day 4. Yamna village – Momina Polyana hut.
This day we reach the central ridge of Stara Planina, along which we will ride at 2000 m.a.s.l. The trail starts with a climb in deciduous and mixed forests until we reach the crest. Then, the vertical drops are small–100-200 meters each – for overcoming the ridge peaks. The ridge is unwooded and open and magnificent views are displayed from there both to Teteven Balkan on the North where the tour has passed the previous days, and to the Southern Bulgaria on the other side of the mountain. In that part of the day transition there is an opportunity to ride at a trot and gallop. However, when descending to Momina Polyana hut there are steep areas where the horses must be led. Overnight at the hut at 1640 m.a.s.l.
6-7 hours of riding.
Day 5. Momina Polyana hut – Benkovski hut.
This is the second day in which the route goes high up in the mountain- along the very ridge. The trail starts with a climb to the ridge through pine forests. Once we reach the grassy and leveled high parts we will again have the opportunity for a varied ride with panorama views. Like the previous day, in some sections of the route the horses must be led. Overnight at Benkovski hut –1540 m.a.s.l.
5 hours of riding.
Day 6. Benkovski hut – Divchovoto village.
Once we cross Stara Planina ridge we will begin to descent to its lower parts. The route passes through deciduous forests along the border of  Boatin reserve. After 5 hours we will reach the final point for the day – Divchovoto village where we will stay for the night. Today’s route includes sections of asphalt in addition to the dirt roads and paths. After the initial descent there is a possibility to ride at a trot and canter.
5 hours of riding.
Day 7. Divchovoto- Cherni Vit village – Golyam Izvor village.
On the last day of the equestrian transition the route again passes through the lower parts of the mountain, among meadows, forests and villages scattered in the folds of Teteven Balkan. On the way we will enjoy scenic landscapes and we will touch the live of the local people and observe their unadulterated lifestyle.Overnight in Golyam Izvor village.
The vertical drops, like on the first day, are not great, with possibility to ride at a trot and canter in suitable sections. 
6 hours of riding.
Day 8. Group transfer to Sofia for departure.

Group size: 2-6 riders 

Included in the price: ►7 overnights in local guesthouses and mountain huts - 4 nights in rooms with private  and 3 nights with shared facilities (days 2, 5 and 7) ►breakfast, 1 lunch, 5 lunch packs & 6 dinners included ►riding guide ►English-speaking interpreter ►saddled horse ►luggage transport by pack horse ►group transfer from/to Sofia or Plovdiv airport (09.00 - 19.00) ►VAT and all local taxes.

Sgl. room supplement: 80 EUR

Not included: ►1 dinner and alcoholic drinks ►tips ► single room supplement 80 EUR ► Private transfers: Sofia APT - Sofia center: 15 EUR (per vehicle); Plovdiv APT - Plovdiv center: 15 EUR (per vehicle); Sofia-Plovdiv or vv. 60 EUR (per vehicle)

Good to know:►horses: Most of the horses are crossbreeds between the  local East-Bulgarian and Karakachan  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 Stara planina Mountains. The maximum weight limit of the riders is 100 kg. ►saddles: Western as standard and military saddles on request. Riding helmet is not mandatory. ►possible extensions fex. Black Sea: You can combine your horseriding holiday with an extra week at the Black Sea coast in Sozopol, Nessebar, Lozenets etc.►The beaches of Northern Greece (Halkidiki and Thassos) are even closer after the new check points in the Rhodope mountains were opened recently.
Extra days of activities like kayaking, tandem paragliding, cycling, walking etc - pls check at www.penguintravel.bg

How to get there?
Ryan Air, Wizz Air, Easy Jet, Germanwings,  Penguin Travel – http://www.flybulgarien.dk/; Norwegian Air Shuttle, Airberlin, 

Recommended travel period of the year: May - October

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