Horse riding combined with beautiful scenery, ancient Thracian and Roman cultural monuments, superb wines and SPA delights – this is what we offer you with this 1-week equestrian tour! The trail runs within the surroundings and the higher parts of Sredna Gora Mountains. It is one of the relatively low Bulgarian Mountains – light height variation of ascent and descent, its cool beech forests and open soft ridges make this place ideal for horse riding. The spirits of the Bulgarian rebels, who fought against the Turks, still roam its forests; the small towns, hidden in its folds, are a joy to the eye with their painted houses from the period of the Bulgarian Revival, and thermal springs flow in its foot among the ruins of the ancient civilizations of the Thracians and the Roman Empire. The horses are Arab and Shagya Arabs, in excellent condition, very well trained. The tour is recommended for experienced riders – a large part of the trail passes through an area that allows riding at a trot and gallop. As the terrain is not that hard, this tour is suitable for a group of beginners as well. Every day there will be an opportunity to prolong the riding time, depending on the wishes of the participants. The tour can be arranged off-season as well with some changes in the route, excluding the highest parts of the mountains. Luggage is transported by vehicle. Saddles are Western type. The accommodation is at comfortable renovated huts up in the mountains and at first class hotels with thermal swimming pools and wine cellars in the foot.
Highlights:
♦Plovdiv - Bulgarias second city.
♦Sredna Gora - Marvelous sights are revealed from Sredna Gora Mountains due to its central location - views to Balkan Mountains to the north, Rhodopi and Rila Mountains to the south, as well as to the vast Thracian Valley.
♦Hissar - an ancient town with many Roman ruins - including a several km wall, encircling the modern center. The place is well known for its 22 healing mineral springs. Nowadays Hissar is a famous SPA center.
♦Koprivshtitsa - it is the most interesting, the most beautiful and the most notable Bulgarian town from the Revival period. Its distinctive architecture, colourful houses, cobblestoned streets and old churches are the embodiment of decades of breakthrough in the life of modern Bulgaria. In the middle of the 19th c. the economic and spiritual rise of Koprivshtitsa had turned the town into a symbol of the reviving nation. The April Uprising against the Ottoman Empire started here in 1876. The prominent revolutionaries Todor Kableshkov and Georgi Benkovski, the writers Naiden Gerov and Lyuben Karavelov, poet Dimcho Debelyanov – they all were born here. Their native houses are open to visitors.
♦Thracian Cult Complex in Starosel comprises of a vault tomb, another tomb with colonnade and several cenotaphs from 5th-4th c. BC.
Itinerary:
Day 1. Arrival
Arrival to Sofia Airport, transfer to our hotel for overnight.
Day 2. Sofia - Hissar – Byalo Kamane
We leave early in the morning to Hissar (150 km), where we will meet our horses and start our trip in Sredna Gora Mountains. We will pass by Mount Eledzhik and the valley of river Stryama. We will spend the night in the beautiful Byalo Kamane complex high in the mountains. B/L/D
Riding: 4-5 hours (22 km)
Day 3. Byalo Kamane - Srednogorets hut
We ascend slowly enjoying the beautiful views until we reach Mount Malak Bogdan (1532 m) – the hut lies in its foot. There we will have lunch; afterwards there will be time for walking or riding. Overnight. B/L/D
Riding: 4-5 hours (25 km)
Day 4. Srednogorets hut - Koprivshtitsa
Today we will climb the highest peak of Sredna Gora - Mount Bogdan (1603 m). We can visit Plachkov well, where the river Topolnitsa springs from. Then we ride down passing by meadows and fields, galloping to the town of Koprivshtitsa. Afternoon walking tour in the historic city center. Overnight.. B/L/-
Riding: 4-5 hours (25 km)
Day 5. Koprivshtitsa – Buntovna hut
Again up in the mountains. Once we reach the area of Kimera, named after the ancient bridge nearby, we continue to Mount Vlak (1243 m), where we will enjoy a wonderful panorama view. Lunch break. After that we will descend to Buntovna hut for overnight.. B/L/D
Riding: 4-5 hours (22 km).
Day 6. Buntovna hut – Starosel
We will descend slowly down the southern slope of the mountains heading for the village of Starosel. Along the way we will visit the Thracian tomb. Overnight at Starosel wine cellar, where besides great wine tasting and superb cuisine you can indulge yourself with some SPA treatments as well . B/L/D
Riding: 4-5 hours (25 km)
Day 7. Starosel - Hissar - Sofia
Today we will ride back to Hissar, where you will have time to explore the city, visit the ancient Roman ruins and indulge in leisure activities and SPA. Transfer back to Sofia for overnight. B/-/-
Riding: 3 hours
Day 8. Departure
Transfer to the airport for departure.B/-/-
Price Includes:
7 nights 5 of which in hotel rooms with en suit bathrooms and toilet; 2 of which in renovated mountains huts
breakfast; 4 dinners; 5 lunch packages (sandwich; fruit / vegetable)
English speaking riding guide
saddled horses
luggage transport except days 3 and 5
transport according to the program and group transfer to/from Sofia or Plovdiv airport
Not Included:
flight tickets
drinks and meals not mentioned in the program
tips
personal expenses
insurance
Additional Services:
tasting of 3 wines in wine cellar Starosel - 10 Euro per person (Including tasting of wines with appropriate appetizers). Booking in advance is required.
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