Orpheus Trail Ride, Bulgaria

The Rhodopes,  occupying the southern part of Bulgaria and part of Greece,  are the homeland of the mythological singer Orpheus. This ride spends 6 days of riding in this enchanting mountain – the land of high peaks and deep river gorges, unique rock formations, lush meadows and dense forests.
The western part of the Rhodopes where our ride takes place, offers a variety of terrains in which one can experience of all types of riding and paces.
We visit remote villages, stay with local people enjoying their hospitality, local food and excellent wines.
Before the ride starts we spend a coupe of days in Plovdiv - Europe's oldest inhabited city and Bulgaria’s nomination for 2019 European Capital of Culture

Itinerary:

Day 1. Arrive Sofia
Transfer to our hotel for overnight.

Day 2. Plovdiv - Galabovo 
Transfer to our riding base in Galabovo at the foot of the Rodopi mountains (2 hours drive from Sofia), where we meet the horses. Today we make a loop-like ride, passing along the small Kuklen Monastery. A transfer takes us back to Plovdiv, after some rest we make a short stroll in the old quarters of the town where we stay at hotel for overnight.
/3 hours riding/

Day 3. Plovdiv - Galabovo - Vrahovrah
We start in Galabovo again, this time heading south and up in the mountains, to reach Tsar Kaloyan village then Hrabrino and then continue to the small resort of Vruhovruh where we stay overnight in a small mountain hotel.
/5 hours riding/

Day 4. Vrahovrah - Persenk hut - Lyaskovo
We continue our ride, passing through several tiny villages, following Varhovrah ridge with great panorama views, to reach Persenk hut, where we stop for lunch. Continue to the village of Lyaskovo where we stay for overnight with a local family, 
/6 hours riding/

Day 5. Lyaskovo - Zaburdo
The ride today takes us to the village of Zaburdo. Good possibilities for trot and canter. 
/ 6 hours riding/

Day 6. Zaburdo - Chudnite Mosotove - Orehovo
From Zaburdo  we head up to Chudnite Mostove (Miraculous Bridges) - a unique rock formation. In the afternoon the trek continues  through pine forests  and vast meadows to Orehovo, where we stay at a family run hotel. 
/ 5-6 hours riding/

Day 7. Orehovo - Galabovo - Plovdiv. Sofia
After breakfast we head to Zdravets hut, where we stop for lunch. We continue our ride and reach the meadows of Galabovo, where we say goodbye to our horses and drive back to Sofia for the last night. 
An optional visit to Bachkovski Monastery in the afternoon. Bachkovo Monastery is established in the beginning of XI century and is the second largest Bulgarian Monastery nowadays. We suggest an early start of the day if Bachkovo Monastery will be visited.
/6 hours riding/

Day 8. Departure
After breakfast  transfer to Sofia airport for departure.

Included in the price: ►7 overnights in local guesthouses and mountain hotels in rooms with private facilities and including breakfast ► 6 lunch packs & 4 dinners  ►English-speaking guide and  saddled horse ►luggage transport ►airport transfers on arrival/departure days ►VAT and all local taxes.

Not included: ► international  flight tickets ►3 dinners and alcoholic drinks ►tips ► Bachkovo visit (50 EUR per vehicle) ► additional airport transfers (in connection with pre- and post tour accomodation in Sofia - 15 EUR pr. vehicle) or Plovdiv-Sofia or vv. 60 EUR (per vehicle)

Video by www.roesreport.nl

Other expenses: Single room supplement: 85 EUR

How to get there?: Wizz Air - http://wizzair.com/; Easy Jet - http://www.easyjet.com/; Germanwings - http://www.germanwings.com/; Penguin Travel – http://www.flybulgarien.dk/; Norwegian Air Shuttle - http://www.norwegian.com/; Airberlin - http://www.airberlin.com; Ryan Air - http://www.ryanair.com/

Recommended travel period of the year:   April - October  

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