“Enjoy progressive rides in the scenic Balkan”
8 Day Balkan Village Trek: Progressive Horse Riding Tour in Teteven Balkan Area, Bulgaria
Sofia, Sofia City Province, Bulgaria
Wonderful Bulgaria Horse Riding Tour
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 is loved by tourists both for the preserved nature and for the pleasure of touching the authentic life of the local people: tasting homemade rakiya with homemade appetizers is an integral part of the experience.
Key information
- Rider Weight Limit: 100 kilograms / 221 pounds
- Horse Height Range: 15 hands
- Tack Type: Western and English tack
- Horse Breed: Local East Bulgarian and Karakachan crosses
Meet the instructors
Lyubomir
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Highlights
- 6 days with horse riding
- Approximate daily riding time: 4 to 6 hours
- English-speaking guide and local guide assistance
- Luggage transport and airport transfer service
- 7 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 2 dinners
- 7 nights accommodation
Skill level
- Intermediate
Styles
6 days with instruction
Group size: Maximum of 6 participants
Airport transfer included:
Sofia Airport
Accommodation
You will stay in hotels for 4 nights, and the other 3 nights will be in guest houses.
Program
The horseback riding tour is diverse and combines horseback riding with seeing cultural sights and immersing in the atmosphere of this beautiful Bulgarian area. The trek runs in the relatively low part of Stara Planina - between 400 and 1100 m asl. You will ride along dirt roads and trails. The terrain is rugged and rocky in places, with an option to trot and canter.
You spend between 4 and 6 hours in the saddle every day, and the duration of each ride most days can be changed according to the abilities and will of the riders. Luggage is transported by car and the saddling is western or English. Riding helmet is not mandatory.
The horses
Most of the horses are crossbreeds between the local East Bulgarian and Karakachan with a mid-height of 150 centimeters. These horses are well-known as thoughtful, tough, and extremely well-adapted to the mountainous region of the Stara Planina Mountains. Please note that the maximum weight limit for the riders is 100 kilograms.
Riding skill
Most of Horse Riding Bulgaria's clients are intermediate riders who are confident with trot and canter.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Sofia
Transfer to your hotel for overnight. Airport transfer is included.
Day 2: Golyam Izvor - Glozene Monastery - Golyam Izvor
The road passes through meadows and mixed forest. You will ascend the heights above the village where you will see the first beautiful view of the central ridge of Stara Planina and the town of Teteven surrounded by rocky peaks. Then, you will descend through an ancient beech forest at the end of which Glozhene Monastery is located perched on a high rock, it reveals an even more spacious view of the Danube plain.
You will see the monastery and find out about its 800-year-old history. Then have a soup for lunch, made by the local staff. Afterward, take another route to go back to Goliam Izvor, where you will spend the night.
- Duration of the ride: ~ 4 - 5 hours
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3: Around the village of Golyam Izvor
After breakfast, you start a village trek around Goliam Izvor and the nearby rolling hills. You will see some pretty houses and how the locals live. Then, you will move onto some open plain areas, perfect for gallops with a nice view over the valley.
- Duration of ride: ~ 4 hours
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4: Golyam Izvor - Brusen - Golyam Izvor
The route will take you on the other side of Goliam Izvor and along a small river, supplying the fields, perfect for long gallops. Then you pass through the Brusen ridge, before ascending into a pine forest. There you are going to have a nice packed lunch among the nature. After the woodlands, you will trekk through an open field again and finish at the outskirts of Brusen, where you leave the horses and to go back to Goliam Izvor. If not too tired, you can make a car trip to Etropole Monastery and the waterfall nearby (30 min drive).
- Duration of ride: ~ 4-5 hours
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5: Brusen - Cherni Vit
The start of the trail passes through mixed forests. Then you get on top of an unwooded ridge with a beautiful 360-degree view of the nearby mountains. You will continue along the ridge really soaking in the scenery in the beautiful trek. After that, you will finally descend to the village of Cherni Vit. In the afternoon, you will have a trip by car to Saeva Dupka cave, known for its beautiful formations. Overnight hotel in Teteven.
- Duration of ride: ~ 5 hours
- Meals: Breakfast
Day 6: Cherni Vit - Teteven
The ride on this day starts from Cherni Vit leading you close to the Boatin Reserve which is part of the Central Balkan National Park. The national park protects nature in the central part of Stara Planina. Overnight in Teteven.
- Duration of ride: ~ 5 hours
- Meals: Breakfast
Day 7: Teteven - Golyam Izvor, back to Sofia
You start with a morning transfer to Cherni Vit village where you have left the horses the previous day. On that last day, you have a little bit of forest, some hills, slopes, and a beautiful ridge to go through. Then a last scenery of Goliam Izvor, lunch, and a transfer back to Sofia for an overnight at a hotel.
- Duration of ride: ~ 4-5 hours
- Meals: Breakfast
Day 8: Departure
Transfer to Sofia airport for departure.
- Meals: Breakfast
Instructors
Lyubomir Gatev
Lyubomir the Super Lubo was born in November 1988. He lives in a small village in the Rhodope Mountains near Plovdiv. Lyubomir studied tourism at New Bulgarian University and joined the firm as a guide for horseback riding and biking.
Location
Tour highlights
Stara Planina
Stara Planina is the longest Bulgarian mountain, stretching from Bulgaria's western border all the way to the Black Sea, dividing the country into two. Its old name is "the Balkans" from where the name of the Balkan Peninsula originates. The great part of Bulgaria's history is related to it. Fighters against the Ottoman rule hid in its forests. The Bulgarian spirit revived in its towns in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Central Balkan National Park
Central Balkan 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.
The Glozhene Monastery
The Glozhene Monastery "Saint George" was founded in the 13th century. It is situated in 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.
Etropole Monastery
Etropole Monastery was founded in the 12th century. It declined after the conquer by the Turks but at the end of the 16th century, it was restored and became one of the most important spiritual centers in the Bulgarian lands. The surrounding area of the monastery offers pleasant pastoral scenery and in immediate proximity to the monastery, the Varovitets waterfall is located.
Saeva Dupka Cave
Saeva Dupka cave is one of the most beautiful Bulgarian caves. It is 205 meters long and over 1 million years old. Its five halls and numerous galleries are full of bizarre cave formations. It is illuminated and urbanized.
Food
The tour includes meals as outlined in the itinerary (7 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners).
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
What's included
- 6 days with horseriding
- 4 hotel overnights with breakfast (two in Sofia and two in Teteven) rooms with private facilities; 3 in guest houses incl. breakfast (2 rooms sharing one toilet/bathroom)
- All meals according to the itinerary
- English-speaking guide and local guide
- Saddled horses
- Luggage transport
- Airport transfers
- Entrance fees to sites if any
What's not included
- International flights
- Drinks and meals that are not mentioned in the program
- Tips (5 EUR per person per day)
- Personal expenses
- Additional airport transfers (in connection with pre and post-tour accommodation in Sofia - 20 EUR per person)
How to get there
Recommended Airports
SOF
Sofia Airport
7 km
Transfer included
Airport: Sofia Airport
Airport transfer included: Sofia Airport
No additional charges. You can request this in the next step.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 30% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookHorseRidingHolidays.com. All major credit cards supported.
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