6 Day Orpheus Trail Horse Riding Tour in Bulgaria
Progressive Horse Riding Tour Bulgaria
The Rhodopes, occupying the southern part of Bulgaria and part of Greece, are the homeland of the mythological singer Orpheus. This ride spends six days riding in this enchanting mountain - the land of high peaks and deep river gorges, unique rock formations, lush meadows, and dense forests.
Key information
- Rider Weight Limit: 198 pounds / 90 kilograms
Highlights
- 6 riding days
- Approximate daily riding time: 3 - 6 hours
- Professional English-speaking guide
- 5 nights accommodation
- Daily meals
- Transfers and luggage transport
Skill level
- Intermediate
Types
6 days with instruction in English
Average daily hours of activity: 4
Accommodation
You will be accommodated in local guesthouses and mountain hotels, with rooms featuring private facilities.
Program
The western part of the Rhodopes, where your ride takes place, offers a variety of terrains in which one can experience all types of riding and paces. You visit remote villages and stay with local people, enjoying their hospitality, local food, and excellent wines. You will also spend some time in Plovdiv - Europe's oldest inhabited city and 2019 European Capital of Culture.
- Rhodope mountains - home to the mythological singer Orpheus
- Orehovo - a magical mountain village located at a height of 950 meters above sea level
- The natural stone phenomenon of the Marvelous Bridges (Chudnite Mostove)
Daily itinerary
Day 1: Sofia - Villa Yustina
Pick-up from your hotel in Sofia or Plovdiv and drive to Villa Yustina to meet your horses (15 kilometers from Plovdiv) and do a short loop-like ride. While riding, you will pass through meadows and forests. According to the season, you will have the opportunity to enjoy the ripe fruits in the area and meet the local people who work in the fields. Sightseeing in Plovdiv in the afternoon. Overnight in Plovdiv.
- Riding time: 3 hours
- Meals: Lunch
Day 2: Villa Yustina - Leshtensko - Bryanovshtitsa Hut
After breakfast, you will start today's ride. You start climbing, with an option for trotting and cantering. An hour's riding later, you reach the Leshtensko area, where you will enjoy the beautiful views on both sides of the trail. You will do 20 minutes to rest and water the horses in the beautiful canyon in the area. Then you head out through the forest to climb a small trail to the endpoint – Bryanovshtitsa hut. The ride lasts between three and four hours, with the option of extending one or two hours to the St. George area, which reveals a beautiful view over Plovdiv and the surrounding small towns and villages. Overnight in the Bryanovshtitsa hunting lodge, rooms with shared facilities.
- Riding time: 3 - 5 hours
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 3: Bryanovshtitsa Hut - Orehovo
Today you are heading to the village of Orehovo - one of the most picturesque ones in the mountain. Today's ride will take about six hours. On the way, you will stop for lunch near the scenic region of Bash Mandra.
- Riding time: 3 - 5 hours
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 4: Orehovo - Orehovo
Today you will ride through pine forests and vast meadows. Today's ride will take about three hours. You will spend a second night in Orehovo in a local family-run guesthouse.
- Riding time: 3 hours
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 5: Orehovo - Vruhovruh
Today you are heading south and up in the mountains to the small resort of Varhovruh. Following the Varhovrah ridge, you will enjoy the great panoramic views before reaching Persenk hut, where you will stop for lunch.
- Riding time: 5 - 6 hours
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 6: Vruhovruh - Villa Yustina - Plovdiv, Sofia
Time to get back. Firstly, you are heading back to your base in Villa Yustina. Then you are continuing with a transfer back to Sofia.
- Riding time: 3 hours
- Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Good to know
- Recommended travel period of the year: May - October
- Riders need to be fit and capable of being comfortable with trots and canters in open countryside
- There is a minimum age of 12 for children on this trail
- Maximum weight limit is 90 kilograms
- You recommend bringing your own riding hat. There are some available ones to borrow; there are limited sizes. Hats are not mandatory in Bulgaria.
- You are welcome to groom your horse if you like, but saddling is not required as this will be done by your guide
Location
The tour will take place in Bulgaria. Bulgaria is a horse country. Nowadays, there are hundreds of wild horses in the Central Balkans who live outdoors all year, enduring temperatures ranging from 30 degrees Celsius in summer to minus 20 degrees Celsius in winter, and foraging for food on their own. Bulgaria is the perfect horse riding destination. Like Mongolia, this is a country where fences and gates are a rare sight, especially in the mountain regions where your rides take place. Here, most of the land, though private, is not cultivated, which leaves vast open areas - forests, pastures, etc.
Food
You will be served daily meals included in the price.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
Things to do (optional)
- Optional excursions
What's included
- Horse riding tour
- 5 nights accommodation
- All meals
- English-speaking guide
- Saddled horses
- Transfers as per itinerary
- Luggage transport
- All local taxes
What's not included
- International flights
- Airport transfers
- Drinks and meals not mentioned
- Tips (5 EUR per person per day)
- Optional excursions
- Entrance fees
- Insurance
- Personal expenses
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Transfer not provided
Sofia Airport
135 km away from your destination
Arrival by shuttle
The included transfer will be from your hotel or apartment in the city center of Sofia.
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.
Reviews
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