The Rhodopes are the greenest and most picturesque Bulgarian mountain range, known as the homeland of the mythological singer Orpheus. The140 mile long green mountain ridge is located in southern Bulgaria - with 20% of its range extending into Greece. With their pleasant climate the Rodhopi Mountains are the perfect place for horse riding, offering >
The Rhodopes are the greenest and most picturesque Bulgarian mountain range, known as the homeland of the mythological singer Orpheus. The140 mile long green mountain ridge is located in southern Bulgaria - with 20% of its range extending into Greece. With their pleasant climate the Rodhopi Mountains are the perfect place for horse riding, offering a variety of terrains in which one can experience of all types of riding and paces. This ride spends 6 days of riding in the enchanting Rodopes – the land of high peaks and deep river gorges, unique rock formations, lush meadows and dense forests. The mountains will infatuate you with their prehistoric caves, ancient Roman roads, bridges, fortresses and churches. The region has a wealth of traditional architecture and folklore: en route we visit remote villages, old churches and one of Bulgaria’s finest monasteries Bachkovo. According to mythology, this is the homeland of Dionysus, the God of wine and today this region is where the native grape variety Mavrud is cultivated. The robust Mavrud red wines can be sampled at the well-known wine cellar, and is included in our itinerary.
Beautiful landscapes, picturesque small villages, exotic sites, great wines – come join us for an unforgettable holiday!
Special Highlights:
-- Plovdiv – one of the oldest towns on the Balkan Peninsula that has seen the glory of Thracians, Greeks and Romans. Plovdiv played a key role in the Bulgarian Revival as witnesses the old part of the town.
-- Kuklen monastery – the ten centuries old monastery hidden in the northern slopes of the mountain has its stories to tell. They say that the water that springs there is healing.
-- The Miracle bridges –a natural phenomenon in the heart of the mountain and presents two stunning stone arches made from the collapse of a huge cave.
-- Bachkovo monastery - one of the biggest monasteries in Bulgaria, and the biggest in the Rodhopi Mountain. It has been built in the 11th. century, and has been a bastion for the Bulgarian culture over the dark ages of the Ottoman rule. In the monasteries are one of the oldest and best preserved religious wall paintings.
Holiday Extensions:
We have unique offers for other activity holidays as cycling, walking or family adventure. You can rent a car directly with our Plovdiv office.
If you just want to relax on the beaches of Bulgaria's Black Sea Coast or Northern Greece we can help you with bus/train tickets and hotel reservation!
Day 1. Arrive Sofia, transfer to Plovdiv
Our guide welcomes you at Sofia airport or picks you up
from your hotel in Sofia before driving to Plovdiv at 4.00 pm. 120
km/1.5 hours drive. Overnight in the Old City.
Day 2. Plovdiv - Galabovo - Plovdiv
A short drive to Galabovo (15 km) , 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 in the afternoon.
/3 hours riding/
Day 3. Plovdiv - Galabovo - Lilkovo
We start in Galabovo again, this time heading south and up
in the mountains, to reach Zdravets resort and then continue to the
small village of Lilkovo where we stay overnight.
/5 hours riding/
Day 4. Lilkovo - 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 trauk 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
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.
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 group transfer to Sofia airport at 08.00 am
Rates include: ►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 ►group transfer from/to Sofia on set times ►VAT and all local taxes
Rates do not include: ► international flight tickets ►3 dinners and alcoholic drinks ►tips ► Bachkovo visit (50 EUR per vehicle) ► Private transfers: Sofia APT - Sofia center: 17 EUR (per vehicle); Plovdiv APT - Plovdiv center: 15 EUR (per vehicle); Sofia-Plovdiv or vv. 60 EUR (per vehicle)
There is 1 group transfer from Sofia to Plovdiv for each ride departure. It will be a set time in the afternoon of Day 1 - the exact time will not be announced until all riders flight plans are submitted! We pick up all clients oer their flight arrival, then drive them to city center (15 minutes) where they can leave their luggage at a guesthouse and have free time until we drive as an entire group Plovdiv, after the last rider arrives.
