This ride takes you into the wild nature and cultural landscape of Bulgaria. On your ride through several villages and to a monastery, you will also be on the trail of history. With mountains, lakes, rivers and meadows, the route offers a great mix of cultural and natural experiences.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Sofia. You will be picked up at the airport and start with a sight-seeing tour. Then transfer to Sevlievo (approx. 190 km) in the northern Balkans. Dinner with discussion of Riding tour and overnight stay in the hotel. 

Day 2: After a hearty breakfast at the hotel, the transfer will take you to Riding centre. Here you will get to know your four-legged friends and after a short introduction from the guide, to tack up you will set off in the direction of an ancient forest. Impressed by the sure-footedness of the horses, you can rely completely on your faithful companion and enjoy the magnificent mountain landscape of the nature reserve to the full. At lunchtime, you will fortify yourself with a small meal at the riding center. In the afternoon, you set off on another ride in the area around the riding center. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Sevlievo. Riding time approx. 4 hours.

Day 3: You have breakfast at the hotel and then go to Riding centre. Finally, you set off on a new adventure. On the way to the small, hidden village Zhivko to ride you walk along the 10 km long and 120 meter high Vitata Stena cliff. Along the way, you will always have a view of the Balkan Mountains to the south. On the way, you will have a picnic near the village of Armenite. After this eventful day, you will spend the night in a traditional, beautiful guest house in the small village Zhivko, where you can relax and round off the day with a sumptuous dinner. Riding time: approx. 4.5 hours.

Day 4: After a leisurely breakfast in the lovely guest house, you will be taken by car to the Etara open-air museum in Gabrova. Here you can perfectly experience life in the 19th century and visit the antique reconstruction of village with its original houses and windmills. You can also marvel at demonstrations by craftsmen who make old tools and instruments, weave baskets, etc. At lunchtime to ride you travel to Gesha. You to ride along the Yantra River across green, lush meadows through the impressive wilderness of the mountain landscape. Finally you reach Gesha, where you will spend the night in a nice guesthouse with a pool. Riding time: approx. 4 hours.

Day 5: After breakfast, you will be taken by car to Dryanovo Monastery and the Bacho Kiro Cave. The monastery survived after being set on fire by the Ottoman army during the fight against the rebels in 1876.
Then to ride through the valley of the Yantra to the north and enjoy a few gallops. The route leads through hill and beautiful forests with small streams and lakes. You have a picnic in the shade not far from Vetrintsi and spend the night in a quiet, rural hotel with a pool. Riding time approx. 4.5 hours.

Day 6: You have breakfast at the guesthouse. You then hike through the Emen Canyon of the Negovanka. Afterwards to ride you walk through the fields and enjoy the fantastic view. Today's lunch will also be a picnic near a lake. You will have dinner in a beautiful hunter's hut Lodge , which is situated on the shore of a lake. You will also spend the night here. Riding time: approx. 4.5 hours.

Day 7: You have breakfast at the hotel, then to ride you set off again in the direction of stable. Today's ride will be one last highlight. You to ride through the wonderful Bulgarian wilderness, through dense, beautiful forests, ford small rivers and cross picturesque fields. After a picnic in the wilderness, you arrive at stable and say goodbye to the horses. Dinner and overnight stay in a hotel in Sevlievo. Riding time: approx. 4 hours.

Day 8: Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the airport in Sofia.

Accomodation
You will stay in comfortable hotels and authentic country inns, many of which are run by families who will welcome you with Bulgarian hospitality.

Saddle & Tack: English, Western and Endurance saddles. Compulsory wearing of riding helmet.

Experience: Comfortable in all gaits and experienced in varied and difficult terrain. On steep/mountainous passages the pace is a bit slower, on the flat/wide sections there are nice gallops. Minimum age 12 years. Riding time approx. 4-5 hours daily. Maximum rider weight: 95kg.

Horses: Arabs, Shagya Arabs, Bulgarian races and Akhal-Teke mixes between 150-165 cm.