Balkan Hidden Trails

A great part of Teteven mountain is located within the limits of Central Balkan National Park, the forests and the animals of Boatin and Tsarichina reserves are also here, and the Morovitsa and Benkovskata caves evoke times long gone by. Still, besides the beautiful nature, the region offers unique cultural attractions – Glozhene Monastery St. George, housing a 1000-year icon, sits like a sentinel on high inaccessible cliffs, and Chertigrad - a Thracian fortress that dates back to before Roman times.
The tour is diverse. At the beginning and at the end, the ride is in the lower part of the mountain – among pastoral scenery and picaresque villages, and for two days the route follows the crest of the mountain at 2,000 metres above sea level. There are areas where it is possible to ride at a trot and canter, but there are also steep sections where the horses must be led.

This trail ride between villages and remote mountain huts with only pack horses for support is more of an expedition than a riding holiday.

Tour highlights:
Stara Planina or Balkan is the longest Bulgarian mountain stretching from its western border all the way to the Black Sea to the East, dividing the entire country into two. Its old name is the Balkans, which has also given the name of the Balkan Peninsula. A great part of Bulgarian history is related to Stara Planina. Fighters against the Ottoman rule hid in its forests and the Bulgarian spirit revived in its towns in the XVII and XVIII centuries.
The Glozhene Monastery St. George was founded in XIII century. It is situated on 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.
Chertigrad is a Thracian fortress from the Antiquity, which was used by the early Middle Ages. Its ruins are located in a beautiful place high above the valley of Cherni Vit river.
Morovitsa cave is more than three kilometers long. It is inhabited by a colony of bats, and in the ancient times it was also inhabited by primitive people.
Central Balkans 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.

Day 1. Arrive Sofia. Transfer and overnight.
Day 2. Golyam Izvor – Bankov Dol
Transfer from Sofia to the village of Golyam Izvor ( 1hour). Meeting the horses. The tour starts with a ride to Glozhene monastery where we will have a break for lunch. Then, the route passes near by Morovitza cave where we will go for a short walk and after it the route continues to Bankov Dol area. Overnight.
The terrain is mountainous but the vertical drops of the route are not large. The ride is along dirt roads and paths through meadows and deciduous forests, typical of the lower part of the mountain.
4 hours of riding.
Day 3. Bankov Dol – Yamna village.
Today’s route continues in the lower part of the mountain, but in the direction of the mountain central ridge. The terrain is similar to the one from the previous day. Possibility to ride at a trot and gallop in some areas. On the way - a stop at Benkovski cave (Benkovski is one of the greatest Bulgarian revolutionaries from the era of the Ottoman rule) and at the ruins of Chertigrad fortress. Overnight in Yamna village.
5 hours of riding.
Day 4. Yamna village – Momina Polyana hut.
This day we reach the central ridge of Stara Planina, along which we will ride at 2000 m.a.s.l. The trail starts with a climb in deciduous and mixed forests until we reach the crest. Then, the vertical drops are small–100-200 meters each – for overcoming the ridge peaks. The ridge is unwooded and open and magnificent views are displayed from there both to Teteven Balkan on the North where the tour has passed the previous days, and to the Southern Bulgaria on the other side of the mountain. In that part of the day transition there is an opportunity to ride at a trot and gallop. However, when descending to Momina Polyana hut there are steep areas where the horses must be led. Overnight at the hut at 1640 m.a.s.l.
6-7 hours of riding.
Day 5. Momina Polyana hut – Benkovski hut.
This is the second day in which the route goes high up in the mountain- along the very ridge. The trail starts with a climb to the ridge through pine forests. Once we reach the grassy and leveled high parts we will again have the opportunity for a varied ride with panorama views. Like the previous day, in some sections of the route the horses must be led. Overnight at Benkovski hut –1540 m.a.s.l.
5 hours of riding.
Day 6. Benkovski hut – Cherni Vit village.
Once we cross Stara Planina ridge we will begin to descent to its lower parts. The route passes through deciduous forests along the Boatin reserve and by the small picaresque village of Divchovoto; afterwards we will reach the final point for the day – Cherni Vit village where we will stay for the night. Today’s route includes sections of asphalt in addition to the dirt roads and paths. After the initial descent there is a possibility to ride at a trot and canter.
5-6 hours of riding.
Day 7. Cherni Vit village – Golyam Izvor village.
On the last day of the equestrian transition the route again passes through the lower parts of the mountain, among meadows, forests and villages scattered in the folds of Teteven Balkan. On the way we will enjoy scenic landscapes and we will touch the live of the local people and observe their unadulterated lifestyle.Overnight in Golyam Izvor village.
The vertical drops, like on the first day, are not great, with possibility to ride at a trot and canter in suitable sections.
4 hours of riding.
Day 8. Group transfer to Sofia for departure.

2012 dates: 2 Jun, 16 Jun, 30 Jun, 14 July, 28 July, 11 Aug, 25 Aug, 8 Sept, 22 Sept, 6 Oct, 20 Oct

2012 prices: £540 for 7 nights

Not Included: Flights and Travel Insurance, 1 dinner, alcoholic drinks, tips

Included in the price: 7 overnights in local guesthouses and mountain huts - 4 nights in rooms with private  and 3 nights with shared facilities (days 2, 5 and 7), breakfast, 1 lunch, 5 lunch packs & 6 dinners included, riding guide, English-speaking interpreter, saddled horse, luggage transport by pack horse.  Vegetarians catered for.

Single Supplement: £80

Accommodation: In guesthouses and mountain huts in 2/3 bedded rooms with shared bathroom. Full-board

Meeting Point: Sofia or Plovdiv airport

Indicative flight price: London to Sofia £85 - £160pp return depending on time of year, London to Plovdiv £130 - £160pp return depending on time of year

Transfer: Included

No of hours in the saddle: 5/7 per day

Max Weight: 100kg

Group Size: 2-6

Suitable for non-riders: No

Call us on +44 (0)1225 424413 or email contact@redlandsequestrian.com to check the ride availability and dates, once we have confirmed availability you can download and fill in a booking form:

• UK Rides Booking Form
• Worldwide Rides Booking Form

Each rider in the party must also complete a riding ability questionnaire before we can complete the final confirmation of your holiday booking.