The Land of Orpheus

The Land of Orpheus, Bulgaria

This wonderful trail riding holiday in the mountains of Bulgaria includes six days of riding in the Rodopes –the land of high peaks and deep river gorges, weird rock formations, lush meadows and dense forests.

The region has a wealth of traditional architecture and folklore. En route you will 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.

Today this is the area where a native grape variety Mavrud is cultivated. The robust Mavrud red wine can be sampled at the well-known wine cellar Villa Vinifera, included in our itinerary. With its beautiful landscapes, picturesque small villages, exotic sites & great wines, this makes for an unforgettable holiday!

Day 1. Our guide welcomes you at Sofia / Plovdiv Airport. Transfer to Plovdiv – the second biggest city in the country.

Day 2. A short transfer takes us to Brestovitsa, where we meet the horses. Today we make a loop-like ride, passing along the small town of Perushtitsa and back to Brestovitsa, to visit a local winery, where we have lunch and taste local wines. In the afternoon we head back to Plovdiv for a short stroll in the old quarters of the town and dinner.hours in the saddle: 3

Day 3. We start in Brestovitsa again, this time heading south and up in the mountains, to reach Varhovrah resort, where we stay overnight.
hours in the saddle: 4-5

Day 4. We continue the ride, passing through several tiny villages, following Varhovrah ridge with great panorama views, to reach Persenk hut, where we stay overnight.
hours in the saddle: 5

Day 5. The ride today takes us to Chudnite Mostove – a unique rock formation in the heart of the mountain. After lunch we take the bus to visit Batchkovo Monastery. The horses will be waiting for us at Orehovo village, where we stay overnight.
hours in the saddle: 4

Day 6. We head up towards Chernatitsa ridge, pass through deep woods and vast meadows, along Biala Cherkva and down to Studenets area where we stay overnight.
hours in the saddle: 5-6

Day 7. On our last ride we reach the meadows of Leshten, where we say goodbye to the horses, and have transfer to Plovdiv for a farewell dinner.
hours in the saddle: 4

Day 8. After breakfast we get a transfer to the airport in Sofia/ Plovdiv for departure.

Accomodation and food: We stay overnight at local guesthouses and small family-run hotels in rooms with private facilities. Breakfast, lunch pack & dinner included (Except for evening meals on days 1, 2 and 7)

2012 dates: Departure dates for 7 nights / 8 days in low season - 19th May, 9th June, 23rd June, 1st September, 15th September, 29th September, 13th October.

Departure dates for 7 nights / 8 days in high season - 7th July, 21st July, 4th August, 18th August.

2012 prices: Low season - £540pp

High season - £590pp

Single Supplement: £90 (2011), £80 (2012)

Included: Breakfast, lunch pack, and evening meals (except for evening meal on days 1, 2 and 7)Vegetarians catered for.

Not Included: Flights and Travel Insurance, alcoholic drinks, trip to Bachkovo Monastery.

Accommodation: Local guesthouses and small family run hotels in rooms with private facilities.

Meeting Point: Sofia or Plovdiv

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 : 4/5 per day

Max Weight: 95kg

Group Size: 4-8

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.