Penguin Travel Office Denmark: Frederiksberg Alle 32, 1820 Frederiksberg C, Tlf. 33 21 51 00; Fax 33 21 51 50; e-mail: [email protected] Dossier Ref. BGHR_05 BULGARIA Horseriding Holidays Rila Mountains Trail Issued: January 2006 Horse riding in Bulgaria: from/to Sofia Iskar Ranch Difficulty grades: 2-3 Do you really want to explore Bulgaria - do This trail ride is a different way to explore the it on a horseback. country; its nature and culture. It is intended It’s simply one of the best ways to expe- for those of you who want to change the riding rience the country and the people. On the grounds or the short Saturday riding tour with horseback you will gain knowledge of the riding in the wild nature of South-Eastern Eu- nature, flora and fauna, historical sights, rope. The horse trek requires that you are used architecture etc. You will pass through Madzhare to riding and have some experience in riding in the most fantastic landscapes and you Govedartsi Borovets the open fields, on an unknown terrain and on will have the most impressious views. And Lovna Hut different horses. A different skill grade is neces- Seven Rila Lakes Mount Musala at the same time you will meet the peo- Ribni Ezera Hut Zavratchitsa sary for the various tours. Here is a short descrip- ple were they are in the country side: In a Rila Monastery tion of the difficulty grades we operate with: harmony between nature – horses and the Semkovo Hut Grunchar Hut 1. For all those who have no or just a little ex- famous – still existing – Bulgarian hospi- perience. tality. 2. For those with experience relevant to 1-2 years of a riding school. You should have tried The Rila Trek Rila Mountains the different paces and individual tours in the Are you a fen of challenging mountains, open fields. wild and untouched forests and overnights 3. You have several years of experience and you in mountain huts? If so, this trip is just for Season: Juli – august - september are well-trained in riding in all paces, on chal- you. The Rila Mountains are the highest on lenging terrains and you can ride horses with dif- the Balkan Peninsula, with lots of peaks Group size: Min 4 ferent characters. almost 3000 m. They are like a rough sea of mountain peaks, gorges and more than Tour type: IT+/IG/GT SPECIAL HIGHLIGHTS 189 lakes. During this trip we pass The Our tours are divided in different tour types, re- - Rila Mountains are the highest in Bulgaria Seven Rila Lakes, which lie just like pearls gardless of being guided or not or if someone and on the whole Balkan Peninsula with Mount on a thread. travels alone or in a group. We have prepared Musala - 2925 m a.s.l. They occupy the prestig- Our toriding trek starts from Iskar Ranch, your vacation so that you can concentrate on ious 6-th place in the European “classification”, pass the popular ski resort of Borovets, new impressions and experiences, awaiting you preceded by Caucasus, the Alps, Sierra Nevada, where you will see the hunting residence all the time. Here is a description of this tour: the Pyrenees and the Etna volcano. of the Bulgarian Tsar Ferdinand. The ride - IT+: Individual tours with a guide: There is a - Rila Monastery lies in the very Rila Moun- continues at an elevation between 1900 local guide provided for the days of your stay. tains, at 1,147 meters above sea level. It is the and 2400m passing several remote moun- In this particular tour you will be met by a rep- most popular tourist site among all monasteries tain lakes offering breathtaking views. One resentative in Bulgaria equally for its size, natural surround- of the highlights of the tour is the visit to - IG: International group tours: Multi-national ings, architecture, wall paintings and ancient his- the biggest and most important Orthodox tours with a guide accompanying you through- tory. The monastery was declared a national his- monastery of Bulgaria - Rila Monastery out the whole trip, meeting you at the airport torical monument in 1976, while in 1983 it was (1147 m). It was founded in the 9th centu- upon arrival and leaving you at the airport again inscribed in UNESCO’s list of world heritage. ry and has more than 1200 murals. If you for departure. You will have a riding guide from wish, you can also peek into the monastery Riding base Balkan through the trail with good ITINERARY knowledge of English. kitchen or a monk’s cell. Riding goes on Day 1. After welcoming you at Sofia Airport you through highlands and lowlands with tra- - GT: Group tours: The only difference is the group consists of mostly Danish riders. will be transferred to Iskar Ranch (60 km). This ditional Bulgarian agriculture. It ends at is the place where you will spend the biggest part Iskar Ranch. of your stay. /D/ Day 2. This day is dedicated to the acquaintance among riders and horses. Thus it is quite well- balanced in order to strike up this friendship in the best possible way! Along the largest dam in Bulgaria - Iskar, the ride leads across the rolling hills of the ridges of Sred- na Gora and Rila Mountains. After a short rise we reach Borovets (1350 m a.s.l.) - a mountain ski- resort. The horses remain here, while we have a transfer back and overnight in in the Iskar Ranch as we did yesterday. The distance between the Iskar Ranch and Borovets is about 30 km. /B+L+D/ Day 3. This will be an active riding day. After breakfast a visit to the Bulgarian king’s hunting hut in Bistritsa is planned (1380 m a.s.l.). Then we start riding to the mountain hut Zavratchitsa (2178 m a.s.l.) following the upstream of Prava Maritsa River. On the way we pass through the gorges of few other mountain rivers, covered with dense belts of Dwarf mountain pine. In the 1/3 ٠ [email protected] ٠ www.penguin.dk ٠ Fax 33 21 51 50 ٠ To book please call 33 21 51 00 Penguin Travel Office Denmark: Frederiksberg Alle 32, 1820 Frederiksberg C, Tlf. 33 21 51 00; Fax 33 21 51 50; e-mail: [email protected] Dossier Ref. BGHR_05 BULGARIA Horseriding Holidays Rila Mountains Trail Issued: January 2006 parts of the Rila Mountains’ plateau at a height of 2600 m a.s.l. The alpine meadows and pastures here provide magnificent views over the Urdini and the Seven Rila lakes. This is one of the most exciting places in the mountains. After short ride among the circuses we continue further along the stream of Dzherman River to Lovna hut(1654 m a.s.l.). Vada hut (1410 m a.s.l.), where we stay overnight, is very close by. We pass few more tributaries of Iskar River in order to get there. /B+LP+D/ Day 7. In the morning descent leads along the Cherni Iskar River valley to the village and Goverdartsi (1160 m a.s.l.). The final destination for the day is the tiny village of Madzare where the horses remain. From here we will be trans- ferred again to Iskar Ranch for overnight. /B+L+D/ Day 8. In the morning farewell breakfast and saying goodbye to the horses and the guides will put the end of this journey. Then you will be transferred to the airport for departure. /B/ afternoon the ride continues to the circus of the /B+LP+D/ Maritchini lakes, lying at the foots of the high- ACCOMMODATION & FOOD est peak on the Balkans Musala (2925 m a.s.l.). Day 5. In the morning we head north from The Rila Trek is based on 7 nights with full board Spectacular view is expecting us while riding to- Semkovo hut to the glacier mountain “pearls” as per above. (B = breakfast; L = Lunch; LP wards the final stop for today – Grunchar hut of Sinioto, Ribnoto, Smradlivoto and few other =Lunch package; P = Picnic, D = Dinner). Drink- (2178 m a.s.l.). Very close westwards is the “blue lakes. The path through the alpine meadows will ing is to be paid on spot in leva. eye” of Beli Iskar dam. take us to Ribni ezra hut (2230 m a.s..), which Three nights spent in Iskar Ranch, 4 nights en /B+LP+D/ lies among the springs of Rilska River. It is very route in the mountains. You have access to a possible to see here flocks of semi-wild horses, bathroom almost every day (on the floor). Day 4. Today the ride from Grunchar hut leads whose reaction to the ones you ride is quite to the next accommodation in Semkovu hut unpredictable. However the attraction could be INCLUDED IN THE LANDARRANGEMENT (1740 m a.s.l.). The mountain path walks along from both sides so pay attention! From now on The luggage is transported in a supporting ve- several circuses and glacier lakes, situated by the the road follows the stream of Rilska River to hicle and the riding guide is accompanying the peaks Suha Vapa (2638 m a.s.l.) and Lopatishki Rila Monastery (1147 m a.s.l.). We overnight in a party throughout the trek. Transfer from/to Sofia peak (2530 m a.s.l.). Around noon we reach the nearby pension. Airport to the ranch is also included. springs of Iskar River right above the Beli Iskar /B+LP+D/ dam. The route is traced to pass between heights ISKAR RANCH of 2200 and 2700 m a.s.l.