Itinerary
- Day 1
Sofia to Golyam Izvor
Your hotel pickup happens at 9am from Sofia, then it's about an hour's drive to Golyam Izvor where you'll meet your horse. From there, you'll head north through meadows and mixed forest, gradually climbing Mt Lissets for some nice views across to Stara Planina mountains and Teteven town. The ride takes you through an ancient beech forest and eventually brings you to Glozhene Monastery, which sits dramatically on high rock with the Danube plain spreading out below. After seeing the monastery, you ride back to base for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Horseback ride through meadows and beech/oak forest
- Ascend Mt Lissets
- Visit Glozhene Monastery and museum
Landmarks/POIs Mt Lissets Glozhene Monastery Stara Planina Teteven - Day 2
Golyam Izvor to Lopian
This morning you'll ride southwest along a mix of asphalt and dirt roads, and there's plenty of room to trot and canter if you're comfortable. You'll pass through Slatina, a deserted village, and after roughly 3.5 hours in the saddle, you'll reach Chertigrad, an old Thracian fortress from around the 4th-3rd century BC with impressive views toward the Balkan range. Lunch happens here, then you continue another 1.5 hours southwest to Yamna village where you'll leave the horses. From there it's a transfer to Lopian for dinner and an overnight stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Horseback ride along asphalt and dirt roads
- Visit Chertigrad ancient fortress
Landmarks/POIs Slatina village Chertigrad fortress Balkan Mountains Yamna village - Day 3
Lopian to Svishtiplaz
You'll head to the crest of Central Balkan to connect with the Kom-Emine trail, which happens to be one of Europe's longest mountain routes. The day involves riding through the mountains at elevation, and you'll spend the night at Svishtiplaz mountain hut.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Horseback ride to Central Balkan crest
- Join Kom-Emine trail
Landmarks/POIs Central Balkan Kom-Emine trail - Day 4
Central Balkan National Park
Riding through Central Balkan National Park keeps you between 1500 and 1900 meters throughout the day as you follow the E-3 trail. From up here, you get good views south toward the Thracian Plain and north to the Balkan Mountains. The highland grasslands give you solid opportunities for cantering across open terrain. By evening, you'll stay at Momina Polyana Hut, which sits at 1640 meters.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Horseback ride through Central Balkan National Park
- Follow E-3 trail marking at altitude 1500-1900m
Landmarks/POIs Central Balkan National Park Thracian Plain - Day 5
Cherni Vit to Teteven
After leaving the high mountain E-3 trail, the route descends through thick beech and oak forests and pastureland, following the Cherni Vit river down. On the steeper parts, you'll dismount and walk the horses. By early afternoon, your ride ends in Cherni Vit village at about 800 meters elevation. Then it's a short drive to Teteven town where you can spend the rest of the day relaxing by the hotel pool or wandering around town.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Horseback ride descent through beech/oak forests along Cherni Vit river
Optional Activities
- Swim at hotel pool
- Explore Teteven town
Landmarks/POIs Cherni Vit village Cherni Vit river Teteven - Day 6
Teteven to Sofia
This morning you'll transfer back to Cherni Vit to meet your horses for one final ride of the week. You'll climb one more ridge for a last view of the landscape you've been riding through, then say goodbye to your horses and guides in Golyam Izvor village. After that, it's a 1-hour transfer back to Sofia.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Final horseback ride with ridge climb
- Visit Golyam Izvor village
Landmarks/POIs Cherni Vit village Golyam Izvor
