photo: guide's archive

Karabalkan Trail

Bulgaria

1450 

Welcome to the Rhodopes! On this trail we immerse ourselves in a world of beatiful nature, ancient history and myths. After all, this is Orpheus’ homeland! We will spend five days on in the saddle amidst beautiful mountains, deep river canyons, dense forests and flowery meadows. The western part of the Rhodopes is a region of varied terrain, rich in extraordinary natural attractions, dotted with small mountain villages, where we are hosted by friendly highlanders while tasting local delicacies and fine wines. We are carried into this beautiful region by brave and experienced Bulgarian horses.

  • Days overall
    7 days
    Days in saddle
    5 days
  • Group size
    8
    Available
  • Standard
    Balkan hospitality (under roofs and in bed linen)
    Luggage
    no limit kg
    Food
    local cuisine, vegetarian meals available
  • Skills
    walk, trot, canter

The Rhodopes are a majestic mountain range stretching all the way between Bulgaria and Greece. They resemble a fairy-tale labyrinth of rocky ridges, interspersed with secluded basins, valleys and gorges. According to legend, it was here that Kaliope gave birth to and raised her son Orpheus, the famous singer and poet. The oldest inhabitants of the mountains claim that the old Thracian melodies played on the lyre still echo in the valleys.

The history of the region dates back some 3,000 years. The area originally belonged to the Thracians, later conquered by Philip II of Macedon. In the 1st century BC, the Romans appeared in the area and established one of the most important Balkan trade routes, the Via Diagonalis. After the fall of the Roman Empire in the early Middle Ages, the area gained new inhabitants, namely the Slavic tribes.

This trail to Bulgaria is planned as a combination of active, recreational horse riding, admiring nature and natural wonders, meeting local people and tasting traditional delicacies. The route is mountainous in character, although we do not exceed 2,000 metres above sea level, it is quite varied and scenic. The trail leads among beautiful and majestic mountains, forests, rocks, gorges and lakes, stopping along the way in smaller and larger towns, villages and settlements. We’ll reach some more popular (for a good reason) tourist spots, only to soon ride again through very desolate areas and enjoy the beauty of the Rhodopes.

During this tour we ride Arabian, Shagya Arabian, East Bulgarian, Pintabian, Bulgarian Sport and Haflinger horses. All of them are pretty typical mid-frame sized horses. They are well prepared, smart, robust and physically fit horses, perfect for moving around mountainous paths of the Rhodopes.

This trail is a moderately demanding one, meant for confident, advanced horse riders. Both the terrain and riding pace vary throughout days, making it both a chilled-out and active ride, depending on the day and stage of the trail.

Apart from horse riding opportunities for mountain lake kayaking, additional sightseeing and visits to local attractions, walking tours, culinary courses, folklore surprises, relaxation in
mineral waters and other activities are possible upond groups’ requests.

Rider weight limit for this trail is set to 90 kg / 200 lbs.

What is included in this tour?Items that are included in the cost of tour price.
  • 2 nights at a guest house in Asparuh
  • 1 night at guest house / villa
  • 3 nights at hotels
  • All meals from dinner on the first day to breakfast on the last day
  • Additional snacks during breaks
  • Local, English-speaking guides and pilots
  • Transfer from and to Sofia/Plovdiv airport at a pre-arranged time (from 12:30 to 16:30 on arrival day)
  • Horse with full tack and equipment
  • Luggage car support
  • Photo shooting during the ride
  • Tourist insurance covering high-risk sports
What is not included in this tour?Items that are not included in the cost of tour price.
  • Flight tickets to and from Bulgaria
  • Minor personal expenses (souvenirs, additional snacks, admission tickets, etc.)
  • Optional: single room supplement (upon request, where available)
  • Pick-ups from different locations and times possible for an additional fee of 60 euro
  • Minor personal expenses (souvenirs, additional snacks, admission tickets, etc.)
  1. Day 1 Welcome to Bulgaria

    Riders fly to Bulgaria and are transferred from Sofia/Plovdiv airport. It’s best to plan your arrival before 4:30 PM. A drive from Sofia to Hvoyna village, where the ranch is located, takes around 3 hours. The drive from Plovdiv is shorter, takes about 1 hour. Upon arrival you will settle in a guesthouse at the ranch and have time to refresh after your travel. Before dinner time you can have a walk around the ranch, get to know the horses, as well as take a walk around the village. Hvoyna is worth a peek as it’s an interesting mountain village with well-preserved, traditional architecture. The guides will be around to give you a bit of insight and answer your questions. In the evening the group will have a traditional Bulgarian style dinne with homemade food with local products.

  2. Day 2 The Wonderful Bridges

    The morning will start with a delicious, traditional Bulgarian breakfast with homemade herbal tea and coffee. Once everybody is ready to ride, we will saddle up and ride out to our first day in the Rhodopes. We will head to the village of Zabardo and then continue on a high mountain trail. This day we will climb about 1000 meters to reach 1700 meters around noon. Soon after we will reach a high mountain hut ”Kabata”, where we stop for lunch. Our kind hosts will make sure we feel at home. In the immediate vicinity of the hut, on the Tsirikova Church peak, we will find a well-preserved Christian chapel from 1738, which was built on top of a Thracian sanctuary. The chapel and the bell tower are located on the edge of a large precipice, which tells interesting legends about the past of thw country. The views from there are quite impressive. After the lunch break we will continue to the Chudni Mostove (The Wonderful Bridges) area where we will finish our today’s ride. The Wonderful Bridges is a rock phenomenon, one of the Top 10 highlights of the country and the Balkan Peninsula. After short sightseeing we will transfer to the village of Zabardo. We will settle in an very comfortable villa ”Zabardo”, arranged in a traditional style. In the evening we will have a delicious dinner with local specialties. This evening you will be able to enjoy Bulgarian folklore up close by listening to music performed live by musicians dressed in traditional 18th century outfits.

  3. Day 3 The Rozhen Meadows

    After breakfast we will transfer from Villa Zabardo to The Wonderful Bridges, mount up and ride out. We’re heading for the Mechi Chal peak. During this day we will ride on almost flat, high mountain terrain, at around 1850 meters, without significant climbs and descents. Our destination today is the Koop Rozhen hotel, located on the Rozhen peak. Along the way we will enjoy some unforgettable views, ride through shady and noticeably cooler parts of the trail and encounter springs with cold mountain water. We wil stop for a picnic lunch break wnear the restored Christian chapel of St. Marina. After around 4,5 hours of riding we will reaching Mechi Chal peak at 1900 meters. We will be transfered to our accommodation for this night – the Koop Rozhen hotel. The hotel is located near Rozhenski polyani (Rozhen meadows) where a local festival of traditions and folklore is being organized for nearly 150 years. On these meadows a 111 meter high pylon with the Bulgarian flag has been erected, offering quite a sight and experience. Our hotel for tonight is a modern style one and has a swimming pool! Dinner will be held at the hotel restaurant, which serves traditional, Bulgarian cuisine.

  4. Day 4 High Mountain Lake

    After breakfast we head for another day of riding, which will take us around 3 hours in the saddle. Our today’s destination is the Rodona hotel in the Hajdushki Polyani area. We will ride will through varied terain, both ascending and descending. At a certain moment we will run into… potato fields, which are one of the main job and source of income of the local population. On the way will get to enjoy some spectacular views all around us. We will stop for a short break on the Sveti Duh (Holy Spirit) peak before arriving to the hotel, where a delicious lunch will already be waiting for us. The hotel is located on the shore of a beautiful high mountain lake, where can go kayaking. Additionally we can take a walk while enjoying high mountain fruits and the aroma of fresh herbs. A beautiful evening awaits us with a traditional meal on hotel porch, with a beautiful view of the lake and our horses grazing next to it.

  5. Day 5 The Freedom Peak

    After breakfast we will ride out for our next day of adventures. We’re haded for the Svoboda Peak, at 1912 meters, which will take around 4 hours of riding The trail is mountainous, winding, but without significant descents and ascents. On the top of the Svoboda Peak a Muslim temple was built in honor of Enihan Baba, a legendary Turkish hero whose existence has not been historically recorded. According to the local traditions of the Muslims in the Rhodope Mountains, he was an Islamic preacher and healer who lived in the region. After a short break we will head back to the Rodona Hotel, where we will have lunch and enjoy a relaxing late afternoon, go kayaking or have a walk. In the evening we will have dinner with another traditional activity: a lesson of the traditional Bulgarian dance ”horo”.

  6. Day 6 Last Day in The Saddle

    After breakfast we head out for our last day in the saddle. We ride towards our starting point, the village of Hvoyna and the Asparuh guest house. We have around 4 hours of riding, mostly on an old Roman road, with some preserved cobblestones. We will again be accompanied by unforgettable views, remains of old houses and farms. On the way we will pass by an abandoned milk and cheese farm from 18th century. Upon reaching the Pashaliitsa area we will dismount and unsaddle our horses. It’s time to thank our horses and release them to the pasture for some well-deserved rest after 5 days of high-mountain travel and taking us for a nearly 120 kilometer-long ride. After a short transfer to the Asparuh guest house we will have a delicious lunch and get some time to rest ourselves. In the late afternoon, if you’d like to, the team can take you to the nearby Alpine Trolley – if you’re up for a serious dose of adrenaline. In the evening a final, farewell dinner awaits us, with – of course – traditional, homemade and delicious food.

  7. Day 7 Farewell to Bulgaria

    It’s time to leave Bulgaria and go home. After breakfast, between 7 and 9 AM, all riders will be transferred to the airport. In case of later departures a separate, private transfer can be arranged.

The guide might modify the route according to weather conditions and group's riding skills
photo: guide's archive
photo: guide's archive

We spend all nights during the tour in a local guest house, a villa and hotels, in double or triple shared rooms. The guest house in Adsparuh, where we spent the first and last night, has two shared bathrooms and toilets. All other accommodations, a villa and two hotels we stay at, offer rooms with bathrooms/toilets.

Single rooms available upon earlier request and additional fee, depending on availability.

All meals: 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 6 dinners are provided during the tour. Additionally various snacks, drinks – water, tea, coffee, wine and beer will be served.
The traditional Bulgarian cuisine is rich and tasty. There is no shortage of meats, often bbq/grilled, vegetables, bread, pastries and dairy products are also very common. Alcohol, especially wine and rakija, is often served with meals. Many products and ingredients are homemade and come from local farmers and producers.

 

Equipment

During this tour we ride in classical-English, western and endurance saddles (depending on personal preferences and a particular horse). Bridles are typical, made the usual way, we use bits.

Every horse is equipped with small saddlebags for water, jacket, etc.

We recommed riding in helmets, as we always do, especially in mountainous environment.

What you should take with you

The tour in Bulgaria is pretty comfortable. We spend all nights indoors, in comfy guesthouses, villas and hotels. A car transports your luggage between daily destinations. For the daily rides you’ll need only a personal waist or hip bag for small personal belongings.
We will provide an extended, detailed packlist with comments and recommendations in an organizational info-email a month prior the tour.

  • passport or personal ID (EU citizens)
  • cash, EUR or BGN
  • electronic devices, e.g. camera
  • a handy backpack or hip bag (for documents, phone, etc.)
  • a canteen or other water containers (or simply: an empty plastic bottle to refill)
  • flashlight; head flashlights are quite handy
  • sunscreen
  • insect repellent
  • head cover against the sun
  • personal riding equipment: helmet, breeches, chaps, gloves, etc.
  • trekking shoes, better suited for this environment compared to classical jodhpur/riding boots
  • raincoat / waterproof jacket
  • flip-flops for showering
  • swimsuit
Date Trip Status Price Spots  
15 June 2025 - 21 June 2025
Available, English-speaking guide/pilot
1450 
7
13 July 2025 - 19 July 2025
Available, English-speaking guide/pilot
1450 
2
24 August 2025 - 30 August 2025
Available, English-speaking guide/pilot
1450 
8
21 September 2025 - 27 September 2025
Available, English-speaking guide/pilot
1450 
8