Karabalkan Trail

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 the 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 are 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 a 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.

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 will stop for a picnic lunch break near 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 transferred 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 has been 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.

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 Haydushki Polyani area. The path runs through varied terrain, 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 we will get to enjoy some spectacular views all around us. After a short break on the Sveti Duh (Holy Spirit) peak we have a last part to cover before arriving at 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 we 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 the hotel porch, with a stunning view of the lake and our horses grazing next to it.

After breakfast, we ride out for our next day of adventures. We’re headed for the Svoboda Peak, at 1912 meters, which takes 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 to 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 in the traditional Bulgarian dance, ”horo”.

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, the remains of old houses and farms. On the way, we will pass by an abandoned milk and cheese farm from the 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 a 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 enjoy a delicious lunch and have 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.

It’s time to leave Bulgaria and head home. After breakfast, between 7:00 and 9:00 AM, all riders will be transferred to the airport. In case of later departures a separate, private transfer can be arranged.