Karabalkan Trail
Bulgaria
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.
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Days overall7 daysDays in saddle5 days
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Group size8Available
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StandardBalkan hospitality (under roofs and in bed linen)Luggageno limit kgFoodlocal cuisine, vegetarian meals available
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Skillswalk, 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.
- 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
- 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.)
- Day 1 Welcome to Bulgaria
- Day 2 The Wonderful Bridges
- Day 3 The Rozhen Meadows
- Day 4 High Mountain Lake
- Day 5 The Freedom Peak
- Day 6 Last Day in The Saddle
- Day 7 Farewell to Bulgaria
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 | |
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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 |