High up in the Central Balkan National Park there is a place with rugged and impassable cliffs. A unique place with distinctive flora and fauna that have turned the place into a nature reserve. The Singing Rocks themselves are a set of unique natural formations that crown the ancient beech forest. When the wind blows in the right direction one can hear the “song” of the rocks and it was this phenomenon that has given the reserve its beautiful name.
Under the biggest part of the tour we ride in the national park itself – among its rich wildlife and rare plants. The air is just as clear as the cold mountain springs we ride along. And the view towards the highest peaks of the Balkan mountain range is simply breathtaking. The trail offers a variety of landscapes and riding paces. The hilly terrain as well as the small plateaus on top of the hills offer fantastic opportunities for an unforgettable ride.
Departure dates: 07 June 2008 ; 05 July 2008 ; 19 July 2008 ; 09 August 2008 ; 20 September 2008 ; 27 September 2008 ; 04 October 2008.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival at the airport and transportation to the Riding base “Balkan” in Apriltsi situated at the foothills of the Balkan mountains.
Day 2: In the morning you will meet “your” horse and friend for the week. After the first meeting we take a leisure ride out of the town of Apriltsi in order to gain an intimate knowledge of the horses and their habits. We ride about 10 km and we have a picnic near one of the rivers. After lunch and a rest we ride back to Riding base Balkan in different paces. We stay overnight in Apriltsi.
Day 3: The trail starts in the morning and we ride in a north-eastern direction through some remote villages. We make a short stop by a creek in order to eat our lunch. Later on in the afternoon, after about 5 hours in the saddle we reach the little monastery named after the neighbouring town of Batoshevo. It is the place where we stay overnight today. If the weather is nice, we have dinner outside.
Day 4: From the monastery the path takes us through the forest and by the picturesque villages of Stokite and Kupen. This is where the uphill part of our riding really begins. We have lunch on the way. Later on in the afternoon we reach the village of Todorcheta, our goal for today.
Day 5: Today’s ride begins right after breakfast and takes us further up the mountain through a thick old forest. Three hours later we find ourselves by the mountain hut “Partizanska pesen”, where we have lunch. The hut is situated on a small mountain top at an altitude of around 1000m. In the afternoon we ride west on the top of the Balkan range. We ride into the “Central Balkan National Park” and after about 1˝ hours ride we are at mountain hut “Mazalat”, where we spend the night.
Day 6: Today we ride in the “Singing rocks” reserve. If we are fortunate, there is a wind that lets us hear the song of the beautiful rock formations. There are two places where we need to get off the horses and lead them (both of them about 10-20 m long). We stay overnight in a mountain hut at 1450m.
Day 7: After breakfast we ride in the northern direction and the circle ride is closed. We ride down the mountains, leave the national park and come down in riding base "Balkan" in Apriltsi, where the tour started.
Day 8: After breakfast we say good-bye to the horses and guides. Transfer to the airport for departure.
* Black Sea Coast: we have a unique proposal, which gives you the opportunity to stay on a sea holiday for extra week after your active tour at an incredibly low price! We can offer a great variety of means of accommodation - from home stays to 4-star hotels in Sozopol, Nessebar, Sunny Beach, Lozenets, St. Vlas, Golden Sands etc. and all this with arranged transportation right after your tour and before your departure flight (prices vary between 100 and 400 Euro per person per week depending on the hotel category and the meal plan; transportation is included). For more information please check "Vacation extensions" below.
* Connecting the tour: in summer time there are loads of opportunities to book a cheap flight to Bourgas or Varna Airport instead of landing at Sofia Airport. We can arrange for you a bus or train ticket to the starting point of the active tour with transfer to the central bus/railway station in these towns, picking you up at the airport upon arrival or vice versa at the end of your tour (this would only cost you approx. 20-30 Euro per car + the bus/train ticket price itself). For longer private transfers or rent a car services please check our offers from the menu “Rent-a-car and Transportation”.
* The riding base: The mountain village of Apriltsi is situated on the northern side of the Balkan Range about 180 km from Sofia. The riding base is placed in one of the small quarters of the village not far from the end of the road. Riding base “Balkan” is the name of an all-year-round riding base with the stables and the areas where the horses are relaxing on. The riding base is placed in one of the most beautiful valleys in the Central Balkan and with the most fantastic panorama behind the buildings.
* Horses and saddling: There are more than 25 horses in the riding base – all of them in good condition and trained to ride in the mountains. Most of the horses are of the East Bulgarian breed and crossings with Arabians and local horses: The East Bulgarian breed is well known as tough, thoughtful and wise, and in harmony with the famous strength and power of the Arabian it gives a combination that fully satisfies the riders and the challenges in the nature. The average size is 160-165 cm. For the trail you’ll ride on western saddles (Australian or American). There are small saddle bags available.
* Terrain: You have more than 30.000 hectares of wild nature at your disposal! The area of the Balkan Mountains is hilly, providing opportunities for both riding through woods and dirty roads and also for galloping along the meadows and pastures. Rocky areas and steep river valleys also occur. this enormous area provides unaltered possibilities for riding for all kinds of riders.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Transfers to and from Sofia or Plovdiv Airport;
- Equipped horse;
- Accommodation and boarding in guesthouses and mountain huts as per program;
- Full board;
- English-speaking guide;
- Luggage transportation from point to point.
Price Excludes:
- Tips;
- Alcohol drinks and other personal expenses;
- Maps;
- Additional daily excursions.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Bulgaria
Horse Riding
Ecotourism
|
