Land of the Thracians

Bulgaria

Overview Description Horses & Riding Food & Accommodation Other Activities Travel Testimonials Itineraries

Special Offer!

Early Booking Discount

€100 EUR per person discount for 5-12 April or 19-26 April 2025 if you book before the end of December 2024.

Offer ends Dec. 23, 2024

Overview

This fun ride is the dream trail designed by our partner Bogdan Syarov who is also the organiser of our trails in the Rhodope Mountains. The Thracian Valley is an ideal location for riding with smooth, picturesque terrain of rose and lavender fields which allow for a faster pace. The trail combines… read more

Highlights

Long canters through the Thracian Valley
One of Europe's best wine regions
Spa hotels to unwind after a day in the saddle
Sightseeing in Plovdiv - centre over 8000 years old
Passionate guide who is a qualified vet

Essential Facts

1 itinerary available
Max 8 riders per group
Average of 4 hours riding per day
Weight limit: 85kg / 187 lbs / 13st 5lbs

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Description

This fun ride is the dream trail designed by our partner Bogdan Syarov who is also the organiser of our trails in the Rhodope Mountains. The Thracian Valley is an ideal location for riding with smooth, picturesque terrain of rose and lavender fields which allow for a faster pace. The trail combines plenty of canters and amazing scenery with ancient Thracian and Roman ruins along the way, delicious wines and spa opportunities thanks to the healing mineral springs. Accommodations are comfortable throughout and you will often have access to a swimming pool, sauna or spa at your hotels.

Your host and guide, Bogdan, is a qualified vet who has successfully been running popular trail rides in the Rhodopes for several years. He is excited to have the 'Land of the Thracians' in his programme, allowing a different perspective on Bulgaria and its charms.

Additional/private dates may be available on request, subject to availability, and for a minimum group size.

Horses & Riding

Tack

English style tack, primarily Wintec saddles and snaffle bridles.

Horses

A range including Eastern Bulgarian breeds, Trakehner and Shagya Arabian.

Riding

There is 1 itinerary:

Sredna Gora Trail is a trail ride

Ages

12+

Health

General good health recommended.

Weight

85kg / 187 lbs / 13st 5lbs

Food & Accommodation

Food

All meals are included during the trail programmes and you can expect hearty local fare and the chance to try several traditional dishes. Meat and cheese are prevalent and bread is served with every meal, but vegetarians and other dietary requirements can be catered for with prior notice.

Dinners are generally three courses and always start with the traditional salad of cucumber, tomatoes, onions, cheese and sometimes olives. Lunches are generally a picnic eaten from your saddlebag (including a sandwich, fruit, biscuit/cereal bar and water). A few times during the week you will eat at a bar in a small village or a restaurant.

Beer and wine are commonly available and delicious, but red wine is sometimes served chilled. Coffee, tea and juice are served with your breakfasts.

Accommodation

Accommodation during the trail is clean and comfortable, primarily in hotels where rooms have en-suite bathrooms. Most of the hotels have a spa or swimming pool. Single rooms are available.

A few of the accommodations have a WiFi connection.

Itineraries

Sredna Gora Trail Standard accommodation.

Other Activities

The programme is not really designed for non-riders but they could be accommodated and taken in the support vehicle to each accommodation. There are some good sight-seeing opportunities during the rides so please contact us if you have non-riders in your party.

Travel

Guests can fly into Sofia or Plovdiv. The tour starts in Plovdiv but most guests fly to Sofia as there are a lot of flights into and out of the capital city.

Transfers are included from the two airports at set times. You should ideally arrive into Sofia no later than 16:00, in order to allow time for sightseeing in Plovdiv. On departure day your flight should not leave Sofia before 12:00.

If you are coming into Plovdiv instead then please contact us for timings.

Testimonials

Mandy C., April 18, 2024

A superb trail in every respect. The landscape became more and more beautiful with each day that passed and it was great fun to take a jacuzzi outside whilst watching some super riders schooling and jumping their horses in the arena of one of our hotels! The group I rode with was fun and we had a lot of laughs- this together with the super warm, sunny weather was a huge bonus. Also, I think Bogdan is one of the best guides I have ridden with (I have done more than 70 rides). He is professional, honest, extremely hard working (nothing is too much trouble for him) and fun.

Halina U., Nov. 29, 2022

FUN fast riding with spas to soak in after a nice long ride. I loved my horse, Molly! Very responsive and I felt safe. She was very sweet. The tack was very good. Wintec saddles and saddle bags to hold a little extra clothing if needed. Bogdan was great. Fun to be with and his wife was very helpful with the transfers. He is a vet and very knowledgeable about the horses.

Anette W., May 19, 2022

Very good riding, nice nature, perfect accommodations, very good food, super nice company, very
engaged guide and good price.

Chavaunne T., May 17, 2022

Absolutely amazing, loved every minute! Forward going, safe horses, which were very well cared for. Beautiful and diverse scenery. Excellent guide, lovely accommodation, tasty food and delicious wine, plus a great group of people!

Chris W., Jan. 13, 2020

I absolutely loved it & fell in love with the country. Bogdan the owner is brilliant! He has planned the routes with great care & obviously loves his horses who are all very well looked after. He also has a great sense of humour & goes to great lengths to make sure all of his guests are happy. All of the horses are calm & easy to handle but have a turn of speed when required. We had some amazing long canters through the fields. I loved my horse Tiger who has a great personality!

Gerry, Nov. 6, 2019

First time to Bulgaria, we found the visit really interesting. Great group of riders to be with. Fun fast riding, contrating scenery; good guide.

Elena, Oct. 2, 2019

A fantastic adventure exploring vast meadows, grand woods, breathtaking views and enjoying tasty food in great company.

Cath M., April 30, 2019

Overall the ride and every component was VERY well organised, relaxed and thoroughly enjoyable. Favourite memory? Diverse landscapes and riding terrain; very relaxed guide and well cared for horses. Bogdan is a lovely person! He is fun, trustworthy, enjoyable, knowledgeable and his English is fantastic! His wife Lyubomira is also delightful and supports the ride.

Itinerary & Pricing

Day 1 - Arrival

Riding: No riding.

You will be met at Sofia airport at 16:00 and transferred to Plovdiv city which is considered the cultural capital of Bulgaria. This afternoon you will explore Plovdiv, finding traces of civilisation much older even than the Romans. The historic centre is more than 8000 years old and if there is time you can visit the Ethnographic Museum and the ancient theatre, one of the best-preserved still in existence. Dinner and overnight at a hotel attached to a riding centre on the outskirts of the city.

Day 2 - Hisarya

Riding: 5 hours

After breakfast, transfer to the starting point of the trek. The horses have already completed their transfer. Once everyone has been assigned the correct horse, the first ride begins towards the historical city of Hisarya. Hisarya is famous for its healing mineral waters: 16 natural mineral springs and 6 drilled mineral water wells. The town is one of the oldest and most popular balneological and spa centres in Bulgaria. On your way to this fascinating place, you'll enjoy some fast riding on easy terrain. Lunch is taken from the saddle bags right beside the bank of a beautiful river.

After the ride you will be able to relax in the mineral spa centre of a 4* hotel. It is also possible to head out by yourselves to view the historical sites before dinner.

Day 3 - Wine and Spa Complex Starosel

Riding: 3 - 4 hours

Today's ride takes you over hilly terrain towards Bulgarias most famous Wine Complex. Along the way you'll see some of the historical sites such as the best preserved Roman city wall in Bulgaria as well as the cities emblematic gate known as "The Camels", dating back more than 2000years and standing 20 m high.

You ride along vineyards, meadows, numerous lakes and oak forests. The landscape will change entirely from the previous day as you ascend into the Sredna Gora mountains. A saddle bag lunch is taken beside a beautiful lake.

After the ride you can again enjoy the mineral Spa centre of the complex

Before dinner you can join a wine tasting tour at 6 o'clock - a walk in the cellar with tasting of 7 types of specially selected bottled wines of Starosel, served with special bites and mineral water in the "Wine Temple" and a gift certificate. ( additional charge of 15 euro, payable locally)

Day 4 - Eagle Rock Spa complex

Riding: 5 hours

Before getting on your horse, visit the largest Thracian temple complex in the Balkans, where excavations are still underway. Built in the 5th and 4th centuries BC, the tombs have provided researchers with great insight into the history and culture of this mysterious people.

Todays ride heads for the highest point of the trail at around 1800m in the heart of the Sredna Gora mountains. Along the way you will encounter the most panoramic scenery of the week. Lunch is taken in the restaurant of an old lodge.

Tonights hotel again has a SPA centre with a pool, sauna and jacuzzi

Day 5 - Valley of the Roses

Riding: 4 hours

Todays destinations is the famous Valley of Roses and another mineral SPA center called Aqua Termi. Along the way you will ride in a protected Beech Forest with amazing trees. You'll also climb the famous "Peak of the Wolves", on top of which you can admire a breathtaking view over the 'Valley of the Roses'. There should be some beautiful canters accompanied by the lovely smell of Roses.

Again after the ride you will be able to relax in the mineral Spa of the hotel

Day 6 - Lake Pyasachnik and Boutique Complex Trakiets

Riding: 4 hours

Today is your guides favourite day. You ride along the largest lake in the Thracians plains and if the temperatures are suitable, (depending on the season) you could take a swim with your companions. Today is also full of lovely canters through beautiful meadows.

You are heading for the Boutique Complex Trakiets, which combines both an amazing Spa centre and Bulgaria's most renowned jumping stable.

Day 7 - Tsaratsovo

Riding: 3 - 4 hours

Today's route passes through vineyards and fields, back to the stables. Along the way you will cross a river and, of course ,you will enjoy a few more canters and gallops. Early in the afternoon you return to the jumping stable where you stayed on the first night. Here you say goodbye to your horse.

After lunch you can take a walk or watch the training sessions. During dinner you can look back on the highlights of the week with your travel companions!

Day 8 - Departure

Riding: No riding.

After breakfast there will be a transfer to Sofia for your trip home. The journey takes around 90 minutes (120km) by minibus.

NB. The itinerary may be modified for reasons of safety, weather or unforeseen circumstances.

Accommodation	All nights spent in clean and comfortable hotels, in shared rooms with private bathrooms. Many hotels also have a spa.
Experience	Experienced Riders must be fit and willing to ride long, fast canters of several minutes at a time and to have many canters throughout the day. The riding is not overly technical but you should be confident in the saddle at all paces, able to prepare your own horse and fit to cover the distance required at a good pace.
Minimum group size	2
Maximum group size	8
Departure windows	Oct. 5, 2024 - Oct. 12, 2024 Oct. 19, 2024 - Oct. 26, 2024 Nov. 2, 2024 - Nov. 9, 2024 Nov. 16, 2024 - Nov. 23, 2024 March 22, 2025 - March 29, 2025 April 5, 2025 - April 12, 2025 April 19, 2025 - April 26, 2025 May 3, 2025 - May 10, 2025 May 17, 2025 - May 24, 2025 May 31, 2025 - June 7, 2025 June 14, 2025 - June 21, 2025 June 28, 2025 - July 5, 2025 Aug. 23, 2025 - Aug. 30, 2025 Sept. 6, 2025 - Sept. 13, 2025 Sept. 20, 2025 - Sept. 27, 2025 Oct. 4, 2025 - Oct. 11, 2025 Oct. 18, 2025 - Oct. 25, 2025 Nov. 1, 2025 - Nov. 8, 2025

Pricing

£ $ €

2024 Sharing	£1455 $1840 €1750
2025 Sharing	£1540 $1945 €1850
Included	7 nights of accommodation in shared rooms, all meals from dinner on arrival day to breakfast on departure day, 6 days of riding with an experienced guide and set-time group transfers from and to Sofia or Plovdiv airports.
Not included	Flights, personal travel insurance, drinks, tips or personal expenses.

Extras

£ $ €

2024 - Single Supplement	£125 $158 €150 Paid to Far and Ride This has to be paid for single travellers on booking and will be refunded if a sharer is found for you (and if you are happy to share).
2025 - Single Supplement	£167 $210 €200 Paid to Far and Ride This has to be paid for single travellers on booking and will be refunded if a sharer is found for you (and if you are happy to share).

Note: All programmes and itineraries are weather dependent; in the face of adverse, or unexpected, weather conditions reasonable attempts will be made to provide equivalent riding. All programmes are accurate at the time of writing. However, the team may adapt or modify details, whilst aiming to provide a similar experience.

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Land of the Thracians