Riding in the kingdom of Orpheus

8 days, 7 nights, 6 days riding

The mythical Rhodopes mountain will let you be absorbed in the enchanting world of Orpheus, where you will discover the harsh and majestic beauty of nature. You will go back in time to the Bulgarian roots, you will be stunned by the impressive towering Thracian sacred places, in this adventure you will be accompanied by our ancestors' sacred animals – horses. In authentic villages nestling churches and mosques you will feel the spirit of Bulgarian tradition, customs and culture. You will become part of this cosmopolitan world trying to reveal the secrets of the mystical Rhodopes mountain.

Itinerary highlights:

• Visit natural phenomena
• Accommodation in authentic houses
• Contact with local people
• A wide range of scenery
• Becoming familiar with Bulgarian tradition and spirit

Itinerary description day by day:
Route: the village of Trigrad, the town of Dospat, the Thracian sacred place Kozy Kamak, the village of Sarnitsa, the village of Borino, the village of Yagodina, the village of Trigrad

Day 1: Sofia - Trigrad Family hotel
Arrival in the village of Trigrad. On the way to the village you will ride through the famous Trigrad gorge long 7km and 250m of cliffs. Accommodation in a family hotel located in the highest part of the village of Trigrad. Meet your guides and the horses.

Day 2: Trigrad – Dospat Ride 5-6 hours Family hotel
After breakfast you mount your horse and and head to Videnitsa peak (1652m), where you will look around a Thracian sacred place dating from 2500 B.C. and an ancient Roman stronghold. Up on the peak you will enjoy the stunning views of Pirin mountain, Slavyanka mountain and the Greek mountain Bozdak. After a lunch break you will ride on to the town of Dospat where you will be accommodated in a cosy hotel.
Height difference: +/-500m

Day 3: Dospat – Dolen Ride 5-6 hours Historical house
After breakfast you will ride along the crystal clear waters of Dospat Dam. Leisure time and lunch in a wooden summer-house. You ride on through the village of Pletena and stop at the village of Dolen, which is an architectural reserve and most of the houses are more than 150 years old. There you will be absorbed in the authentic atmosphere of the Rhodopes mountain, you will experience the rich folklore and ethnographic heritage of the Bulgarian people.
Height difference: +300/-600m

Day 4: Dolen – local ride Ride 1-2 hours Historical house
After breakfast – visit the Dolen church dating from 18th century. A short ride in the vicinity of the village to ancient Thracian sacred places and necropoles. Lunch in the cool yard of the house, leisure time and walk on the paved streets of the village. Late in the afternoon the delicious meals that had only just been prepared will call you for dinner by the lit fireplace.
Height difference: +/-150m

Day 5: Dolen – Sarnitsa Ride 5-6 hours Guesthouse
After breakfast ride through the virgin forests of Tamnata Reka nature reserve. After lunch break in a wooden summer-house in the Rancha area you will gallop across the Konski Dol nature reserve. Accommodation in a hotel located on the picturesque coast of the dam. Free time for rest and fishing. Dinner will be freshly caught fish.
Height difference: +500/-300m

Day 6: Sarnitsa – Borino Ride 6 hours Family hotel
After breakfast – ride on the Dospad Dam coast. After lunch break you will enjoy riding through the picturesque Derezly nature reserve near the village of Borino. With some luck you could see wild animals while you ride though the reserve (deer and doe, boars, mouflon, wood grouse). Accommodation in a 2star family hotel in Borino. Dinner and leisure time.
Height difference: +/-500m

Day 7: Borino – Trigrad Ride 5-6 hours Family hotel
After breakfast – ride across the Bujnovskoto Gorge to the Yagodinska Cave. There is an eneolith dwelling by the natural entrance of the cave which has become a museum. Lunch and rest in the restaurant near the cool Bujnovska river. After that you will enjoy galloping over the boundless Yagodinsky meadows above the Trigrad Gorge near the village of Trigrad. Farewell dinner in the hotel tavern.
Height difference: +/-500m

Day 8: Trigrad – Sofia
After breakfast – say goodbye to the guides and the horses. Departure from Trigrad.

If your departure flight is after 17.00 on the way to Sofia you will visit the Bachkovo Monastery „Uspenye Bogorodychno“ - the second biggest monastery in Bulgaria. It is rising like an impressive Medieval caste in the picturesque valley of the Chaya River surrounded by high rocky and wooded mountains. There is an optional visit of the city of Plovdiv and the old part of the city.

Note – ArkanTours reserves the right to change the day’s itinerary due to circumstances beyond our control such as fallen trees, landslides or landslips caused by torrential rains, fenced off areas and other unexpected obstacles on the road.

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