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Welcome to the Rila
Mountains
in Bulgaria
The ride starts at the Iskar hunting
estate in the foothills of the Sredna-Gora mountains. At all three
paces you’ll ride along the large Lake Iskar, past the ski resort
Samokov into the foothills of the Samokov mountains. You will visit
the hunting castle of the Bulgarian Czar. On large trails through
forests and meadows covered with wildflowers you'll climb up to
8,100 ft above the tree line and through the mountains of the
National Park Maritscheni with its rich alpine flora. A narrow
mountain path takes you to the spring of the river Ropalitza that
you will follow on its course. The ride continues at an elevation
between 6,600 and 8,100 ft past several remote mountain lakes
offering breathtaking views, especially from the top of the pass
Kovach. Along the Rila river you'll ride to the Rila cloister where
you'll sleep in monastic cells. Follow a mountain trail through
beech forests onto the high plateau of the mountains with a
wonderful view over the seven Rila lakes. Then descend along the
rivers Djerman and Pravi-Iskar back to the lake of Rila. The ride
ends at the Iskar hunting estate.
 PG-BIRI 
Rates: All inclusive from
Sofia, all meals and lodging in hunting cabins and mountain huts, 6
riding days, transfers
8 days/7 nights $ 1,395
-- based on € 975
2008 Dates:
06/07-06/14 06/14-06/21
06/21-06/28
06/28-07/05 07/05-07/12
07/12-07/19
07/19-07/26 07/26-08/02
08/02-08/09
08/09-08/16 08/16-08/23
08/23-08/30
08/30-09/06 09/06-09/13
09/13-09/20
09/20-09/27 09/27-10/04 10/04-10/11
10/11-10/18 10/18-10/25
Airport: Sofia
Transfer: Included from Sofia
Pace: 4-7 riding hours
per day
Level:
Intermediate
Tack:
English, some Western
Horses:
East Bulgarian Warmblood
Min/Max Riders: 3-8
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Sofia and transfer to the
Iskar Hunting Reserve. Overnight at the Hunting Lodge.
Day 2: Along the large lake Iskar ride across the rolling
hills of the range of the Samokov mountains to reach Borovets. The
horses stay here and you transfer back to Iskar for overnight.
Day 3: Visit the hunting seat of the Bulgarian Zaren in
Bistritza. Subsequently, ride to the mountain hut Zavratchitza
(approx. 2,200 m). In the afternoon ride on the mountain path to
Maritscheni National park. Overnight accommodation is in a mountain
hut.
Day 4: On and off you ride at elevations of 2.200 to 2,700 m
- along high mountain lakes and through villages that have
demonstrated over centuries that Christians and Moslems can live
here in harmony. Overnight in the mountain village of Semkovo.
Day 5: Today's ride leads you through some of the most
impressive valleys of the Balkan - from the canyon of the Iliyana
River to the Monastery of Rila. For centuries this monastery has
attracted pilgrims from the Orthodox church - worldwide. If you
like, you can overnight in one of the cells of the monks.
The “St. Ivan Rilski” monastery is the biggest monastery complex in
Bulgaria. It is situated at 117 km away from Sofia at 1147 m above
the sea level in Rila Mountain. Rila Monastery was declared as
national historical monument and was listed in UNESCO book.
Day 6: After visiting the cloister and the museum, we will
ride on mountain paths through fast forests to the high plateau of
the mountain chain to 2.600 meter. Here you can enjoy fantastic
views over 7 Rila lakes - incredibly beautiful. Then the descent
leads along the Djerman river valley. Along the Pravi Iskar river
you reach the mountain village of Govedartsi. The destination of the
day is the tiny village of Nadzhare, where the horses remain.
Transfer of the riders back to the Iskar hunt reservation.
Day 7: Along the Beli Iskar River we ride along the town of
Samokov to reach our starting point of our ride. We say good bye to
our horses. Farewell dinner at the hunting lodge of the Iskar
Hunting Reserve and overnight.
Day 8: Transfer to Sofia and home journey. |
Rila Monastery
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