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Riding through
antiquity - ancient Thracians sanctuaries and temples, antique Roman
Imperial Residence and Bulgarian National Revival towns.
This mountain trail ride takes you through the Sredna Gora Mountain
- the land of the Thracians, the mineral sources, the roses and
lavender. The main goal of this carefully designed holiday is to
give great pleasure to your body, senses and mind. This trail ride
offers you an extraordinary combination of the physical loading of
the riding with the strengthening SPA treatments and the refreshing
massages. During the holiday you will enjoy the delicious food,
prepared from wholesome local produce and samples of famous
Bulgarian wines. Galloping through the boundless meadows, riding
through oak and beech forests you will become one with the virgin
nature of Sredna Gora Mountains and you will discover part of the
archaeological, historical and architectural landmarks, hidden in
them.
 IT-BGRT03
Rates include English speaking
guides, all meals, lodging in guesthouses and 3-4 star hotels on 2
nights, 6 riding days.
8 days/7 nights $ 1,650
Single $ 155
-- based on €
1060 / 100
Non rider rate: $1,185 ( € 760)
2008 Dates:
04/19-04/26
05/24-05/31 10/18-10/25
Meeting:
Sevlievo
Airport: Sofia
Transfer: Incl. from Sofia airport at set time
Pace: 4-6 riding hours per day
Level:
Low Intermediate+
Tack:
Western and English: Ortho-Flex,
McClellan, Podium and others
Horses:
Shagya
Arabs, East-Bulgarian breed, Anglo-Arabs and other warm blood horses
- all well broken and calm. The height of the horses is from 150 to
165 cm.
Min/Max: 4-8 riders
Additional activities: SPA treatments,
swimming, wine tasting, visit to the ancient Roman town
Dioclecianopolis, visit to the Thracian complex in Kazanluk,
sightseeing.
Accommodation: In authentic rural houses
with unique atmosphere and in cozy family hotels.
Meals: ecologically clean food prepared from wholesome local
produce; international and Bulgarian cuisine; drinks included.
Itinerary
Day 1 Pick up from
Sofia Airport and transfer to the town of Hissar, 180 km
Southeast from the capital. You will be accommodated in the
SPA hotel with swimming pool, sauna, massage centre and fitness. Begin your holiday with an introduction to your itinerary and having
a first-hand look at the horses and equipment and choosing suitable
ones. Panoramic tour of the town of Hissar. You will be
escorted to visit the remains of fortress wall of ancient roman town
Dioclecianopolis, the third largest town in the ancient province of
Thrace, after Philipopolis /Plovdiv/ and Beroe /Stara Zagora/. The
wall is one of the best preserved of its kind not only in Bulgaria,
but also on the entire Balkan Peninsula! Welcome party and
overnight at the hotel.
Highlights:
Hissar health resort
Hissar health resort is situated almost in the centre of Bulgaria,
on the southern slopes of Sredna Gora Mountain, 336 m above sea
level.
The first settlers of the small valley where the town is situated
were Thracians from the Bessi tribe. Eventually, the area was
reached by Macedonians, but it was not until Roman times when Hissar
developed into a large town and resort, called Dioclecianopolis,
after the Roman emperor Dioclecian /284 - 305 AD/.
The town was built according to all requirements of Roman town
planning - with wide, straight streets, decorated with statues of
gods and goddesses, with marble baths, beautiful palaces and villas
for Roman aristocracy. To protect the town from enemy invasions, it
was surrounded with a wall raised by the skilful hands of Thracian
master-builders.
Day 2 A ride from town of Hissar through the
village of Starosel to the Belovitsa village - 27km.
Breakfast in the hotel. Saddling the horses and preparing for start.
You will ride through hills and oaken forests to the village
Starosel, which made a sensation in 2000 when the archaeological
expedition lead by Dr. George Kitov found for the world "the largest
preserved Thracian king complex with a temple-mausoleum in Southeast
Europe".
Picnic - lunch in the neighborhood of the village. Your guide will escort
you to visit a recently found Thracian cult complex, still in
excavations. Learn about the mysterious Thracians and their amazing
cultural heritage and historic significance. In the afternoon you
will ride to the village of Belovitsa, situated on the southern
slopes of Sredna Gora Mountain.
Accommodation and dinner at the family hotel.
About 5 hours riding.
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Highlights:
The Thracian cult complex in Starosel
The suppositions are that the temple is from the time
of the Thracian king Sitalk, even his own. The rich findings in the
stone-built tomb date from the end of the fifth and the beginning of
the fourth century BC. A main staircase with monumental corridor,
ritual landing and two chambers, leads to the temple. The entrance
is outlined with slabs with plastic and colour decoration. The
inside area is a round, domed chamber with semi-columns and colour
ornaments, where the initiated established connection with gods.
It is surrounded by a 263 yard long wall made out of some 4000 stone
blocks and was hidden under a 20 m high mound of earth.
Day 3 A ride from Belovitsa through the village of
Starosel to Belo Kamene hut - 25 km.
Breakfast at the hotel. Start from Belovitsa village you will ride
trough the fields to Starosel
village. Approximately two hour ride. Visit of ancient Thracian
temple. Lunch and rest in the
beautiful meadow next to the temple. In the afternoon you will ride
to Belo Kamene hut.
About 3,5 hours riding. You will be accommodated in the hut with
cosy rooms in the middle of the forest. Dinner with local meals end
wine by the fireplace.
Day 4 A ride from Belo Kamene hut through Chalet Barricades to
the town of Koprivshtitsa - 30km.
Breakfast in the hut. You will ride trough the forest via foot
of Bogdan peak (1603m.) to the Barricades Chalet. Lunch at the
beautiful meadow next to the mountain river. In the afternoon you
will ride to the Koprivshtitsa town of Bulgarian Revival, which is a
unique architectural preserve. About 5 hours riding
You will be accommodated in the authentic century old house.
Dinner with wine tasting.
Overnight in the town of Koprivshtitsa.
Highlights:
The town of Koprivshtitsa
is situated near to the Topolnitsa River at 1060 meters above the
sea level. It is a town - museum and unique settlement in Bulgaria,
which has preserved in compactness over 250 patterns of the
Bulgarian Revival Period architecture. The greatest wealth of
Koprivshtitsa are its Revival Period houses with colourful
courtyards, surrounded with high stone walls and gates, the
disorderly built curved and narrow cobblestone little streets and
plots, the numerous stone fountain contributes to the attractiveness
of the little town. Part of these houses was turned into museums.
Day 5 Local ride in the neighborhood of the town of
Koprivshtitsa
Breakfast at the house. You will be taken on a guided tour of the
town of Koprivshtitsa. You will visit some of the most interesting
Museums in the town. Lunch at an exclusive wine and barbecue
restaurant. After a refreshing break in the afternoon, prepare for
two-hour ride in the neighborhood of Koprivshtitsa. About 2 hours
riding. Enjoy some free time for shopping and exploring the
charming galleries, craftsman shops and coffee retreats. Dinner with
wine tasting in the local pub in the centre of Koprivshtitsa.
Overnight in the town of Koprivshtitsa.
Day 6 A ride from town of Koprivshtitsa to the town of
Strelcha - 25km.
Breakfast at the house. You will ride trough the untouched forest to
the health resort Strelcha.
Picnic lunch in a wooden, beautiful shelter situated among the oak
trees. About 5 hours riding. You will be accommodated in the SPA
hotel. Before dinner you could try the aquatic relaxation procedures
or massages. Before dinner you could try a beautifying, relaxing or
pampering SPA treatments. Dinner in the local pub in national style.
Day 7 A ride from town of Strelcha to the village
of Belovitsa - 25km.
Before breakfast you could try the aquatic relaxation procedures or
massages. Breakfast in the hotel. You will ride trough
the rouses field and will galloping through. Picnic lunch.
About 5 hours riding. You will be accommodated again in the family
house in Belovitsa. Before dinner you could visit the dam of
Piasuchnik. In the evening enjoy a Farewell dinner - gourmet food
prepared in your honour by the hosts.
Day 8 After breakfast you say good-bye to your
horse. Visit of famous Thracian complex of Kazanluk. Depart
from the Sofia Airport on time for your flight. |
