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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
Day 2: Along the large lake Iskar ride across the rolling
hills of the range of the Samokov mountains to reach Borovets.
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
- past high mountain lakes. The ride down in a northern direction to
the high mountain lake ‘Beli Iskar’ and descent to the sources of
the Iskar river until you reach the Rila monastery. Overnight
accommodation in the monk cells.
Day 5: Ride along mountain paths and through beech forests to
the high plateau of the Rila mountains at 2.600 m with magnificent
views over the 7 Rila lakes. Overnight accommodation is in a
mountain hut.
Day 6: 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: Ride to the lake of Rila. Lunch in the hunting house,
overnight accommodation as the night before.
Day 8: Transfer to Sofia and home journey. |
Rila Monastery
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