The Land of Thracians
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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 un 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 archeological, historical and architectural landmarks, hidden in them.
- Itinerary: From to the town of Hissar to the village of Starosel , the village of Belovitsa, the village of Crustevich,
Belo Kamene hut, the town of Koprivstica, the town of Strelcha and back to the village of Belovitsa.
- Dates: June - fm 5 to 12;
October - fm 23 to 30.
- Meeting point: Sofia Airport.
- Ability: novice or intermediate riders and higher ability.
- Number of riders: 4-8
- Equipment:
- saddles and tacks: we have both Western and English high quality saddles:
Ortho-Flex, Podium, McClellan and other good models.
- we recommend you to have: riding helmet, riding boots or chaps, raincoat and warm clothes.
- 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.
- Maximum weight limit of the riders: 100 kg
- Average hours on the saddle: 4-6.
- Pace: could vary from walk on the steeper slopes to a fast pace on the open spaces, which are grate for long canters.
- The riding guides: The riding guides are experienced and professional, and know all the horses and routes well.
They have a sound knowledge and awareness of safety, of looking after groups of horses and guests out on a ride.
The riding guides are intelligent and communicative people and speak fluently English, French.
Ride leader is able to take sole charge of riders and to encourage them to enjoy riding, to plan together riding time and breaks.
- The program includes: 8 days, 7 nights, 6 days of riding.
- Accommodation: In authentic rural houses with unique atmosphere and in cosy family hotels.
- Meals: ecologically clean food prepared from wholesome local produce; international and Bulgarian cuisine; drinks included.
- Additional activities: SPA treatments, swimming, wine tasting, visit to the ancient Roman town Dioclecianopolis,
visit to the Thracian complex in Kazanluk, sighttseeing.
- Accompanying children and young people: over 14 years. All the accompanying non-riders will have the possibility to participate in all the abovementioned additional activities.
- Additional information: two guides - riders (one of them with medical qualification) - one lead the group and second is following with a jeep with a mobile phone connection.
Description of the trail
Day 1 - Saturday
- Pick up from Sofia Airport and transfer to the town of Hissar, placed 180 km South-East 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.
- Welcome dinner and night at the hotel.
Highligts:
Hissar health resort
Hissar health resort is situated almost in the centre of Bulgaria, on the southern slopes of Sredna Gora Mountin,
336 m above sea level.
The first settlers of the small valley where the town is situated were Thracians from the Besi 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 - Sunday
- Breakfast in the hotel.
- 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!
- Saddling the horses and preparing for start. Ride among beautiful nature around the village of Starosel.
- Picnic - lunch in the neighborhood of the village.
- In the afternoon you will ride to the village of Belovitsa, situated on the southern slopes of Sredna Gora Mountain.
- Accommodation and dinner in a family hotel.
- About 25 km (3.5 hours) riding.
Day 3 - Monday
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Start from Belovitsa village and ride
trough hills and oak forests to the village Starosel,
wich made a sensation in 2000 when the archeological
expedition lead by Dr. George Kitov found for the world "the largest
preserved Thracian king complex with a temple-mausoleum in Southeast Europe".
- Your guide will escort you to visit the recently found Thracian cult complex,
still in excavation. Learn about the mysterious Thracians and their amazing
cultural heritage and historic significance.
- Lunch and rest in the beautiful meadow next to the temple.
- In the afternoon you will ride to Belo Kamene hut.
- 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.
- About 19 km (3 hours) riding.
Highligts:
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 4 - Tuesday
- Breakfast in the hut.
- You will ride trough the forest via foot of Bogdan peak (1603m.) to the Barikadite Chalet.
- Lunch at the beutiful 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.
- You will be accommodated in the authentic century old house.
- Dinner with wine tasting.
- Overnight in the town of Koprivshtitsa.
- About 30 km (5.5 hours) riding.
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 colorful 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 were turned into museums.
Day 5 - Wednesday
- 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 a restaurant in the town.
- After a refreshing break in the afternoon,
prepare for two-hour ride in the neighborhood
of Koprivshtitsa.
- Enjoy some free time for shopping and exploring the
charming galleries, craftsman shops and coffee retreats.
- Dinner and night in the town of Koprivshtitsa.
- Overnight in the town of Koprivshtitsa.
- About 10 km (2 hours) riding.
Day 6 - Thursday
- 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.
- You will be accommodated in the SPA hotel.
- Before dinner you could try the aquatic relaxation procedures or massages and
swim in the mineral water pool.
- Dinner in the local pub in national style.
- About 25 km (4.5 hours) riding.
Day 7 - Friday
- Breakfast in the hotel.
- You will ride trough the rouses field and will galloping through.
- Picnic lunch.
- You will be accommodated again in the family house in Belovitsa.
- Before the dinner we could ride back to the nearest river and wash the horses there.
- In the evening enjoy a Farewell dinner - gourmet food prepared in your honor by the hosts.
- About 25 km (4.5 hours) riding.
Day 8 - Saturday
- After breakfast you could say good-bye to your horse.
- Visit to the ancient town of Plovdiv and start to Sofia.
- Departure from the Sofia Airport.
PRICE: 1200 EUR, all inclusive, except hard drinks.