Day 01
Arrival in Sofia
Arrive in Sofia and transfer to your hotel.
Overnight stay in Sofia.
Bulgaria · Horse Riding
8-Day Horse Riding Tour in Teteven Balkan with Bulgarian Villages
The journey
Trip highlights
- 01 Ride through the Teteven Balkan with views of the central ridge of Stara Planina
- 02 Stay in a mix of hotels, guesthouses, and Glozhene Monastery
- 03 Visit Etropole Monastery and the nearby waterfall
- 04 Explore Saeva Dupka cave and its beautiful rock formations
- 05 Pass near the Boatin Reserve in the Central Balkan National Park
Go on a progressive horse riding tour in the Teteven Balkan area, combining horseback riding with cultural visits and immersion in the atmosphere of this beautiful Bulgarian region. Enjoy beautiful views of the central ridge of Stara Planina and the town of Teteven, surrounded by rocky peaks, while passing through villages such as Golyam Izvor, Brusen, and Cherni Vit. Along the way, discover monasteries, a waterfall, a cave, and the landscapes of the Central Balkan National Park.
Ascend the heights above the village, where you will see the first beautiful view of the central ridge of Stara Planina and the town of Teteven, surrounded by rocky peaks.
From the itinerary
At a glance
What this trip includes
Duration
8 Days
Tour type
Shared
Activity level
Moderate
Accommodation
Included · Standard
Transport
Included
Cities
Sofia, Teteven
Languages
English
Day by day
The itinerary
Day 02
Golyam Izvor to Glozhene Monastery
- Transfer from Sofia to Golyam Izvor village in the Teteven Balkan and meet the horses.
- Start the first ride in the afternoon. The route passes through meadows and mixed forest.
- Ascend the heights above the village, where you will see the first beautiful view of the central ridge of Stara Planina and the town of Teteven, surrounded by rocky peaks.
- Descend through an ancient beech forest, at the end of which Glozhene Monastery is located. Perched on a high rock, it reveals an even wider view of the Danube Plain.
Overnight stay at Glozhene Monastery.
Duration of the ride: 2-3 hours
Day 03
Glozhene Monastery to Golyam Izvor
- Ride back to Golyam Izvor village using different routes.
- Enjoy free time in the afternoon.
Overnight stay in Golyam Izvor.
Duration of the ride: 4 hours
Day 04
Golyam Izvor to Brusen and Etropole
- Start the ride on a dirt road along one of the ridges in the region, ending in Brusen village with a descent through the forest.
- Take a car trip to Etropole Monastery and the nearby waterfall in the afternoon. Lunch and dinner will be served at the guesthouse where you will stay for the night.
- Walk through the town of Etropole.
Duration of the ride: 4-5 hours
Day 05
Brusen to Cherni Vit
- Pass through mixed forests, this time riding uphill.
- Ride along the open ridge, then descend to the village of Cherni Vit.
- Take a car trip to Saeva Dupka cave in the afternoon, known for its beautiful formations.
Overnight stay in Cherni Vit.
Duration of the ride: 4 hours
Day 06
Cherni Vit to Teteven
- Start riding from Cherni Vit, passing close to the Boatin Reserve, which is part of the Central Balkan National Park and protects nature in the central part of Stara Planina.
- Spend the afternoon sightseeing in Teteven.
- Take a car trip to Troyan Monastery (80 km). A centre for traditional Bulgarian crafts is located close to the monastery.
- Stop at Chiflik Spa to enjoy its mineral water (optional).
Duration of the ride: 4-5 hours
Day 07
Teteven to Golyam Izvor and Sofia
- Transfer to Cherni Vit village in the morning, where the horses were left the previous day.
- Climb once more one of the many ridges, from where you will have a final look at the scenery admired over the past week.
- Transfer back to Sofia for an overnight stay.
Duration of the ride: 5-6 hours
Day 08
Departure from Sofia
Depart from Sofia to your desired location.
The route
Where you'll travel
The fine print
Trip details
What's Included
- 7 nights accommodation (3 at a hotel with en suite bathroom and toilet, 3 in guesthouses, and 1 in a monastery) with breakfast
- 6 lunches (Days 2-7) and 4 dinners (Days 2-5)
- English-speaking local guide
- Saddled horses
- Luggage transport
- Transfers to and from Sofia Airport
- Entrance fees to sites, if any
What's Not Included
- Flight tickets
- Drinks and meals not mentioned in the program
- Tips
- Personal expenses
- Optional trip to Chiflik/Troyan Monastery (allow EUR 40 for the whole vehicle)
- Insurance
- Single room supplement: EUR 80
Know before you go
- Horses: Most of the horses are crossbreeds between the local East-Bulgarian and Karakachan breeds, with an average height of 1.50 m. They are well known for being thoughtful and tough, and are therefore extremely well adapted to the mountainous region of the Stara Planina Mountains. The maximum rider weight is 100 kg.
- Saddles: Western and military. A riding helmet is not mandatory.
- Possible extensions, for example the Black Sea: You can combine your horse riding holiday with an extra week on the Black Sea coast in Sozopol, Nessebar, Lozenets, etc. Extra days of activities such as kayaking, tandem paragliding, cycling, walking, and more are also possible.
Logistics
Meeting & route
Meeting point
Sofia, Bulgaria
Tour start
Sofia, Bulgaria
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey
Your 8 days finish where they began, in Sofia.
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Create your own adventure
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Starting from
EUR
650
/person
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