Orpheus's Ride

Meeting point: Sofia airport
The program includes: 8 days, 7 nights, 6 day of riding
Price: FIND one rider AND all riding vacation of your representative will be absolutly free. Your client will pay promotional price from 680 Euro (double occupancy) /note it is net price p/p for 4-5 riders group!Transfer from Sofia airport to Trigrad /around 200 km/ and transfer from Trigrad to Sofia airport are included!

Itinerary: From the village of Trigrad, the town of Dospat, village of
Dolen, Thracian sanctuary Kozi kamuk, village of Surnitsa, village of
Borino and back to village of Trigrad.

Time period:
September 30 – October 07

Ability: intermediate riders
Number of riders: from 2 to 8

Type of horses: Arabic - Shagia type, Eastern Bulgarian.
Height of horses: 1.50m to 1.65m. Maximum weight limit: up to 100kg.

Saddles: cavalry.
Average hours in saddle: 4-5.
Accommodation: In authentic rural Rhodopean houses with unique atmosphere or in family hotels.

Meals: the hotels and houses provide the breakfasts and dinners and they offer traditional local dishes. The midday meals are in the open-air during the passages and they consist of warm food, wine and warm up drinks, all included in the price. We offer ecologically clean food; international and traditional Rhodopean cuisine; drinks included.

Additional activities: fishing, hiking, mountaineering, visits to the
Yagodinska and the Devil's Gorge caves, cart drive, rare birds and wild animals observation, photography.

Additional information: two guides - riders (one of them with medical qualification) - lead the group and are followed by a bus with a radio connection.

During the ride you will have the possibility to experience the magic of the Western part of the  Rhodopes mountain - with its untouched nature, archeological, historical, architectural and ethnographic sights. You will have the opportunity to watch rare birds and wildlife, rich flora with endemic species.

First day: Arriving in the village of Trigrad. On the way to Trigrad the
participants will pass through the thrilling Trigrad Gorge, 7 kilometres
long and with rocks high up to 250 metres. After the arrival in Trigrad the riders will meet the guides and the horses and will visit The Devil's gorge cave, which is 300 000 years old. According  to the legend this is the place where Orpheus went down into the kingdom of shadows, in search of his beloved Euridica. Accommodation in the village of Trigrad.

Second day: After breakfast - a ride from the village of Trigrad through a beautiful pine forest to the Videnitsa peak (1652m). On the very top of  the peak the riders will examine a Thracian sanctuary and the ruins of an ancient Roman stronghold. From the peak you can enjoy the magnificent view toward Pirin and Slavyanka mountains and the Greek mountain of Bozdak. Lunch in a
wooden shelter under the peak. A ride through the village of Zmeitsa to the town of Dospat. Accommodation in Dospat, at a cozy hotel with a very picturesque location, overlooking the dam and the mountain. Riding -about 5 hours.

Third day: Breakfast in the hotel. A ride from the town of Dospat past the crystal waters of the Dospat lake, along the ridge of the Rhodopean part, called Zvezden Balkan (Star Mountain) to the Hissar gulch. Break and lunch in a wooden shelter, beautifully situated among the pine-trees. A ride via the small village of Pletena to the village of Dolen, which is a unique architectural preserve. Accommodation in the village of Dolen.
Riding - about 5 hours.

Fourth day: After breakfast - a visit of the unique church from the 18th century in the village of Dolen. A short ride through centuries-old pine forests, riders will examine a Thracian sanctuary and the ruins. In the afternoon - free time for rest and sightseeing till dinner. Dinner with local dishes and wine by the fireplace, you could hardly dream of a better end of the day. Accommodation in the village of Dolen.
Rding - about 3 hours.

Fifth day: After breakfast - a ride from village of Dolen through
centuries-old pine forests, limpid mountain brooks and picturesque Rhodopean meadows to the village of Surnitsa. Lunch in a cosy atmosphere, tasting traditional dishes. You will have the
possibility to taste a great variety of Bulgarian gourmet specialities and high-quality drinks. Dinner in a warm and friendly atmosphere by the fireplace. Accommodation in the village of Surnitsa, situated at the shore of the Dospat Lake.
Riding - about 5 hours.

Sixth day: After breakfast - a ride from the village of Surnitsa
alongside of the Dospat Lake. The riders and the horses will have lunch and break in a wooden shelter, near the preserve. A ride via the meadows, the rivers and the woods of the picturesque preserve Derezli to the village of Borino. Accommodation in Borino, at a family hotel. Dinner and rest. Riding - about 6 hours.

Seventh day: After breakfast - a ride from the village of Borino through the untouched forests of the Svinski Dol preserve and Buinovo gorge to the Yagodinska cave. Lunch and break by the cool entrance of the cave. A ride through the village of Yagodina and the vast Yagodina meadows over the Trigrad gorge to the village of Trigrad. You will have time to say good-bye to the horses and will be accommodated in the village of Trigrad. Dinner by the fireplace, sharing impressions about the ride and the visited places.
Riding - about 4,5 hours.

Eight day: After breakfast - saying good-bye to the guides and
departure from the village of Trigrad. On the way to the city of Sofia - the capital of Bulgaria - you will visit the Bachkovo monastery "The Assumption"  - the second largest monastery in Bulgaria and one of the most remarkable Bulgarian cultural monuments.


Arkan Ltd.
7a, Lerin Str.
Plovdiv 4002
Bulgaria
Tel./fax: +359 32 640 205
e-mail: arkan@evrocom.net
www.arkantours.com