This 3 day point to point trail horseback vacation, offers unforgettable views of Rila Mountain and the highest peak of the Balkan. On the shore of the Iskar lake, enjoy the turquoise views and swim with your horse in the crystal clear mountain waters of the lake, (weather permitting). Upon further request, it is possible to rent a kayak or a sailboat for you free time after arrival on day 2.
Whilst riding through the meadows, old forests and a game farm you will have the opportunity to see many wild animals (red deer, fallow deer, roe deer and others). The terrain is mainly soft and perfect for faster riding. Expect to cover between 35 and 45km per day, much of which will be at trot, canter or gallop. Riders must
be in fit and confident at any riding pace.
Accommodation varies from 3/4* hotel to local guest houses, all serving good quality Bulgarian meals.
This horseback vacation will recharge your energy levels to the maximum with beautiful views and memorable experiences. Mountains, old forests, lakes and wild animals will leave lasting memories of Bulgaria.
Please Note: The opinions expressed in these reviews are the author's and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unicorn Trails Ltd. These reviews are "directly from the horses mouth" and unedited. Unicorn Trails may make additional comments for clarification clearly identified in red.
Review received from SA of Huntingdon on 23/10/2024
Day 1 Arrival
Arrival and transfer from Sofia Airport to Samokov / Dospey village.
Depart from Sofia no later than 4:00pm. Transfer by car takes approximately 1 hour. Meet the guide and settle for a welcome dinner. Overnight in a 3 or 4 star hotel in the town of Samokov or a guest house in the village of Dospey.
Day 2
After a light breakfast head to the ranch in the village of Dospey. Approx. 10:30am meet your steed and set out on the trail towards Iskar lake. Ride across hilly terrain in the Ihtiman mountain range, enjoy some good uphill gallops and stop for a picnic lunch with a view of the highest peak of the Balkan peninsula, Musala 2925m. After lunch ride through old forests and herbal fields, before descending to the sandy shores of the Iskar Lake, whose waters are collected from Rila mountain. Expect to cover 30km today (around 4hrs of riding). Dinner and overnight in a lake house on the shore of the lake.
Day 3
In warm weather riders can sometime start their day by swimming with the horses in the clear waters of the lake. Leave the lake and enter the game farm where there is an opportunity to canter among red deer, fallow deer, roe deer, wild boars and other forest inhabitants that are bred there. Cross an old forest and stop for a short lunch break at a roadside restaurant. After lunch follow a scenic road before entering more forests and meadows in Plana Planina, much of the pace today is at trot and canter both up and down hill. Overnight in a cosy family run guest house with home cooked food and a very warm welcome. Longest riding day covering approximately 45km (6-7hrs of riding).
Day 4
After breakfast depart from the village of Plana and head back towards the Ranch. The trail passes along the ridge of the Plana mountain and the bed of the Palakaria river, with breath taking views of Rila mountain – Malyovitsa – the cradle of Bulgarian alpinism. Ride through woodlands, open meadows and cross numerous streams. The views are unforgettable! Expect to ride approx. 32km throughout the day, mostly at trot, canter and gallop, both up and downhill. Arrive back at the ranch and enjoy a late lunch and some refreshments with your hosts before transferring to a hotel for your final night. Dinner and overnight in a 3 or 4 star hotel in the town of Samokov/ local ski resort or a guest house in the village of Dospey.
Day 5 Departure
Breakfast and transfer to Sofia - about 1 hour by car.
It is possible to enjoy a 4th day of riding, this involves an extra day's riding at the start, before arriving at the lake. Please enquire with your travel consultant.
Please note: All itineraries are given for your guidance only and it may be altered on the ground and in accordance with the prevailing conditions by the organising team.
There are 12 horses, a combination of Purebred Arabian, Anglo-Arab, Shagya Arabian all of which are trained in endurance riding. They are fit, strong and forward going. They are all well trained and experienced on these trails, with endless amounts of energy. The tack is all English style and comfortable.
The riding is in the style of the Endurance discipline - suitable for experienced riders and for covering long distances up to 45km per day. The main pace is trot, with some exciting canters on suitable ground and frequently downhill so please make sure you are comfortable with this.
Each horse has leather saddlebags for waterproofs, suncream and water during the day.
We recommend that riders bring their own hard hats as there are none available to borrow, comfortable shoes for walking and riding and half chaps. There may be occasions where you need to lead your horse a short distance.
This ride is for fit, strong confident intermediate riders and above only. This is a physically demanding ride, so riding fitness is essential. Ideal for eventers/cross country or endurance riders looking to explore the beautiful countryside of Bulgaria.
You should be in control at all paces, in open spaces and comfortable at trotting and cantering for long stretches, both uphill and downhill. You also need to be happy crossing ditches.
Expect to cover between 32 and 45km per day on this endurance style trail, with large portions of the distance covered in trot and canter with multiple opportunities to gallop on day 3 and 4.
Minimum riding age is 16yrs.
The weight limit for this ride is 198 lb/90 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.
The overnight stay on Days 1 and 4 is in a 3 or 4* hotel in the town of Samokov or a guest house in
the village of Dospey. Single rooms may be possible with a supplement.
Overnight on Day 2 is in a chalet style cabin on the shore of the Iskar Lake. (shared bedrooms)
Overnight on Day 3 is in a family run guest house with traditional homemade meals. (shared bedrooms)
Expect traditional Bulgarian dishes, including traditional cucumber and tomato salads with cheese, home made soups, grilled meats and fish. For breakfast you can expect pancakes, omelettes, bread and home made jams.
Can cater for vegetarians with ease but not vegan. Other dietary requests& can be catered for, within reason and with advanced notice.& Please let your consultant know before booking.
Vegetarian or other dietary requirements within reason can be accommodated with advance notice. Please contact Unicorn Trails with requests before booking.
Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct documentation in place for your trip. NB: Be sure to check the COVID status of the country you plan to visit including entry procedures and requirements while travelling. Passport and Visa requirements differ dependent on which country you’re travelling from. Please check with your consulate for the latest regulations and requirements. Unicorn Trails will assist with any questions you have or supply any necessary supporting documents as required by the consulate should you need a visa. In the UK the British Foreign Office gives advice: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/bulgaria In the US: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Bulgaria.html In Canada: https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/bulgaria
Another useful resource is Sherpa - this summarises any travel and vaccination requirements based on when you are travelling simply by entering your home country followed by your destination country: https://apply.joinsherpa.com/travel-restrictions<
The territory of Rila National Park is located mainly in the transitional-continental climate zone of the country, temperate-continental from the north and continental-Mediterranean from the south. The warm season lasts for 3.3 months, from 5 June to 15 September, with an average daily high temperature above 25°C. The hottest month of the year in Rila is August, with an average high of 30°C but can reach 40 degrees. The cold season lasts for 3.4 months, from 23 November to 4 March, with an average daily high temperature below 7°C. The coldest month of the year in Rila is January, with an average low of -5°C and high of 3°C.
COVID: Be sure to check the latest COVID regulations for travelling in any country you visit.
Facilities in most Bulgarian hospitals are basic and old-fashioned compared to those in the UK. Standards of medical care are acceptable, although specialised equipment/treatment may not be available, and hospital staff may not speak English.
You are required to take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance to cover the full period you will be in the country at the time of booking, we recommend including medivac to the UK if necessary. You should be aware, however, that most insurance companies will not authorise medivac to the UK as a matter of routine, or because local hospitals are not up to UK standards. You should check any exclusions and that your policy covers you for horseriding.
Please check the latest country-specific health advice prior to travel and contact your own GP for up to date advice on vaccinations and prophylaxis prior to travel.
In Bulgaria the supply voltage is 230V. If the appliance or its power supply are not dual voltage rated, the single voltage appliance will have to be used alongside a voltage transformer or converter to allow the appliance to work safely and properly (unless the appliance operates at 230V).
Charging points available at all accommodation, Wifi at hotel on night 1 and 4. Wifi at the Lake is limited to near the restaurant.
Pack as you usually would for a holiday, for e.g. sunglasses, toiletries, casual clothes, and then these are your Horse Riding holiday essentials. If you are unsure, please speak with your Travel Consultant:
ESSENTIALS FOR ALL RIDING HOLIDAYS
- Riding helmet – complying with current EU & British standards (some locations can provide them but if possible bring your own for comfort and correct fit)
- Riding boots designed for riding and walking
- Riding gloves
- Chaps
- At least 2 pairs of riding trousers – jodhpur’s/breeches are best for anything, except western riding (Jeans)
- Long sleeved shirts
- Lightweight waterproof
- Water bottle
- Mobile phone
Ride specific:
Swim wear for lake/kayaking
warmer clothes for the cooler mountain evenings
This is 5 day, 4 night programme with riding on 3 days.
6 day, 5 night programme with riding on 4 days also available please enquire.
2025: 9 - 13 Jun; 28 Jul - 1 Aug; 1 - 5 Sept.
Available on request all year round for 2+ riders, arrival can be on a Sun/Mon/Tue
Available only on nights 1 & 4 please enquire.
| No of days/nights |
Riding days | Product item description | £ | |
| 2025 | 5d/4n | 3 | double pp | 989 |
| No of days/nights |
Riding days | Product item description | € | |
| 2025 | 5d/4n | 3 | double pp | 1,129 |
| No of days/nights |
Riding days | Product item description | US $ | |
| 2025 | 5d/4n | 3 | double pp | 1,239 |
| No of days/nights |
Riding days | Product item description | SEK | |
| 2025 | 5d/4n | 3 | double pp | 13,565 |
It is possible to rent a kayak or a sailboat during your free time after arrival at the lake on day 2 or before departure on day 3. Payable on site.
Rila Mountain Range is home to some extremely rare wildlife species that are threatened with extinction both on a European and on a global scale. These include: The imperial eagle and the black vulture; the dormouse, otters, mole rats, and brown squirrels; and the wolf. If you are very luck you may hear a wolf in the distance or see an eagle fly overhead. There are also a number of deer found in the forests, including red deer, fallow deer, roe deer and wild boars.
Best times to travel - May/June (spring) lots of beautiful flowers in the meadows and in the forest with temp between 20-25 degrees, and late Sept/Oct (autumn) with the foliage turning deep red and golden similar temperatures. Avoiding riding is Aug as temperatures are very hot.
Bulgaria has changed swiftly over the last decade, though in the villages you can still find folk who ride a donkey to work, eat homegrown potatoes and make their own cheese. The difference now is that they finish the day in front of a satellite TV. When Bulgaria ran away with the topsy-turvy capitalist circus, no-one told its people they were swinging without a safety net. What the visitor encounters now is a country struggling valiantly to adapt and people who remain remarkably hospitable in the face of social and economic chaos. Urban Bulgaria, especially Sofia, is much changed, so visit now. Time Zone is GMT/UTC +2. Daylight saving is in place and starts last Sunday in March, ending on the last Sunday in October. Weights and measures are metric so kilometres and kilograms instead of miles and stone. One mile is about 1.6km and one stone about 6.8kg
