This family run mountain ranch offers a warm welcome to riders of all abilities as the riding can be tailored to suit the ability and needs of the individual riders. The ranch is blessed with a large variety of trails that provide opportunities for all levels of rider, to explore the local mountain trails and open meadows.
Instruction is available for beginners, along with short trails. In this instance expect 1-2 hours riding in the morning and afternoon.
For more advanced riders 3hr, half day morning and afternoon rides& and /or full day (approx 6hr) trails with picnic lunches are possible. There are ample opportunities for canters and gallops on the advanced trails.
We recommend visiting in either spring May/June as this is when all the flowers are at their best or Sept / Oct autumn time in the woods see some of the lower deciduous trees in all their autumn glory.
Accommodation in the main hotel offers simple but clean rooms with wifi and ensuite bathroom. Facilities include a bar, restaurant and lounge and ample outdoor seating.
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 FM of Bedford on 23/10/2024
No set itinerary for this base stay, the riding can be tailored to suit the ability and needs of the riders. The ranch is blessed with a large variety of trails that provide opportunities for all levels if rider to explore the local mountain trails.
Some basic tuition is available for beginners, along with short trails. In this instance expect 1-2 hours riding in the morning and afternoon.
For more advanced riders, half day morning and afternoon rides and /or full day trails with picnic lunches are possible. There are ample opportunities for canters and gallops on the advanced trails. Please find a sample 3 night short break itinerary below.
Sample Itinerary for Advanced Riders
Day 1
Arrive at Sofia Airport transfer to the ranch approximately 2.5hrs drive. Meet your fellow riders and enjoy dinner before settling into the ranch's 3* on-site hotel.
Day 2
After breakfast enjoy a morning forest ride with river crossing. Return to ranch for lunch, then set out for an afternoon ride to the rock of St. George with a panoramic view of Razlog valley and Pirin mountain. Dinner and overnight at the ranch hotel.
Day 3
Full day ride through the Alpine forests to the Karakachan hut at 2000m above sea level, enjoy a picnic lunch on route, with view of reservoir before descending through open meadows on route back to the ranch. Dinner and overnight at the ranch.
Day 4
Morning ride through the forests to a stunning hill top lake with a panoramic view of Pirin mountain, depending on the time of year it may be possible to swim in the mountain pools before heading back to the ranch for lunch. After lunch& transfer back to the airport in time for your evening flight home.
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 14 horses on the ranch, some perfect for more advanced riders other perfect for beginners. All are well schooled, surefooted and easy to manage.
The ranch is deep in the mountains so no asphalt or paved roads, just beautiful soft mountain trails allowing for a good pace of riding.
There are many trails and the riding is adapted to the ability of the group.
The ranch can cater for all abilities offering lessons and shorter trails for beginners to novice riders and half day or full day rides at all paces for more advanced riders.
On trails, at rest stops riders are responsible for their horses and will be expected to tie up and loosen girth. If you wish at the end of a ride you are welcome to help untack and groom your horse.
The weight limit for this ride is 187 lb/85 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.
Accommodation is in the onsite 3 star hotel, which is cosy and clean. There are a variety of rooms, single, double or triple / apartments. The property is located right in the mountains so there are some stunning views from the windows.
Meals are traditional homecooked Bulgarian dishes, often made with locally sources organic produce.
Breakfast is served with coffee and herbal teas, lunch and dinner are 3 course meals including a drink (water/soda/beer).
Alcoholic drinks can be purchased on site.
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 northern territory of Rila National Park has a temperate-continental climate. Mountain weather can change quickly and is often cooler. Temperatures at night are often much lower than during in the day. Best time to visit is July to Sept, although spring (June) is a beautiful time of year as well.
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).
- Riding Helmet - we strongly recommend that you wear a properly fitted riding helmet of the current standard (One can be provided, but we recommend you bring your own)
- Gloves
- Jodhpurs - jodhpurs, breeches or other comfortable trousers and chaps (jeans may rub and can also be quite hot)
- Chaps
- Riding Boots - it is important to have correct shoes or boots for horse riding. Jodhpur or ankle boots with a rubber sole are recommended but sturdy shoes with a small heel (such as walking boots)
- Shoes for the evening
- Best to bring layers of clothing
- T-shirts
- Long sleeved shirts/tops
- Jumper/sweater for cooler mornings and evenings (temperatures can drop to below freezing at night)
- Waterproof coat
- Warmer layers, hat, gloves etc if visiting late autumn to early spring
- Sunglasses
- Sun cream (even in cooler temperatures there is risk of sun burn)
- Personal Items - toiletries, any medicines you require and please be sure to take insect repellent
- Refillable Water Bottle - it's very important to drink a lot of water when it's hot, especially when doing physical activities
- Camera, spare Batteries/Chargers - an absolute must! It is also a good idea to take a camera case you can strap around your waist or onto a belt for whilst you are riding
Provided by hosts:
There are some riding hats on site that can be borrowed during your stay
This ride has a 3 night, 4 day itinerary, longer on request.
Available year round on request.
some single rooms on request, subject to availability
| No of days/nights |
Riding days | Product item description | £ | |
| 2025 per night | per night | 4 | double pp | 259 |
| No of days/nights |
Riding days | Product item description | € | |
| 2025 per night | per night | 4 | double pp | 299 |
| No of days/nights |
Riding days | Product item description | US $ | |
| 2025 per night | per night | 4 | double pp | 329 |
| No of days/nights |
Riding days | Product item description | SEK | |
| 2025 per night | per night | 4 | double pp | 3,605 |
Rila Mountain Range is home to some 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.
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
