Transfer Option:

Day 1: Arrive in Burgas and transfer 60 miles south to the picturesque village of Vassiliko or Rezovo. Dinner and overnight in a guesthouse.
Day 2: Transfer to the stables in Rezovo. Ride along the coast with breathtaking vistas. Enter the Strandzha-Mountains National Park and ride through forests until you reach the Bay of Silistar. Lunch is a picnic on the beach. Then along the beach to the Bay of  Sinemoretz and finally to where River Welek flows into the Black Sea. Our horses will spend the night here and we will be transferred to the guesthouse or hotel in Vassiliko.
Day 3: After breakfast, the ride continues through the beautiful National Park. We will follow the steep cliffs along the beach to the village of Ahtopol. Wide open country allows for short but fast gallops. In the afternoon we ascend into the mountains until we reach Brodilowo village, situated along the river of Welek. Dinner is over an open fire before turning in for the night in a comfortable B&B.
Day 4: Along the high coastline we ride to the Chapel of Constatine and Elena near the town of Achtopol. All morning you will see impressive bays and great vistas over the Black Sea. After lunch we ride south past Mt. Papia - believed to be the site of a Roman fort - over two thousand years ago. Continuing our ride through a lush forest, we finally reach Brodilowo or Vassiliko for our well deserved overnight.  5 to 7 riding hours.
Day 5:  After a good night's rest we enjoy breakfast and head towards the River Weleka. We ride through the beautiful Brodilovo Valley and break for lunch.  After lunch, we ride to the romantic Kosti valley, cross the river and turn back to Brodilowo. 5 to 6 riding hours
Day 6: After another hearty Bulgarian breakfast, we head towards the chapel of the Virgin Mary, where the famous Bulgarian "fire dancers" have held their rituals for centuries. We stop for lunch at a natural spring and then follow the steep banks of the river Weleka to its origins. Great gallops end this interesting day. Overnight in Vassiliko
Day 7: Our last riding day begins with a nice canter along the beach towards Silistar beach. Here you can enjoy a few more canters on the beach, go for a swim in the serene, shallow crystal clear waters, or simply relax by the sea. Lunch and dinner will be prepared  over an open fire at the beach.
In the early evening hours we ride back to the stables. Overnight in Vassiliko. 4 to 6 riding hours.
Day 8: After breakfast, transfer to the airport.

Subject to change

The climate in Northern Bulgaria is moderate continental, while the climate in Southern Bulgaria is intermediate continental tending to Mediterranean. The climate in the regions with an altitude of 1900-2000 m above sea level is mountainous and along the Black Sea coast it is maritime. The climate of the seaside regions is milder in the winter and cooler in the summer than the climate of the interior of the country. The average annual temperature is 10,5°C, in winter about 0°C. The lowest temperature - 38,3°C - was measured in 1947.

Marked by four distinct seasons, Bulgaria enjoys a generally favorable climate that is one of the country's best features. Although located at the same latitude as southern New England, Bulgaria's climate is noticeably more temperate. Summers are typically hot and dry, but rarely oppressive, with moderate relative humidity. Winters are cold but not bitterly so. In the south and Black Sea coastal regions, Mediterranean influences temper the harsher continental climate of the interior. The country's half-dozen mountain groups also play a significant part in determining regional variances.

In the capital, Sofia, daytime high temperatures average 82°F/28°C in July-August; 37°F/3°C in January, and reflect the ameliorating effects of nearby Mt. Vitosha. The wettest months are April-May and November in the interior; June, October and December along the coast. In mid-summer, the coast enjoys prodigious sunshine with daytime high air temperatures averaging 83°F/28°C and water temps ranging around 73-77°F/23-25°C.

The first and last night lodgings are in the small village of  Rezovo - in a guesthouse or hotel near the stables. The remainder of your stay will be in a typical Bulgarian cottage in Vassiliko. The house is located 100 yards from the beach with a picturesque courtyard and fireplace (sleeps 6). The live-in cook will prepare traditional Bulgarian meals for you.  For larger groups, your accommodation is in a nice local beach front hotel in the area.  There are some opportunities to spend the night with local peasants on some nights in the mountains - if you do not mind the simple lodgings and want to experience the people in their natural habitat.

The rides will take you on a loop. In the evening the horses stay out and you return by vehicle back to Vassiliko.

Tack:		English and Western
Horses:		East Bulgarian warmblood (15 to 16.5 hands)
Pace:		4-7 hours per day | Walk | Trot | Canter |
Level:		(3 to 4 out of 5)    Intermediate
Riders:		Min 3 riders	Max 10 riders

The rides will take you on a loop. In the evening the horses stay out and you return by vehicle back to Vassiliko.

Passports
Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all nationals referred to in the chart except:
(a) 1. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card.
Note: EU nationals are only required to produce evidence of their EU nationality and identity in order to be admitted to any EU member state. This evidence can take the form of a valid national passport or national identity card. Either is acceptable. Please note that validity of the documents -  EU passport and/or ID card issued from one of the EU countries, should be at least three months on the day they leave Bulgaria. Possession of a return ticket and sufficient funds for the length of their proposed visit is required.

Visas
Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for the following lengths of visit:
(a) nationals of EU countries for stays of up to 90 days; for stays longer than 90 days nationals will need to register with the local police and obtain the appropriate permit;
(b) 2. nationals of Australia, Canada and USA for touristic stays of up to 90 days.
Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).