Comfort
On this riding holiday, you will be staying in hotels and guesthouses. The rooms are mostly twin with an en-suite bathroom. There are swimming pools and opportunities for spa treatments (not included) at most of the guest houses/hotels.
Please note that during the autumn months of September and October outdoor pools are likely to be closed.
Meals
Picnic lunches carried by each rider in their saddlebags or organised by the local team (vegetables, warm soup, BBQ, fruit or sandwiches).
Dinners at local restaurants and at the hotels.
Soft drinks, beer and wine are included in reasonable quantity
Traditional Bulgarian food is tasty and diverse. The geographical location of the country and its mild climate allow perfect conditions for growing different vegetables and herbs which are fundamental ingredients in all Bulgarian dishes. Bulgaria is also famous for the diversity and quality of its dairy products which are widely used in the preparation of typical Bulgarian food.
Some special dietary requirements can be catered for, please let us know at the time of booking.
Climate
Temperatures shift noticeably with the seasons.
Winter (Dec–Feb): Cold and damp, with average highs around 3–6 °C and lows near –4 °C. Frost, fog, and occasional snow are common.
Spring (Mar–May): Mild and changeable, warming from 10 °C in March to about 22 °C in May. April and May often bring frequent showers.
Summer (Jun–Aug): Warm and sunny, with average highs of 28–30 °C and occasional peaks above 32 °C. Thunderstorms are possible in June.
Autumn (Sep–Nov): Pleasant and gradually cooling, from around 25 °C in September to 10 °C in November. Rainfall decreases after the summer peak.
Rainfall is moderate but fairly evenly spread throughout the year, with the wettest months tending to be late spring and early summer.
Tips
Tipping is not compulsory but will be very much appreciated if you enjoy the services provided by the team.
Packing list
Head
- Helmets are mandatory and that you take your own to ensure a correct fit. There are many lightweight options available nowadays.
- Sunhat for when not riding
- Sunglasses - with a cord attached so they don't fly off when riding
- Buff or bandana
Upper body
- Thermals (long or short sleeved)
- Long sleeved shirts provide protection from the sun and are an extra layer
- T-shirts
- Lightweight fleece or jumper
- Warm fleece or jumper (and a spare in case one gets wet)
- Warm and waterproof jacket - it can rain at any time of year and the evenings can be particularly cold
- Swimwear
Legs
- Lightweight, comfortable riding trousers or jodhpurs - we recommend riding in them at home before taking them on holiday to ensure they don't rub
- Casual trousers for the evenings, such as jeans or tracksuit bottoms
- Waterproof over trousers
Hands and Feet
- Comfortable riding boots. We recommend short boots with half chaps but you may wish to take long chaps as an extra layer against inclement weather. We don't recommend taking your favourite long leather boots in case they get damaged
- Waterproof shoes/boots can be useful for abundant dew in the mornings or when it rains
- Trainers or equivalent light shoes for the evenings
- Socks
- Gloves - your hands are particularly exposed to the sun, cold or rain whilst riding.
Nightwear
- Pyjamas, tracksuits
Other useful items
- Water bottle
- Swiss army knife (or equivalent)
- Wet Wipes or equivalent (for when washing facilities aren't available)
- Ear plugs (for light sleepers)
Medical kit
- Any medication you regularly take
- A soothing cream to alleviate any areas irritated by long days spent in the saddle
- Sunscreen and lip balm - should be high factor
- Insect repellent, preferably containing deet
- Blister plasters in case of any rubs
- Antiseptic cream, plasters, aspirin, anti-histamine, insect-bite salve etc...
- Spare prescription glasses/contact lenses
- Eye drops
- Imodium or similar anti-diarrhoea medication
- Re-hydration sachets
- Antiseptic wipes
- Handwash gel
Our Recommendations
- Backpacks cannot be worn whilst riding. We recommend a small bumbag or a coat with pockets so that you can carry small items with you during the day ( camera, sunscreen, lipbalm etc)
- We recommend travelling in your riding boots and carrying your hat and some riding clothes in your hand luggage - then if your luggage goes astray you are still able to ride!
- We recommend taking a copy of your passport and insurance documents with you in case you lose your originals
