Iskar Hunting Reserve and the Rila Mountains
Riding at the Iskar Ranch gives you the exhilerating freedom to ride where and when you want on your own mount for the week. You may take a picnic in your saddle bag and with the help of a map, head to one of the huts for lunch or one of the lakes where you can tether your horse and use the rowing boat, fish or have a swim. Guided rides available anytime with one of the 8 rangers. Mounted photo-safaris with professional guide. The Reserve is open grassland and ancient woodland on the valley floor alongside the vast Iskar Lake. It is completely encircled with a protective fence and stocked full of deer, roe, royal stag, muflos, wild boar, wolves, jackals, polecats etc... The accommodation is based up in the mountains in a secluded corner of the resort of Borovets, at the stylish boutique hotel The Yastrebets, a member of 'Small Luxury Hotels of the World'.
The Riding
40 Eastern Bulgarian pure bloods, reared at the reserve. English or western tack. After the first guided ride, you will be expected to groom, tack/saddle your horse.
Suggested Riding itinerary for 7 nights
- Sat: Arrival at Sofia. Transfer to hotel. Welcome drink in the lounge bar before dinner.
- Sun: Transfer to Iskar Ranch. 2-3 hour guided ride, lunch at the Iskar hunting lodge. Transfer back to the hotel. Afternoon relaxing in the spa at the hotel.
- Mon: Full day riding at the Iskar ranch. There is nothing to stop your riding pleasure today; no cars or paths or people or fences inside the reserve. Lunch provided or take a saddle bag picnic.
- Tue: Early morning guided photo safari. Afternoon ride along the shores of the beautiful Iskar lake, the largest inland lake in Bulgaria. Try your hand at clay pigeon shooting or canoeing before returning to the hotel.
- Wed: Transfer to Iskar ranch, full day ride back to the hotel in the Rila Mountains. Horses will overnight in the resort.
- Thu/Fri: Full day ride to the Rila Monastery with overnight either in simple monastic cell or a nearby hotel. Return the next day on horseback. This is an optional tour; you may do shorter day or half-day guided rides from the ranch or you may stay and ride at the reserve.
Suggested Riding itinerary for 4 night riding trip
- Thu: Fly to Sofia. Transfer to The Yastrebets hotel in the Rila Mountains. Welcome drink in the bar, dinner.
- Fri: 08.30. Guided ride at the Iskar Ranch with ranger (c.2-3hrs). Lunch in the hunting lodge of the ranch. PM - Afternoon hike or bike in the Rila mountains. Massage.
- Sat: Full day independent or guided riding with saddle bag picnic. Swimming or boating in one of the lakes within the Iskar reserve.
- Sun: Transfer to Iskar and ride back to the hotel in the mountains (full day ride) or a half-day ride and a kayak or rafting trip.
- Mon: AM - relax in the pool of the hotel. Lunch time departure to Sofia.
Winter riding options:
Option A : Iskar: £385 per person. 6 days of riding at the Reserve including lunch, return transport. 6-7 hours riding per day. You may choose to ride inside the Reserve (maybe with a guide for the first day or two) then choose a variety of different trails outside the Reserve (including along some fast rides along the lake, or full day trips up into the mountains).
Option B: Borovetz: £291 per person. This includes 3 days of riding at the Iskar (situated down in the valley) and two local rides (approx 2 hours) from the hotel in the resort of Borovets where the horses will be waiting for you outside the hotel on your first and last mornings. These rides are up into the mountains through the forests, to open areas with views.
Option C: ski and ride: 3 days riding at the Iskar and 3 day ski lift pass: £310
Summer riding options:
Option 1: £215 per person. (3 days riding at the Iskar up to 7 hours per day, including lunch and transport)
Option 2: £375 per person (6 days riding at the Iskar, up to 7 hours a day, lunch and transport, all nights at the Yastrebets or with one night in a mountain hut en route)
Option 3: £466 Rila Monastery ride. 6 days of riding through forests and mountains to Bulgaria's most famous site, with overnights in small guesthouses and mountain huts along the route. All food and transfers included.
Hotel facilities and accommodation
The 4* boutique spa hotel Yastrebets is the first hotel in Bulgaria to be accepted as a member of the prestigious Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
Three different types of accommodation to choose from:
Finnish Village: The Chalets are situated right next to the hotel among alleys of pine trees. They are two storey, made entirely from whole wood beams, each with a Finnish sauna, plasma screen TV, Mini bar, Internet, Phone and Terrace.
35 luxury double or twin rooms have a terrace with stunning view over the ski slope or to the pine forest, plasma screen TV, mini bar, Internet.
Apartment suites : The seven apartments are stylish and modern but also very comfortable. Three of the apartments have a lovely fireplace which adds to the feeling of warmth and coziness.
Other facilities:
A-la-Carte Gourmet restaurant with excellent wine list.
Lobby lounge bar with central fireplace.
Piano bar: stylish place to relax over a glass of wine listening to gentle live music.
'Colours' cellar club: for those who want to dance the night away. Enticing cocktail list.
BBQ Terrace: outdoor terrace with a stunning view over the ski slope serving a variety of regional and seasonal specialties during the day.
Spa & fitness: The fitness area includes a 15 m indoor swimming pool, ice fountain, solarium, jacuzzi and well equipped gym, also an open terrace with views over the pine forest. Beauty spa offers an extensive range of treatments and massages including ayurveda treatment, hot stone therapy etc... Please ask us for the full list of treatments available.
Thermo zone: spacious area including Finnish sauna, steam bath, herbal bath, Laconium, Kneipp foot therapy and sumptuous lounge with exotic showers.
Activities for rest days or non-riders
There are some amazing mountain biking and hiking trips you can do from the hotel either guided or independent with a map. Destinations include various castles including the former King's residence or mountain lakes including 'the 7 lakes of Rila' tour. Picnic lunches on request. Rafting or Kayaking on the Struma river is also an exhilarating way to spend an afternoon. Just tell us what you would like to do and we will do the rest!
Hiking, Biking, Rafting, Kayaking - all activities are guided by professionals and can be arranged through reception. Other day trips include shopping/sightseeing trip to Sofia, Rila Monastery (UNESCO List of World Heritage) and the old town of Plovdiv.
Skiing
Ski in - Ski out location right on the ski slope. During the winter months, the hotel transforms into a magical winter wonderland. Situated at over 1500m, the ski area has a good selection of blue and red runs and is perfect for family skiing and intermediate borders and skiers. There are several ski schools (all the instructors speak excellent English) and some ski hire shops nearby.
Press Articles
Spa Secrets Magazine.
Local Rider Magazine.
Horse Magazine.
Shooting Gazette.
Prices include return transfer from Sofia airport, breakfast and dinner, free use of indoor pool, steam room, jacuzzi and sauna. Discounts for children and supplements for Christmas/New Year and weekend trips of Friday/Saturday and singles. Extra bed in double room with breakfast and dinner £35 per day (adult).
7 nights
In a double room: £548 per person, Junior suite £639, Suite £698, Finnish Chalet £687. Child aged 2-12 £273.
Single with 7 nights on half board with return transfer: £779.
4 nights
In a double room: £362, in a Junior suite: £419.
Riding options
Option 1: Riding at the Iskar Reserve for 3 days: add £225 per person for 3 days - 4 hrs riding each day with lunch break (provided), transport and guide/translator. No min number of riders.
Option 2: Riding at the Iskar for 3 days: add £277 per person. 1st day ride from Iskar back to the hotel in Borovets, 2nd day ride from the hotel up into the mountains to the Sitnyakovo hut return to hotel. 3rd day ride from the hotel back to Iskar ranch. Lunches included. Min 4 riders, max 14.
Riding at the Iskar Reserve: add £333 per person for 6 days - 4 hrs riding each day with lunch break (provided).
Other prices
Day trip to Rila Monastery: £198 per couple or family (includes return transport, entrances and guided tour).
Photo safari at the Iskar Ranch (on foot/with vehicle): £25 per person.
Guided picnic/BBQ hikes to the Seven lakes of Rila, Black Rock, Sitnyakovo Castle £48 per person or to the Musala mountain hut £60 per person (a climb of 1350 m).
Ski season prices
13th Dec - 16th Apr.
7 nights in a double room: £689 per person on half-board with transfer. In a Junior suite: £802.
7 nights in a Finnish Chalet £799 per person. 50% discount for children.
Christmas/New Year: £758 per person in a double room. In a Junior suite: £879. In a Finnish Chalet £897.
Winter riding at the Iskar
6 days winter horse riding, 4 hours per day with lunch break (provided), guide/translator and transfer to the Iskar ranch, add £333 each. For 3 days riding add £168, 5 days add £281.
Ski prices (approx)
Ski lift passes: £100 each (6 days).
Ski equipment hire: £102 each (6 days).
6 day ski school: 2 hrs per day £64 each, 4 hrs per day £108 each.
Family ski program (up to 5 people) £387 for 6 days.
Holidays can generally be of any duration and start on any day (except where specified).
Make a reservation / enquiry.
These prices are guidelines only. Please contact us for an exact quote since prices will vary depending on the season, the amount of riding you wish to do and whether you are travelling alone or with a group. To calculate the equivalent cost of your holiday in another currency, please visit XE.com's Universal Currency Converter.
The hotel and the Iskar Ranch are open throughout the year. The price is based on double occupancy and includes return airport transport, accomodation and hotel facilities. It does not include flights, drinks or insurance.
Getting there
The nearest airport is the capital, Sofia. The transfer to the resort takes approx 50 minutes, and is included in the cost of your holiday. You may fly to Sofia from Heathrow, Gatwick, London City airport and London Stansted - www.cheapflights.co.uk for details. Easyjet now fly from Gatwick direct to Sofia. British Airways, and First Choice are among the airlines also operating a direct service to Sofia.
We can advise on flying from other airports, train, car hire and self-drive options - please contact us.
Self-drive: Car rental can be booked easily and inexpensively online with Holiday Autos. Please tell us so that we can reduce the quote of your holiday.
Train travel: For everything you need to know about any train journey visit Seat Sixty-One.
Weather
Weather: Bulgaria has a temperate climate with cold weather with heavy snowfall, especially in the mountains and long, hot and dry summers.
View a map of this location.
Riding ability
Experienced riders only, no lessons are given. You should be confident riding out in open spaces at all paces and be able to tack up/look after your horse.
What to bring
Your normal riding clothes/boots (relevant to the season) with hard hat. Swimming things!
Internet access: Free wireless access or cable internet in all rooms and public areas.
Environmental issues
You can calculate the CO2 emission of your journey to Bulgaria at Climate Care and compensate for your 'environmental footprint'. If you let us know how much it is we will be happy to pay this on your behalf.
Bulgaria has vast areas of outstanding natural beauty filled with diverse flora and fauna with some 75% of all bird species found in Europe. The Riding Company is committed to sustainable tourism and together with the hotel and the Iskar reserve provides alternative sources of income for the population of rural and semi-mountainous areas. The Riding Company supports the Bulgarian-Swiss Biodiversity Conservation Programme.
In the office, we use paper from sustainably managed forests and recycled material where possible.
We encourage you to travel onwards from your arrival airport by rail when possible, and will book seats on your behalf.
How to book
To make a non-binding enquiry or a provisional booking, please fill in the reservations & enquiries form. Once we have checked availability, we will send you a quote with a holiday reference number by email. To secure your holiday, a deposit is required of £200 per person (or half the cost of the holiday, whichever is lower) and forward any insurance premiums to the insurance company. You should book your flights at this stage, and forward details to us so that we can organise your transfers. The balance of payment must be received by us not less than eight weeks before departure. Payment instructions.
Insurance: all riders must be fully insured. We can recommend this travel insurance policy. The application form may be printed out to send with your premiums direct to the insurance company.
Please read our Terms and Conditions.
