III. B     North - East  Region

 When the bicyclists begin planning a tour including crossing Bulgaria from north to south or from south to north, my suggestion is to follow the next algorithm:

      - Define the point of entering in the country;

      - Define the point of leaving the country;

      - Choose the pass, where to cross Balkan: I have given detailed information about Balkan passes in:

Chapter I.  Passes in Balkan: Sector I. B & Sector I. C

1. Giurgiu - Ruse: bridge

      I do not recommend to enter / leave Bulgaria just here. The bridge and the approach to it is narrow, the traffic is very intensive. I have never been in a contact with bicyclists crossing the border just here to ask for information.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2f-vQZxMaOY

      There is an idea a new bridge to be built 2 kilometers east from the old one, but God only knows when it will be a fact.

      There is a plan for a ferry at the same point as well. According to this plan, the ferry will be available June 2022 . . . we will see ... Maybe it will be better for bicyclists!

     As it can be seen on the next map, five are the possibilities to leave/enter Ruse:

Sector III. B - 1

Leaving / entering in Ruse

      Ruse City is the biggest BG town at Danube River. Because of the bridge Ruse - Giurgiu, it is easy here to cross Danube River, although I am not sure enough if it is save for bicyclists. The bridge is old and narrow, the traffic is extremely intensive.

      There is an idea a new bridge to be built next to this one, but nobody knows when it will happen.

      There is a plan as well for a ferry at the same point. According to it, the ferry will be available June 2022 . . . we will see ... Maybe it will be better for bicyclists! . . . it ids still not available April 2023 :)))))

       A lot of information is available in Internet concerning Ruse:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruse,_Bulgaria

http://wikitravel.org/en/Ruse

http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/NC/rousse/rousse/rousse

For more detail description I will split this sector in fore.

sector III. B - 1. a

      Use this route when you head to south direction (toward Elena, Veliko Tarnovo, Sofia and BG/TU & BG/GR borders: road N501).

      Entering in Bulgaria from Romania via the bridge you will turn right and head toward Ruse. Here is the East Industrial zone of the town.

     Further I will post several maps, I think it is easy to find the road N501 looking all them one by one.

      Just after the bridge, you have to leave the transit road E85 (N2, E70) and enter into the town in its industrial zone.

 sector III. B - 1. b

      It will be very nice, if you find out and enter in the town garden located along Danube River.  You can use different park lanes, you can pedal closer to Danube River.

      In the park is located the National Transport Museum, there are a lot of specimens of old steam engines in the park.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

National_Transport_Museum,_Bulgaria

 sector III. B - 1. c

      Pedalling further, you will enter in the City center. It is a walking area.

sector III. B - 1. d

     From the city center, you have to head to Danube River, it is easy, simply turn to right and you will see the place on the photo - just before Hotel Riga.

     Many years ago I lived for an year in Ruse, I used to stay just here seeing the sun going down . . . forgotten emotions are coming in my mind looking this place and writing about this town  . . .

      Soon you will leave Ruse. After a hill you will reach Basarbovo, pedalling up the next hill you will be high on the right riverside (Rusenski Lom River) - my camp place.

      The entering in Ruse from south to north is not a problem. Simply do not go up on the bridge of road E85 when you see it.  Enter in the Industrial zone and follow my line, or take "Struma" Str.

Sector III. B - 2

The route from Ruse to Borovo (road 501)

      I can say that it is one of my favourite routes in this area. Never mind I pedalled it many times, it always brings me a great pleasure to be here again.

       From Ruse to Basarbovo to Ivanovo to Dve Mogili to Borovo.

      Again I will say, in this sector the most important is to avoid road E 85. It is one of the extremely dangerous roads in Bulgaria.

      As it can be seen from the road profile chart, the road from Ruse to Borovo is a not steep ascending. A steeper hill is the one from Basarbovo to Ivanovo.

      Bicyclists heading toward Sofia have to follow the same route !

 ٭An opportunity: An interesting Rock Monastery can be seen near Basarbovo (the road toward it is signed well):

https://www.bulgariamonasteries.com/en/basarbovo_monastery.html

Leaving Basarbovo, there will be a little climbing up to Ivanovo. Just after leaving Basarbovo you will see a sign for selling of geese . . .  Take an advantage, if necessary ... :))))

Next village along the road is Ivanovo. The last time I travelled there (August 2018) I was surprise to see 2 new hotels in it.

 ٭Opportunities:  A remains of Cherven mediaeval fortress are located several kilometers to Dve Mogili. The road to the place is signed well. The place is in Rusenski Lom River Canyon, a scenic place.

      The area along Rusenski Lom River is a National Reserve:     

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rusenski_Lom_Nature_Park

      And a link for the fortress remains near Cherven:  

https://mytasteforliving.com/en/bulgaria/fortress-cherven

Orlova Chucka Cave:              https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orlova_Chuka

The next little town along your road is Dve Mogili. Very little information for it can be seen here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dve_Mogili                    http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/NC/rousse/dve_mogili/dve_mogili

Photos from Dve Mogili and the countryside after it.

Next several photos are the countryside from Dve Mogili toward Borovo.  Very little information for Borovo can be seen here:                    http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/NC/rousse/borovo

Sector III. B - 3

The route from  Borovo to Vinograd

      The route is:

      From Borovo (road 5101) to Pet Kladentsi to Bistrentsi to Vinograd.

      Unfortunately the road in this sector is not labelled well, so GPS device would be very helpful. The great advantage here is that there is not any traffic and the road is in very nice conditions.

      Bicyclists heading to Sofia have to take the road 407 just before Vinogradi:

      Toward Orlovets to Karantsi to Polski Tranbesh.

      A very detail description of this route can be seen in the

VI. Crossing Bulgaria from west to east. Routes:

B. From Sofia to Varna

Route 3. From Sofia to Varna: The route along Danube River Plain.

      The next several photos are the beautiful countryside from Borovo toward Pet Kladentsi and Bistrentsi (Pet in Bulgarian means 5).

Again, just before Vinograd there is a nice springs of fresh cool water, unfortunately there is not a nice shade, where to relax for 2 - 3 hours.

٭An opportunity: As the overnight accommodation in Dve Mogili and Borovo is not available, if you need it, you have to elongate a little your route and visit Byala.

 Down toward Byala

Overnight accommodation in Byala is available, very little information for it is available here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byala,_Ruse_Province                                          http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/NC/rousse/byala

     If you decide to visit Byala, the only not so intensive traffic you will see is when you leave it along road N51, no more than 7 - 8 kilometers.

Sector III. B - 4

The route from Vinograd to Veliko Tarnovo

route a

      This route is purposed to bicyclists intending to visit Veliko Tarnovo:

      From Vinograd to Paisiy to Strelets to Draginovo to Dolna Oryahovitsa to Gorna Oryahovitsa to Arbanasi to Veliko Tarnovo.

      I have pedalled this route, unfortunately I have not photos to share here.

Gorna Oryahovitsa is a big railway center, here the lines crossing Bulgaria from east to east and from north to south are crossing. Overnight accommodation is available in it. Information for it is here:

http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/NC/veliko_turnovo/gorna_oryahovitsa/gorna_oryahovitsa

      In the Chapter III. A. North - Central Region, Sector III. A - 3, Route c: From Svistov to Veliko Tarnovo; Sector III. A - 3. c I have given information for the route from Gorna Oryahovitsa to Arbanasi and Veliko

Sector III. B - 5

The route from Vinograd to Elena

route b

         The route is:

      From Vinograd (road 407) to Lozen to Gorski Senovets to Tsarski Izvor to Strazhitsa to Dzhulyunitsa to Gorsko Novo Selo to Zlataritsa to Elena.

      Strazhitsa is a little town, located in a low area, it was destroyed totally by an earthquake 1986.

Overnight accommodation is available in it; some information for it:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strazhitsa

      Crossing road E 772 (your one is road 4005) you have to be careful to find the road toward Dzhulyunitsa, if my memory serves it was not signed well.

      The road toward Gorsko Novo Selo is without any traffic, area is pleasant and easy for pedalling. In left is a nice spring of drinkable water - a place where I forgot to take with me my nice bottle while I was enjoying of the scenery and taking photos . . . Down is my camp place just next to Gorsko Novo selo.

Zlataritsa is a little town, where overnight accommodation is not possible. Very little information for it is available here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zlataritsa 

      After Zlataritsa toward Elena the climbing starts. The hill is not steep; in the middle of the road between

      Several kilometers before entering in Elena there is a spring of water - hot for drinking and cool for bathing . . . several times I used it to refresh, relax next to it and wash the equipment there.

       The last time I was there, just after washing my equipment, I noticed there was a big bee garden and thousands of bees . . . fortunately they were very busy with their busyness and did not pay any attention on me.

      Elena is a touristy spot, architecture of XIX century is saved. There are overnight accommodation and nice restaurants in the town.

Information of Elena can be seen here:

https://bulgariatravel.org/en/town-of-elena/

      Several photos from Elena:

      In the end I will say again that to South from Elena you can use:

      -Tvardishki Pass: toward Nova Zagora;

      - Vratnik Pass: toward Yambol,

(Look in Chapter I. Passes in Balkan Sector I. B

Points: 10. Tvardishki Pass

               11. Vratnik Pass

     Again I will say that very detail information about available passes in Balkan south from Veloko Tarnovo

1. 2  From Ruse to Ticha

(route a)

and Varbitsa

(route b)

 (Routes toward Yambol and Burgas,  Greece &Turkey borders)

      Next two routes are appropriate for bicyclists crossing BG from north to south toward BG/TU (Borders Checkpoints Lesovo & Malko Tarnovo) are given on the next map in left. Here is important to avoid the road E70, where the traffic is more intensive.

      - from Ruse to Yambol via Kotlenski Pass:

      From Ruse to Opaka to Popovo to Omurtag to Kotel to Pentacle to Yambol (to Border Checkpoint Lesovo).

      - from Ruse to Burgas via Varbishki Pass:

      From Ruse to Opaka to Popovo to Omurtag to Varbitsa to Sungurlare to Karnobat to Aytos to Burgas (to Border Checkpoint Malko Tarnovo). 

    Here I will describe routes to TIcha (route a) and Varbitsa (route b), where are Kotlenski Pass and Varbishki Pass respectively, you know, a detail description for both passes can be seen in the Chapter I Passes in Balkan  Sector I. C

     For more detailed description I divide this route in 3 sectors:

Sector III. B - 6

From Ruse to Opaka

     In this road segment I did not explore the distance between Straklevo and Nisovo, I can say, the traffic here is not intensive, the countryside - scenic.

      On the road profile chart can be seen the flat area between Ruse and Straklevo, where is placer Ruse Airport.

      From Ruse (roads 2 & 202) to Straklevo to Nisovo to Katselovo to Gorsko Ablanovo to Krepcha to Opaka.

      Very little information for Opaka can be seen here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opaka

      I am not sure if overnight accommodation is available in it.  The next photos illustrate the area from Katselovo toward Opaka, they are taken in the extremely raining June '21, when it was not easy to find a dry place to set up my tent - it is no the asphalt; and the next misty morning. Never mind, it was a pleasant tour.

Sector III. B - 7

From Opaka to Omurtag

The route is:

      From Opaka to Gagovo to Popovo to Nevski to Svetlen to Aprilovo to Konak to Moravka to Gorne Hubavka to Omurtag.

      Again a route without traffic. Photos in right illustrate the countryside.

Very little information for Popovo can be seen here:

http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/NE/turgovishte/popovo

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popovo,_Bulgaria

      Leaving Popovo you have to ride no long distance road 51 which is very busy (the first photo below).  

      Just entering in Svetlen you have to turn right following the sign for Omurtag (road N 409). Here you will leave the main road, further, to Targoviste there is not any traffic. The first village next is Aprilovo, food is available in it.

Unfortunately I can not fond photos illustrating the area from Popovo to Omurtag.

 Sector III. B - 8

      Reaching Omurtag you have to decide your next route: toward Kotlenski Pass, or Varbishki Pass.

     Have in mind that the road via Varbishki Pass from the south side of Balkan is in very poor conditions, but there is not any traffic. As if I prefer it.

     Information for Omurtag (where there is an aviation museum):

http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/NE/

turgovishte/omurtag/omurtag

http://www.bestbgproperties.com/

bulgarian_districts/Omurtag_property.html

      Omurtag is named of the Khan Omurtag (the First Bulgarian Kingdom):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omurtag

_of_Bulgaria

      Overnight accommodation is available in Omurtag as well. Several photos from Omurtag.

Route a

 An extremely pleasant for exploring area!

Route b

The route is:

From Omurtag to Dolno Novkovo to Ratlina to Plastina to Mangihevo to Varbitsa.

Next are 5 photos of the camp place next to Paliska River, just before Ratlina (next to Paliska River) I and my daughter Maya spent a night August '10. I remember the tasty sausages we bought in Ratlina.

      Very little information for Varbitsa can be seen here:

http://www.guide-

bulgaria.com/NE/shoumen/varbitsa/varbitsa

       I am not sure if overnight accommodation is available in it, but 5 kilometers up the mountain (Varbishki Pass) there is a little resort, restaurant, hotel, thermal water.

1. 3  From Ruse to Provadia and Varna (route a),

Balchik and Durankulak (route b)

Sector III. B 

Giurgiu - Ruse

      The next routes are Intended for bicyclists intending to cross the low eastern part of Balkan (heading toward Burgas), or visit Black Seaside while they are crossing Bulgaria (toward Durankulak, Balchik or Varna).

      So, I will say several words for 2 opportunities: from Ruse to Provadia (and Burgas) -  route a, as well as routes from Ruse to the seaside (Durankulak, Balchik and Varna) - route b.

      My long year experience has shown me, that many peddlers are preferring main roads, in this destination it is road E70 from Ruse to Razgrad to Shumen.  My suggestion is to avoid this road, the last years traffic here 

is quite intensive.

      The next several photos illustrate the route along E 70 - I pedaled it several times many years ago, when the traffic was still not intensive.

      It would be much better is to follow my next description,  you will pedal nice roads without any

traffic, the countryside is very nice, you will not add extra kilometers following my suggestion.

Sector III. B - 9

From Ruse to Kubrat

      Here I would suggest two routes, both of them are very nice to be explored:

Route a

      The route is:

      From Ruse (road 2, road 23) to Cherna Voda to Novo Selo to Tetovo to Belovets to Kubrat.

      It is very pleasant area, typical for this part of Danube Plain - a flat area cut by not deep dry river canyons. Comparing with the road 2 (E70), here there is not any traffic.

A typical one hour afternoon summer storm. Usually it happens June to the middle of July. August is usually a dry month in this area.

      I am not sure if overnight accommodation is available in Kubrat. Very little information for it can be seen here: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kubrat_(town)

     The town is named of Bulgarian Khan Kubrat:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kubrat      

       Photos from Kubrat and our coffee place.

Route b

      The route is:

      From Ruse (road 2, road 21) to Slivo Pole to Borisovo (road 2102) to Cheresovo to Seslav to Kubrat.

      Comparing with the road a, hills here a much less, although the distance is 5 km longer. a little bit more intensive traffic is possible from Ruse to Slivo Pole.

Sector III. B - 10

From Kubrat to Nikola Kozlevo

      The route is:

      From Kubrat (road 23) to Medovene to Brestovene to Zavet to Malak Porovets to Dragomazh to Isperih (road 702) to Lavino to Kapinovtsi to Podayva to Belintsi to Duhovets to Pristoe to Kaolinovo to Todor Ikonomovo to

(road 7003) to Doyrantsi (road 701) to Valnari to Nikola Kozlezo.

      The route includes 79 kilometers pedalling in a nice plane area. A lot of villages are placed along the road, so supplying with food and water in not a problem.

Zavet is a bigger settlement here I am not sure if overnight accommodation is available here. A little information for Zavet:     

http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/NC/razgrad/zavet/zavet

Toward Isperih

      The next little town is Isperih, overnight accommodation is available in it. Very little information for it can be seen here:   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isperih

The town is named of Bulgarian Khan Asparuh:

http://www.wow.com/wiki/Asparuh

From Isperih toward Nikola Kozlevo - a calm countryside, no any traffic.

In the Kaolinovo region mining is developed, there is a lot of Kaolin in the field. The little city is apart of the road.

Sector III. B - 11

Nikola Kozlevo to Provadia

      Again this is very pleasant for exploring area. The roads are nice, there is not any traffic here.

      The route is:

      From Nikola Kozlevo (road 2370) to Radan Voyvoda to Stefan Karadzha (road 207) to Kaloyan to Dobrotich to Momchilovo to Sredno Selo to Vetrino to Provadiya.

The next photos illustrate the countryside toward Stefan Karadzga.

Vetrino is a bigger settlement, in it can be find food, but overnight accommodation.

http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/NE/varna/vetrino

Down toward Provadia. The most pleasant road segment. Next photos are the countryside from Vetrino to Provadia. There is a nice water spring just before the long descending after Vetrino.  

Sector III. B - 12

From Provadia to Varna

And the last road segment toward Varna is: From Provadia to Dobrina to Manastir to Devnya to Varna.

      As it can be seen from the map above there is a road just next to the Lake of Varna (road 2008). Have in mind it is an industrial zone and the traffic there is very poor, so it would be better to avoid it.

      Information for Devnya and its interesting museum of

mosaics:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devnya

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_of_Mosaics,_Devnya

      Next several photos are taken along the road just east above Provadia toward Dobrina, Manastir and Varna.

Sector III. B - 13

From Nikola Kozlevo to Dobrich

The route is: From Nikola Kozlevo (road 2075) to Tsani Ginchevo to Zarnevo to Orlyak to (road 207) Zheglartsi to Kochmar (road 7106) to Podslon to Geshanovo to Karapelit to (road 71) Dobrich

Here you will explore an easy flat area, the countryside is beautiful.

      Many times I have explored this area and often I move further from village to village researching the map, often I have used shortcuts – off-roads in the field between villages.

Dobrich is the main town of this district. Overnight accommodation in it is not a problem. Information for Dobrich:

http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/NE/Dobrich/                      http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/ne/dobrich/dobrich-city/dobrich

Sector III. B - 14

Routes from Dobrich to the seaside

There are fore opportunities:       Route a: From Dobrich toward Varna (road 29).

Route b: From Dobrich to Albena (road 71)

I pedalled this route only once in the extremely hot and dry May '07 . . .

      Albena resort is a beautiful place:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albena

http://www.bulgariatravel.org/article/details/16

       There is an endless beach (south towards Kranevo) and the beach sand maybe is the finest all over beaches along BG Black seaside.

      There are fountains and showers on the beach, you can wash your equipment.  Because of the lack of facilities I stay here for an afternoon, and then move on. Here, I love to walk along the beach.

      The entrance road into the Albena Resort has no exit.  So, you will have to leave the resort the same way you came in.

Route c: From Dobrich toward Balchik (road 27).

     Balchik is a small city located in tiers above the sea. It is a touristy place. Rooms for the night are easily found, along with more luxury hotels. I love to stay

here for a day or two. Information for Balchik:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balchik

https://bulgariatravel.org/balchik/

      In the town there is a small residence of the Romanian queen with a lovely botanical garden. (This area was under Romanian control 1918 – 1938).

Information for this spot:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balchik_Palace

I like this garden and can not avoid to post more pictures :)

5.4 Ruse - Silistra

A detail description of this route can be seen in the Chapter V. Bicycling along Danube river

2. Oltenita - Tutrakan: ferry (still a project only)

3. Calarashi – Silistra: ferry

&

Constanta – Silistra (border checkpoint Silistra)

Calarashi – Silistra: ferry.

      The available schedule for the ferry in English is not available, so I copy and paste it here.

      -Time of service: from 5 am to 12 pm;

      - Courses: each half hour (from both sides);

      - Time to cross the river: 12 - 15 min;

      - No charge for walkers and bicyclists (AMAZING :))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))));

      - Tel: +40 734 99 00 11.

The map shows that the ferry is only in Romanian area.

Information for Silistra:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silistra

http://www.bulgaria-guide.com/guide/Silistra/203776/

http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/NC/silistra/silistra/silistra

       Another possibility to cross Danube river is the “water taxi”. If you enter in the town garden (next photo), pedal to Danube River, turn to right and bike until you see the private jetty label. (This information is from 2017)

Schedule (each day)

from Silistra       from Calarashi

09.00                      10.00

11.00                      12.00

15.00                       16.00

17.00                       18.00

Traveling time in one direction - 15 minutes

Requests for travelling out of this schedule:

tel +359 86 812 200

or

e-mail: drusrtar@hoteldrustar.com

      Pointed routes on the map from/to Silistra are:

3.1 To/from west

          1. Toward Tutrakan and Ruse , road N 21 (I have mentioned several words about it in:

      Chapter V. Bicycling along Danube river

3. 2 To/from south (Provadia)

(BG/Turkey Border - Border Checkpoint Malko Tarnovo)

            2. Toward Povadia, roads N218, 7, 207;

            - route a: roads N218, 701, 2, 208

      - route b: roads N7, 207, 208

      I recommend both routes to bicyclists intending to pedal to Varna.

3. 3 To/from Black sea side

            3. Toward Dobrich (andBalchik):

             - route c: road N71.

           On the maps below are shown these routes.

      The both routes from Silistra to Provadia I trace here are away from the main road 7, last years the traffic along it is relatively intensive. I am not sure which one is better, I pedalled both of them. You will choose the best one for you.

      The routes can be used by bicyclists intending to visit Varna. Have in mind that the road 29 from Dobrich to Varna is very busy.

Sector III. B - 1

Route a

      The route in this sector is:

      From Silistra (road 213) to Profesor Ikonomovo (road 208) to Bradvari to Vodno  (road 208) to Dulovo (road 23, 7) to Grancharovo (road 701) to Seculovo to Todor Ikonomovo to Nikola Kozlevo.

      As it can be seen from the road profile chart, the entire area is flat, it is very pleasant to be pedalled in the both directions.

The overnight accommodation is available in Dulovo. Very little information for Dulovo is available here:

http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/NC/silistra/dulovo/dulovo

Sector III. B - 1

Route b

From Silistra (road 213, 7) to Alfatar (road 207) to Alekovo to Chestimensko to Tervel to Kochmar to Zheglartsi to Vekilski.

     The altitude of Silistra is 26 m. and it is surrounding by a higher plateau.  So, to leave the town in the south direction toward Alfatar you have to climb 5 – 6 kilometers.

Very little information for Alfatar is available here:

http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/NC/silistra/alfatar/alfatar

      Overnight accommodation in Alfatar is not available.

      Tervel is a little city, overnight accommodation is available in it. Information about it:

http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/NE/dobrich/tervel

      The City is named of the Old Bulgarian Khan Tervel. His story can be seen here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tervel_of_Bulgaria

Sector III. B - 2

Route a

      The route in this sector is:

      From Nikola Kozlevo (road 701) to Hardovo to Zhilino to Stoyan Mihaylobski to Novi Pazar to (road 2)Stan to Vetrino (road 208) to Provadia.

      The road segment from Nikola Kozlevo is still in my plans, I did not explore just this area, it is in my plans, but I am sure the road is very nice, no any traffic here.

      Very little information for Novi Pazar is available here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novi_Pazar,_Shumen_Province

      If you research Google for information, have in mind that in Serbia there is Novi Pazar as well. I am not sure if in Novi Pazar overnight accommodation is available.

      Next several picture are the countryside from Kaspichan to Vetrino. Summer time (July and August) temperatures in this region often are very high.

In Vetrino can be found food, but overnight accommodation.

Next three photos are the countryside from Vetrino to Provadia. It is extremely nice route in this direction - from the Plateau of Dobrudha down almost at the sea level.

Sector III. B - 1

Route b: From Vekilski (road 207) to Radan Voyvoda to Stefan Karadzha to Kaloyan to Dobrotich to Mpmcjhilovo to Sredno Selo to Vetrino (road 208) to Provadia.

 Comparing with the route a, thiis one is shorter and as if the climbing is a little bit less. The next are several photos illustrating the area from Stefan Karadzha toward Vetrino.

Route c

(From Silistra to Dobrich road N71)

      To bicyclists intending to head toward Dyrankulak and Balchik, I do recommend to pedal toward Dobrich:

     From Silistra (road N71) to Bogorovo to Kolartsi to Hitovo to Karapelit to Dobrich.

      The road is very nice, no traffic.

      In my younger years this route was one of my favourite, maybe I pedalled it more than 10 times.  My last touring here was the wet July '18.

      The  area is beautiful when the wheat are green or yellow, or when the sunflowers are flowering. Summertime here is quite hot.

      Along the road between Silistra and Karapelit there are lot of apricot trees, further to Dobrich - cherry trees, which maces pedalling in this area very pleasant from the end of May to the middle of July.

      Further toward Dobrich pedalling is extremely pleasant. As I have mentioned, along the road between Silistra and Karapelit there are lot of apricot trees,

      Dobrich is the main town of this district. Overnight accommodation in it is not a problem.

Information for Dobrich:

http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/NE/Dobrich/

http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/ne/dobrich/dobrich-city/dobrich

     In an exploitation are two relatively new open Border checkpoints on the  Bulgaria/Romanian border:

      - Border Checkpoint Kaynardzha - Lipnitsa - open 2017, works between 8 am and 8 pm;

      - Border Checkpoint Krushari - Dobromir - open 2018, having the same work time.

     On the next map I point this two new Border Checkpoints. June '21 I explored this area and my information is very real. I am surprise to see that in the moment I am updating this point GOOGLE map does not show the road between Kaynardzha and Lipnitsa, but yes, such a road and Border Checkpoint Kaynardzha - Lipnitsa are available !

If you use Border Checkpoint Kaynardzha - Lipnitsa head west toward Kaynardzha and road 71.

East toward Kranovo road is nice to this very small village.

The road between Kranovo and Kapitan Dimitrovo is out of maintenance, it is in very poor conditions. exploring just this road segment I had problems with my tires, I did not know both tires are very worn. But the field was beautiful ! 

Toward Koriten, Krushari and Dobrich the road in nice. I did not take more photos, thinking only to reach Dobrich and replace my tires.

4. Border Checkpoint Iovkovo

(Negru Voda – Kardam)

      I am not sure, if somebody would use this Border checkpoints, at least I have never seen any traffic bicycling in this region. The roads here a in nice conditions. Towards Burgas and BG/Turkey Border I can suggest the following route:

Route A

      From Border Checkpoint  (road 29) Iovkovo to Kardam to General Toshevo to Dobrich (road 2702) to Vetrino (road 208) to Provadia to Dalgopol to Aytos (road 6) to Burgas (road 9, E87) to Malko Tarnovo to Border Checkpoint Malko Tarnovo.

      Explores of my Home Page already know where is the information concerning this route.

5. Border Checkpoint Durankulak

(Mangalia – Durankulak)

Route B

      From Border Checkpoint Durankulak (road 9, E87) to Shabla to Kavarna to Balchik to Kavarna to Varna to Obzor to Nesebar  to Burgas to Malko Tarnovo to Border Checkpoint Malko Tarnovo.

      I realize that bicyclists entering in Bulgaria here would be glad to explore the seaside, so for detail information, please look in:

      Chapter IV. Bicycling along Black sea side

And finishing my description of this Chapter, I will give the last route: from Border Checkpoint Iovkovo to Durankulak - a road without any traffic. I love just this route and pedal it every time I have a possibility.

back