VI. Routes: A. From Sofia to Burgas

      Many bicyclists visiting Bulgaria after landing in Sofia, or entering in Bulgaria, intend to visit the Black Sea side. Two are the most popular destination:

      - from Sofia to Burgas;

      - from Sofia to Varna.

      Further in my description in this Chapter I will give routes from Sofia toward Burgas which avoid the intensive

traffic as much as possible.

      It is important because the traffic along the main roads is especially intensive in the touristy period in July and August.

      I have pedal this route many times, but most of the photos I put here were taken in my 6 day trip I did in the early May 2019.

       One of the best routes from Sofia to Burgas in the both directions is the road N6 (E871) placed between Balkan and Sredna Gora Mountains. A part of it: from Sofia to the Pentacle (look in the map above) can be used as the shortest route towards Varna as well, take a look in: Chapter VI. Crossing Bulgaria from west to east. Routes:

B. From Sofia to Varna

      The route from Sofia to Sliven is in a mountainous area, but the terrain is relatively easy to be bicycled, the scenery

is more than beautiful, places for camp in the wilderness are available everywhere (near very nice mountain rivers). Overnight accommodation is available everywhere along the route as well .

      It is the shortest distance between Sofia and Burgas - approx 390 km. A more intensive traffic is near Kazanlak and along the road segment from Sliven to Burgas, where I will describe an additional route (from Sliven to Yambol to Burgas).

      The route in my next description in this is:

      From Sofia to Pirdop to Karlovo to Kazanlak to Sliven to the Pentacle to Karnobat to Aytos to Burgas;

      To avoid the traffic from Sliven to Burgas, further in my description I will give an alternative: from Sliven to Yambol to Burgas (sector VI. A - 8).

      1. Sector VI. A - 1: From Sofia to Mirkovo;

      2. Sector VI. A - 2: From Mirhovo to Karnare;

      3. Sector VI. A - 3: From Karnare to Pavel Banya;

      4. Sector VI. A - 4: From Pavel Banya to Nikolaevo;

      5. Sector VI. A - 5: From Nikolaevo to Sliven;

      6. Sector VI. A - 6: From Slivem to Aytos;

      7. Sector VI. A - 7: From Aytos to to Burgas;

(and Sunny Beach Resort);

      8. Sector VI. A - 8: From Sliven to Yambol to Burgas;

      9. From Burgas to Burgas Airport .

1. Sector VI. A - 1

From Sofia to Mirkovo

From Sofia to Dolni Bogrov to Sarantsi to Dolno Kamartsi to Galabets Pass to Chelopech to Mirkovo.

 On the map above I have pointed Mirkovo:

http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/SW/sofia/mirkovo/mirkovo

At the crossroad toward the village there is a sign for a hotel and restaurant available in it. I did not visited it.

2. Sector VI. A - 2

From Mirkovo to Karnare

 A more detail map of the Sector VI. A - 2. The route is:

 From the crossroad toward Mirkovo to Chelopech to Zlatitsa to Pirdop to Anton to Koznitsa Pass to Rozino to Karnare.

      Again it is perfect for bicycling road segment – maybe it is the most scenery road segment. Here is the longest hill along the route from Sofia to Burgas: the pass between Balkan and Sredna Gora Mountain called Koznitsa Pass.

       As it can be seen from the next road profile chart,

starting from Pirdop up to Koznitsa Pass the altitude difference is a little more than 400 meters. The climbing from west to east is much easier than from east to west, where climbing is almost 13 kilometers long beginning just after Rozino, where more than 130 meters difference in the altitudes is added.

      The next village along the road is Chelopech, known with the gold factory of Canadian Dundee Precious Metals. The region here is a golden one - the first photo below shows gold specimens just from this region.

      Next two little towns along your route are Zlatitsa and Pirdop. Food, coffee, overnight accommodations is available in both of them. Information for Zlatitsa:

http://www.visitbulgaria.net/en/zlatitsa/zlatitsa.html

      Here is even a velo lane between Pirdop and Zlatitsa, between them is placed a huge factory for electrolyte cupper.

Information for Pirdop can be seen here:

https://www.visitbulgaria.net/en/pirdop/pirdop.html

     The climbing of Koznitsa Pass starts just after leaving of Pirdop. Several kilometers up the Pass you will see restaurant and guest house - it is just next to Antonovo - the place is signed well, it is nice for relax.

      Pedaling further, you will enjoy of the beautiful scenery: the Balkan is at your left, Sredna Gora Mountain - at your right.

      A beautiful waterfall is near the road, for bicyclists loving wilderness it is an appropriate place to have a shower.

     Two kilometers to the divide there is water spring, near it usually there is people selling home prepared jam and honey. Once reaching the divide, you will enjoy of a

great 12 - 13 kms downhill pedalling.

      In the middle of the hill from Rozino to Koznitsa Pass there is a nice motel, a kilometer down toward Klisura.

      If you climb from the opposite direction, have in mind that a mile after the railway bridge (the last photo below) 

there are 3 springs of drinkable water. Further, pedaling up the pass, there will be no more water to the divide. 

Next photos are the countryside toward Rozino.

      There is a restaurant in Karnare, in the village you can supply with food and water.

      Overnight accommodation is available in it as well; on a pole you can see a sign "Hostel". it is 200 - 300 meters after the crossroad toward Troyan (toward Troyanski Pass or Beklemeto, road N 35).

٭Opportunities:

Sector VI. A - 2. a

      I want to mention here two opportunities:

1. Off road avoiding E871;

2. To visit Koprivstitsa City (road 806)

1. Off road avoiding E871;

      Near Anton there is a possibility for off road: of first you have to enter in the village, after the off road will lead you again to the main road E871 after 10 – 11 kilometers. I love this place! The altitude gain for the distance is approx 200 m., the road slope is not steep and permanent.

Sector VI. A - 2. b

2. To visit Koprivstitsa City

      If you have more time, my suggestion is to visit Koprivstitsa (road N 606) – to the left after Anton, just at the end of the off road I have shown above.

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

https://www.visitbulgaria.net/en/

koprivshtitsa/koprivshtitsa.html

      The place is connected with our history, the architecture from XIX century can be seen, and there are many small private hotels and local type restaurants.

3. Sector VI. A - 3:

From Karnare to Pavel Banya

A more detail map of the Sector VI. A - 3.

The route is:

      From Karnare to Iganovo to Anevo to Sopot to Karlovo to Vasil Levski to Kalofer to Manolovo to Gabarevo to the crossroad toward Pavel Banya (road N56).

       It is easy and pleasant for pedaling road segment. The higher hill is placed between Vasil Levski (alt. 400 m.) and Kalofer (alt. 640 m.). The climbing here form west to east is harder than the opposite direction.

The Next several photos are the countryside from Karnare toward Sopot.

      The next two towns Sopot and Karlovo are placed close each other, overnight accommodation is not problem there.

      A chair type lift is available in Sopot - a sign toward it can be seen just after entering in Sopot (the second photo below). The view from the upper lift station was remarkable, unfortunately it is not in exploitation now.

      If you like paragliding, it is the place to exercise it, you can fly attending by an instructor. Unfortunately their Home page has not an English language version.

       Information about Sopot is available here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sopot,_Plovdiv_Province

http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/SC/plovdiv/sopot/sopot

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

http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/SC/plovdiv/karlovo/karlovo

http://bgtourinfo.net/karlovo.html

       On the map above I have pointed Banya (road N 64 from Karlovo), which is a SPA center with nice thermal water. It is also appropriate for overnight accommodation - there is a nice hotel and pool of thermal water near it, I can not find photos of this place.

http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/SC/plovdiv/karlovo/banya

      The next several photos are the countryside toward Vasil Levski. 

     A nice fish restaurant is near the road just after Vasil Levski.

Climbing now. A hill of 5-6 kilometers is toward Kalofer. 

      The road surrounds this little town, overnight accommodation is available in it. Information about Kalofer is available here:

http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/SC/plovdiv/karlovo/kalofer

The view toward Balkan here is quite impressive.

      It is worth to mention one more spot in the Sector VI. A - 3: Pavel Bunya (Road N 56, two - three kilometers south from road E871: it is a SPA resort, nice hotels and swimming pools of thermal water are available there.

      You can spend an afternoon and night there.

https://www.visitbulgaria.net/en/pavel_

banya/pavel_banya.html

http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/SE/stara_

zagora/pavel_banya/pavel_banya

4. Sector VI. A - 4:

From Pavel Banya to Nikolaevo

A more detail map of the Sector VI. A - 4

      The route is:

      From the crossroad toward Pavel Banya to Kazanlak to Buzovgrad to Rozovo to Razhena to Yagoda to Vetren to Nikolaevo to Gurkovo.

       On the next map I have surrounded in green squares Tulovo and Dabovo: Both places are next to rail lines crossing the country from west to east (from Sofia to Burgas) and from north to south (from Ruse to Kardzhali); all the trains are stopping at  the both line stations.

          Here I will point two routes:

      Route a: it is the main roads 5 and 6 (toward Stara Zagora and Burgas), and

      Route b: road N 5007 - a local road.

      As the traffic next to Kazanlak is relatively intensive, my suggestion is to pedal along the second opportunity. You will not regret, the Route b is save, there is not any traffic along it, the countryside is beautiful, there are a lot of small villages, food and water is available in all these villages.

      In this region the valley between mountains is wider, and as it can be seen from the road profile charts below, all the route is easy for pedalling. 

        The comparison between routes a & b shows almost no difference in the road profile, and no matter the route b is 10 km longer, again I would recommend you to pedal along it.

      My next description will concern only  the Route b.

       In the fields near Kazanlak are rose plantations; the region is known as the "Rose's field". In the end of May when roses are flowering the fields are amazing. Unfortunately I have never pedal this area in the period rouses are flowering. The next several photos are from the crossroad toward Pavel Banya (road 56) to Kazanlak. 

      Kazanlak is a middle size town for us, I like it. Information about Kazanlak can be seen here:

https://bulgariatravel.org/en/the-town-of-kazanlak/

http://www.visitbulgaria.net/en/kazanlak/kazanlak.html

Several photos from Kazanlak:

٭Opportunities:

      There is an interesting Thracian tomb near Kazanlak, unique frescos can be seen in it, I think it is under UNESCO protection.

 https://bulgariatravel.org/en/kazanlak-tomb/

      It is not possible to visit it, but in the local history museum there is a replica of it. Several times I have mention Thracian in my Home Page, they were the ancient population living in the east part of Balkans, most of all they loved the war, wine and women. 

It is interesting to visit and see Roze Museum:

https://bulgariatravel.org/en/rose-museum-kazanlak/

 and the Historic Museum as well:

 https://bulgariatravel.org/en/historical-museum-of-kazanlak/

      The entire area near Kazanlak is known as a valley of kings. There are a lot interesting places connected with the ancient Thracian History to see here, more details can be found out in the Historis Museum.

       The next photos illustrate details of Seuthes Tomb (I point its location on the map above):

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

https://www.muzei-kazanlak.org/

      And the last opportunity I mention here is the Ethnographic Complex "Damascena" next to Skobelevo. There ate a lot to see in it - rose oil refinery, perfumery shops,  restaurants . . .

      Their home page is beautiful (overnight accommodation in the region is available):

https://www.damascena.net/?lang=en

https://www.facebook.com/complexdamascena/

Sector VI. A - 4. a

            As I have mention, the traffic near Kazanlak: between Koprinka and crossroad toward Stara Zagora (road N5 east from Kazanlak) is relatively intensive. So, you can miss Kazanlak if you follow one of the routes shown in left.

      It is possible to head toward Koprinka Dam wall, (the crossroad just before Koprinka) after toward Buzovgrad, but this road is not labelled, nobody to give you an information there; a short segment of the off road (a kilometer, or less) immediately after the dam wall is in very poor condition (the middle photo below).

A better variant maybe is to enter in Kazanlak and after to head toward Buzovgrad, Rozovo, Kanchevo and Rozovo.

(road N 608).

Yagoda is a bigger settlement here. Overnight accommodation is possible in it. Information about Yagoda:

http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/se/stara_zagora/maglij/yagoda             

Needless to say, the entire area is nice for camp in the wilderness.

Sector VI. A - 6. b

      Bicycling toward Nikolaevo, you have to be more careful following road  5007; you have to avoid the main road  6 (E871).

      The local road 5007 toward Nikolaevo and Tvarditsa is not signed well, it is because I have increased the map scale.

5. Sector VI. A - 5:

From Nikolaevo to Sliven

A more detail map of the Sector VI. A - 5

      Towards Sliven my suggestion again is to avoid road N6 and follow the route:

      From Nikolaevo to Konare to Tvarditsa to Sboriste to Shivachevo to Seliminovo to Gavrailovo to

Chintulovo to Sliven.

      As it can be seen from the road profile chart, the road segment is very easy and pleasant for pedalling in both directions.

      It is one of my favourite road segments in BG, the touring here is pleasant, there is no any traffic along the local road; it is not signed on my Google map (maybe 5007), it is parallel to the road N6. 

      For the direction from east to west I am not sure if in Sliven this road is signed well, never mind it is not hard to be found out leaving Sliven; the road is along the railway from Sliven to Sofia.

Overnight accommodation is available in Tvarditsa, you will see labels for guests houses attached on poles near the road. Veeeeery little information for the Tvarditsa:

http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/SE/sliven/tvarditsa/tvarditsa

The countryside toward Shivachevo

 Next little town is Shivachevo. Nothing special to say about it.

      Overnight accommodation in Sliven is not a problem. Information about Sliven can be seen here:

http://wikitravel.org/en/Sliven

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

http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/SE/sliven/sliven/sliven

٭Opportunities:

Sector V. A - 5. a

      In the north end of the town there is a chair type lift up to "Sinite Kamani Natural Park" - the Blue Stone Nature Park. The view to the plane low down is great:

https://bulgariatravel.org/en/sinite-kamani-natural-park/

      There is a chair lift up the mountain (if my memory serves, the direction to the initial lift station in Sliven is signed well; there are several hotels close to the initial lift station). The chair lift is almost 2 kilometers long, the altitude between lift stations is almost 600 meters, for 20 min you will be in the mountain.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNCopKHFMck

      A marvelous view is revealed to the field- the next three photos.

      On the map in left above, I have pointed a little SPA resort, a very nice place for relax – so called “Sliven Thermal Bath” or something like it:

https://infotourism.sliven.bg/en/landmarks_02.htm

      From Binkos to Strupets to Zlati Voyvoda toward a little SPA Resort: slivenski Mineralni Bani

   There are 2 swimming pools of thermal water, a sign toward a better one of them you will see entering in the resort coming from Zlati Voyvoda (to left).

 I have never miss the possibility to relax here for an afternoon when I am bicycling in this area, but the places for overnight accommodation there I know are not very nice.

6. Sector VI. A - 6:

From Sliven to Aytos

A more detail map of the Sector VI. A - 6.

      As it is shown on the map above, two routes are possible from Sliven and Burgas: from Sliven to Aytos to Burgas and from Sliven to Yambol to Sredets to Burgas.

      I will start with the first one:

      From Sliven to Topolchane to Dragodanovo to the Pentacle to Lozenets to Venets to Karnobat to Aytos.

(the Pentacle I point on the map is a crossroad - motel, restaurants and water are available there).

     No way, toward Burgas you have to pedal along the main road N6 (E 773). Although there is a traffic here, the road is not so busy, I think it is save to pedal here, the road profile chart shows it. Bicyclists pedalling the route in the back direction can notice that after Aytos there is 7-8 kilometers hill, which is very tedious in the hot summer days; Adding the traffic, it really not so pleasant for pedalling. So in the end of this point I will increase the scale a little and in the sector VI. A - 6. a I will give a nice alternative.

At the map above I have pointed a crossroad called the Pentacle: 5 roads are crossing here. The place is appropriate for relax, restaurants and a hotel are available here.

Countryside toward Karnobat.

      Overnight accommodation is possible in Karnobat, there are  several hotels in the town.  Information about Karnobat:

http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/SE/bourgas/karnobat/karnobat

      A nice relax spot in Karnobat is hotel Mirage - there is a nice swimming pool there, the hotel restaurant is nice as well. The scheme in left shows how you can find it.

      Toward Aytos. Soon after Karnobat there is a long descending toward Aytos. This distance, almost 6 - 7 km. long, is not easy for pedaling in the hot summer

Information about Aytos:

http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/SE/bourgas/aytos/aytos

      For overnight accommodations in Aytos, I recommend the Hotel Genger.

https://hotelkamynite.com/en/entertainments/entertainment

/ethnographic-complex-genger-aytos

      It is a cool place to stay in this hot area. 

https://genger.business.site/

      Look for a spot named Genger as you begin climbing Aytoski pass, road N 208. It is in a park area, like a mini ethno - village. There is a trail up to the ethno-village, to a restaurant and pool.

Photos from Aytos

٭An Opportunity

sector IV. A - 6. a

      As I have mentioned, bicyclists pedalling the route in its back direction can notice that after Aytos there is 7 - 8 kilometers hill, which is very tedious in the hot summer days; adding the traffic, it really not so pleasant for pedalling. So, the next route can be used to avoid the traffic, although it is several kilometers longer:

      From Aytis to Karageorgievo to Topolitsa to Klikach to Karnobat.

7. Sector VI. A - 7:

From Aytos to Burgas (and Sunny Beach Resort)

Sector VI. A - 7

The next map is more detail one showing some opportunities in this sector.

    So, we are finishing our touring to Burgas, but I will suggest here 3 opportunities:

Route a:

      From  Aytos to Vetren to Burgas.

      It is the shortest route from Aytos to Burgas, last years I see there is a heavy traffic from Aytos to the crossroad of roads N6 & 6009 and further to Vetren in some hours of the day, when people are travelling to work in Burgas and Sunny Beach Resort.

      Several kilometers after Aytos the road N6 joins to the motor road A1. I pedalled this distance several times, I do not remember if this road is forbidden for bicyclists, maybe not because already it is not a motor road.

Next several photos are the countryside toward Burgas.

      Burgas is a big Bulgarian town at the sea coast. I love its Sea Garden. Information for Burgas:

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

http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/SE/bourgas/bourgas/bourgas

      Some of my tours finish in Burgas, and I go back home by a train; at Burgas rail Station is very convenient to load bikes on the train; the train is composed an hour to its departing.

      Several photos from Burgas and its Sea Garden:

West from Burgas is placed the Lake of Burgas:

https://bulgariatravel.org/en/lake-burgas/

      Bicyclists intending to visit Nesebar and Sunny Beach Resort may miss Burgas City; they can use the routes b & c shown on the map above.

Route b:

      From Aytos (road 6) to Mirolyubovo (road 6009) to Izvoriste to Bryastovets to Kableshkovo to Aheloy.

      In the touristy season (July - August) traffic here also is relatively intensive.

      A little information for Kableshkovo:

http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/SE/bourgas/pomorie/kableshkovo

      Details concerning cities and resorts at the seaside can be seen in the Chapter IV.  Bicycling along Black sea side

The road from Ruen toward Orizare is extremely pleasant, there are a lot of water springs along the road, although the water is not so nice for drinking - it is too hot in the summer.

      Information in details for Sunny Beach Resort:

http://www.sunny-beach.com

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

8. Sector VI. A - 8:

From Sliven to Yambol to Burgas

 This route is:

      From Sliven to Yambol to Sredets to Burgas.

The route is an alternative to reach Burgas from Sliven.

Sector VI. A - 8

So, for more detail description I will split this sector in two:

Sector VI. A - 8. a

      Please, notice that from Kalchevo toward Saransko and Tamarino you will be not on the road 53. I do not know why, but it is in a reconstruction since many years. It is possible to pedal it, but there are road segments in poor conditions.

      The route is:

      From Sliven (road N 53) to Krushare to Yambol to Kalchevo to Saransko (road N 5308) to Tamarino (road N 53) to Voynika to Zornitsa.

      In Sliven look for signs toward Yambol. The left photo is the only one, I took on the highest point between Sliven and Yambol; the photo does not show the more intensive traffic here - from both cities it is directed toward the motor road A1. I do not think that it is a dangerous segment.

      Information for Yambol (Overnight accommodation is possible in it): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yambol    

https://www.visitbulgaria.net/en/yambol/yambol.html

Several pictures from Yambol.

Sector VI. A - 8. b

      The next photos illustrate the countryside toward Sredets. I love this area to the middle of June; later the sun dries everything and the picture is yellow

      Overnight accommodation is possible in Sredets (just before enter in Sredets coming from Yambol there

is a motel). Information about Sredets:

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

Entering in Meden Rudnik Suburb you will see a bike lane, pedalling along it you will reach the Line Station in Burgas and the Sea Garden.

      And the last opportunity I will mention here is the road surrounding Mandra Dam from the south (road 7908). August '17 I explored this area, but I do not believe I will do it again: there are a lot of biting flies, they are terrible up

the hill, when the velocity is not higher than 15-16 km/hour.

      The road in the saved area is in poor conditions. Food and water are available in Dimchevo.

      The map scale here is increased a little. Pedaling along the dam wall, from your right is the dam, at your left - Reserve Poda.

Information for Mandra Dam and Reserve "Poda":

https://bulgariatravel.org/the-poda-nature-preserve/

9. Toward Burgas Airport

      Entering in Burgas (Meden Rudnik Suburb) from Sredets you will see a velo lane at your right. It will lead you to Burgas Line Station, Burgas Port, Burgas Sea Garden and Sarafovo where is Burgas Airport. (There is a nice velo line system in the town, unfortunately I can not find a nice velo lane map).

      If you arrive late in the evening or leave the town early in the morning by a plane, you can find  hotel next to Burgas Airport in Sarafovo, placed 5 min walking to the airport.

      The Map in left shows the way you van reach Sarafovo from Burgas. No problem to use the motor road, but the traffic there is crazy.

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

      The next 3 photos are the velo lane next to the beach toward Sarafovo.

Many times I camped there - on the beach, near the old military bunker or in the field next to Atanasovsko Lake.