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In Lonely Plan-It, we take you step-by-step by means of how we deliberate a few of the most complex journey adventures. We requested Christopher Cooley to clarify tips on how to plan forward to get essentially the most out of Bulgaria’s longest vacationer biking route.
The Dunav Extremely path runs 740km (460 miles), following the majestic Danube River from Kudelin, in Bulgaria’s far northwest, to the wild, solar kissed shores of Durankulak Seaside on the Black Sea.
Embarking on this pedal-powered journey connects you with the area’s river-centric traditions and pure magnificence whereas providing a glimpse into the socio-economic modifications which have formed this distinct tract of the Balkan Peninsula over the centuries.
Whereas Bulgaria stays one among Europe’s least-visited biking locations, the Dunav Extremely route is on a mission to vary that by championing sustainable ecotourism alongside its whole winding course. For any intrepid bicycle owner prepared to interrupt away from the peloton of better-known biking itineraries additional west, it guarantees a really distinctive expertise – an ideal vacation spot for an unforgettable bikepacking odyssey.
Whereas smartphones and GPS make following the itinerary simple, the logistics of planning a long-distance voyage on two wheels can nonetheless be daunting, particularly for a vacation spot so off the radar for many cyclists and one solely starting to develop bicycle-specific companies and infrastructure.
That’s the place we step in, providing useful tips that could make the method stress free.
Step 1: Decide your experience
Select your type of biking and put together the necessities.
Earlier than anything, obtain the Dunav Extremely app, which will likely be completely important to your journey. Whereas a lot of the knowledge can also be on Dunav Extremely web site, the app is filled with additional data and options. Maybe essentially the most attention-grabbing of those is the choice to decide on between two route varieties: “Basic” or “Journey.” Your determination must be primarily based on the kind of biking you like, with the Journey map main you extra off-road to sort out grime tracks. Even the Basic route, which tends to stay to asphalt, takes on some fairly roughly paved backroads.
With this in thoughts, you need to deliver a bicycle that matches your most well-liked using type: a highway bike with at the very least 28mm-wide tires or a fast-rolling gravel bike for the Basic possibility, or a gravel one with extensive grippy tires or mountain bike if you happen to go for Journey. Subsequent, package your bicycle out with bikepacking baggage – making be sure all of your necessities slot in – earlier than breaking the bike down for onward journey by way of airplane or practice. Sadly, one-way leases are usually not but accessible however will hopefully arrive quickly, inspired by the continued efforts of Dunav Extremely to develop bicycle tourism in Bulgaria.
Step 2: Determine upon day by day distances
Decide your day by day totals relying in your stage of expertise.
Earlier than embarking on this journey, it’s essential to think about the distances you propose to journey per day. As an ultra-endurance problem, the route will be conquered in 48 hours – but for individuals who wish to go at a tempo that permits each second of the journey to be savored, you need to count on to complete in a leisurely fortnight. On the app, the complete expertise has been thoughtfully divided into 14 levels, every ending in a location with important facilities that may make sure the journey runs easily (even when the highway surfaces produce other concepts).
For relaxed riders or these new to the world of cycle touring, dedicating a day to every stage of the Basic possibility gained’t put an excessive amount of pressure on the leg muscle tissue, and can depart you time to discover the villages alongside the way in which, and have interaction with the inevitably curious locals. The longest stage is 92km (57 miles), the shortest 23km (14 miles). For these accustomed to longer days within the saddle, take into account combining a few of the shorter levels into more-demanding days, with the intention of finishing the complete circuit in a couple of week.
Step 3: Make your journey preparations upfront
Dial within the logistics of the place you’ll lay your head and the way you’ll get there and again.
When you’ve established your most well-liked using type and day by day distances, you’ll achieve a clearer thought of the place you’ll be dismounting every night and the general length of your journey. For these eager on sleeping beneath the celebs, mixing wild tenting with occasional nights in campsites is a smart transfer, particularly for the intermittent luxurious of a scorching bathe. Across the midway mark, nestled throughout the Rusenski Lom Nature Park, Koukery Campsite stands out for its strategic location (undoubtedly time for a very good scrub by this level!), in addition to its dramatic view over the canyon of the Cherni Lom River.
In the event you want to experience mild, carrying little greater than a bank card and banana in your jersey’s again pocket, quite a few motels and guesthouses en route will warmly welcome you in. Some, just like the aptly named Boat Lodge in Tutraken, sit on the banks of the Danube and serve conventional fish dishes of their eating places. Together with (naturally) the Dunav Extremely’s official beer.
Except you’re beginning additional west on the EuroVelo 6, which joins and overlaps Dunav Extremely for a seamless biking connection all the way in which from the Atlantic, you’ll possible start your Bulgarian journey in Sofia. From there, you may take a fairly priced practice to Vidin, the primary city on the Dunav Extremely with a rail connection. (Along with your ticket, you’ll must prepay a small further price to deliver your bike on the practice.) These direct trains run regularly, with 4 to 5 departures day by day; the journey takes 5 hours.
The closest practice station to the end line is Kardam. From right here, trains run on to Varna and its worldwide airport within the morning and night, with one change at Dobrich, for a four-hour journey in complete. In 2024, the Dunav Extremely organizers are planning on including packages, buyable on the app, that may embody transfers to and from the airports, making the logistics even simpler.
Step 4: Don’t skip the detours
Word the place to deviate from the route.
Given the abundance of discoveries awaiting you alongside the way in which, having some thought of what you want to expertise beforehand ensures you gained’t miss out. The app incorporates a number of 100 highlights, with one thing sure to please anybody. Boris Begamov, a founder and prime advocate of Dunav Extremely, says, “These are issues you may devour with all of your senses – what to see, what to listen to, what to style, or what to study.”
For some, you’ll must stray barely from the route – however that simply makes issues extra attention-grabbing. The Dunav Extremely staff can ship modifiable GPS information on request, and as a service will help redesign a observe, with suggestions primarily based on journey priorities.
Nature lovers will likely be enthralled by the wealthy biodiversity because the route passes by means of pure parks and guarded areas together with the Srébarna Biosphere Reserve, a freshwater lake and habitat for a magnitude of chook species, the place if you happen to’re fortunate you would possibly spot Dalmatian pelicans wading within the shallows.
Historical past fans can have a subject day exploring rock-hewn church buildings and monasteries, and can undoubtedly acknowledge the importance of the Danube Limes defenses which might be discovered alongside their namesake waterway. These ramparts as soon as delineated the frontier of the Roman Empire; their enduring presence presents a monument to historical imperialism and its eventual decline. In Ruse, at Sexaginta Prista – the Port of the Sixty Ships fortress – components of the defensive wall, together with a tower and temple, are preserved and showcased in an open-air museum.
For individuals who assume extra with their stomachs, regional culinary traditions are alive and properly, with freshly caught fish taking heart stage. Salamura, a spicy stew of roasted peppers, garlic and hearty chunks of chargrilled freshwater fish, is right consolation meals and simply concerning the tastiest reward conceivable after a day’s exhausting pedaling. Furthermore, the locals gained’t allow you to depart with out having tried rakia, the apricot brandy that’s particularly scrumptious within the Silistra area.
Doing it in another way…
Yearly Dunav Extremely organizes a mass experience, often in late August or early September, to create buzz across the route. Through the years, this has change into the most important multi-day occasion for novice biking in Bulgaria, and presents the proper probability to fulfill fellow cyclists in your experience. Individuals all begin collectively at Vidin, creating a way of neighborhood – however then proceed at their very own tempo. On the end, everybody receives a certificates to show their contribution to selling the area and the 119 cities and villages that the route passes by means of.
In the event you can’t make it at the moment of 12 months however need the certificates anyway, the “journey package” unlocks a checkpoints performance within the app; you’ll formally full the route by taking a selfie in any respect 26 chosen checkpoints. Both of those alternative routes to experience helps Dunav Extremely and contributes to growing one of the unknown sections of Europe’s long-distance biking networks.
And one which’s maybe the worthiest of being extra broadly found.
