If you are spending your summer holiday on the Bulgarian Northern Black Sea coast or you have a trip to Varna and the region and want to try something different, then a boat or water bike stroll along the Kamchia River near its mouth will surely appeal to you. It was a rainy day in July 10 years ago, when I first embarked on the river. I was looking for a nice place to visit or for a little adventure near the sea. I found both along the Kamchia River.
Then over the years, I repeated the river walk several times. And whenever I was in the area, walking along the river was especially tempting for me.
Kamchia is one of the largest rivers in Bulgaria. It flows into the Black Sea with an estuary (funnel) mouth. Around the mouth of the Kamchia River there is abundant vegetation and a longos forest, which is a nature reserve and protected area. In general, longos forests are quite rare for moderate latitudes, but there is one place in the world where they are surprisingly common. Which one is it? Of course, Bulgaria!
In particular, the longos forests along the Kamchia River are among the northernmost in Europe. Another interesting thing about them is that they are located on the bird migration route between Europe and Africa.
Let’s clarify: longos means dense marshy coastal forest.
There is a huge picturesque beach, where the Kamchia River flows into the sea. The beach is part of a 12 kilometer long beach band, reaching the village of Shkorpilovtsi, with a lot of dunes overgrown with dry grassy plants.
There, on the beach, you can enjoy both the sunrise and the sunset.
I have visited almost all the beaches on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast in recent years. Based on my experience, I could say that the beach Kamchia is one of the best in Bulgaria. I like it, because it is huge, it is natural, and it is not cluttered by hotels and restaurants.
It is no coincidence that the bungalow complexes right along the beach have the enviable names – Romance and Paradise. This is exactly what the area is like – paradise and romance. BUT, to be honest, if you’ve got accustomed to luxury resorts, perhaps you will not like it.
Back to the river walk. The ships depart from the central part of the Kamchia Resort. Initially, they take the opposite direction to the river and reach the bridge from the main road Burgas – Varna. Then they turn, moving along the stream to the mouth of Kamchia, where the waves of the sea can be felt. The length of the route in both directions depends on the water level in the river.
In addition to a boat, a water bike stroll can be rented from the central wharf. Prices are negotiable.
However, beware: there are many mosquitoes near the river, especially in the evenings, so take the necessary measures!
