The crowd-free Bulgarian attraction loved by locals – with pretty wild camping spots and no Brits
AS A favourite holiday destination among Brits, beaches and well-known resorts in Bulgaria can become very crowded in the summer.
If you’re looking for quieter spots to relax in Bulgaria, you might want to head further inland and visit one of the country’s lakes.
The Sun’s travel expert Lisa Minot will be taking part in a Live Q&A with readers at midday on Tuesday (April 23) to answer your holiday dilemmas – ask her anything.
Whatever the travel question – big or small – make sure to send over all your questions to Lisa in the form here, and she’ll answer them in the live Q&A.
Pav Todorova, 28, has been going on family holidays in Bulgaria since she was a young child, with lake trips being a particular family favourite.
Originally from Plovdiv, Pav has been living in London for nearly nine years but flies back to Bulgaria every summer.
And it’s safe to say she knows the best crowd-free Bulgarian rivers and lakes to visit on a hot day, many of which remain unknown to the average Brit holidaymaker.
Pav told Sun Online Travel: “My family loves going to the lakes because they’re great places to go fishing, while Bulgaria rivers are good for swimming because the water is cleaner.
“The rivers are really great in the summer and they’re certainly clean. When I was younger, I would spend afternoons swimming in the rivers with my friends. The one that we used to go to was the River Arda.”
The River Arda is a 290km-long river that snakes its way through both Bulgaria and Greece.
One spot along the River Arda that’s popular among holidaymakers is the Devil’s Bridge.
Located near the town of Ardino, the humpbacked bridge crosses over a vast gorge in the river.
Another place Pav and her family frequently return to in the summer is Shiroka Polyana – a large reservoir in southern Bulgaria.
Located in the Western Rhodope Mountains, Shiroka Polyana is a former grassland meadow that consists of five separate dams.
While swimming isn’t recommended, the lake is an ideal spot for keen fishers, like Pav’s father and brother, thanks to its huge wealth of fish species.
Because of its pine forest location, Shiroka Polyana is a popular spot among campers, with wild camping spots dotted around the lake.
There’s also the Romantika Forest Holiday Village, which is set on the southern side of the lake.
The Forest Holiday Village is home to several bungalows, spa facilities, a playground for children and an on-site restaurant.
Activities like canoeing, mountain biking, picnics and hiking trips can also be organised.
Shiroka Polyana is a two-hour drive from Plovdiv, where direct flights operate from the UK.
Another small reservoir Pav recommended was Batak Reservoir, which is just over an hour’s drive away from Shiroka Polyana.
Just like Shiroka Polyana, Batak Reservoir is an attractive spot for anyone who likes to fish.
One place Pav recommends visiting is Tsigov Chark, a resort located just a stone’s throw away from the reservoir.
While the resort is more equipped for winter holidays, camping and caravan stays can also be organised near the lake during the summer.
One other lake Pav recommended was Beglika – a tiny reservoir where holidaymakers can kayak.
While swimming isn’t recommended in the lakes, they are great spots for fishing and other outdoor activities.
Without the crowds, the lakes and the rivers are also very serene too.
Wizz Air operates direct flights from London to Plovdiv, with fares starting from £31 for a one-way ticket.
Meanwhile, for next summer tour operator TUI will be launching flights between East Midlands Airport and Burgas.
Earlier this month, Pav also revealed the little-known beaches holidaymakers should visit instead of heading to Sunny Beach.
One of those places is Veleka Beach in Sinemorets, which is a tiny strip of land between the two bodies of water.
You can read more about lesser-known Bulgarian beaches, here.
Brit holidaymakers can also swap busy tulip and lavender fields in the UK for Bulgaria’s lesser-known Rose Valley.
Located south of the Balkan Mountains, the Rose Valley is entirely unique to Bulgaria.
Europe’s best beaches according to TripAdvisor
Sun's Head of Travel, Lisa Minot, provides insight on some of Europe's best beaches.
- La Concha Beach: “Bordering the Atlantic in northern Spain, the surrounding mountains protect it from the wind. Its adjoining boardwalk is popular with families, while the coast is popular for surfing.”
- Praia da Falesia, Portugal: “Backed by fiery red cliffs, this Blue Flag beach has golden sands and clear, clean water.”
- Spiaggia dei Conigli, Sicily: “The pristine white sands of this beach are best known as a nesting site for loggerhead sea turtles. The graceful curve of sand borders turquoise waters and looks out onto the tiny islet of Conigli, just off the island of Lampedusa.”
Read more on Lisa’s views on Europe’s best beaches, here.
