Hiking trail from the thracian cliffs “Beglik Tash” to the Cape “Maslen Nos”

The hiking trail provides more available reaching to the famous destination – Cape “Maslen nos” near the town of Primorsko, Bulgaria. The Cape was an ancient harbour, a navigation marker for sailors and a beacon for centuries. At present – it is an exotic beach with waters rich in fish and the presence of remarkable rock formations resembling fjords. In addition, there is also an excellent panoramic view of the wild shores of the southern side of the Ropotamo Reserve.

How to get from Beglik Tash to Cape  Maslen nos
Download file: Beglik_Tash-Maslen_nos_EN.gpx GPX file


USEFUL: For more information on how to open GPX files with a smartphone, see this link .

For planning your visit to the place or accommodation in the nearby settlements, can use the collection of assistive tools – Google Road Map with calculator in km, flights to Bulgaria, rental cars, weather forecast, hotel search, timetables of buses in the region, see this link.


Route features

In summary, the features are as follows:

The total length of the road – 2.4 km

A narrow eco path through a forest – 1.7 km

Gravel road – 700 m

Length of the fjord exit and panoramic view – 700 m

Height difference: 140 m

Route description

Until now, the only way to get to Cape “Maslen Nos” has been on the rough road passing by the Perla residence and 6 km long. It can only be taken by an off-road vehicle. Thanks to the new hiking trail, you can reach the Cape for about 40 minutes from the Thracian cliffs – sanctuary Beglik Tash. The path is passing through a forest, followed by an open gravel road. Due to the narrow grassland paths and lots of flies (in the summer), it is better to equip yourself with hiking shoes or covered sneakers, long trousers, insect spray, water, sunglasses and a hat.

At the meadow in front of the Thracian cliffs Beglik Tash, the beginning of the eco-path is marked with a sign:

Beginning of the hiking trail from Beglik Tash to Cape “Maslen nos.”
The beginning of the eco path through the thick forest.
Orange markings on the trees should be followed.

Walk along the narrow eco path and follow the orange markings. During the antiquity, the Romans descended this way to the port that was located at the cape “Maslen nos”. Along the way, you will see in many places the plant butcher’ s broom (Ruscus aculeatus) – forbidden for gathering according to the Bulgarian laws.

Butcher’s-broom (Ruscus aculeatus) – a rare plant

After passing this area, you will continue walking along the gravel road (coming from the deserted Perla Residence in Primorsko). Later, you will pass a military zone (enclosed with fences and signs) and science station used for observation in the Black Sea.

Preservation of the protected area

The area from the sanctuary Beglik Tash to the cape “Maslen nos” has forest status. Also, it is within the boundaries of two protected areas. Therefore some rules should be observed when visiting to protect natural resources.

To put it briefly – do not throw away waste, do not tear plants, do not light a fire, no camping, and let the place look like you’ve found it.

For more details, or if you intend to carry out particular activities other than a tourist walk, the full text of the laws can read here.

1.Protected area “Beglik Tash – Ropotamo” – current prohibitions and regimes ( the page of Bulgarian “Executive Environment Agency”).

2.Protected area “The rock formations, the fjords and the sealing cave in the area of Maslen Nos” – current prohibitions and regimes (the page of Bulgarian “Executive Environment Agency”).

3. Bulgarian Forestry Act

The exact boundaries of the protected area can see here https://gis.wwf.bg/mobilz/en/. So to do this, bookmark “Protected areas in Bulgaria” layer.

The beach at Cape “Maslen nos”

The beach at Cape “Maslen nos”, Primorsko, Bulgaria
The small restaurant on the beach

Offers for hotels in Primorsko


Booking.com

As can be seen, the place is pleasing to those seeking tranquillity, as the beach is rarely crowded because of the difficult access. In the surrounding bays, there are often fans of underwater fishing – divers with spearguns from the entire Burgas Region, because the waters are very rich in fish. At the time, when we visited the beach, the waters were not so clear as at the shores of Sinemorets or Varvara, but the visibility was relatively good. Probably the place will fascinate you with its tranquillity and the vast biodiversity in its waters. You can spend a long time only with a snorkel and a mask captivated by the underwater view.

Origin of the name “Maslen nos”

The name “Maslen nos” (in translation Oiled Cape) originates from the Turkish “Zeitung Burun”. According to some local historians, the translation is wrong and should be translated as “Maslinen nos” (Olive Cape). Many years ago there has been an olive forest near to the Cape (according to the old people of the town of Sozopol).

Unlike them, the supporters of the “Oiled Cape” thesis believe that the name come from the fact that many cargo ships carried food and spices from the Mediterranean. Those ships had a fatal encounter with the rocks and “oiled” the Cape with large quantities of olive oil they had transported.

For a long time, Cape “Maslen Nos” has served as a navigational landmark for seafarers.

The place has been used as a harbour since ancient times. Many anchors and ceramics dated from the Early Iron Age to the late Middle Ages were found along the sea bottom. Some of these finds revealed here could be seen now in the museums of Burgas, Primorsko and Kiten. Probably the port here was a part of the harbour complex known as Hersonessos in the pre-Roman period and later got the name “Terra” during the Roman period. The complex started from here – Cape “Maslen Nos” and reached to the mouth of the Ropotamo River, including some of the small bays of the peninsula: St. Paraskeva, Vaterahi and others. 

Documents of the state of lighthouses of 1863 describe the existence of one at this area at those times

At present, in its modern appearance, the tower is maintained by the Hydrographic Area – Bourgas to the Bulgarian Naval Forces. It is located into the enclosed military zone, in the most protruding part of the Cape. The visiting in this area is forbidden.

Take a walk and watch rock formations – Fjords at “Maslen nos”.

On a return from the small beach, you can visit the 700-meter-trail for watching the rock formations with steep, 20-meter high slopes. Perhaps they inspired the local ancients to create myths and legends of marine deities and monsters. The people call them fjords because they resemble the long narrow bays in the Scandinavian countries. Unlike the real fjords, in this formation did not participate glaciers, and the length of the cut is much smaller.

 A fjord at Cape "Maslen nos", Primorsko, Bulgaria.
A fjord at Cape “Maslen nos”, Primorsko, Bulgaria.
Another rock formations
Another rock formations

Somewhere around them, there is a cave. Local people say it was a shelter of seals in the past. It is well-known with the name “The Seal’s cave”. The access is only from the sea, therefore if you wish to see it, you have to take participation in the yacht trips. Their start is from the port of Primorsko.

At the end of the path, you will have a panoramic view of the wild shores of Ropotamo Reserve.

Panoramic view of the wild shores

Bay "Zigra"
Bay “Zigra”
Cape Beglik Tash
Cape Beglik Tash
Cape "St. Paraskeva"
Cape “St. Paraskeva”
Cape “Korakya”
Map of the wild shores of Ropotamo reserve

Continue of the walk

Further, for the other hiking trails and landmarks in Ropotamo Reserve – look at the attached map here.

In conclusion, If you are planning a more extended stay in the area, it is a good idea to choose Primorsko. It has many hotels and lodgings and can offer many entertainments to diversify your holiday at sea.

Offers for hotels in Primorsko


Booking.com