Sinemorets: A boat trip along the Veleka River

The boat trip will allow you to enjoy the Veleka River’s shores which are vegetation-rich. You will also watch the rare yellow water-lily (Nuphar lutea) and many representatives of a Western Caspian turtle (Mauremys rivulata). On the Veleka River (Bulgaria), the place where you can rent a boat for a trip is at the entrance of the village of Sinemorets (on the Black Sea Coast). After you pass along the steel bridge turn to the right. There is a small pier in immediate proximity to the asphalt road. There you can hire a kayak or get on a boat with a waterman. He also has a role as a guide.

The place where you can get on a boat, or rent a kayak

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

The small pier near the steel bridge, Veleka River, Sinemorets
The small pier near the steel bridge
The steel bridge at the entrance of Sinemorets
The steel bridge at the entrance of Sinemorets

A good time to take this trip is during the June – August period when the yellow water-lily blooms. The tour starts from the pier near the steel bridge. In the upstream direction of the river, the boat will reach the “Tsarsko kladenche” locality. The time for the round trip is about 1.5 hours.

Yellow water lily - (Nupharl utea). A rare plant protected by the law, which in Bulgaria occurs here, the Kamchia River and the Shabla Lake. Blooming - June-August.
Yellow water-lily – (Nuphar lutea). A rare plant protected by the law, which in Bulgaria occurs here, the Kamchia River and the Shabla Lake. Blooming – June-August.
Yellow water lily - closer
Yellow water lily – closer
Plenty of yellow water lily
Plenty of yellow water lily
Western Caspian turtle (Mauremys rivulata)

The Veleka River is the longest in Southeastern Bulgaria. Its total length is 147 km, springs from Turkey, near the border, but the more significant part is in Bulgaria – 123 km. There are only two settlements along the river – the villages of Kosti and Brodilovo, where is no industrial activity. For this reason, the river is one of the cleanest in Bulgaria.

Take a boat trip along the Veleka River at Sinemorets, Bulgaria and watch the rare yellow water lily

The only 8 km stretch from the mouth of the river to “Tsarsko kladenche” locality is suitable for sailing. On the banks of the river there are dense forests composed of common alder (Alnus glutinosa), European white elm (Ulmus laevis), ash (Fraxinus) and different types of lianas (Periploca graeca, smilax excelsa, Hedera helix). They give an exotic, tropical look to the area.

The vegetation-rich shores of the Veleka river
The vegetation-rich shores of the Veleka river

After returning from “Tsarsko kladenche”, the excursion boat passes under the steel bridge. It leads the tourists to the mouth of the river as well as to a rock formation called “The Sphinx” located on the North beach of Sinemorets.

To the mouth of Veleka river
To the mouth of Veleka river

If you want to book a boat trip or to hire a kayak, it would be wise to do so in advance because there is a keen interest in this entertainment during the season. If you go without booking, all boats and kayaks can be reserved, and you will stay on the pier. You can contact the company for these boats and kayaks – “Veleka Tour” from here.

If you are planning a more extended stay in the area, it is a good idea to choose Sinemorets as a place for staying. It has many hotels and lodgings and can offer other natural beauties to diversify your relaxing holiday at the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast.

Offers for hotels in Sinemorets

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