Tag: Strandzha – Tsarevo Municipality

Kondolovo village – “The wild rhododendron kingdom”

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Kondolovo lays into Strandzha Nature Park, and it is a small village, mostly known for its significant habitat of a rare plant from prehistoric times – the wild Rhododendron ponticum. In its surroundings, there is a centuries-old deciduous forest, which is a real treasure because of other exotic and rare plants into it. Apart from its natural features, Kondolovo is also interesting for tourists because of the preserved old Strandzha houses from the middle of the 19th century. The village is almost deserted, the population is only 16 people. It is 24 km west of Tsarevo and 33 km east of Malko Tarnovo, and it lays on the main road connecting both cities, which are also municipal centres.

Here we will introduce you to the eco path leading to “The wild rhododendron kingdom”, which is relatively new, opened in 2015.

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Balgari village: Peak Diado Valcho and “Briar root” area near Silkosia Reserve

It is a pleasant and easy route that runs along the border of the Silkosia Reserve, located on the territory of Strandzha Nature Park. On this trail, one crosses a lovely forest with a wide variety of vegetation species. One plant is an instant eye-catcher – the Rhododendron ponticum. This plant, indeed, with its shiny evergreen leaves, in itself, creates an association with the vegetation of exotic and distant tropical jungles. At the end of the route, we reached the highest point in the area, which offers beautiful views of the surrounding green hills. There is a habitat of another rare and protected plant – the Briar root. At the request of the hikers, from there can continue to the village of Kosti.

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Kosti village ecotourism: Trail to Raykov Vir waterfall

To the “Raykov Vir” Waterfall is one more hiking trail, near the lovely village of Kosti – a destination for ecotourism and rural tourism. In fact, we learned about this short and easy route from the “Rhododendron ponticum Festival” which in 2019 took place right here – in the village of Kosti, nearby Tsarevo city on the Black Sea Coast.

Like the route leading to the “Kazancheto” waterfall, this one will also take you to a small secret waterfall, and along the way will see in many places the rare plant and symbol for Strandzha – the Rhododendron ponticum.

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Kosti village: The secret waterfall Kazancheto

Here is another opportunity for a nice eco-walk in the vicinity of the Strandzha village of Kosti – the path to the “Bogorodishki Dol” area. Along this adventure trail, one moves through astonish old-growing forest past the Veleka River. Finally – at the shelter of “Bogorodishki Dol” can see the secret small waterfall “Kazancheto”, as well as seeing the beautiful and rare plant that has become a symbol of Strandzha – Rhododendron ponticum (Black sea rhododendron in translation).

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Marina Reka – a walk in the prehistoric forest

In this incredible place – the “Marina Reka” area, you will have the opportunity to observe into one small area plants that inhabited the whole of Europe during the Tertiary period. The locality attracts tourists because of its easy access, as well as being the closest destination to the sea, where the symbolic plant for Strandzha mountain grows. That is the rhododendron ponticum. The area is only 12 km west of Tsarevo and 45 km east of Malko Tarnovo.

The beginning of the hiking trail leading to the area starts from the main road Tsarevo – Malko Tarnovo. It is about 5 km after the village of Izgrev, Strandzha Nature Park. At the present time, there is only a small, hard-to-see sign where can park a car. It is preferable to reach that exit by vehicle (own or rent) because public transport doesn’t stop here. For more accurate orientation, you can download the GPX file attached below.

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