Deyan Kateliev from Varna is a man on a mission. For fifteen years, he has been working to put Bulgaria, particularly the Danube region, on the map for cycling enthusiasts worldwide.
His dream is to make cycling a popular form of entertainment and recreation among Bulgarians as well.
Since 2012, Deyan and his colleagues from the Plateau cycling initiative have been tirelessly introducing hundreds of foreign cyclists to the beauty of Bulgaria. Their efforts caught the attention of Jim Johnson, an American entrepreneur and founder of the international tour operator BikeTours.com. As a result, Bulgaria is now regularly featured on BikeTours.com and will be highlighted in Johnson’s upcoming book on cycling adventures.
The year 2020 marked a turning point for Deyan and Plateau, especially for the second part of the organization’s mission. With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the flow of foreign bicycle tourists to Bulgaria slowed. However, this change presented an opportunity, as many Bulgarians turned to cycling as a healthy alternative for getting around. This led to the creation of the VeloWeekend initiative, aimed entirely at a Bulgarian audience. (English-speaking cyclists can still book a tour with Deyan through Plateau’s website.)
With VeloWeekend, Deyan and his team aim “to spark interest in multi-day active cycling holidays to long-neglected areas of our country and show that they are incredibly attractive when experienced on a bike — because of the space, the ease, the tranquility, the unspoiled sights, and the authentic people,” he says.
Over the last four years, hundreds of Bulgarian cyclists have explored natural parks and UNESCO sites along the Danube River as well as lesser-known places around the northeastern Bulgarian towns of Dobrich, Ruse, Silistra, and Tutrakan. Plateau’s partnership with local guesthouses, restaurants, and farms has been key to providing an authentic experience of the region.
Did we whet your appetite for adventure? The VeloWeekend at the Loms adventure on July 27 and 28 will take travelers to spectacular canyons, rock churches, ancient villages, the Cherven fortress, and the Nisovo winery. In September, VeloWeekend Srebarna will lead adventurers through the historical sites around Silistra and the natural beauty along the rocky valley of the Hersovska River, culminating at Srebarna Lake — the kingdom of birds!
In October, participants in the Danube and Mechka VeloWeekend will explore the shadowy valleys along the Cherni Lom River and the panoramic hills of the Danube Plain.
VeloWeekends include transportation to the starting point, bike transport, a guide, car support if needed, luggage transport, and accommodation and meal reservations. If you don’t have your own bicycle, Plateau offers rentals of Bulgaria-manufactured trekking or electric bikes.
Support for Deyan and Plateau Cycling is part of the America for Bulgaria Foundation’s long-term efforts to promote economic development in the Bulgarian North through entrepreneurship and tourism.
