“The Danube is a raw and rugged region. From afar, it’s beautiful and inspiring; up close, it reveals its wild, untamed power.”
No one knows this better than Boris Begamov. For the past twelve years, he’s spent more time by the river than in his hometown of Sofia. Boris is the creator of Bulgaria’s longest cycling route – Dunav Ultra, which starts in Vidin, in Bulgaria’s Northwest, and finishes in Durankulak, on the Black Sea. The trail weaves through seven provinces, more than thirty municipalities, and over 120 towns and villages. But what began as an extreme endurance challenge has grown into something much bigger – an innovative tourism platform that’s reshaping the future of the region.
From Route to Cause
When Boris first cycled the Bulgarian stretch of the Danube, he saw a land full of potential but left off the map. Back then, Dunav Ultra was just a line on paper. And northern Bulgaria? “A black hole on Europe’s tourist map.”
Today, Dunav Ultra is a vibrant platform that brings together people, ideas, and opportunities.
“In the beginning, we had to explain what a route was. Locals didn’t understand where the cyclists were coming from, why they were here, and where they were headed. Now, there’s no need to explain,” Boris says with a smile.
Over time, Dunav Ultra has evolved from an endurance test into a movement that powers local communities and rural tourism in northern Bulgaria. Since 2018, it’s been more than a sporting event – it’s become a celebration for the entire region, attracting more participants and visitors each year.
Six Destinations, One Vision for the Future
After years of work and tens of thousands of kilometers on the road, Boris and his team made their next bold move: structuring the route into clear, visitor-friendly destinations.
In 2025, they launched the new Destinations feature on the Dunav Ultra mobile app. For the first time, travelers can plan weekend getaways along the route. Six destinations are now live: Vidin, Belogradchik, Chiprovtsi, Persina Nature Park, Rusenski Lom, and the Srebarna Biosphere Reserve.
“These are prototypes for what destinations in Bulgaria can be,” explains Boris. “We have different climates, diverse landscapes, and we’re third in Europe for cultural artifacts! And now we have something else – local hosts ready to welcome cycling enthusiasts.”
But Dunav Ultra is more than a biker’s route. Each destination is layered with history, culture, and deep spiritual traditions. Catholic Chiprovtsi, Orthodox Belogradchik, the Muslim villages along the river, the Jewish heritage of Vidin, and quiet retreats for reflection – it’s a unique spiritual mosaic.
“People don’t come here just to pedal. The rawness of the Danube, especially in autumn and winter, cleanses you. It forces you to look within. It’s a place for an inner journey,” Boris says.
It All Starts with Hospitality
Every journey along the Danube begins with something simple but essential – hospitality.
“Hospitality is the starting point for every successful destination,” Boris insists. He believes that if you’re welcomed with an open heart, you’ll come back. If you’re not – there’s no second chance.
“If a place wants you there, you feel it. It’s like love – either it’s there, or it’s not.”
That’s why Boris spends months meeting people along the river. From April to October, you’ll rarely find him in Sofia. Instead, he’s visiting guesthouses, village pubs, and farms across the Danube heartland, looking for hosts who welcome visitors not because it’s a project, but because it’s their calling.
The Chain of Change
When that kind of dedication comes together, something greater is born – community. The logo of Dunav Ultra is a bicycle chain, symbolizing the connection between every village, town, and person along the way.
“If one link breaks, the chain doesn’t work. Every link matters,” Boris says.
One of his favorite examples is Radoslav from Falkovets. Even though his village isn’t directly on the Dunav Ultra route, he chose to be part of the story. At his inn, he serves Dunav Ultra beer in specially made mugs. It’s a small gesture that, without him realizing, supports the economy not only of his village but of places like Svishtov and Nikopol, hundreds of kilometers away.
“That’s the magic of the chain,” Boris explains. “A simple act in one village can support a community far down the river. You just don’t see the connection immediately – it takes patience, intuition, and a sense of shared energy and purpose.”
These stories are no longer rare. In recent years, the chain of change has grown stronger with each passing season. Locals are no longer waiting for things to happen – they’re making them happen. They’re coming up with their own ideas and reaching out to the Dunav Ultra team themselves.
In just the past year, four new guesthouses joined the route. And in a small village near Silistra, a family that returned from abroad opened a pastry shop. Boris calls it “the best along the Danube,” offering homemade treats based on old family recipes and a warmth that makes it unforgettable.
In Nikopol, former fishermen have become tour guides, offering boat trips to the area’s striking “Maldives of the Danube” – a must-see for nature lovers.
In Belene, fishermen and their families not only maintain trails and facilities along the riverbanks but keep alive the memory of both the better days when the islands bustled with farmers and fishermen and the darker times when Bulgaria’s largest Danube island was a communist labor camp.
In Leskovets, near Oryahovo, locals have restored the old village fountain, creating a peaceful rest stop where travelers can refill their bottles and take in the rugged beauty of Bulgaria’s Northwest.
In Chiprovtsi, visitors can learn to weave an authentic carpet – and hear the story of the town’s last goldsmith, who forged a votive cross for the local monastery. And yes, they’ll probably tell you over a pint of craft beer from the local brewery, Chiprovsko Pivo.
At Srebarna, Popina, and Vetren, at the other end of the Danube, mornings begin with the calls of Dalmatian pelicans, and the day ends with fish soup made from recipes passed down through generations.
And in Durankulak, where the route meets the Black Sea, locals are no longer surprised to see groups of cyclists arrive in town – they’ve become part of the summer season here, as familiar as the sun and sea.
Dunav Ultra isn’t just a route connecting two points on the map. It’s a story that connects an entire region – one that’s waking up to a new life while remembering where it came from.
Between Local and Outsider
At the heart of this change stands Boris Begamov – a man who is both insider and outsider.
After twelve years, he’s more local than visitor along the route.
“I can speak like the locals – but not quite,” he admits. “I’m somewhere in between – local because I know these communities intimately and outsider by choice, so I can still see the bigger picture – the whole route, the long-term vision.”
This dual role lets him be the bridge between village and world, the person who draws the roadmap. He’s not a tourist passing through, and he’s not stuck in the old ways. He’s a mediator, a visionary, and a hands-on leader.
The Numbers Behind the Mission
Boris’s vision for the future comes with clear goals and measurable results.
Over the past five years, the Dunav Ultra team has issued more than 1,000 certificates to travelers who completed the route – each one representing an average of 1,300 levs spent in the local economy.
His goal? 5,000 certificates per year – which would bring 10 million leva into the region annually. And that’s just the beginning.
“Everything points in one direction: there’s no other way but forward for this project,” Boris says confidently.
Dunav Ultra, he believes, is a guide for the future of tourism in Bulgaria.
One Direction: Forward
In the end, Dunav Ultra isn’t just a cycling route. It’s a movement that’s changing the destiny of entire communities.
Here, people remember both the times of prosperity and the hard years. They restore old fountains, maintain trails, and open their homes to new guests. Every village along the Dunav Ultra route is unique, but they’re all bound by one river – and one shared hope.
“All these people feel their connection to the Danube in their own way,” says Boris. “I’m here to help the rest of the world feel it, too.”
This article is part of the “52 Ways to Fall in Love with Bulgaria” series. Follow the America for Bulgaria Foundation on social media for more inspiring stories from across the country.
