Unless you’re an avid long-distance cyclist, you might not have heard of Belyanovo. Situated at a bend of the Yantra River about 10 km before it meets the Danube and 60 km southwest of Ruse, the village is part of the popular international cycling route Euro Velo 6 and Bulgaria’s #1 route Dunav Ultra. However, Belyanovo often goes unnoticed by most travelers.
For Andrey Dimitrov and Yavor Asenov from Byala Zvezda Tours, Belyanovo and its surroundings have enormous potential. For over 20 years, they have been uncovering its wonders for adventurers from Bulgaria and abroad. “Our goal and dream is to help improve things in the area,” they say.
They think the answer is developing sustainable tourism that respects nature and boosts the local economy.
Driven by his love for water adventures, Ruse native Yavor founded Byala Zvezda 34 years ago as one of the first alternative tourism clubs in Bulgaria. A decade later, Andrey joined a Byala Zvezda–organized kayaking trip along the Yantra and Danube Rivers and was instantly captivated. It wasn’t long before he moved from Sofia to Ruse.
“After I moved, I found I had two more hours a day for myself. These two hours give me a longer day and much more peace of mind,” Andrey says.
Eight years ago, the two decided to make adventures in nature a full-time occupation, transforming Byala Zvezda from an amateur club into a livelihood.
Although they offer a variety of experiences to visitors, water adventures are Yavor and Andrey’s specialty. A visitor favorite is the three-day kayaking trip through the Yantra Canyon from the town of Byala to the Danube. There, travelers experience nature’s sculptural genius: the oddly shaped limestone formations and rock niches resemble something out of a movie about pirates and hidden treasures!
The adventures continue with a walk across the rope bridge over the Yantra River near Belyanovo, evoking scenes from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom — “minus the crocodiles,” as Andrey points out. A visit to the 13th-century rock church near the village offers a glimpse into the enigmatic world of the hesychasts — medieval hermit monks who sought solitude in nature and lived in rock-carved abodes along the Danube.
Late August and early September are the perfect time to explore the Danube with Yavor and Andrey. The buzz of mosquitoes has subsided, the weather is wonderful, and the river sand is pristine. You will find out why locals refer to the river islands in the area as the “Ruse Maldives” and the “Svishtov Polynesia” and why a river island never stays the same.
But beware! Visitors often love the experience so much that they return year after year and sometimes multiple times in a season.
In addition to cycling, the good roads, low traffic, hilly terrain, and beautiful nature around Belyanovo are ideal for walking. Families with children especially enjoy encounters with hedgehogs, turtles, bats, and other forest inhabitants.
For a schedule of events, to book a visit to Belyanovo, or to ask a question, visit the Byala Zvezda Tours website.
In this short film by Lora Krumova and Maria Yotova from the MAD in BG series, we meet Yavor and Andrey to learn why the two chose this relatively unknown spot on the Danube Plain and to enjoy stunning views along the Yantra.
Support for Byala Zvezda Tours is part of the America for Bulgaria Foundation’s long-term efforts to promote economic development in the Bulgarian North through entrepreneurship and tourism.
