Travel Adventure at Devetaki Plateau

Last year, on our way back from Kamchia, we took a slight detour north of the main Varna–Sofia road to visit the Krushuna Waterfalls. We liked it so much that we decided to come back the next year for a proper cycling tour across the Devetaki Plateau. We timed the trip to coincide with the Jazz Under the Stars festival held in the region.

The first challenge was finding accommodation, as everything was fully booked due to the festival. Eventually, we secured a guesthouse in the village of Gorsko Slivovo. Although the main festival was in the village of Krushuna, one of the stages was close to Garvanitsa Cave, which is nearer to Gorsko Slivovo. The house had space for 11 people and filled up quickly.

Day 1: Travel, Garvanitsa Cave and Krushuna Waterfalls

We left Blagoevgrad on Friday, July 27. Part of our group drove off at around 10 a.m. and arrived in Gorsko Slivovo around 4 p.m. It was hot but not as stifling as in Blagoevgrad—air up on the plateau felt fresher.

We left the bikes at the guesthouse and went by car to visit Garvanitsa Cave—a 49-meter-deep vertical karst cave with steep metal stairs. It's not for the faint-hearted or those afraid of heights, but still worth visiting.

Next, we headed toward Krushuna Waterfalls, passing through the village of Krushuna, where we stumbled upon a newly opened craft beer brewery. Naturally, we sampled the local brew and stocked up for the evening..

The Krushuna waterfalls are among the most spectacular in Bulgaria—lush, green, and cascading over many terraces. We explored the lower section, climbed to Maarata Cave and the Mysterious Waterfall, but unfortunately, the trails leading to the upper terraces were closed..

We finished the day with a panoramic view from the plateau above Krushuna, overlooking the Danube Plain—though the visibility was poor due to haze. We returned to the house around 8:30 p.m., just as the rest of the group arrived. We dined, enjoyed local beer, and planned our next day.

Day 2: Cycling Adventure on the Devetaki Plateau

Our plan for an early start slipped a bit, but by 9:30 we were ready to hit the road. Out of the 9 bikes we brought, only 5 people actually rode. A new tradition emerged: competing for the "Most Useless Bike Haul" award.

We cycled south toward Kramolin, the first village along the route, with a clock tower and a colorful village name sign. Fields of sunflowers and wheat lined the road.

Passing through Agatovo without stopping, we reached Brestovo, where we found a monument to local partisans—common in the area. Then we headed to the village of Kakrina to visit the historic inn where Bulgarian revolutionary Vasil Levski was captured.

After the tough climb, we earned a couple of cold craft beers at the Karpachevo brewery. The village was buzzing with festival energy. We rode the final 5 km home, passed Garvanitsa Cave again (now surrounded by camper vans), and returned to our guesthouse.

ust as we were getting ready to head to the Jazz Festival, a torrential downpour began. The open-air concert was ruined, so we spent the evening at the house.

Day 3: Departure, Prohodna Cave, and the Cliffside Shelter

Sunday was leisurely—we slept in, had breakfast, packed, and left for Karlukovo and the nearby Prohodna Cave, known as the "Eyes of God." The cave was full of tourists and climbers tackling its vertical walls. An impromptu a cappella choir performance gave the whole place a mystical atmosphere.

We also visited the nearby Cliffside Shelter—recently renovated with a spectacular terrace view overlooking the Iskar River 80 meters below. Prices were a bit high but expected for the location.

The group split again—some headed toward Zlatna Panega, while the rest of us returned peacefully to Blagoevgrad, arriving around 8 p.m.