An area the size of London, beautifully located along the Black Sea Coast in Eastern Europe. Still, only 7000 people live here…. Strandja Nature Park in Bulgaria is one of those unspoilt, undiscovered areas in Europe where man has had very little influence.

A landscape of rolling hills is perfect to explore on foot. There is a lot to discover during a walking holiday to Strandja in South-East Bulgaria!

A varied landscape and Mediterranean climate make Strandja a perfect walking holiday destination in South Eastern Europe.

Bulgaria’s most varied nature park

Strandja is Bulgaria’s largest and most varied nature park. You can explore a wide variety of landscapes during a walking holiday here. In the west of the park you can walk through karst landscapes with wide views and hike through deeply cut, wooded valleys with murmuring crystal-clear streams and rivers.

In the middle of the nature park the landscape is dominated by extensive beech and oak forest. And there is also the lush valley of the Veleka river. The Veleka is one of the cleanest and unspoilt rivers in Eastern Europe.

The eastern border of Strandja Nature Park consists of large areas of almost unspoilt Black Sea coast. Here you can go walking around the completely natural estuary of the Veleka river, along quiet, undiscovered beaches, impressive coastal landscapes and volcanic rock formations.

At Strandja's Black Sea coast you can walk over picturesque coast paths.

Centuries-old oak and beech trees grow at several places throughout Strandja.

Deep in the heart of Strandja you will find small secluded villages where time has stood still. You can walk past traditional Strandja houses and experience the rich Bulgarian culture and cuisine. You can also come across culture along the walking routes. A beautiful walk for example leads to a chapel and spring hidden in the woods. Such chapels were often built near a spring where the water, according to local legend, has healing properties.

The rich history of this part of Bulgaria is still visible in the landscape; Thracian temples and Roman graves and hill-tombs have been preserved. They are silent witnesses of the turbulent past of this part of Eastern Europe.

Walking over a forest track in the Strandja Mountains.

Walking around small mountain villages with beautiful views over the surrounding landscape.

Autumn – perfect for walking in the Strandja Mountains

Strandja Nature Park in Bulgaria has a Mediterranean climate. Because of the influence of the Black Sea the weather is still very gentle late in the year and great for walking. The Autumn is perfect for a walking holiday in this part of Eastern Europe! An autumn walking holiday to Strandja means enjoying beautiful panorama’s, the turning colours of the woodland, and a fantastic Bulgarian ‘Indian’ summer.

Autumn is perfect for a walking holiday in Strandja. The influence of the Black Sea ensures a long Indian summer.

In the autumn you can try local specialities such as wild mushrooms. The excellent Bulgarian tomatoes are still available. And you can also taste many other fruit en vegetable varieties until late autumn.

The temperature of the sea water in Bulgaria is very pleasant until October. A plunge in the Black Sea during a coastal walk is recommended! The best time for an autumn walking holiday to Strandja in Bulgaria is the period from mid-September until the middle of November.

Walkers in an Autumn landscape.

In Autumn Strandja is a beautiful mix of yellows and greens.

Autumn crocus flowering near a small river in Strandja Nature Park.

Spring walking holiday to Strandja in Bulgaria

The spring is an ideal time for a walking holiday to south-east Bulgaria. In de spring, Strandja is lush and green. During a spring walking holiday you can enjoy a stunning landscape full of flowering orchards and budding leaves.

In Spring Strandja is full of wild flowering plants.

Blossoming trees and fresh green in Strandja's spring.

The sky is filled with birdsong of nightingale, bee-eater and golden oriole. The grasslands are full of wild-flowers and the weather is already very good early in the year. The best time for a spring walking holiday to Strandja is the period middle of April until the middle of June.

Walking holiday to Strandja Nature Park in Bulgaria

Interested in getting to know the beautiful Strandja area on foot? We organise walking holidays for small groups to this part of Bulgaria. But if you prefer to explore the area at your own pace, our tailor-made walking holidays are ideal. With pre-booked Bed & Breakfast, rental car and detailed walk descriptions and information you will not miss anything.

As a bonus, by coming on holiday here you help protect the beautiful Strandja area. For every visitor to Strandja, we make a donation to the Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation. For more than 10 years already, this organisation does a lot of good work and makes a real difference in protecting and raising awareness about Strandja’s unique nature.

Please contact us for more information, we would love to tell you more about our walking holidays to Bulgaria!

Walk over quiet beaches on Strandja's Black Sea coast.

Strandja is an excellent walking destination for beginning as well as more experienced walkers.

If you are a butterfly fan, you’ll find Strandja Nature Park in Bulgaria a fantastic holiday destination. Almost all the grasslands in the park are unimproved, and support a very diverse insect life.  Moreover, the location of the park on the bridge of two continents means you can see some very special species here.

Strandja Nature Park has been designated as a Prime Butterfly Area in Bulgaria. Prime Butterfly Areas are the most important sites for butterflies in the country designated by Butterfly Conservation Europe. Some of the threatened species that occur in the park include Southern Festoon Zerynthia polyxena, Lesser spotted Fritillary Melitae trivia, Marsh Fritillary Euphydryas aurinia , Large Copper Lycaena dispar and the Large Blue Maculinea arion.

Southern Festoon - Zerynthia polyxena

Lesser Spotted Fritillary - Melitae trivia

Eastern Butterfly Specialities

Some of the eastern specialities include the lovely and showy Freyer’s purple Emperor Apatura metis that we have seen in several places in the valley of the Veleka river. This species lays its eggs on the leaves of mature White Willow trees that line this pristine river.

We also spotted the Eastern Festoon Zerynthia cerisy along the black Sea coast. The form we saw was very light, with the ‘tail’ missing, much like the cretica subspecies. It lays its eggs on Birthwort Aristolochia clematitis.

Strandja is also very important for the Grecian copper Lycaena ottomana that breeds in flowery grasslands of which there are plenty in this Bulgarian nature park. We saw it in the Veleka river valley where its host plant Sheep’s sorrel Rumex acetosella is abundant. Here we also saw the  Blue Argus Ultraaricia anteros that uses several geranium species as host plant. This species is local in the Balkan Peninsula.

We particularly liked spotting Meleager’s Blue Meleageria daphnis, with its frivolous scalloped wings! It’s host plant is Crown Vetch Coronilla varia, and it flies a bit later than many other species. We saw this butterfly species at the end of July in the West part of Strandja.

Blue Argus - Ultraaricia anteros

Meleager's Blue - Meleageria daphnis

So many butterfly species to see in Strandja…

Of course there are many more butterfly species to see here. Especially fritillaries like Cardinal, High Brown, Silver-washed, Heath, Knapweed, Glanville, Spotted and Lesser Spotted are all common throughout the park.  And of course the butterflies are not the only attraction. Strandja is also rich in dragonflies. It is one of the few areas where you can see the Odalisque Epallage fatime in Europe. We also have a moth light trap here, so mothing is also a possibility; the moth diversity is amazing.

Cardinal Fritillary - Argynnis pandora

Odalisque - Epallage fatime

Moth and butterfly holidays Bulgaria

We can organise small group butterfly holidays to this unique corner of Europe for people interested in seeing its butterfly life. And for couples, a tailor-made butterfly holiday would be ideal. You can explore at your own pace with pre-booked accommodation in local B&Bs, rental car and detailed information about where to go. As a bonus, by coming on holiday to Strandja you help to conserve this unique wildlife paradise. For every visitor to Strandja we make a donation to the Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation. This organisation does a lot of good work and has been working tirelessly for the past 10 years to protect Strandja’s wildlife.

Please contact us for more information about butterfly holidays to Bulgaria!

Silver-washed Fritillary - Argynnis paphia

Lang's Short-tailed Blue - Leptotes pirithous

Spotted Fritillary - Melitaea didyma