19-21.07.2024 Belene-Nikopol-Belene
“Persina by Bike” is the first regional tourist destination of the Dunav Ultra. With a focus on protecting the environment and wildlife, the project seeks to assist local communities through the development of sustainable tourism.
The highly anticipated “Persina by Bike 2.0” is back for its second year, offering an entirely unique weekend experience that is a celebration of nature, cycling, and discovering new places.
PERSINA BY BIKE
WEEKEND FULL OF ADVENTURES
(Event from the Dunav Ultra Destinations series)
Persina by Bike 2.0
Cycling tour
55 KM BICYCLE “OFFROAD” TOUR
BELENE-NIKOPOL-BELENE
Start: 20.07.2024 (Saturday) 08:00 AM, Belene city
- The edition offers an innovative format – a HOBBY CHALLENGE – a bicycle tour on a marked route – without a competitive element!
- Map of the route and checking in a Mobile App
- A total of six Checkpoints: Hoopoe, Huso Huso, Pelican, Black Stork, Sea Eagle, Nikopol Plateau
- Special intermediate point – NIKOPOL
- Certificate and souvenir medal
- Raffle with over 30 sponsor prizes
- Common dinner with reserved tables and Dunav Ultra beer
Suitable for bicycles of types: Cross Country, MTB, XC, Gravel, Touring, E-bike, Fat bike.
Persina by Bike 2.0
Adventures in the Jungles of the Dunav
The Persina By Bike adventure programs are crafted to enhance the cycling tour, showcasing a visit to the Persina Nature Park as a truly unique experience.
Through the amateur “expeditions” on land and water, you will personally encounter the fascinating habitat of birds, wild animals, amphibians, and fish – all inhabiting the impressive group of Danube islands – part of the Persina Nature Park.
The Dunav Ultra experience programs have been developed with local conservationists, tour guides, fishermen, teams from the municipalities of Belene and Nikopol, volunteers, and local service providers.
Don’t miss adding an experience to the Starter Pack – this will enhance the value of your cycling adventure and allow you to discover the region’s unique nature personally.
*All proceeds from the fee for the “Little Dinosaurs in the Big River” experience with Svilen Cheshmedzhiev will be donated to a cause supporting the protection of the white stork, to the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds.
To book a seat for a selected program/experience, you must purchase a Starter Pack for the “Persina on Bicycle” tour.
When you make your reservation, please add the order number you received with your Starter Pack. With one Starter Pack, you can book up to 4 spots for the experience(s) you choose.
Keep in mind that seats for these programs experiences are limited, and the service providers will make their calculations accordingly! By marking a reservation, you agree to pay the program’s cost later, regardless of whether you use the seat.
Payment for reservations is due during registration for the bike tour: on July 19, 2024, from 13:00 to 18:00, in Belene.
You’ll also receive your “pass/es” for the program/experience during the registration.
Reservations with an invalid order number will be canceled!
** You can cancel a reservation until July 1, 2024, by emailing info@dunavultra.com.
EXPERIENCES
Expedition with fishing boats – Nikopol Island Group
Travel to the Nikopol Archipelago by fishing boat. Arrive on a Danube island and enjoy a sampling of fish soup made according to a Nikopol fishermen’s recipe. Witness a Danube sunset before heading back to the coast close to Nikopol Beach. The “Amur” Association is in charge of organizing this event.
Duration: 3 hours, 40 BGN
Special Experience: Belene Islands Complex
Set sail on fishing boats to Magaretsa Island, enjoy a short walk along an eco-trail, and experience a campfire along with a tasting of authentic fish soup, made using a recipe from the fishermen of Belene. Experience a luminous event with lanterns against the backdrop of the “fiery” Danube sunset. Return to land at the Belene boat dock. This experience is organized by the local tour operator “Danube Wave”.
Duration: 3 hours, 45 BGN
“Little Dinosaurs in the Big River” – bird watching with Svilen Cheshmedzhiev (BSPB)
Visit Persin Island and the wetlands of “Persinski Blata”. Engage in a discussion filled with fascinating information about the animal and bird life on Persin Island and the Danube River basin. You will have the opportunity to climb an observation tower to use binoculars to view pelicans, herons, wild ducks, divers, and more. You will also have the chance to ask questions to one of the most established bird experts in the Danube River basin in Bulgaria, Svilen Cheshmedzhiev (BSPB).
Duration: 2 hours, 25 BGN
Времетраене: 2 часа, 25 лв
Mission “Memory”! Visit the Belene Labor Camp with tour guide Martina Ivanova
Uncover the secrets of the history of Belene Camp with the team from “Danube Wave”. You will visit the area where the camp was located. Step literally inside buildings—remnants of structures from a closer, repressive past. An extremely interesting and educational discussion about times that must not be forgotten.
Duration: 2 hours, 30 BGN
Kayaking Adventures – visit a Danube island with Kayak Club Svishtov
Special Experience: Depart from Belene boat dock for an exciting adventure touring around two Danube islands – Magaretsa and Persin. Land on Magaretsa Island with a unique opportunity to reach and walk on a sandy formation known as “Danube spit,” and explore firsthand inaccessible and wild areas formed by the river. This experience is hosted by Kayak Club Svishtov.
Duration: 3.5 hours, 50 BGN
PROGRAM
19.07.2024, Friday
BELENE 17:30 – 20:30 Special Experience: Belene Islands Complex
Starting point – boat dock, Belene
NIKOPOL 17:30 – 20:30 Expedition with fishing boats – Nikopol Island Group
Starting point: Nikopol Beach, Nikopol
20.07.2024, Saturday
BICYCLING “HOBBY” CHALLENGE
PERSINA BY BIKE 2.0
Starter Pack – 55 BGN (until 15.6.2024)
(75 BGN after 15.6.2024)
(95 BGN after 1.7.2024)
20.07.2024, Sunday
BELENE 08:30 – 12:00
2 in 1 (combined experience)
“Little Dinosaurs in the Big River” – bird watching with Svilen Cheshmedzhiev (expert, BSPB)
“Mission Memory!” Visit to the Belene Labor Camp with Martina Ivanova (tour guide, Danube Wave)
BELENE 08:30 – 12:00
Kayak trip to the Belene Islands by Kayak Club Svishtov
Starting point: Belene boat dock, Belene
NIKOPOL 09:00 – 11:00 Morning boat ride – Nikopol Island Group (additional program by Amur Association)
Starting point: Nikopol Beach, Nikopol
COMMON DINNER WITH PARTICIPANTS
*The official venue partner for the Persina by Bike event is “Corner” Pizzeria, located in Belene. Table reservations for dinner for 4 and 8 people (for the 19th and 20th of July) are available upon purchase of the Starter Pack.
Reservations for fewer than 4 people will be seated at a shared table with other participants.
OUR CAUSE
“To support local communities, local cyclists and promote the region, those wishing to participate in the bicycle tour who are registered as residents of Belene Municipality or Nikopol Municipality will be able to register for official participation in the tour, including receiving a cycling ‘tag’, without paying a fee.”
Dunav Ultra
ACOMMODATION
Possible options to accommodate in the region:
Belene Town: Prestige Hotel (summer pool for hotel guests)
Belene Town: Kanet Hostel (bungalow-type rooms for 2 ppl with private bathroom, Dunav Ultra support: +359-882-562-865)
Belene Town: Accommodation room suggestions in various parts of the city by Danube Wave)
Vabel Village: Tiny Little House
Nikopol Town: Gold Hotel
Svishtov Town: Nove Hotel
MAP
Persina By Bike route track (tbc)
SUPPORTED BY
