Sakar, one of the most mysterious and little-known mountains in Bulgaria, is slowly but surely becoming a new destination for sustainable tourism. The area, located between the Eastern Rhodopes and Strandzha Mountain, has remained away from tourist flows for years. It is precisely this untouched beauty that turns out to be its greatest asset.

Mihaela Kircheva, owner of a tourist base at the "Studen Kladenets" dam, is participating with enormous energy and dedication in the development of the area as a destination for adventure and ecotourism. Together with the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds and its supporters, she is participating in the development of a new website – visitsakar.com. The idea is to gather information about routes, landmarks, places to stay and farm products on the territory of Sakar Mountain in one place.

"This entire region has enormous potential to become an ecotourism destination, which would include its various forms. These are active tourism with bicycles, hiking, various types of culinary experiences, gastronomy related to local traditions. Our goal is, with various initiatives and work with local people, with farmers, municipalities, with local businesses, to develop the region as an attractive tourist product," Mihaela says.

Sakar differs from traditional tourist regions - there is no mass flow of people, no large resorts. But there is something more valuable - a sense of space, of silence, of history. The mountain is place when one can see unique megalithic monuments - dolmens. Sakar is also home of one the most iconic birds in this country - the Imperial eagle. However, this is not a traditional tourist destination, Mihaela says and adds:

• Millennia-old dolmens – the unfathomable secret of Bulgaria’s Sakar Mountain

"The biggest concentration of dolmens is in Sakar and few people know this. Just as very few people know that this is the land of the imperial eagle - an emblematic species with a very healthy population. We are trying to weave these two treasures - natural and cultural - into everything else that the region offers - fortresses, protected areas, rivers, routes... The dolmen near the village of Hlyabovo, for example, known as Nochevi Chairi, is one of the best preserved and is easily accessible as it is located close to the road. There are several other interesting sites in the area, such as the dolmen in Kliftinova Niva and others."

Observing the imperial eagle is an unforgettable experience. But for this purpose, guides with knowledge and experience are required. So far, two companies offer such observations. They will find the bird, show you where to observe it and how not to disturb it. This is not just a walk, but an encounter with one of the rarest creatures in Bulgarian nature, Mihaela says. At the same time, some tour operators have started offering organized trips in Sakar.

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"If you search for excursion in Sakar on Google, you will find various programs. The easy option is to sign up for an organized trip and visit the main sights. If you are more adventurous, you can go on your own. There are good places to stay in Topolovgrad and in villages such as Oreshnik and Mramor. The Historical Museum in Topolovgrad will assist you in planning routes. And for individual tourists, the website visitsakar.com will offer GPS tracks that they can download and follow via their mobile applications," Mihaela Kircheva says in conclusion.

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Publication in English: Al. Markov

Photos: eaglefest.bg