One-day SUP Tour on Pchelina Reservoir and visit to a 19th century mine

Join us for a day of Stand-Up Paddling on the beautiful Pchelina reservoir near the town of Pernik.

Located only 60 km away from Sofia, this artificially created lake is popular with locals as a quick day break from the busy city life of Bulgaria’s capital. The Pchelina Dam was built in the 1970s where the old village of Pchelintsi used to be, hence its name. People were displaced, and the village was submerged. The place has been erased from the map, but not from memory. Nowadays, a small 14^th century chapel towering above the lake serves as a reminder of its existence.

Enjoy a day of paddling, surrounded by beautiful nature, while diving into the rich history of the area. Just like our SUP & Birdwatching Daytrip from Sofia, this program is beginner friendly. You do not need any prior experience paddling. Before entering the water, all participants undergo thorough instruction on how to paddle and the respective safety rules.

Difficulty and Duration: Easy; ~ 3-4 hours of paddling.

On this Private Day Tour from Sofia, we will also visit the Museum of Mining in Pernik. It is located in an old 19^th century mine and is the only one of its kind on the Balkan Peninsula. The town of Pernik is known as the Town of Black Gold, as its development is closely related to the mining industry. It is pretty much the Bulgarian equivalent of Wrexham County Borough in northeastern Wales, football team included 😉

Find out more details in the Itinerary description below or get in touch if you are unsure whether our paddle boarding tour is suitable for you.

We leave at 8:30 AM from a location of your choosing in Sofia and arrive at Pchelina Dam around 9:30 AM.

Before entering the water, all participants will get acquainted with the SUP equipment – paddle board, safety vest, leash, paddle, etc. You will also be instructed by our experienced guide on the main aspects of paddling, e.g. how to paddle straight, how to turn, how to stop, how to get up and/or sit down on the board, as well as on all safety rules. The paddling on Pchelina reservoir will last about three to four hours and we have prepared some snacks for you to munch on.

Before heading back to Sofia, we will visit the Museum of Mining in Pernik and delve into the history of the town. You will need warm clothes here, as we enter an actual underground mine, where the temperature remains constant about 8-10 C throughout the year.

We will arrive back in Sofia in the early evening. If you have any follow-up questions about this one-day SUP & Sightseeing Tour, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.