High, panoramic spots along the Bulgarian banks of the Danube River – those places that give a wide view across the river with all its flows, sandspits and islands – are hard to find. You can find them in just a few places, such as Nikopol, Batin (Батин) and Tutrakan. But you will best understanding this feeling of infinity only while kayaking along the Danube River. The vast water has its own climate, scent and charm.

The islands near Ruse

Kayaking on the Danube, Bulgaria | © Maria Angelova/ 203challenges

The river islands, created by natural sand silt or silted sunken ships, are countless. Near the town of Ruse (Русе) there are 10, divided into 4 bigger island groups – Batin, Lyulyaka, Aleko and Mishka. They can be reached by tourist kayaks, fishing boats, yachts or small ships, as well as rafts (rafts are best organized in Tutrakan). The islands are the perfect nesting place for water birds, such as white and grey herons, cormorants, sea eagle. In summer, when the level of the river drops, the sand silt, which forms the islands, comes to the surface. Wide beaches of fine sand appear, creating a unique view. The next year those peculiar dunes will be somewhere else – they move and travel along this truly living river.  

Kayaking on the Danube, Bulgaria | © Maria Angelova/ 203challenges

Adventure with a kayak and a cause

The Danube, however, carries not only sand. It carries also slime and garbage. The slime is a natural product and settles down, but the garbage gets stuck to the islands. When the water level rises, plastic bottles, pieces of styrofoam and other garbage litters the islands until someone comes to remove them.

The Tourist Society of Prista decided to do something about the problem. In a series of water campaigns, volunteers with kayaks and motorboats clean the river and transport the garbage, but also sail, become part of the unique landscape of the big river, and actually create a real adventure. In fact, for many of the project’s participants, this is their first time kayaking. After the adventure, the collected garbage is transported and recycled.

Kayaking on the Danube, Bulgaria | © Maria Angelova/ 203challenges

Useful information

If you start from Ruse, contact the Tourist Society of Prista. You can take part in one of the cleaning sessions, water campaigns and interesting guided tours, or simply receive information about the routes in the region, as well as the possibility to hire a guide, kayak, life jacket, oars and other equipment. Contact details: islandsproject@gmail.com, www.facebook.com/DanubeIslands.

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Sziget festival in Hungary has existed since 1993. Literally, the name of the festival means ‘Island’, so that might give you a hint about what kind of scenery to expect. Here are the most important things to know if you want to join in the action.

Location – The festival takes place on a small island in the Danube River. How cool is that?! Plus, if you need to take a break from the party, you have Budapest right at the tip of your fingers. Budapest is one of the most versatile European capitals, with plenty of beautiful architecture to admire and a hectic nightlife scene all year round.

A colorful crowd at Sziget feistval.

Line-up – The event actually started off as a festival for student bands and included only Hungarian artists. Over the next five years Sziget gained international popularity for the artists that came to perform: Iggy Pop, Slash, The Prodigy, David Bowie and Rammstein, among others. Nowadays there is a bit of everything, from soft rock to hard techno.

Accessibility – Budapest has excellent flight connections to destinations across Europe, so you’ll have no problems finding tickets. The festival takes place right in the middle of the Danube in the center of this well-planned city – you can’t miss it!

The festival stage lights up the night.

Cost – Tickets for this festival vary in price, from one-day tickets for 65-75 euros to seven-day passes that range between 275 and 325 euros (depending on how early you buy the tickets). Accommodation in Budapest is easy to find, and if you’re looking for something on a budget you can choose from a range of guesthouses and hostels costing around 15-20 euros per night.

More information here.

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