Best Golf at the Black Sea Coast

Best Golf at the Black Sea Coast

Black Sea Coast, Bulgaria

Whether just for a day, visiting by a cruise ship, or a full blown summer vacation, you will have an incredible time exploring the stunning Black Sea coast. There are two cruise ship ports-Varna (3rd biggest city in Bulgaria) and Burgas (the 4th largest, after Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna), the distance between which is about 90 km, or 54 miles. If you are driving, it will take you approximately 2 hours to reach, but I bet you will be lured to stop frequently to explore the quaint coastal towns or have a nice seafood meal in a beach shack, so plan to travel longer.

While the Black Sea coast to the North is pretty different than its Southern part in terms of landscape and climate, the whole of its is perfect for a summer vacation, attracting various groups of tourists, from locals to Europeans and recently many Americans, brought by cruise ships.

If you start your journey from Cape Kaliakra, which is only 18 km from the Romanian border and 60 km from Varna, you will be stunned by the breathtaking view of this coast – its steep vertical cliffs reachI got 70 m down to the sea and the remnants of an old fortress from the Middle Ages, create a perfect setting for the legend, which is dear to all Bulgarians. According to it, several Bulgarian girls chose to jump from the high cape into the sea, to avoid being captured and converted to Islam by the Turks. The girls , lead by the beautiful Kaliakra braided and tied their hair together, jumped off the cliff to save their Faith.

 

The fortress itself is believed to have been used successfully by Tracians, Romans, Byzantines and Bulgarians, making it an important historical site.

Cape Kaliakra is also a nature reserve, where dolphins and cormorants can be observed, it is also the home of rare breeding birds, fish, amphibians and plants, many of them included in the Red Book of Bulgaria. The biblical fig trees are also dominant on the Cave, salting their shadow and spreading their sweet aroma all over.

At Cape Kaliakra, you will not be bored. Aside from the incredible vista, you can take a break playing Golf at some of the best courses in Europe,  bathe in the warm waters of private beaches, or indulge in elaborate spa treatments in the luxury resorts near by.

For the romantics, I would recommend the traditional, yet excellent restaurant at the very tip of the Cape, overlooking the sea, where the sunsets will leave you in owe, while having a nice cocktail.

 

 

For those of you who crave quiet luxury and an exhilarating
golf and spa experience- you are in luck. The Thracian Cliffs resort only 10 min away offers understated comfort, combined with unspoiled beaches and tranquil scenery. When I first visited Thracian Cliffs, I was quite impressed with the ambiance of the place- the intense blue of the sea, the electric green of the course, the calm skies and sparkly lake- create a harmonious symphonie of color, making the limestone cliffs striking with their majestic height and unusual shape. In the words of Gary Player himself : „you will not find a golf course like this anywhere else on the planet“, I would add, neither you will find such a unique view and luxurious, yet cozy summer experience.

 

The beach at first glance looks completely wild,however the Guests can relax in daybeds or for extra privacy can take a stilted deck a few meters off shore. Easy to find and hard to leave, Bendida Beach is intimate, yet offers every comfort, as well as tasty meals and a great bar selection. Forget about cheap plastic utensils, chilled white wine in glasses awaits you when you come back from a refreshing swim.