Summer can be unforgettable not only with a holiday by the sea, but also with a walk to the wild beaches of the Danube. Each of the towns along the banks of the great river has its own place where one can spread an umbrella and step on the fine river sands. But summer by the Danube promises to be even more exciting if you don't look at the river from the side, but get into it. For this purpose, you need oars, some kind of boat, and it is a good idea to take a good camera with you.

However, if you are a tourist who does not know the river, then you better seek assistance from the local people. For just a day, they will reveal to you many river secrets that you didn't even suspect existed.

• Danube itineraries for the free-spirited

The third largest island in the Bulgarian section of the Danube is called Vardim – named after the nearby village. It is a curious fact that around the island of Vardim a large area of sediment deposited by the river is formed, but its place is different every year. It is a challenge to find it and that is why every year we organize kayak trips to the so-called "Vardim Islands", says in an interview for "Radio Bulgaria" Chief Assistant Professor Radoslav Yordanov, who in addition to being a lecturer at the Academy of Economics in Svishtov, is one of the biggest admirers of everything happening along the Danube. "There is a lot of life along the river, especially on the island of Vardim," Radoslav Yordanov says and adds:

"One can see many birds on Vardim and the neighboring islands. From mid-summer to late autumn and in winter on these sandbars and on the islands there are many pelicans, swans, cormorants, and others. We tried to photograph beavers there with photo-traps and the camera captured many different animals. The place where the beavers live is right in the middle of the river. We call it “Beaver Island". It is made of young willow trees and is a kind of ‘breakfast room’ for the beavers. They cross about 80 m from Vardim Island, eat from the young branches and return. To show that beavers are harmless animals we set up photo traps in different places. Our goal is to get to know the animals, to see what they do in the wild. And the best video is of a mother with a baby beaver. This is a very nice sight, and few people in our country have ever seen beavers."

• Guest houses like ethnographic museums – taking a break in an authentic rustic atmosphere on the banks of the Danube

"In the past, Svishtov was a commercial city and today it is a university center in the region. In the future, this city can also become a very nice tourist destination, as long as more attention is paid to the opportunities provided by the proximity to the Danube and the big number of local attractions. Tourism may not become the main source of income for the settlements along the Danube, but may be one of the things that will revive them. There is a great potential not only in the field of cultural, adventure and wine tourism, as many more things can be added. But people with ideas are needed to dream and develop their plans, so that they can also change the appearance of the places along the Danube," Radoslav Yordanov says.

Read also:

• Tutrakan – a fishing and boatbuilding town

• Vidin, a town of venerable history

• 7 ideas for adventurous tours in the Ruse region

Publication in English: Al. Markov

Photos: Kayaking Club - Svishtov