Dokuzak Waterfall is the most full-flowing and powerful waterfall in Strandzha Mountain. We visited it at the end of July, and the waterfall was especially beautiful then. Then we spent three wonderful days near the town of Malko Tarnovo and one of the places we visited there in the region was the waterfall. Yes, Strandzha is famous for the many remains of Thracian sanctuaries and shrines and the waterfall somehow doesn’t fit in very well among them, but it is a fact. It is not the only waterfall in Strandzha, but the other known ones have a rather modest watershed.
In this article I will tell you about Dokuzak Waterfall, how to get there, and what to expect.
Contents
Why visit the Dokuzak Waterfall?
How to get there
Brief information about the waterfall
Our visit to Dokuzak waterfall
Frequently Asked Questions
Final thought
Why visit the Dokuzak Waterfall?
Dokuzak Waterfall is very easily accessible. It is powerful and has a magnificent pattern, with many folds. It is about 5 meters high. Its waters fall in many streams and flow over jagged and highly relief rocks, which creates a feeling that the water seems to be gushing from everywhere. And all this against the backdrop of the nearby forest.
Just off the main stream, several smaller streams flow over moss-covered rocks, with small cave-like hollows opening beneath them.
How to get there
Dokuzak Waterfall is located about 7.5 kilometers from Malko Tarnovo, before the village of Stoilovo, close to the road. There are signs and a convenient parking space.
A short and easy-to-walk trail leads from the road down to the foot of the waterfall. The waterfall can be seen from the upper end of the trail. Even from there you can see that it is very beautiful, lush and interesting.
Coordinates: 42.022836, 27.502464
From the upper part, to the right of the main trail to the foot of the waterfall, there is another trail leading to the upper part of Dokuzak Waterfall.
Brief information about the waterfall
The waterfall is named after the river that feeds it – the Dokuzak River, which is a tributary of the Aydere River from the Veleka River’s basin. The Dokuzak River springs from nine never-ending springs, thus its name – “dokuz” in Turkish means “nine”.
The area near the waterfall is also named Dokuzak and is protected. It is part of the Strandzha Nature Park. It was declared protected in order to preserve a natural habitat of Crimean tea – a perennial medicinal plant included in the Red Book of Bulgaria. It is believed that this species has survived in Bulgaria only in Strandzha, with its most concentrated natural habitats found in the Dokuzak area.
Our visit to Dokuzak waterfall
We love to visit both ancient sites and beautiful waterfalls. I have shared another time – when we go to an area, we explore whether there are waterfalls there. Therefore, there was no doubt that Dokuzak waterfall should be included in our Strandzha plan. The question was when? We wanted to see it at the very beginning of our Strandzha adventure. Well, it didn’t exactly turn out that way… When you are in a mountain, you don’t know for sure whether it will let you into its depths.
We thought that we would reach Dokuzak waterfall at the end of the first day. The weather didn’t agree, though. Right after the first site we visited there – the Tomb of the Goddess Bastet – we were hit by a prolonged thunderstorm with hail, which crashed any other plans for the day. We returned ingloriously to the hotel, continuing to make plans about what to mandatory see and what, possibly, we could miss.
We had two more days, during which Strandzha Mountain kindly allowed us to stay close and explore its beauty.
So, on our second day in the Malko Tarnovo region, after visiting several remarkable places, namely – the Thracian domed tomb in the Mishkova Niva area, the Tomb of Bastet, Golyamo Gradishte peak, the City of the Dead in the Propada area, we headed to the Dokuzak waterfall. We reached at dusk and had enough time to explore it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dokuzak Waterfall worth visiting?
Yes, definitely. This is the full-flowing and powerful waterfall in Strandzha Mountain.
Is there convenient parking?
Yes.
Is there a restaurant nearby?
No. Bring water and sandwiches, but leave behind clean!
When is the best time to visit Dokuzak Waterfall?
The waterfall is active all year round.
How to prepare for the visit?
Make sure you have comfortable shoes. In addition, check the weather forecast, as the trail can be quite slippery after rain.
Is there an entrance fee?
No, there isn’t. Enjoy!
Is Dokuzak waterfall suitable for kids?
Yes, the trail is very short and there is enough space on the riverbank in front of it to admire the waterfall’s beauty. However, do not let the children out of your sight – e.g., so that they do not slip or fall into the water. There are no safety barriers on the bank.
Final thought
A beautiful and captivating waterfall! Keep it in mind if you are traveling to Strandzha!
