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Bulgarian Blue Rocks National Park  (Near Burgas)
The heart of Bulgarian rebel country during Bulgaria's fight for independence from the Turks, Blue Rocks protects a small, once impenetrable corner of the country. Today it's a 90-minute walk to the highest peak but there's also a chair lift for those who can't face the hike, and you can explore the caves that the revolutionary guerrillas used for almost two centuries.
Golden Sands National Park (Near Burgas)
Fragrant Bulgarian pine forest extending over 1,300 hectares blankets the hillsides of the northern Black Sea coast. This national park is the perfect antidote to the bustle of the coastal resorts. An hour's walk through the heady aroma of pine is Aladzha Monastery, carved out of the rocks in the 12th century but long abandoned.
Kaliakra Nature Reserve 
Protecting vast expanses of the Bulgarian coastline, the boundaries of 650-hectare Kaliakra Park extend out into the shallows of the Black Sea to a distance of 500m. The area has become known as the Bay of Birds for its almost 300 native and migratory species, though it is also home to a small number of dolphins and seals - the populations are now thought to be in single figures, so you are unlikely to catch a glimpse of either. The cape consists of high sheer cliffs" with spectacular long-range views but there is no safe access to the shoreline. Bring binoculars and you can enjoy hours of bird watching, including breeding colonies clinging to the sheer rock face.
Those less enamoured with ornithology can explore the remains of the Bulgarian Kaliakra citadel, in use from the 4th century bc until the 17th century ad. Much of what still remains is Byzantine.
Ropotamo Nature Reserve (Near Burgas)
 Bulgarian and one of Eastern Europe's most important marshland wildernesses, the Ropotamo protects 20km of river mouth attractingover 200 species of birds. The sand dunes that separate the marshes from the open ocean are the most extensive in Bulgaria and they are also part of the reserve, forming an important habitat for flora that includes rare sand lilies.
A section of the Bulgarian Ropotamo is designated as parkland, offering short hiking trails and a boat trip along the river to catch a glimpse of the less shy wild creatures, including breeding colonies of egrets and herons, turtles and huge carp.
Rusenski Lorn National Park
The three-pronged river valleys of the Bulgarian Rusenski Lorn, Beli Lorn and Malki Lom rivers form the Rusenski Lom National Park, one of Bulgaria's largest protected wildernesses. The sinuous park covers forested mountains, low rising hills and exceptional karst landscape. This Bulgarian range of natural environments has created a wide variety of habitats for over 170 species of native bird, including great eagle owls, 20 species of bat and over 60 species of mammal, of which 10 species are endangered. It also encompasses over 30 incredible rock-cut churches, of which Ivanovo Monastery (see pi26) is the highlight, and the second largest cave in Bulgaria, the Orlova Chuka Peshtera (Eagle Peak Cave), just south of the village of Tabachka. The region offers hiking on less well-established routes than the mountain parks and a less formalised tourist infrastructure.
Sreburna Nature Reserve
Listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, Bulgarian Lake Sreburna (also spelled Srebarna) is a slow-flowing freshwater marsh, only 5m deep at its maximum, that drains into the Danube. This shallow depth is the perfect environment for reeds and other water-loving plants, which in turn act as a magnet for water birds. Over 160 species inhabit the reserve, from ducks to cormorants, herons to pelicans. Severalare on the endangered list. Many nest on remote reed 'islands' that grow throughout the reserve away from the interference of man.
Strandjha Nature Park  (Near Burgas)
Established as recently as 1995, Strandjha sits on the very southern tip of the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast, stretching to the Turkish border. Little visited because of its remote location, it offers a real chance to experience unspoilt and exceptionally varied landscapes from deciduous forest to excellent beaches and marshy shallows. This range of habitat is home to over 150 species of bird and over 50 species of mammals, the largest and most varied flora and fauna of any park in Bulgaria. The hiking here is easy because the terrain is flat and there are numerous trails ranging from 3km to over 20km.
For those more interested in history than in wildlife there are several ruined Byzantine citadels to explore, now languishing in the foliage. These once formed part of a formidable defensive boundary.
There is little mainstream tourist infrastructure but camping is permitted within its boundaries (but with no facilities); this may be the way to see the park at its best. The village of Bulgari in the north of the park hosts a unique fire-walking festival in early June. Otherwise you'll have much of the Bulgarian Strandjha to yourselves.
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