• Belene - Stop 1 - Belene Town: Roman Customs House Dimum and Catholic Church
  Location: Belene town, northern Bulgaria - approximately 3 hours from Sofia
  Time at stop: approximately 1 hour
  Begin your journey in Belene town, where two remarkable historical sites coexist. The Roman customs house Dimum, established at the end of the 1st century BC, served as a frontier post overseeing movement across the Danube at the edge of the ancient world. Nearby, the Catholic Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, constructed in 1860, stands as a tribute to Monseigneur Eugene Bosilkov and three other priests who were arrested and executed in 1952 for their faith. Bosilkov was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1998. Experience two millennia of history in a brief stroll.

• Belene Prison - Stop 2 - The Checkpoint: Crossing Into Persin Island
  Location: Persin Island checkpoint, Belene
  Time at stop: approximately 10 minutes
  This moment distinguishes Belene from any other tour in Bulgaria. To access Persin Island, visitors must pass through a formal security checkpoint managed by the Bulgarian Ministry of Justice. The island hosts an active prison today, alongside a memorial park, Roman ruins, and a nature reserve. Your permit, arranged in advance, is essential for entry. Without it, access is denied. This is not a historical reenactment; it is history in its ongoing form.

• Nature Park Persina - Stop 3 - Lager 1 and Lager 2: The Memorial Park
  Location: Persin Island, Belene
  Time at stop: approximately 1 hour 30 minutes
  Between 1949 and 1989, over 20,000 individuals passed through Belene’s two camp sites, including intellectuals, priests, teachers, and officers whose only offense was free thought. What remains is preserved as a memorial park, featuring foundations, rusted wire, watchtower positions, and survivor testimonies. Your local island guide, deeply connected to this place, shares personal stories and insights. Names are mentioned, and stories are recounted, ensuring the people who were brought here are remembered beyond mere statistics.

• Nature Park Persina - Stop 4 - Persina Nature Park
  Location: Eastern Persin Island - Ramsar designated wetland
  Time at stop: approximately 1 hour (subject to seasonal conditions)
  The island then offers a delightful surprise. Persina Nature Park is among the premier birdwatching locations in southeastern Europe, home to over 220 species, including Dalmatian pelicans, sea eagles, lesser cormorants, and red-breasted geese. Wildlife sightings depend on the season and conditions and cannot be guaranteed, but the wetland walk itself, transitioning from the solemnity of the memorial park to this extraordinary natural sanctuary, is one of the most unexpected experiences in Bulgarian tourism. Binoculars are recommended.

• Professional English-speaking guide for the full day
• Meeting point at Banya Bashi Mosque, Maria Luisa Boulevard, Sofia
• All transfers between sites on the island
• Island access permit arranged on your behalf
• Local island guide on Persin Island
• Air-conditioned vehicle from Sofia

• Lunch in Belene (local restaurant, budget 10-15 EUR)
• Gratuities (optional)

Some places are stunning, others are steeped in history. Rarely do they combine both qualities, and even fewer have untold stories. Belene Island, located in the Danube River between Bulgaria and Romania, is one such place. In just one remarkable day, visitors can stand where Roman soldiers once guarded the Empire’s frontier, enter a church that became a shrine for martyrs, explore Bulgaria’s most notable communist-era labor camp, and observe Dalmatian pelicans soaring over the Danube wetlands.

What sets this tour apart is its unique narrative. Although the communist camp ceased operations in 1989, Belene Island continues to serve as a place of confinement. A functioning prison exists here today, right next to the memorial park and Roman ruins. History is not just preserved here; it is ongoing.

The tour accommodates a maximum of 8 guests and is confirmed with just one booking. It is the only tour of its kind departing from Sofia.

Please note: A passport copy is required at least 48 hours before departure, as the permit will be arranged for you.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.