Dobrostanski Biser, also known as Ahmetyova Dupka and "the Cursed One", is a small shaft cave in the Rhodopes, in the Chervenata Stena reserve. It lies about 5 km south-west of the village of Dobrostan, Asenovgrad municipality, and 600 m west of Martsiganitsa hut, at about 1,313 m. It has been protected since 1961.
The cave is 44 m long and 14 m deep. From the entrance you go down a shaft of about 12 m, after which a narrow opening leads into the single large hall — about 20 m long, 11 m wide and 4 m high. The hall is filled with white stalagmites and stalactones (thick columns), some with a greenish coat of algae and moss, and between them are rimstone pools, some of which formed cave pearls — hence the name, "the Dobrostan pearl". A small bat colony lives here. The cave was first explored in 1963 and opened to visitors in 1990. After it closed, treasure hunters and thieves took the pearls and broke the pools. It was restored and reopened on 1 May 2018 and is now run by the Asenovgrad municipal tourism company.
Several legends explain the name. One says the body of the tax collector Ahmet Aga and his guards, killed by men from Selishte, Dobrostan and Slivovo, were thrown into the cave.
Visits are guided, on set days from spring to autumn; opening times are published by the Asenovgrad municipal tourism company. The tour is short, about 15 minutes. You enter down a steep metal ladder in the shaft, and inside it is damp and slippery.
With children: there are children’s tickets, but the metal ladder needs confidence and a firm grip. Children should go down with an adult.
Dobrostan is about 27 km from Asenovgrad (around 40 minutes) and about 45 km from Plovdiv. From Martsiganitsa hut a well-marked path leads to the cave in 20–30 minutes on foot.
Plovdiv region
1.5 km away
Plovdiv region
1.6 km away
Dobrostanski Biser Cave is located in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
Dobrostanski Biser Cave is most easily reached by car. Use the coordinates above to navigate, or open the location in OpenStreetMap or your preferred maps app for turn-by-turn directions. Public transport options vary by region — for remote destinations a rental car gives the most flexibility.
Caves can be visited year-round — the temperature inside stays roughly 10–12°C regardless of season. Spring and autumn are quieter than peak summer. Bring a warm layer and sturdy footwear; some caves close in winter when access roads become impassable.
Access to caves varies. Show caves typically run guided tours during posted opening hours; wild caves require proper equipment and experience. Inside, the temperature stays cool year-round (~10–12°C) — bring a warm layer, sturdy non-slip footwear, and a torch even on guided tours.
