USE CODE TOUR10 for a 10% DISCOUNT on your tour! *Limited time offer!
An intensive hiking & sightseeing program, which shows you the best of the nature and culture merits of the Rila Mountains: Rila Monastery (UNESCO) and the Cirque of The Seven Rila Lakes. The program doesn’t allow much free time on either site but it is quite enough to explore both places.
Circular trek, starting from the Rila Lakes hut, going along the lower lakes up to the Kidney Lake, before descending back to the Rila Lakes hut (the highest two lakes will be skipped due to lack of time). (3,30hrs hiking time only; 4,5km; +200m; -200m)The tour begins with an early transfer to the Rila, followed by a brief cable car ride to the Seven Rila Lakes Cirque. The glacier lakes are at between 2100 and 2500m/6800 and 8200ft above sea level, with name fitting their shapes, like Babreka (the Kidney), Okoto (the Eye), and Salzata (the Teardrop). As we need to follow a strict time schedule, depending on your fitness, we can either walk the whole trek around all lakes, or make the stroll shorter and skip some of them (normally the two highest ones). After the hiking around one of the Rila’s most remarkable and beautiful parts, we are transferred to the Rila Monastery: the largest and most significant Bulgarian Orthodox Church establishment. The 20m/70ft high walls shelter impressive cloisters, a church, and a chapel with unique murals and museum collections.
Difficulty: The hiking route is moderately arduous, with individual brief paths featuring steep inclines. Please bring along comfortable walking boots. Sandals and flip-flops are not accepted. A rain jacket might be useful in summer, as heavy showers sometimes occur in the afternoons.
Meeting point: Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (a detailed map will be provided with the reservation)
Duration: 12 hours; 4.30-5 hrs spent in transfer time
Walking time: 3,30 hrs (hiking time only; moderate difficulty)
Best period: mid-June – mid-September (possible also in late May and Late September through to November (incl.) (depending on the lifts working time)
Tour options:
- English-speaking live guide
- Spanish-speaking live guide
- Audio guide (online) in different languages -English, Spanish, Italian, French, German, and Russian.
Drop off: Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
07:00: The trip starts from the parking behind Alexander Nevski Cathedral.
09:00: Arrival at the bottom station of the Panichishte Resort chairlift.
09:30: Arrival at the top station of the chairlift and start of the hike.
14:00: End of the hike and arrival back at the top station of the chairlift.
14:30: Arrival at the bottom station and transfer to Rila Monastery.
16:00: Arrival in Rila Monastery, followed with a tour of the complex and some free time.
17:30: Departure from Rila Monastery, going back to the starting point of the tour.
19:30: Arrival at the parking lot of Alexander Nevski Cathedral.
Please note that all of the timetables are approximate and are subject to change, depending on the size of the group and the traffic along the way.
Price: From 45 euros per person
Service variations:
- TRANSPORT ONLY – return transportation service;
- ENGLISH GUIDE + AUDIOGUIDE – with an English-speaking guide and extra online audio guide on your smartphone (internet and headphones required);
- SPANISH GUIDE + AUDIOGUIDE – with a Spanish-speaking guide and extra online audio guide on your smartphone (internet and headphones required);
The price does NOT include: Tickets for the Chair Lift to the Rila Lakes; (30 BGN/leva return ticket price per person); Entrance ticket to the Museum in Rila Monastery (8 BGN/leva per person);
The price includes: All transportation along the route: Sofia – Rila Lakes – Rila Monastery – Sofia, services as per variation, VAT, and parking fees;
Please note:
- For the lakes: The lakes are situated between 2,100 and 2,500 metres above sea level!
Dress according to the season & the weather forecast. Don’t forget a windproof and waterproof jacket or raincoat. Please wear comfortable hiking shoes. Sneakers and other kinds of sports shoes are acceptable as well. Please bring an extra layer of clothing and a hat, and sun lotion for the summer - For the Monastery:There is a strict DRESS CODE at the Monastery. Shoulders and knees MUST be covered.
- The tour is not suitable for disabled people.
- The tour is not recommended for children under 6 years old.
If you are travelling with a child, a separate seat (ticket) must be booked.
Please get in touch with us to arrange a booster seat (as required by law) - Food: Please, kindly note that there will be no time for a proper lunch. Please, come prepared with a lunch pack.
- Hiking time: hiking time only is mentioned on each day (not including stops for pictures, picnics, breaks etc.); these are based on an average hiker’s speed of 4-5km/h on flat terrain, additional 30min for each 300m elevation gain, and a backpack weighing not more than 10-15% of your body weight. Still this varies a lot on the terrain, the group size and the hiking experience of each client within the group.
