Vitosha looming is the first thing visitors to Sofia notice on their way from the airport. Few cities and even fewer capitals possess such a natural feature. Vitosha is the Balkans’ oldest Nature Park and Bulgaria’s most visited mountain. Each year, thousands of tourists enjoy the beauty of its scenery and its plant and animal life.
GUIDED & SELF-GUIDED hiking options are available to choose from (Check the “Prices, Dates & Remarks” tab for details)
Our hiking trek takes you on a loop trail, starting from Aleko Hut and going as high as Cherni Vrah summit (2290m), then descending along a different path back to Aleko Hut. Starting from appr. 1750m. above sea level we first traverse the foot of Golyam Rezen Peak and Malak Rezen Peak. This stage is particularly scenic with constant views towards the capital Sofia, the long range of the Balkan Mountains, and the high summits of the Rila Mountains far in the distance. Eventually we arrive at Cherni Vrah Peak (2290m), where we will have well-deserved rest (incl. an option to buy a proper lunch on spot). When descending down we will pass through the Torfeno Branishte (The Peat) Reserve, eventually arriving back at Aleko Hut. The fragile ecosystem of the wet meadows on either side of the path are home to a number of rare plant species, including a few species of orchids. During the morning ascent you might also be lucky to encounter some of the recently introduced Balkan Chamois (wild goats). Nutcrackers, Ring Ouzels and Common Crossbills may be spotted too, along with other mountain species.
Total transfers time: 2hrs
Hiking specifics: Appr. 4-4,30hrs (without breaks); 14km; +590m/-590m.
Tour difficulty: No steep stages are present along the trail. It is considered as moderately arduous. Bring wind-/waterproofs as strong wind, fog and rain are not uncommon. Comfortable walking shoes are a must, sandals are not acceptable.
Price (guided tour): Other days: 1 pers: 97 Euro; 2 pers: 62 Euro pp; 3 pers: 49 Euro pp; 4-7 pers: 44 Euro pp;
Price (self-guided tour): 90 Euro/car (group of 1-4 persons); 115 Euro/bus (group of 5-8 persons)
* The rates above are per person based on the number of people in one reservation (guided tour) or per group (self-guided tour).
** The tour is not private and the group may comprise customers booked under several reservations, each with a different number of people (incl. guided and self-guided option). We aim to keep the total group size for the guided tour not exceeding 12 passengers (normally 2-8).
*** Promo rates may occur for some of the dates; scroll the Book Online tab to check if such are present around your travel dates.
Price includes: Transfer from Sofia to Vitosha Mountains and back; English-speaking guide (for the guided hiking option); Detailed route notes in English and maps (for the self-guided hiking option; 1 set of route notes and 1 map per reservation)
Price does not include: meals, tips
Food: basic food is available in the eatery at Cherni Vrah station (i.e. beans soup, meatballs, French fries, tea, pancakes). The latter gets crowded during weekends, so it is always best to come prepared with your own lunchpacks and a bottle of water.
Best period: mid-May – November (in winter we do one-day snowshoeing treks to Vitosha; check with us for details)
SUBMIT A REVIEW ABOUT THIS TOUR
Lovely mountain
The citizens of Sofia should be proud to have such a marvelous mountain so close to their homes. The trip is perfect for people with less experience in hiking and for those who came for a weekend and want to make a short break into the wild.
Family self-guided
Me, my wife and 3 little kids booked this day tour without guide. We went directly to the office of Traventuria as we had problems with our devices and the online process did not succeed. We were welcomed very warmly by the staff and they sorted this out very quickly! In fact, we were hesitating between this trip and Rila Lakes but since our little girl was only 6, they recommended us this hike and definitely it was the best idea! The kids really enjoyed the nature and playing outside! Thanks to the driver Angel we had very safe journey!
The best birthday!
It’s such a pleasure entering your 30’s out in the fresh air, surrounded by green eternity and sky so close to you!
Thanks to my husband booking this self-guided trip for me!
perfect day out
Me and my girlfriend were looking on how to spend one day outside of the city as we were there on a training. We found the opportunity to join a small group going to Vitosha and we made the reservation online. The booking process is very simple and we received an e-mail with all of the needed information as a confirmation that we successfully booked the trip.
We met the group at 9 near the big cathedral Nevsky. The guide was a young woman, very talkative and informative. The walk itself was nice and pleasant and the charm of the mountain was unbelievable! We had some nice views towards the city!
Nice surprise
Me and my husband booked this guided tour to Vitosha mountains. We were exploring Bulgaria for more than a week.
So beautiful country, much recommendable! In the end of our trip we had a flight delay and one more free day to
explore the capital. We decided to book a short hiking tour outside Sofia. So nice suprise! We were not expecting much to see. But Vitosha, which is so close located to Sofia is a worthy to see. We were part of a small international group with a great guide. We were enjoying the picturesque views towards Sofia and the nearby mountains.
Thank you for the lovely day!