An intensive hiking & sightseeing programme, 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.
The tour begins with an early transfer to the Rila (appr. 1,45hrs), followed by a brief 20-min. cable car ride to the Seven Rila Lakes Cirque. The glacier lakes are at between 2100 and 2500m above sea level, with name fitting their shapes, like Babreka (the Kidney), Okoto (the Eye), Salzata (the Teardrop), Trilistnika (the Trefoil), Bliznaka (the Twin) etc. As we need to follow strict time schedule, depending on your fitness, we can either make the whole circuit around all lakes, or make the stroll shorter and skip 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 (1,30hrs drive). The 20m high walls shelter impressive cloisters, a church, and a chapel with unique murals and museum collections. We return to Sofia in late afternoon/evening.
Total transfer time: Appr. 5-5,30hrs (+40min chairlift ride)
Hiking specifics: Appr. 3,30hrs (without breaks); 6km; +400m/-400m;
Tour difficulty: the trek is considered as moderately arduous with some steep stages now and then. The terrain is rough so flip-flops and sandals are not acceptable. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Wind-/waterproofs are necessary just in case (general rule for all treks above the tree line irrespective of the season) and also a warmer middle layer (especially for the chairlift ride in the chilly mornings).
Prices: 40 euro per person on days with a Special offer. 1 pers: 159 euro; 2 pers: 97 euro pp; 3 pers: 74 euro pp; 4-7 pers: 66 euro pp;
* The rates above are per person based on the number of people in one reservation.
** The tour is not private and the group may comprise customers booked under several reservations, each with a different number of people. We aim to keep the total group size 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: Transfers throughout the tour; English-speaking guide;
Price does not include: Chair lift tickets for Rila Mountains; Entrance to the museum in Rila Monastery;
Food: Due to the really tight schedule of the tour, there will be no time for a proper lunch, although such options are otherwise available in the Rila Lakes hut, and also around the Rila Monastery. Please come prepared with a lunch pack and the proper amount of water for the day.
Best period: June-October
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7 lakes an unforgettable experience 🙂
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I would like to thank both the guides / drivers and also to the administration team. They did all the best to help us in order to go / join these tours since we really wanted to go.
Going to the 7 lakes it’s was a wonderful experience. An experience that we will never forget. Even though the trail might be challenging in the beginning but worth it once you reach the summit.
With regards the monastery, it was OK. It’s an experience of you had never been to a monastery. Yet certain places where restricted to view them.
A great escape from the city!
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Fantastic tour with both Radis. Great hike and lots of knowledge about the monastery and the lakes. Would strongly recommend.
Amazing
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This excursion is perfect for people who don’t want to rent a car. The guide are so kind and understanding even of my boyfriend looses his phone on the lift ! The seven lake are just so amazing and we where able to swim, it was so cool !
Thank you very much for this experience, I warmly recommend it !
Great trip
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The lakes where awesome and the guide was great and really kind!! I really enoyed it. Monastary was also nice and i had a great group
Heartwelming
Read the original review on TripAdvisor HERE
The nature was truly perfect, but more important was someone who stood next to you, explained things clearly with love and interest, we had a lot of conversations with metodiy petrov, he bonded the whole group together and i feel like im gonna travel again.