THE GREAT TRIAD – BOTEV, MUSALA & VIHREN PEAKS

Day 1: Sofia – Plovdiv
Meeting at Sofia Airport and transfer to Plovdiv for overnight stay. Plovdiv is one of the oldest settlements in Europe and the second biggest town in Bulgaria. If we have free time in the afternoon we will tour the Old Town, which offers a cocktail of unbelievable stories, heroic legends and breath taking architecture from different historical periods. It is an authentic open-air museum preserving exhibits from Thracian, Slavic, Roman, Turkish and Bulgarian times – all located within a walking distance from each other.
Day 2: Plovdiv – Kalofer – Rai Hut (4-5hrs; 8km; +750m/-0m)
Early morning we will transfer to the trailhead at the foots of the Balkan Mountains. Steadily ascending path, revealing the mighty beauty of The Southern Dzhendem Reserve, will lead us through open meadows and shady Beech forests to the Rai (Heaven) Hut. The latter is perched on a picturesque ridge, overlooking the sinister gorges of Byala Reka and Toundzha rivers, and standing just below the highest waterfall on the Balkan Peninsula (The Heavenly Waterfall, 125m high), which we will have time to visit later in the afternoon. Overnight stay in Rai Hut.
Day 3: Rai Hut – Mount Botev – Rai Hut – Kalofer – Govedartsi (7-9hrs; 17km; +850m/-1600m)
More stunning panoramas expect us today as we continue hiking up along The Tarzan’s Trail towards Mt. Botev. Sheer slopes, lush green meadows and vertical rock faces will be accompanying us on our way to the highest peak in the Balkan Mountains. Once we have made it to the top we will descend along another scenic route, revealing views to The Northern Dzhendem Reserve and the main ridge of the mountains. Passing by the Rai Hut we will descend further down to where we started the day before. Here we will board our van and transfer to the Rila Mountains and the charming village of Govedartsi – our base for the next two nights area.
Day 4: Govedartsi – The Seven Rila Lakes – Govedartsi (6-7hrs; 16-18km; +1100-1300m/-1100-1300m)
Today we will tour probably the most eminent part of the Rila Mountains – The Seven Rila Lakes, situated in a picturesque cirque between 2100 and 2500m a.s.l. Shady path through a dense spruce forest will bring us up in the alpine zone of the mountain, where we will start exploring the famous glacial lakes. On a clear day the views from the highest lake to the lakes below us and the ridges around us, are impressive.
Day 5: Govedartsi – Borovets – Mount Musala – Borovets – Govedartsi (5,30hrs; 14,50km; +690m/-690m)
Target today is Mt. Musala – the highest peak in Bulgaria and on the Balkans. Despite its height the trek will not be too difficult with the exception of a few short steep stages. A cabin lift ride from Borovets resort will save time, leaving us on Yastrebets Peak, where our hiking tour will start. The jagged massif of Mount Musala will be enjoyed during the whole trip as we walk through rocky cirques, glacial lakes and mountain refuges on our way to the top. And the views from there will be really rewarding. We will admire many other peaks of Rila Mountains, the marble pinnacles of Pirin Mountains, Vitosha and Sredna Gora mountains, the rounded summits of the Rhodope (Rodopi) Mountains and the long body of the Balkan Mountains.
Day 6: Govedartsi – Rila Monastery – Stob Pyramids – Bansko (1,30hrs; 2km; +80m/-80m)
Relaxing day, devoted to visiting probably the most famous tourist attraction in Bulgaria – Rila Monastery. Behind the 20-metre high walls lie impressive monastery buildings, a church and a chapel with valuable murals. The next stop on our way to Pirin Mountains are the picturesque sand formations of The Stob Pyramids, where we will make a short walking tour. Later in the afternoon, we reach Bansko – the biggest and most modern ski resort in Eastern Europe, but a very quiet and charming mountain settlement in summer.
Day 7: Bansko – Vihren Hut – Mount Vihren – Vihren Hut – Bansko (6-7hrs; 8km; +960m/-960m)
Today we will attempt Mount Vihren, the second highest peak in Bulgaria and the highest in the Pirin Mountains. The scenic circular trail goes steeply up to the Golyam Kazan (Big Cauldron) cirque, bounded by the dramatic 400m high vertical north wall of Mount Vihren. This Karst region is famous for the diversity of endemic or rare plants, with the Edelweiss among them. Small flocks of timid Balkan Chamois can also be seen on the way. After a strenuous climb, we reach the peak and enjoy the breath-taking view of the surrounding mountains. On the way back we will take a short break at the oldest tree in Bulgaria, over 1300 years old.
Day 8: Bansko – Sofia
Transfer to Sofia Airport for departure. (2,30hrs drive)

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/hr 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 and hiking experience of each client.