We offer one-day walking tours from Sofia to the most popular hiking destinations in Vitosha and Rila mountains: The Seven Rila Lakes, Musala Peak and Rila Monastery in Rila Mountains as well as Cherni Vrah Peak and The Golden Bridges in Vitosha Mountains. These are private tours and can be done on any date during the best hiking period and in accordance with the working schedule of the lifts when needed. Pick up/drop off at your hotel in Sofia is included in the tour price.
Please note that the following tours should be prebooked at least 3 days prior departure! To do so please follow the link of the particuar tour you are interested in to make a reservation and pay for it online. If you are looking for longer hiking tours in Bulgaria (guided or self-guided) please visit our specialised website www.bulgariawalking.com
RILA MOUNTAINS & THE SEVEN RILA LAKES
This whole-day trek to the Rila Mountains is is meant for people, who would like to walk in a leisurely pace among its jewels - The Seven Rila Lakes. You will have enough time to get to the highest of all lakes and enjoy the super scenery revealed from there. This is a group of glacial lakes situated between 2100 and 2500 m above sea level, surrounded by rugged peaks and deep valleys. We will explore the cirque of The Seven Rila Lakes and its pearls – the Eye, the Tear, the Kidney, the Twins, the Trefoil, the Fish Lake and the Lower Lake. The route is not difficult and can be altered on the spot depending on how fit you are, following either more gentle routes or steeper gradients.
Transfer time: 3-3,30hrs
Walking time: 4-5 hrs (moderate difficulty)
Best period: mid June-mid September
Price: 1 pers: 126 Euro; 2 pers: 75 Euro pp; 3 pers: 52 Euro pp; 4-7 pers: 47 Euro pp; 8-12 pers: 43 Euro pp
The price includes: Private transfer from your hotel in Sofia to Panichishte resort and back; English-speaking guide; Return chairlift tickets from Panichishte to The Seven Rila Lakes and back;
RILA MOUNTAINS & MUSALA PEAK (2925M)
The Rila Mountains are the highest ones not only on The Balkan Peninsula but also in South East Europe with Mount Musala - 2925 m a.s.l. It occupies the prestigious 6th place in the European "classification", preceded by Caucasus, the Alps, Sierra Nevada, the Pyrenees and the Etna volcano. Many of the tops here are close to 3000 m a.s.l. Much of the National Park area is under UNESCO protection. The hiking route is not technically difficult, moderately to very arduous, with some short stages rather steep.
Transfers time: 2,45 hrs
Walking time: 5-6 hrs (few steep parts; good physical condition is needed)
Best period: mid June-September (Thursday-Sunday only)
Price: 1 pers: 116 Euro; 2 pers: 70 Euro pp; 3 pers: 54 Euro pp; 4-7 pers: 46 Euro pp; 8-12 pers: 41 Euro pp
The price includes: Private transfer from your hotel in Sofia to Borovets resort and back; English-speaking guide; Return Gondola lift tickets;
RILA MOUNTAINS & RILA MONASTERY
A whole-day trek to Rila Mountains, exploring probably the most eminent area in the mountains – The Seven Rila Lakes and the most famous tourist attraction in Bulgaria – Rila Monastery. An intensive programme 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 above sea level, with name fitting their shapes, like Babreka (the Kidney), Okoto (the Eye), and Salzata (the Teardrop). After a thorough hiking trek 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.
Transfers time: 4,30-5 hrs
Walking time: 4 hrs (moderate difficulty)
Best period: mid June-September
Price: 1 pers: 159 Euro; 2 pers: 93 Euro pp; 3 pers: 69 Euro pp; 4-7 pers: 63 Euro pp; 8-12 pers: 58 Euro pp
The price includes: Private transfers throughout the tour (pick up from your hotel in Sofia); English-speaking guide; Chair lift tickets for Rila Mountains; Entrance to the museum in Rila Monastery;
VITOSHA MOUNTAINS & CHERNI VRAH PEAK (2290M)
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 National Park and Bulgaria’s most visited mountain. Each year, thousands of tourists enjoy the beauty of its scenery and its plant and animal life. Our hiking trek takes us along the entire crest of the Vitosha. We first climb Cherni Vrah and then traverse the Torfeno Branishte Nature Reserve to reach the stone rivers of the Zlatni Mostove natural feature. This walking route is moderately arduous, without steep paths.
Transfers time: 2 hours
Walking time: 4-6 hrs (moderate difficulty; no steep parts)
Best period: June-September
Price: 1 pers: 87 Euro; 2 pers: 49 Euro pp; 3 pers: 37 Euro pp; 4-7 pers: 34 Euro pp; 8-12 pers: 31 Euro pp
The price includes: Private transfer from your hotel in Sofia to Vitosha Mountains and back (or use of chair lift if the road is closed for vehicles); English-speaking guide;