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Peaks and lakes of the Rila and Pirin Mountains

€880 per person

Looking for an independent trekking tour to test your hiking fitness? Bored of the popular walking destinations in the Alps and the Pyrenees? You have come to the right place, looking at our most scenic self-guided hiking trek, which covers the very best of the highest Bulgarian mountains: Rila and Pirin. And for peace of mind – with all ground transfers included!
Climb the giant of Rila, Mount Musala (2925m), highest in Bulgaria and on the Balkan Peninsula, trace dramatic ridges, visit the world-famous UNESCO site Rila Monastery and thrill on the challenging climb to the Pirin summit of Mount Vihren (2914m). Panoramic mountain views will take your breath away along an almost infinite series of trails to alpine meadows, rocky Cirques, remote glacial lakes and onto spectacular ridges and summits.

The tour includes all ground transfers, incl. pick up/drop off at Sofia Airport/Sofia.This trip is not suitable for novices as you’ll be trekking above the tree line in the alpine parts of the mountains. No rock climbing experience is needed and no “via ferratas” are present. The tour is meant for fit hikers, preferably with some previous experience in hiking above the tree line and for people used to walk over rocky slopes, overtaking steep ascends/descends now and then. The terrain in the Pirin and Rila is alpine and includes trails over steep slopes, where sure-footedness is necessary on a couple of occasions. Patches of snow along the trails may still be present until the end of June.

Note that the below program is can be modified as per your requirements to include more hiking in Rila or Vitosha mountains, extra nights in Sofia and even easier hikes in the Rhodope Mountains. For more details please just use the contact form.

You walk every day with just a daypack. The rest/unnecessary luggage either remains inside the transfer vehicle or in your accommodation.

Walking Grade/ Difficulty

Level 4

See more here

  • Destination
    Bulgaria
  • Duration
    8 (4-10) Days I Level: 4 (of 5)
  • What is included
    Transfers to and from Sofia Airport (on first/last tour date only) and all other transfers for the daily treks as per itinerary (pre-defined/fixed schedule of the daily transfers, which you need to follow); Family-run pension including breakfast and dinner (Day 1 to Day 3) and 3* hotel on bed & breakfast basis (Day 4 to Day 8; there are numerous options to have dinner in the taverns and restaurants of Bansko); en-suite rooms everywhere (check the Rates&Remarks tab for details); Detailed route notes and maps; GPS tracks; Emergency hotline.
  • What is not included
    Extra meals and drinks; lift tickets; travel/medical insurance; entrance fees for museums.
  • Best period
    mid-June, July, August, mid-September

FROM OUR GALLERY

Self-guided trekking tour along the most scenic alpine trails of Bulgaria in RIla and Pirin mountains. Incl. a visit to Rila Monastery.

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1
Day 1: Sofia - Govedartsi (Rila Mountains)
We meet you at Sofia (or Sofia Airport) and take you to the village of Govedartsi, where you will have three overnight stays. Single timed transfer from Sofia will be organized in case of overlapping bookings (departing Sofia at 16:30 at latest; please make sure to land at 16:00 at latest).
2
Days 2-3: (final details with the order of the walks in RIla will be available inside your tour program, which will be emailed to you prior to your arrival in Bulgaria)
A: Govedartsi – Borovets – Mount Musala – Borovets – Govedartsi (5,30hrs; 14,50km; +690m/-690m): The attempt on the Balkans’ highest summit Musala (2925m) is left for the first hiking day. To do so you get a transfer from Govedartsi to Borovets resort, where you board the cabin lift to the trailhead. The path is not particularly arduous, yet is particularly panoramic, with the rocky face of Musala visible the whole time while you transit a number of Cirques, glacier lakes and mountain shelters. The view from the peak to surrounding uplands and peaks is head-turning.
B: Govedartsi – The Seven Rila Lakes – Govedartsi (6-7hrs; 16-18km; +1100-1300m/-1100-1300m): A shaded path through the Rila’s ancient spruce forests takes you up to the alpine parts of the mountain and the Cirque of the Seven Rila Lakes. Located at between 2100 and 2500 meters above sea level, these famous glacier lakes will charm you with their magnificent scenery which you can survey from the edge of the highest one.
N.B. You can extend your program in Govedartsi with more nights to include climb to Mount Malyovitsa, or trek to The Scary Lake etc. Contact us for details.
3
Day 4: Govedartsi (Rila Mountains) - RIla Monastery (UNESCO) - Bansko (Pirin Mountains)
You bid farewell to Rila and set off for Pirin. During this day, which is meant for relax, you will stop for a short visit at Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is the most famous and largest Christian monastery in Bulgaria. The exceptional frescoes in the central church form a gallery of masterpieces of Renaissance art and could be considered a Bulgarian analogue of the frescoes of the Sistine chapel. Thence, you proceed to Bansko at the foot of Pirin Mountains, which will be your base for the following four nights. In the afternoon you can stroll along the cobbled streets and the charming ancient houses in the old part of the town.
4
Days 5-7: (final details with the order of the walks in Pirin will be available inside your tour program, which will be emailed to you prior to your arrival in Bulgaria)
A: Bansko – Mount Polezhan – Bansko (5hrs; 7km; +770m/-770m): Car transfer brings you above Dobrinishte resort, at Gotse Delchev Hut. Chair cable car then takes you up to the Bezbog Hut. This is the setting-off point for the hiking trek to the Polezhan Summit (2851m) which offers one of the most beautiful panoramas in the Pirin, over 17 stunning glacier lakes, including the largest Popovo Lake (30m deep). Polezhan is the 5th highest summit in the Pirin. It is surrounded by three Cirques with three groups of lakes – Disilishki in the north, Polezhanski in the south and Strazhishki in the west. You use the classic route through the northeast ridge, which is not difficult or too steep, except of the last 20-minute stage of the summit. N.B.: An easier option is available for this day for clients in need to rest or in case of bad weather: trek to Popovo Lake (3,30-4hrs of walking; 8km; +400m/-400m)
B: Bansko – Vihren Hut – Banderishki Lakes Cirque – Demyanitsa Hut – Bansko (6-7hrs; 16km; +615m/-1215m): Pre-arranged transfer brings you up to the Vihren Hut where you set off on a hiking trek through the pretty Cirque of the Banderishki Lakes. From there, you go across into the neighbouring valley and the Todorini Ochi Lakes and thence through the thick spruce forests of the Yulen Nature Reserve on to the valley of the playful Demyanitsa River. Stunning sceneries will be expecting you behind every corner. N.B.: An easier option is available for this day for clients in need to rest before the hike to Mount Vihren (or in case of bad weather): loop walk among the lakes in the Banderishki Lake Cirque (3,30-4hrs of walking; 8km; +470m/-470m)
C: Bansko – Vihren Hut – Mount Vihren – Vihren Hut – Bansko (6-7hrs; 8km; +960m/-960m): Time to attempt the Pirin’s premier summit, Vihren. You trek through the Golem Kazan (The Giant Cauldron) area beneath the breathtaking sheer 400m northern wall of Vihren, whose dolomite precipices offer shelter to rare edelweiss flowers and fretful herds of Balkan Chamois (wild goats). The views are genuinely overwhelming, yet they are just the prelude to the panoramas that open up from the summit over a sea of jagged peaks all around.
5
Day 8: Bansko - Sofia Airport
Transfer from Bansko to Sofia/Sofia Airport (appr. 2,30hrs).

TOUR LOCATION

Price (2026)
880 Euro per person in twin/dbl room
Single room & Solo Traveler supplement
Single room supplement: 190 Euro
Solo Traveler supplement (incl. sgl room supplement): 580 Euro
Tips
Daily arrivals between mid-June and mid-September (this program is meant to suit Tuesday-Saturday arrivals; as for the climb to Mt. Musala a cabin lift is needed (which doesn’t work Monday and Tuesday), should you wish to travel on different days of the week (i.e. Sunday to Monday) we will have to rearrange the program and possibly put Pirin before Rila, but no hikes will be lost; just their order will be changed)
Accommodation
Family-run pension including breakfast and dinner (Day 1 to Day 3) and 3-star hotel on bed & breakfast basis (Day 4 to Day 8; there are numerous options to have dinner in the taverns and restaurants of Bansko); en-suite rooms everywhere; Samples of the inns we would normally book (subject to availability), or similar category: Days 1/2/3: Govedartsi - Guesthouse Krusharskata Kashta; Days 4/5/6/7: Bansko - Hotel Rahoff;

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