Day 1 Arrival in Bulgaria

We meet you at the Sofia Airport and there is a 90 min transfer to the mountain resort of Panichishte in Rila Mountains.

Rila is the highest mountain range of Bulgaria and the Balkans, with its highest peak being Musala at 2,925 m. The massif is also the sixth highest mountain in Europe.
The name Rila is allegedly of Thracian origin and means "well-watered mountain", owing to Rila's abundance of glacial lakes (about 200) and hot springs in the faulty areas.
Culturally, Rila is famous for the Rila Monastery, Bulgaria's largest and most important monastery founded in the 10th century by the hermit Saint John of Rila.

Day 2 The Seven Rila Lakes

This is our favorite spot in Bulgaria! We will along hike seven glacial lakes each of particular form and splendor, ending at the highest mountain refuge in Bulgaria - Ivan Vazov Hut.

The Seven Rila Lakes are a group of lakes of glacial origin. They are the most visited group of lakes in Bulgaria. The lakes are situated between 2,100 and 2,500 metres elevation above sea level.
Each lake carries a name associated with its most characteristic feature. The highest one is called Salzata ("The Tear") due to its clear waters that allow visibility in depth. The next one in is called Okoto ("The Eye") after its almost perfectly oval form. Okoto is the deepest circus lake in Bulgaria, with a depth of 37.5 m. Babreka ("The Kidney") is the lake with the steepest shores from the whole group. Bliznaka ("The Twin") is the largest one. Trilistnika ("The Trefoil") has an irregular shape and low shores. The shallowest lake is Ribnoto Ezero ("The Fish Lake") and the lowest one is Dolnoto Ezero ("The Lower Lake"), where the waters that flow out of the other lakes are gathered to form the Dzherman River.

Salzata ("The Tear") Lake

Day 3 Rila Monastery

We cross the mountain range and descent to the Rila Monastery.

The Monastery of Saint John of Rila is the largest and most famous monastery in Bulgaria. It is situated in the deep valley of the Rilska River at an elevation of 1,147 m above sea level.
Founded in the 10th century, the Rila Monastery is regarded as one of Bulgaria's most important cultural, historical and architectural monuments. It is a key tourist attraction in Bulgaria and Southeastern Europe as a whole.

Day 4 Banya Spa Resort

A relaxing day at the village of Banya situated in a beautiful valley between the Rila and Pirin mountains. Give yourself a treat at the spa centre.

In addition, we will visit the nearby resort Bansko and the village of Dobarsko.

According to the legend, Dobarsko was founded by soldiers from Bulgarian tsar Samuil's blinded army after the Battle of Belasitsa in 1014, who arrived in the area en route to the Rila Monastery and discovered a holy spring that allegedly cured them.

Day 5 Pirin Mountains - back to the peaks!

Pirin is one of the last "untouched" mountains in Europe. We hike through the Ulen natural reserve up to 2800m above the sea.

Pirin Mountains are the second highest in Bulgaria after Rila mountains. They offer some of the finest walking in Europe. Their relief is alpine - rocky marble or granite peaks and cliffs, deep cirques, well shaped glacier valleys and lakes.

We stay at the Tevno lake mountain refuge sitting ashore a beautiful lake.

The Tevno Lake

Day 6 In the Heart of Pirin Mountains

Today's is a very pleasant route following the Bistritsa Creek with lots of waterfalls and deep pools along the way. Picturesque alpine peaks and cirques surround us all the way to our destination - the Pirin mountain chalet.

Day 7 Rozhen Monastery and Melnik Wine

The end of our adventure is in the smallest Bulgarian city - Melnik (population 405), famous for its wine. On our way is the Rozhen Monastery.

The Rozhen Monastery is the biggest monastery in the Pirin Mountains. It is one of the few medieval Bulgarian monasteries well preserved until today. It was built in year 890. Ther famous Bulgarian revolutionary Yane Sandanski is berried near the monastery.

Continuing from the monastery, walking among spectacular sandy pyramids we reach Melnik. Now it' time to visit the local cellars and celebrate the end of our journey.

Day 8 Sofia

We bid farewell to the mountains and head back to Sofia. It is a 2 1/2 hour drive.

Flight schedule permitting, we will show you around our capital. You can read more about Sofia at our city tours' section.