Rila and Pirin Trekking Tour

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Enjoy the preserved beauty of Bulgarian nature with Rila and Pirin trekking tour!

Furthermore, the name Rila is believed to be of Thracian origin and is thought to mean “well-watered mountain”, owing to Rila’s abundance of glacial lakes (about 200) and hot springs in fault areas at the base of the mountain. Some of the Balkans’ longest and deepest rivers originate from Rila, including the Maritsa, the Iskar and the Mesta. Pirin is the second highest mountain range in southwest Bulgaria.

The ski resort Bansko is located in its Northern part and it is formed mainly from massive granite, covered with ancient metamorphous rocks. It has some tiny glaciers that almost melt in summer. The mountain is also abundant with water and beautiful high-altitude lakes. Its flora and fauna is so rich that Pirin Natural Park has been under the protection of UNESCO World Heritage since 1983. Pirin is the most alpine-looking mountain in Bulgaria and it is a wonderful nature park to visit.

In addition, Rila, located in southwestern Bulgaria, is the highest mountain range in the Balkans, with its peak Musala reaching 2,925 meters. Notably, it is the sixth highest mountain in Europe, and a large part of the massif is encompassed by the Rila National Park. Moreover, the mountain’s name is believed to be of Thracian origin, meaning “well-watered mountain,” due to its numerous glacial lakes and hot springs, as well as the origins of major rivers like the Maritsa, Iskar, and Mesta. Meanwhile, Pirin, the second highest mountain range in Bulgaria, is located in the southwest and is known for its rugged terrain and high-altitude lakes. Not only is Pirin home to a UNESCO World Heritage site, Pirin Natural Park, but it is also considered the most alpine-looking mountain in Bulgaria, making it an ideal destination for nature lovers.

Quick information

Duration:

Start: 8:00 h
End: 18:00 h

Recommended period:

May – October

Driving time:

8 h approximately

Overview

Itinerary

Your 3 Days in Rila & Pririn Mountains

Day 1

This tour will take you to the 2 highest peaks in Bulgaria and also to the famous Seven Lakes of Rila. It is designed for people that are trained to walk for 3 consecutive days and gain significant elevation every day. The average walking time every day is about 5-6 hours because we use chair lifts and car to an altitude of above 2000 meters. On the first day we will climb on top of the Balkans – Moussala peak (2925 m). The hike is not technical or difficult. We pick you up from your accommodation in Sofia and a drive to Borovets resort where we take a gondola lift to Yastrebets hut. From there we have a very pleasant trail to a shelter and after some rest we climb up to the top. We go back the same way and take gondola back to Borovets. We stay overnight in Borovets or in the area.

Day 2

The second day we start with a 1-hour drive to Panichishte resort, a departure point for chair lift to Rila Lakes Hut. After a 30 min ride we begin our 5-hour loop hike of the Seven Lakes and take as many pictures as we can along the way. A beautiful day without any difficult parts, except the last bit which is steep up to the top lake. We go back to the chair lift on a different trail along the lakes. From the parking lot we take a 2 hour drive to Bansko and check-in into our hotel next to the old town. Hopefully the weather is nice for a refreshing beer outside!

Day 3

AOn the next morning a 30 min car drive takes us to Vihren Hut from where we take a 5 – 6 hour hike to Vihren Peak (highest point in Pirin). Along the way we enjoy stunning views of Todorka Peak, lakes and steep peaks. It is possible to have a loop hike to Vihren from Banderitsa hut. We stop for a quick look at Baikusheva mura, a 1300 years old pine tree, before we go back to Sofia (2h 30min) from Vihren hut.

More details

Rila and Pirin Mountains Overview

Rila is a mountain range in southwestern Bulgaria and 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 (when each mountain is represented by its highest peak only). The larger part of the mountain is occupied by the Rila National Park. The name Rila is believed to be of Thracian origin and is thought to mean “well-watered mountain”, owing to Rila’s abundance of glacial lakes (about 200) and hot springs in fault areas at the base of the mountain. Some of the Balkans’ longest and deepest rivers originate from Rila, including the Maritsa, the Iskar and the Mesta. Pirin is the second highest mountain range in southwest Bulgaria.

Activity map

Departure point

Departure point Our travel agent will advise your pick up time from your hotel, 2 days before departure.

Prices

Rila and Pirin Trekking Tour

The group tour is available.

Included:

Return door to door transfer from your hotel in Sofia to Rila and Pirin mountains
English-speaking mountain guide for the whole time
Chair lift and gondola tickets
Parking
Overnight and breakfast in 3* hotel or guest house

Not included:

Meals
Tips and personal expenses

Private option +30%. Children (1-16yrs) 20% discount.

Prices:

1 person

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2 persons

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3 persons

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4 – 8 persons

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9 – 18 persons

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Reviews

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 393 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Declan Dowd 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Stefan was great! We were in a pinch and he drove us all the way to the airport. The tour its self was very well run and smooth. Couldn’t recommend more.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Aidan Boyle 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Stefan was very good, and very knowledgeable, tour also ran a bit late, and he did what he did to help us get to our flight. Thank you
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Jack Turek 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great guy. Stefan rushed us to the airport giving us a chance to make our flight home. Great service.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Jordan Wright 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The tour was really good. The spa and pool was exception recommend to anyone who doesn't know where to go.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Galena Donovan 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The trip was very interesting and leisurely attractive.  Rila monastery is absolutely stunning and then we enjoyed the hottest  thermal baths and swimming pools. What a lovely day!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Alayla Castle-Herbert 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Had a really good day trip to Nis with this company. It was very organised with excellent communication beforehand and during, and smooth comfortable travelling in the vehicle. It was really interesting to visit all the different locations and learn a bit more about the history, even though some of it wasn’t always pleasant such as the visit to the concentration camp. The guide was knowledgeable and friendly and gave a good mix of background information while also letting us find out more and explore the sites themselves, as well as going out of his way to make aure we had places we could eat/exchange money/pay with card in Nis itself.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   דוד קדם 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. It is evident that Philip, the guide, is very knowledgeable.
An excellent driver, friendly, and with a sense of humor.
We really enjoyed the tour and the sites we visited.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Magdalena Zając 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Belogradchik was breathtaking! We received clear instructions before the trip and had just enough time to enjoy the sites
  
 
  
  
 
 
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