Seven Rila Lakes & Monastery Trekking Tour

69 € / per person

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The Seven Rila Lakes area is a must-visit destination for anyone seeking the most scenic and rewarding day trek in Bulgaria. Nestled in the stunning Rila Mountains, this trek offers an unforgettable experience just a short distance from Sofia.

Your adventure begins with a smooth drive toward Panichishte, where an open chair lift will take you up to the Seven Rila Lakes Hut in about 30 minutes, offering stunning views as you ascend. Once at the hut, you’ll find modern amenities, including a variety of food options to energize you for the trek ahead.

The loop trek begins, taking around 5 hours, including breaks, and is suitable for anyone, even those with no previous trekking experience. However, be prepared for a moderate mountain hike, so remember to bring comfortable shoes, warm clothes, sunscreen, and at least 1.5 liters of water. As you hike, you’ll be treated to some of the most spectacular scenery in Bulgaria, with each of the seven glacial lakes offering a unique and breathtaking view.

After completing the hike, you’ll head to the iconic Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where you’ll have time to explore and take in its historic beauty.

This easy-to-access trek offers the perfect combination of natural beauty, moderate physical challenge, and cultural exploration—an experience you won’t want to miss. Book now for an unforgettable day in the heart of Bulgaria’s mountains!

Quick information

Duration:

Start: 7:30 h
End: 19:30 h

Accessibility

Not accessible

Driving time:

5 h approximately

Important:

Comfortable shoes, warm clothes, snacks and sandwiches, bottle of water.

Difficulty:

Easy-moderate mountain trekking with +/-500m. elevation gain.

Recommended period:

June – September

Overview

Itinerary

Itinerary for Seven Rila Lakes & Monastery Trekking Tour

The Seven Rila Lakes area is a very popular and easy option for the most scenic day trek in Bulgaria. The lakes are located in Rila Mountain, about 90 km south of the capital Sofia.

7:30 Departure from Sofia.
9:00 Arrival at Panichishte chair lift paring. An open chair lift takes you up directly for about 30 min from the parking lot to the starting point of your trek- Seven Rila lakes hut. The place is fairly modern, it offers a good food variety.
11:00 The loop trekking takes about 5 hours including time for breaks and does not require previous trekking experience. However, you have to be prepared for some moderate mountain trekking with comfortable shoes, warm clothes, sunscreen and bottle of water (1.5l).
16:00 Return to parking lot.
17:00 Arrival at Rila Monastery
19:30 Return to Sofia.

More details

Seven Rila Lakes & Monastery Trekking Tour Overview

The lakes have a glacial origin and they are located on different terraces from 2100 m to about 2500m above sea level. The Seven Rila Lakes are one of the Bulgaria’s 100 National tourist sites. The breath-taking views of Lower lake (Dolno ezero), The Eye (the deepest high-altitude lake), The Tear (Salzata), The Kidney (Bubreka) etc. make this hike an unforgettable feast for the eyes and senses. Please note that getting to the view points takes at least 2 hours trekking each way.