One Day Trip to Rila Monastery and the Seven Rila lakes

Visit two UNESCO sites in a day and enjoy diverse experience in the heart of Rila Mountain where nature meets culture.

Bulgaria is a country that offerce great diversity for tourists. High mountains and beautiful seaside, rich culture, ancient history, hot springs, fresh air and unspoiled nature - this all meets in its geographical borders. This adventure combines nature with culture and takes you on a day trip to two of the most popular UNESCO sites in the country - the Seven Rila Lakes and the Rila Monastery. 

The trip starts in Sofia - the capital of Bulgaria. We drive about an hour and a half to reach the cable car in the mountain area called Panichishte. It takes us to Rila Lakes Hut where our nice and easy hiking trip to the Seven Rila Lakes begins. They are glacier lakes that are located one above the other and are connected by small streams, which form tiny waterfalls and cascades. Their names derive from their specific form. We start from the very first one called The Lowe Lake (2095 m.) and pass by the following ones - the Fish Lake (2184 m.), the Trefoil (2216 m.), the Twin, which is the biggest (2243 m.) and the Kidney (2282 m.), which is the most popular one. We stop at the Kidney for a break. Then we go back to the cable car. 

This trip does not include hiking to the last two lakes - the Eye and the Tear. If you would like to hike all of the Seven Rila Lakes, please check our full day Seven Rila Lakes hiking program.

The second part of the trip takes us to the spiritual center of Bulgaria - the Rila Monastery. Founded in the 10th century, it is regarded as one of Bulgaria's most important cultural, historical and architectural monuments. The monastery is named after its founder, the hermit Ivan of Rila (876 - 946 AD), and houses around 60 monks. It is situated at an elevation of 1147 m. in the deep valley of Rilska River.

Fancy this trip? Then check out the itinerary and register now.

 

Itinerary:

• 08:00, meeting in front of the National Stadium "Vasil Levski" (the parking lot in front of the main entrance).
• Minibus transfer to the cable car at Panichishte.
• Hiking trip to the Kidney - the fifth out of the Seven Rila Lakes. 
• Lunch break.
• Back to the cable car and the transportation.
• Transfer to the Rila Monastery.
• Guided tour of the monastery - the main church and the museum that shows parts of the authentic residential areas in the monastery. 
• Free time for photos (only at the permitted areas) and souvenirs.
• 17:00, transfer to Sofia
• 19:00, arrive back in Sofia

Price per Person:

One Person: 150 EUR

Group of Two: 95 EUR

Group of Three: 70 EUR

Group of Four and above: 60 EUR

 

The price includes: transportation, mountain guide, tour guide, museum fees, insurance, photography.

The price does not include: food and drinks, cable car ticket(10 euro)

Your tour guide: Maria Dimitrova

Maria is a passionate mountaineer who graduated tourism with focus on Adventure Tourism. Experienced and open-minded, she will make the most out of your trip, enriching it with a blend of personal, cultural and adventure taste.

 

Your mountain guide: Borislav Dimitrov

Bobi is a certified mountain guide. He will go miles to find the best spot for you. He loves nature and adventures and he is the one to trust if you are looking for an experience to remember.

 

Clothing & Equipment

Comfortable shoes (preferably mountain shoes; sneakers)

Comfortable trousers

T-shirt (short sleeved or long sleeved, depending on the weather)

Sweater

Jacket

Hat and sunglasses 

Sunscreen 

Insects repellent 

Bottle of water (1 L)

Some snacks (oat bars, chocolate, dried fruits, nuts etc.)