Name: 8 Day Rila-Pirin Mountain Trek in Bulgaria with Rila Monastery Visit
Brand: Penguin Travel
Price: 670 EUR
Availability: InStock

Trekking Tour in Bulgaria with Guaranteed Departures

Join on a unique mountain hike above the clouds in the highest mountains on the Balkan Peninsula. During this eight-day trek, you will visit the highest peak on the Balkan Peninsula, Musala, in the Rila Mountains (2,925 meters above sea level) and the giant of the Pirin Mountains, Vihren (2,914 m a.s.l.).

Highlights

Reach Mount Musala at 2,925 meters above sea level (m a.s.l.)
Summit to Mount Vihren at 2,914 m a.s.l.
Rila Mountains - the highest mountains in Bulgaria and on the Balkan Peninsula
Pirin Mountains - the second-highest in Bulgaria and the third in the Balkan Peninsula
Rila Monastery (1,147 m a.s.l.) - the biggest monastery in Bulgaria
Experience staying one night in a hut (shared facilities)
7 nights accommodation in hotels and a hut with meals
Airport transfer, lift tickets, and ground transportation included

6 days with instruction

Group size: 4-12 participants

Airport transfer included: Sofia Airport

Program

Day 1 - Sofia

Arrival at Sofia airport and transfer to your hotel for overnight stay

Day 2 - Musala climb - Govedartsi

You will start the day with a transfer to Borovets (70 km). From there, you will take the cable car to Yastrebetz (2,300 m) and then start the climb to the highest peak on the Balkan Peninsula - Musala (2,925 m a.s.l.).

The view from the top is truly breathtaking. You can see the other peaks of Rila Mountains, the marble edges of the Pirin Mountains, Mount Vitosha and the Sredna Gora Mountains, the green summits of the Rodopi Mountains, and last, but not the least, the long body of the Balkan Range.

You'll then transfer to Govedartsi (1,150 m a.s.l.), where you will stay overnight (40 minutes' drive from Borovets).

Breakfast and dinner
Walking: 6 hours
Uphill walk: 650 m (2,132 ft)
Downhill walk: 650 m (2,132 ft)

Day 3 - Govedartsi - Maliovitsa Resort - Prekorechki Lakes - Govedartsi

After breakfast, you will embark on another stunning trek. This will start from Maliovitsa Resort, going up along the valley to the wide circus of Prekorechki Lakes. The lakes are enclosed by the steep slopes and rocky walls of several peaks exceeding 2,700m.

Breakfast and dinner
Walking: 6.5 hours
Uphill walk: 850 m (2,788 ft)
Downhill walk: 850 m (2,788 ft)

Day 4 - The Seven Rila Lakes - Rila Monastery - Bansko

You will start the day with an early transfer to Pionerska hut. From there, you will take the chairlift to the Seven Rila Lakes (above 2,200 m a.s.l.), then start the loop hike to the Razdela saddle and the stunning "Zeleni Rid" ridge.

From there, you will start descending back to the chair lift. You will continue with an hour-long transfer to Rila Monastery, the biggest monastery in Bulgaria, listed as a UNESCO Heritage site. Afterwards, you'll continue with a drive to Bansko where you will spend the night.

Breakfast and dinner
Walking: 5 hours
Uphill walk: 400 m (1,320 ft)
Downhill walk: 400 m (1,320 ft)

Day 5 - Pirin Trek, Bezbog - Tevno Ezero

Over the next two days, participants will be embarking on a trek that will take them to the most beautiful part of the Central Pirin Mountains. You will start from Bezbog hut (2,240 m a.s.l.) and after four to five hours of walking, you will reach Tevno Ezero hut (2,512 m a.s.l), where you will spend the night.

Breakfast and dinner
Walking: 6 hours
Uphill walk: 450 m (1,470 ft)
Downhill walk: 150 m (492 ft)

Day 6 - Tevno Ezero - Demyanitsa Hut - Bansko

This day's walk will offer stunning views over two of the most beautiful glacier lakes of Pirin: Prevalski (2,664 m a.s.l.) and Valiavishki (2,300 m - 2,475 m a.s.l.) lakes. It will take the group about five to six hours to reach the road under Demyanitsa hut, where they will meet their driver who will take them back to Bansko.

Breakfast and dinner
Walking: 6 hours
Uphill walk: 150 m (492 ft)
Downhill walk: 650 m (2,132 ft)

Day 7 - Bansko - Mount Vihren - Bansko - Sofia

A fairly difficult ascent awaits participants on this day. You will go to the highest peak in Pirin Mountains, Mount Vihren (2,914 m a.s.l.). On the way to the peak, you will have a chance to enjoy scenic views of many of Pirin's high peaks, as well as the Vlahini and Bunderishki glacial lakes.

The group will also get to see the endangered edelweiss flower and many other rare plants native to the karst parts of the mountain. Then, they'll transfer back to Sofia for an overnight stay.

Breakfast
Walking: 6 to 7 hours
Uphill walk: 1,000 m (3,280 ft)
Downhill walk: 1,000 m (3,280 ft)

Day 8 - Departure

Transfer to airport for departure (with breakfast)

Location

Participants will explore enormous national parks, housing vast alpine meadows, stone rivers, glacial lakes, rare vegetation, and rich animal life. They will also visit the most prominent Bulgarian monastery and probably the most famous Bulgarian landmark - the Rila Monastery, part of the UNESCO World Heritage List.

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Things to do (optional)

Supplement for a small group (two to three people): 90 EUR per person
Maps: 5 BGN per map (can be requested in advance when booking the tour)
Transfer from Sofia airport to hotel on other days: 15 EUR, one way, per vehicle (one to three people)

Optional hike

An optional hike for a good day is the climb of the Maliovitsa peak, where you will experience a 360-degree open scenery of the most Alpine part of the Rila Mountains.

Walking: 6 hours
Uphill walk: 1,016 m (3,332 ft)
Downhill walk: 1,016 m (3,332 ft)

What's included

All ground transportation
English-speaking guide
Lift tickets
Airport transfers on Day 1 and Day 8
VAT and all local taxes
Luggage transfers from point to point (except on Days 5 to 6)
6 nights accommodation at standard hotels in a double room with ensuite facilities
1 night accommodation at a hut (shared facilities)
Meals as per program

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