The Seven Rila Lakes Circuit - Rila Mountains
During the last few years, this destination has become one of the most popular places for one-day hiking tours in the Rila Mountains.
Spend a day exploring the idyllic Seven Rila Lakes on this small-group hiking tour from Sofia. With an expert guide, travel from the Bulgarian capital to the Rila Mountains, the country’s highest range. Be wowed by sweeping mountain panoramas during a 30-minute chairlift ride, and then set off on foot to explore the lakes. During your 4- to 5-hour hike, you’ll see all seven lakes and enjoy frequent stops to capture photos and rest your legs. Enjoy personalized attention from the guide on this small-group tour, limited to 15 people.
IMPORTANT: The management of the Rila Lakes chair lift has decided to close the lift in October, November, April, and May for maintenance. This unfortunately means that walking on foot is the only way to access the lakes. We will still run the tour, but keep in mind that it requires previous trekking experience and is suitable for really fit hikers. Trek is over varied terrain, which may include also a fair amount of walking in the alpine landscape. The total walking distance is 17km and between the starting point and the highest lake, there’s a difference in altitude of nearly 1000 meters (3200ft). It will be virtually impossible for the whole group to reach the highest lakes, so we will aim at the middle one (Kidney). The terrain will be very wet and slippery and there may be snow in the area. Walking in such conditions requires adequate equipment (good trekking boots, waterproof clothes, and a warm layer beneath the jacket). Keep in mind that some of the lakes may be covered in snow in May and June The tour can be cancelled with a 24 hrs notice (a 100% refund will be applied).
Prices:Rates vary based on the number of people in one reservation (also depending on the option you choose: guided or self-guided); Please send an enquiry and check the options.
Price (guided tour): From 40 Euros/person (days with Special Offers); Other days: 1 pers: 138 Euro; 2 pers: 79 Euro pp; 3 pers: 58 Euro pp; 4-7 pers: 49 Euro pp;
Price (self-guided tour): 120 Euro/car (group of 1-4 persons); 160 Euro/bus (group of 5-8 persons)
What’s included: Transfer from Sofia to Panichishte resort and back; English-speaking guide (for the guided hiking option); Detailed route notes in English, GPS tracks and maps (for the self-guided hiking option; 1 set of route notes and 1 map per group)
What’s not included: Food and beverages, personal expenses, chairlift ticket (approx. 10 euro per person), gratuities.
Best period: mid-June – mid-September (possible until mid-November and also in May – contact us for details on weather conditions and lift working time)
What do I need to bring?
Comfortable hiking shoes. Warm clothes (at least one jacket even in the summertime). Drinks, food.
Food: if you have forgotten to take a lunch pack or a sandwich with you, you can take advantage of the meals on offer in the two huts on our way. The menu is limited though: soups (lentils, beans), grilled meat and some basic meals.
Hiking time: hiking time only is mentioned on each day (not including stops for pictures, picnics, breaks etc.!); these are based on an average hiker’s speed of 4-5km/hr on flat terrain, additional 30min for each 300m elevation gain, and a backpack weighing not more than 10-15% of your body weight. Still this varies a lot on the terrain, the group size and the hiking experience of each client within the group.
Meeting point: the parking lot behind the majestic Alexander Nevski Cathedral in central Sofia.
Drop off: Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Duration 8 h, 30 min / Physical difficulty level Moderate
Total transfer time: 3-3,30hrs
Walking time: 3,30-4 hrs (hiking time only; moderate difficulty)
Best period: mid-June – mid-September (possible until mid-November and also in May – contact us for details on weather conditions and lift working time)
Circular trek, starting from the Rila Lakes hut, going along the lower lakes up to the highest one (the Tear Lake) and descending past the Kidney Lake back to the Rila Lakes hut. (3,30-4hrs hiking time only; 6km; +450m; -450m)
A transfer from Sofia takes us to the Panichishte Resort cable car which takes us to the Seven Rila Lakes Cirque. Then we start exploring them one by one. Each lake is named after its most characteristic feature. The highest one (at 2500m/8200ft above sea level) is called Salzata (“The Tear”), from where we have a bird’s eye view over all seven lakes, as well as surrounding outcrops and deep valleys; the next one in height carries the name Okoto (“The Eye”) after its oval form; Babreka (“The Kidney”) is the lake with the steepest shores of the entire group; Bliznaka (“The Twin”) is the largest of all; Trilistnika (“The Trefoil”) has an irregular shape; the shallowest lake is Ribnoto Ezero (“The Fish Lake”) and the lowest one is Dolnoto Ezero (“The Lower Lake”; 2100m/6995ft), where the water that flows out of the other lakes is gathered to form the source of Dzherman River.
