Incredible Day tour from Sofia to 7 Rila lakes and Rila monastery
Description
You will have the unique opportunity to visit and take wonderful photos of the two most interesting and beautiful destinations in Bulgaria in one day. The excursion combines active recreation - hiking and cultural immersion in ancient times. Energy and magic are usual words in the descriptions of the Seven Rila Lakes – The Tear, The Eye, The Kidney, The Twins, The Trefoil, The Piscine an The Lower lake. At the end of the hiking is waiting 360 panoramic view. A moderate amount of walking is involved. After the hike we are heading southwes where we will show you the hidden treasure of the early Christianity. Deep in the Rila Mountain is situated the biggest symbol of Christianity in Bulgaria- Rila Monastery. The Monastery was founded by the hermit St. Ivan Rilski in the beginning of X century. The monastery is the most visited cultural site in Bulgaria. Part of UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will be captivated by the beautiful scenery during the trip!
Tour Options
Itinerary
The van will take us to Rila National park. About 2 hours transfer. Our trekking starts at 1800 altitude and ends at 2500 altitude at the last lake called The “Tear”. From that point we can see the all 7 lakes! You will be walking in to the Rila National park to see the crystal pure lakes. Most of the lakes are glacial and their names are connected to their shape. Panoramic view to Vitosha, Rila and Stara Planina mountains. Additional info: • A moderate walking is involved • Duration: 3-4 hours • Prepaer sandwiches and water • Bring Sunscreen • Comfortable clothes and walking shoes
It was established on 1992 to protect several ecosystems of national importance. Its altitude varies from 800 m (2,600 ft) to to 2,925 m. Forests occupy 534.81 km2 or 66% of the total area. There are approximately 1,400 species of vascular plants, 282 species of mosses and 130 species of freshwater algae. The fauna is represented by 48 species of mammals, 99 species of birds, 20 species of reptiles and amphibia and 5 species of fish, as well as 2,934 species of invertebrates, of which 282 are endemic.
The only one natural geyser in Bulgaria, with the hotest water- 103°C
After the lakes we will explore Rila National park from the south part of the mountain, where we will show you the hidden treaser of the early Christianity. Deep in the Rila Mountain, in the southwestern part of Bulgaria is situated the biggest symbol of Christianity in Bulgaria- Rila Monastery. The Monastery was founded by the hermit St. Ivan Rilski in the beginning of X century. The monastery is the most visited cultural site in Bulgaria. Part of UNESCO World Heritage Site. Тhe monastery has been a part of several epochs from our history.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We will meet in front of the reception
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(10)
Wow! What a sensational walk! Unfortunately, we could not visit all the lakes because of the weather, however, it was possible to see how wonderful and challenging this tour is. Our guide was Ves, a sensational Cover who showed us everything in detail and explained. It is impressive the attention of Ves to all the details of the tour, an amazing guide and who clearly was very concerned not only with our well being on the tour, but in passing all possible information. Even with the downtime (elevator was not working for a few hours), we managed to meet the schedule. I highly recommend the tour, the Enterprise and the excellent guide.
We had the absolute pleasure of having Radu as our guide, and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. From the very beginning, he was proactive and thoughtful—he even reached out to us before the tour to make sure everything was in place. Radu was calm, punctual, and incredibly well-organized, which made the day feel relaxed and enjoyable. What really stood out was how genuinely caring he was. He kept an eye on the mountain weather to help us stay prepared, let us know about restroom stops, and checked in with us about food preferences and needs. His communication was clear and kind throughout. Radu answered all of our questions with patience and insight, helping us gain a deeper appreciation for Bulgarian culture and history. We also loved hearing his personal stories—especially the sweet ones about his grandmother’s garden. Spending the day with Radu was a true highlight of our trip. It felt like exploring with a friend who cared. We wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone visiting Sofia.
He was a great hiker and led us to the best views of the lakes. Somewhat quiet but knowledgeable when you asked questions. He drove well. At the Monastery he introduced us to very good pastries which we appreciated after that hike! A long day because driving from one stop to the next was about 1 1/2 hours.
I had an amazing day tour with Lyuben. From the very beginning, Lyuben took the initiative to contact me in advance to arrange the pick-up and share helpful information about what to bring and what to expect. His clear and friendly communication gave me peace of mind and built up my excitement for the trip. When we met, I was immediately struck by how warm, easygoing, and genuinely lovely he was to talk to. Having traveled to Asia himself, Lyuben had so many interesting stories to share, and we easily found common ground. Conversations flowed effortlessly, making the journey feel more like a day out with a friend than a guided tour. Due to unexpected snow, the original hiking plan had to be changed, and we ended up doing two shorter hikes and they turned out to be the perfect way to enjoy the fresh mountain air and stunning views. Lyuben's love for nature and the mountains really came through, and it made the whole experience even more special and grounding. Overall, Lyuben was attentive, engaging, and full of local knowledge, and his thoughtful approach made my solo adventure feel safe, personal, and full of joy. I'm so glad I had the chance to explore Bulgaria’s mountain beauty with someone who truly loves what he does. Highly recommended for solo travelers and small groups alike!
I had an amazing day tour with Lyuben. From the very beginning, Lyuben took the initiative to contact me in advance to arrange the pick-up and share helpful information about what to bring and what to expect. His clear and friendly communication gave me peace of mind and built up my excitement for the trip. When we met, I was immediately struck by how warm, easygoing, and genuinely lovely he was to talk to. Having traveled to Asia himself, Lyuben had so many interesting stories to share, and we easily found common ground. Conversations flowed effortlessly, making the journey feel more like a day out with a friend than a guided tour. Due to unexpected snow, the original hiking plan had to be changed, and we ended up doing two shorter hikes and they turned out to be the perfect way to enjoy the fresh mountain air and stunning views. Lyuben's love for nature and the mountains really came through, and it made the whole experience even more special and grounding. Overall, Lyuben was attentive, engaging, and full of local knowledge, and his thoughtful approach made my solo adventure feel safe, personal, and full of joy. I'm so glad I had the chance to explore Bulgaria’s mountain beauty with someone who truly loves what he does. Highly recommended for solo travelers and small groups alike!
This was an INCREDIBLE day! My tour guide was Marin and he was so knowledgable and shared so much about the region, the country, the landscape, the flowers, the various mountain ranges, and so much more. We had an incredible day of hiking and I loved that we were flexible about our itinerary based on the crowds. I would highly recommend this trip. I had even forgotten to pack a phone charger and Marin found a store for me to buy one on the way! In addition, the communication with the company as well as Marin was clear and they were very responsive. It was a great experience all around.
We had such a fun day on this tour. Our guide Marin was so knowledgeable, helpful and considerate. The lakes and the monastery were beautiful. Would definitely recommend if you want to see more of what Bulgaria has to offer!
The tour guide Joro was incredible and extremely nice and knowledgeable. He had so much information and stories to share about the tour and his experiences. He was very well prepared and positive all the time. The lakes were all.frozen and there was still a lot of snow which made the tour very exciting. The landscapes were grand and absolutely stunning. Rila manastry also a jewel in the country was beautiful and full of stories and history. Would highly recommend!
Joro was incredible and extremely nice and knowledgeable. He had so much information and stories to share about the tour and his experiences. He was very well prepared and positive all the time. The lakes were all.frozen and there was still a lot of snow which made the tour very exciting. The landscapes were grand and absolutely stunning. Rila manastry also a jewel in the country was beautiful and full of stories and history. Would highly recommend!
Great words Ivan, Joro is one of our top guides. Thank you for your recommendation!
My favorite part of Bulgaria! Unfortunately, the lifts weren’t open while we were there, which I was really looking forward to seeing the lakes, but we pivoted and went on a beautiful hike instead.
Thank you Michell for the positive feedback! You can come back in the summer :) All the best!
