Seven Rila Lakes: one day hiking tour in the Rila Mountains

Bulgaria

The Seven Rila lakes are a must visit in Bulgaria in the summer. The Rila lakes are located in the Rila Mountains. This is the highest mountain in Bulgaria and also on the Balkans. In one day your tour guide will show you one of the most beautiful natural sites in Bulgaria.

We invite you to a green adventure in the Rila Mountains. We leave Sofia early in the morning at 7:30 am in direction to Panichishte village in the Rila Mountains. The starting point is Pionerska hut from where we will take the lift to the Rila Lakes chalet (approx. 16 minutes one way). From here in the next 5 hours we will walk and see all the picturesque Seven Rila lakes. We will have a break for lunch in front of the Kidney lake.

Seven Rila lakes

Each of the Seven Rila lakes carries a name according to its most characteristic feature. The highest one is called Salzata (“The Tear”) due to its clear waters that allow visibility in depth. And please do not forget that the Rila lakes are located in Rila National Park, so no swimming is allowed. Yet, you can bring your dog, the terrain is perfect for a dog walk.

Enjoy the hike with us!

Hiking duration:

approx. 5 hours / from 2135 m to 2535 m above sea level

Destination:

7 Rila lakes, National Park Rila, Bulgaria

Departure location

Pick up from your accommodation in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Departure Time

07:30

Arrival Time

20:30 (Drop off at your accommodation)

Included

Transportation	Photos from the trip
English/German speaking tour guide	Mineral water

Not included

lunch (bring a sandwich and/or snacks with you)	return lift ticket: EUR 13,00 per person
mountain insurance – we could provide if you don’t have	The tour could in German and other languages.

When to visit:

from the end of June until the middle of September

Group size:

from 1 up to 15 people

Extra information

Please, wear comfortable shoes for the mountain, jacket, water, something to sit on the ground, sunscreen, sunglasses, sandwich. This tour is dog friendly.

The hike is suitable for tourists who do not have problems with the legs, heart or other diseases, related to sun exposure and long hike.

Additional information

Destination	Bulgaria
Duration	1 day
Tour type	Hiking
Starting point	Sofia

7.30 AM

For individual tours meeting at your accommodation in Sofia. Departure in the direction to Panichishte village in the Rila Mountains. It will take approx. 1 hour and 30 minutes to reach the “Pionerska” hut. There we will take the lift to the “Rila Lakes” chalet (approx. 16 minutes one way). Please keep your ticket for the way back.

10.00 AM

We are at 2135 m above sea level at the “Rila Lakes” chalet. Free time for restroom and photos. Introduction information about the day and the lakes. Each lake has a name, related to its most characteristic feature. We will see “The Lower Lake”, “The Fish Lake”, “The three foil”, “The Twin”, “The Kidney”, The Eye. The highest one is called “The Tear” due to its clear waters that allow visibility in depth.

10.30 AM

We start our hiking tour. The first 40 minutes we are climbing up the hill, but after that it is a nice walk. To the left we can enjoy a view of 3 of the lakes: The Lower lake, The Fish lake and The Three foil.

12.00 PM

Lunch break by the Kidney lake. If you are tired, you have the option to stay here and relax and not to hike to the highest two lakes. On the way back we will pick you up unless it is an individual tour.

12.40 PM

We are heading to the next lake the Eye. It is one of the most beautiful ones with amazing color of the water.

1.30 PM

We reach the highest point of 2535m and enjoy a view of all the Seven Rila lakes. Free time for relax and photos. On the way back we will pick up the people who are resting by the Eye and Kidney lakes.