Tour Overview
7 days / 6 nights tour with minimal carbon footprint
Day 1 Sofia (D)
Arrival in Sofia. Transfer from the airport and accommodation at hotel in the city-centre.
A panoramic tour around the Bulgarian capital – an 8500-years old city called “My Rome” by the emperor Constantine The Great. Visit the most fascinating places of interest: the forum of Ancient Serdica (the old name of the city) with the newest archaeological discoveries from Roman times, which are exhibited next to the Bulgarian presidency.
Next is the St. Nedelya square, where 4 worship buildings of the main religions in Bulgaria are located next to each other. These are the Orthodox Church St. Nedelya, the Catholic church, the Synagogue and the Mosque. They form a quadrangle, symbolizing the peace between different religions in Bulgaria.
Our tour continues with the Alexander I square where the Royal Palace and the National Theatre are located, Tzar Osvoboditel boulevard, the Parliament, the Church of St. Sofia (the name means wisdom), which gave the name of the city, the Sofia University and the Alexander Nevski Cathedral (the biggest Orthodox church on the Balkan peninsula).
Overnight in Sofia.
Day 2 Sofia – Borovets – lift to Yastrebets – peak Musala – Tea house Maliovitsa
Early orning transfer to Borovets resort, from where you will take cable car to Yastrebets and will start hiking to peak Musala (700 + ascend and 700 – descend/ approx. 5-6 hours walking). Take lift down to Borovets, car transfer and accommodation in Tea house Maliovitsa.
NB: lift to Yastrebets it is working form Wednesday until Sunday.
Day 3 Tea house Maliovitsa – Strashnoto lake lodge – Maliovitsa hut
Hiking to Strashnoto lake, which it is carved into the foothills of Popova kapa and Kupenite peaks. Their overhanging cliffs create remarkable acoustics that, in a storm, reverberate with thunder (800 m + ascend and 500 – descend / approx. 5-6 hours walking)
Overnight in Maliovitsa hut.
Day 4 Maliovitsa hut – Seven Rila lake hut
In the morning we will start climbing to Maliovitsa peak (750 m + ascend and 600 m – descend / approx. 6-7 hours walking).
Overnight in Seven Rila lake hut.
Day 5 Seven Rila lakes hut – Ivan Vazov hut
From this point we will climb to the famous Seven Rila Lakes (400 m + ascend and 300 – descend/ approx. 4- 4:30 hours walking). Pass by many peaks and enjoy magnificent panorama views. The lakes are located in the Northwestern Rila and are located stepwise between 2095 and 2535 m above sea level.
The legend of the Seven Rila Lakes tells that thousands of years ago, when there were no people on Earth, two giants lived in the Rila mountain – a man and a woman. They loved each other madly and worshiped the beauty and comfort of their home.
Overnight in Ivan Vazov hut.
Day 6 Ivan Vazov hut – Rila Monastery
In the morning, we will continue exploring Rila mountain and will descent to the famous Rila Monastery (1100 m – descend / approx. 6 hours walking).
Overnight in Rila Monastery.
Day 7 Sofia – airport
Airport transfer according to flight schedule.
