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The Seven Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery 12 hrs Full Day Tour from Sofia

Sapareva Banya12 hours
  • Hotel pickup

About this experience

A whole-day guided trek to Rila Mountains, exploring probably the most eminent area in the mountains – The Seven Rila Lakes and the most famous tourist attraction in Bulgaria – Rila Monastery (UNESCO).

Group Size & Transport: This is a popular, budget-friendly day tour operating with large 45 to 65-seater coaches. This is not a small-group or minibus tour. You will share the transport with other international travelers.

Next available dates

What’s included

  • Transport by air-conditioned minivan
  • English-speaking guide
  • Fuel surcharge

Not included

  • Chairlift tickets - 31.30 BGN per person/ 16 EUR
  • Entrance fee for the Rila monastery's museum (optional)
  • Food and drinks
  • Tip or Gratuities
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off

Itinerary

  1. 1

    Departure from the meeting point

    Departure at 07:00 am from the bus parking in front of Embassy of Slovakia, next to Vasil Levski Monument.

  2. 2

    Seven Rila Lakes hike

    The tour begins with an early transfer to the Rila, followed by a brief cable car ride to the Seven Rila Lakes Cirque. The glacier lakes are at between 2100 and 2500m/6800 and 8200ft above sea level, with name fitting their shapes, like Babreka (the Kidney), Okoto (the Eye), and Salzata (the Teardrop). As we need to follow strict time schedule depending on your fitness we can either walk the whole trek around all lakes, or make the stroll shorter and skip some of them (normally the two highest ones).

  3. 3

    Rila Monastery visit

    Admire the impressive Rila Monastery (UNESCO)- its architecture and the frescoes present the apogee of the Bulgarian Renaissance art. With an about 1-hour guided tour of the most treasured monuments in the inner yard and the Monastery museum (optional), you will learn the most fascinating facts and stories about the biggest Bulgarian monastery complex.

  4. 4

    Return at the meeting point

    Return at the starting point of the tour at approximately 19:30

Good to know

Difficulty
Moderate
Minimum age
12+ years
Languages
British English, Bulgarian
Start times
06:30 · 06:55 · 06:57 · 07:00 · 08:15

Know before you go

  • Public transportation nearby

Cancellation policy

This booking is non-refundable once confirmed.

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Meeting point

View on map

Vasil Levski Monument (Embassy of Slovakia)

Address
Sofia Center, Yanko Sakuzov Blvd 9, 1527 Sofia (GPS coordinates: 42.69677705130451, 23.336332286917877) - behind Vasil Levski Monument - IN FRONT OF Embassy of Slovakia, Sofia, Sofia, 1527, BG
How you meet
Meet on location, or hotel pickup
Coordinates
42.69676, 23.33676
Get directions

Illustrative map. Open it in Maps for the exact spot and live directions.

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From AED 256 per person