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Sofia, BG

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Sofia, BG

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Embark on an unforgettable adventure with the Seven Rila Lakes & Rila Monastery tour in Bulgaria. This whole-day guided trek takes you to the stunning Rila Mountains, where you'll visit the Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and explore the breathtaking Seven Rila Lakes. Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature as you hike through this picturesque landscape, and then delve into the rich history of the country with a visit to the largest and most important cloister in Bulgaria. With transportation provided by an air-conditioned bus or minivan, and an English-speaking guide to enhance your experience, this tour is the perfect combination of adventure and culture. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to explore two of Bulgaria's top tourist attractions in just one day.

About this experience

Free Cancellation For a full refund cancel at least before the start of your booking
12 hours
Suitable for 1-15 Participants
Private Tour, Small Group Tour
& Audio GuidedGuided Experience

Highlights

Guided trek to Rila Mountains
Visit the Rila Monastery (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Explore the Seven Rila Lakes
Combine hiking with a historical visit
Experience the top tourist sights in Bulgaria

Included

Fuel surcharge
Transport by air-conditioned bus/coach or minivan
English-speaking guide (if guided tour selected)

Not included

Gratuities
Entrance fee for the Rila monastery's museum
Food and drinks
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Chairlift ticket

Popular Hotels Closeby

More about this experience

Introduction

Experience the beauty of Bulgaria's natural landscapes and rich history with the Seven Rila Lakes & Rila Monastery tour. This full-day guided trek takes you to two of the country's most iconic tourist attractions - the Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the Seven Rila Lakes. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking scenery of the Rila Mountains while exploring the largest and most important cloister in Bulgaria.

What to Expect?

During this tour, you can anticipate a total duration of 720 minutes. The day begins with a meeting point behind the magnificent St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral, where the knowledgeable guide will lead the group. The journey starts with a transfer to the Rila Mountains and a scenic cable car ride to the Seven Rila Lakes Cirque. Explore the seven glacier lakes, marvel at their unique shapes like Babreka (the Kidney), Okoto (the Eye), and Salzata (the Teardrop). Depending on your fitness level, you can choose to walk the entire trek around all the lakes or opt for a shorter stroll. After the mesmerizing hike, prepare to be captivated by the impressive Rila Monastery. With its exceptional architecture and frescoes that showcase the Bulgarian Renaissance art, the monastery stands as a testament to the country's cultural heritage. Enjoy a guided tour of the inner yard and the monastery museum, unraveling fascinating facts and stories about this architectural wonder.

Who is this for?

This tour is designed for nature enthusiasts and history buffs alike, catering to a wide range of travelers. Whether you are an adventurous hiker seeking stunning landscapes or a cultural explorer eager to delve into Bulgaria's past, the Seven Rila Lakes & Rila Monastery tour offers something for everyone. It's perfect for individuals, couples, families, and groups who want to immerse themselves in both nature's beauty and the country's spiritual heritage.

Why Book This?

Embark on a journey that seamlessly blends natural beauty with historical significance. Unlike any other tour, this experience offers a unique opportunity to traverse the picturesque Seven Rila Lakes while also exploring the architectural masterpiece of the Rila Monastery. As you trek through the stunning mountain landscapes and discover the rich cultural heritage of Bulgaria, you'll be amazed at the breathtaking sights and immersive experiences this tour has to offer.

Good to Know

When booking this tour, keep in mind that the meeting point is located behind St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral, opposite La Cattedrale restaurant. Arriving 15 minutes in advance is recommended to ensure a smooth departure. The tour has a duration of approximately 720 minutes, providing ample time to explore the Seven Rila Lakes and the Rila Monastery. Please note that the itinerary may be adjusted based on your fitness level and preferences. Get ready for an unforgettable adventure that combines hiking, culture, and nature!

Reviews

Travelers who have embarked on the Seven Rila Lakes & Rila Monastery tour have been amazed by the sheer beauty of the landscapes and the profound historical significance of the monastery. They praise the knowledgeable guides who provided enriching insights into the sites and made the experience truly memorable. Visitors have also appreciated the flexibility in the itinerary, allowing them to tailor the hike based on their fitness levels. Overall, the tour has received outstanding feedback from individuals who were captivated by the breathtaking scenery and cultural wonders of Bulgaria.

About this product

How long before the event do I need to book?

You can book at any time before the event

Vouchers accepted in the following formats

Mobile

Meeting point & End point

IMPORTANT: The meeting point is BEHIND Alexander Nevski Cathedral (opposite La Cattedrale restaurant) | | GPS coordinates: 42.695598, 23.333649 | Please, be there 15 min. in advance!

Aleksandar Nevski Square, Sofia Center, 1000 Sofia, BG

Your Itinerary

St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral

(Pass by)

Departure at 07:00 from the car park in front of La Cattedrale restaurant, at the south-east corner of Alexander Nevski Square

Seven Rila Lakes

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).

Rila Monastery

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, you will learn the most fascinating facts and stories about the biggest Bulgarian monastery complex.

St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral

(Pass by)

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

Additional information

Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for participants with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant participants
Not recommended for participants with poor cardiovascular health
Participants should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Food:
although there are two huts on our way where we can purchase some basic food (i.e. beans soup, meatballs, tea) we advise you to come prepared with a lunch pack from Sofia, because the programme today is rather tight and for sure we won’t have much time for a proper lunch.
Difficulty:
the hiking route is moderately arduous, with individual brief paths featuring steep inclines. Please bring along comfortable walking boots. Sandals and flip-flops are not accepted. Rain jacket might be useful in summer as heavy showers sometimes occur in the afternoons.
IMPORTANT FOR MAY AND JUNE DEPARTURES!
Kindly note, that availability of the tour depends on the weather conditions and the operation of the chairlift.
The terrain will be very wet and slippery and there will still be snow in the area. Walking in such conditions requires adequate equipment (good trekking boots, waterproof clothes and a warm layer beneath the jacket). The hike is demanding, so a good fitness level is also required. Keep in mind that some of the lakes may be covered in snow.
The tour can be canceled with a last minute notice (100% refund will be applied) due to harsh conditions or closure of the chairlift.
Important
As with all lifts the one, used for the hike to The Seven Rila Lakes, may halt operations (due to strong winds, power cuts etc.). In this unlikely event, an alternative hike will be offered on spot by the guide. Mind that such a situation does not make you eligible for a refund for the tour.
Tour with ONLINE (cloud-based) Audio-guide in different languages (EN, ES, IT, FR, DE, RU). INTERNET required to download and use. Headphones required, too.

Reviews

(77)

4.5 (77)

howardsJ6796AP

A great trip into the National Park. Fantastic scenery and amazing history. A small group, good, friendly and helpful guides. Would recommend this tour.

X6818BTpaulr

Well organised with friendly and knowledgeable guides. The trek is tiring on the legs but nonetheless provides amazing views. On my trip we saw 5 of the 7 lakes plus the monastery. All this was enhanced by being with a happy, sociable group of people. Definitely one of the best day trips/tours I’ve done and would highly recommend it.

Jeff_K

The hike up to the lakes was a challenge but well worth it. The views are spectacular. The hike down was also a challenge as the path is rocky. The monastery is beautiful and our guide was both informative and respectful. A great day out.

riannonl2023

Stunning scenery both at the lakes and the monastery, (women remember to wear/bring clothing to cover your knees for the monastery) definitely worth it!

andriyi635

Once we come back from the stress of this trip, we are ready to share our experience. We chose this trip because Rila Lakes are indeed one of the most beautiful lakes you can find in Europe. We were really excited about this trip and were waiting for it for a long time. However, a few weeks before our trip, we noticed that thunderstorms and raining were forecasted for this region. We asked for the advice from locals and they told us that forecasts in mountain regions are not that precise. So we decided to take our chance and see if we can make it. Also, in trip description you can see that the trip can be cancelled same day, in case weather conditions are not suitable. So we understood that these guys know what they are doing and probably our fears are vain. We arrived at the mountains, came to the third lake and the weather started to get worse. We noticed a huge dark cloud that was nearby. We asked a guide if it was ok and he said: "No problem, I live here and I know that no rain is going to come". Ok. we reached the fifth lake and the rain actually started and it was quite strong. Once the rain gathered momentum, our guide decided to do the best thing a good guide can do. He just ran away back to our starting point, leaving us there. We didn't know where to go, or how to return, and the storm cloud already come, so we couldn't even see a thing. Then the most exciting part of this tour started. Severe thunderstorm with hale, raining and of course extremely slippy road. I can't say how many times thunder was like 2-3 meters close. We were inside of this cloud and we had quite a high risk of being killed by this storm. We couldn't see even members of our group, because all the people ran away in panic. Out there on the mountain, there were no places to hide and to wait till this storm ended. But we managed to survive this storm and went back to the starting point all soaked up. We went back and had a talk with a guide. He didn't apologize, didn't say anything about this situation, and cheered us up that we could die there if we stayed on a mountain for a bit longer. Then, we thought that it was going to be a stop for this trip because all the clothes were completely wet. We were so shocked by this trip to the mountains, so we couldn't argue with him. But he was okay with it and told us that we would go to the Monastery and the car had an air conditioner. So we can survive this road. Also, he assured us that there would be no rain near the Monastery. But actually, when we arrived there, the rain was the same and was so cold. We didn't want to see anything new and just wanted to come back home. Overall experience, the mountain views were wonderful. Truly great. The guide was a really unprofessional and inhuman person. You should decide all these things on your own. Never rely on this guide, since they don't know anything the same way as you. I can't recommend this trip, even though it's a really nice place to visit. Just organize it on your own and have fun.

ladadidah

The Seven Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery day trip with Traventuria was great. My partner and I both enjoyed the tour. The coach was comfortable (though limited leg room) with charging ports and wifi. Please note you only see five lakes- NOT seven despite the description. This is due to limited time with the Rila Monastery visit. The Seven Lakes hike is lovely- the chairlift is 30mins each way with beautiful views, the lakes are stunning. The hike itself is of average difficulty, the initial half is uphill but you go at a slow pace. The rest is flat/downhill. There were lots of elderly people (60s-70s) and children on the hike so should be possible for most people to complete it. I would recommend this day trip if you have limited time but if you have longer, I'd suggest doing a full day trip to the seven lakes so you can complete the entire hike and visit the monastery separately.

Yelena_P

Everything was well organized. The trip started on time. Excellent guide, answered all the questions and made the trip really comfortable. A small group of 8 people only. We could move along the trail at a comfortable pace. There were some stops to rest and take pictures. Wonderful views!

worldtravelerinVA

We loved the rila National park to see the lakes. The hiking wasn’t easy; you will need a good pair of hiking shoes to do this trip. Rila monastery was just ok to me. We didn’t have time to see the museum.

Valerie_E

As soon as we were on the sii lift we were in thick fog. We saw 0 out of 7 lakes and the walk was cut short. This wasn't the fault of the provider but disappointing. We were given a cave visit to compensate but not everyone did this because we were told we would have to do a 'technical climb' to get back out of the cave. The information beforehand is inadequate. Others had the guides emergency phone numbers but people booking with viator just had an email with a broken link. I was told no food was available le until the monestry. It's the other way around. Food is available at the start and finish of the walk but not at the monestry.Shorts and skirts are not allowed in the mobestry but this wasn't mentoned. It does say you have to wear a mask so it really needs updating.The drivers both used their phones and are and drank while driving. This is unacceptable. They should be given proper breaks.

Leah_S

Rila lakes and monastery were amazing, but the tour itself is poorly organised. Also it is not a small group tour. It says max 15 people but they mean “per guide”. We had about 40 people on the tour and three guides. The chair lift tickets aren’t included so the first hour after you arrive at Rila is spent standing in a giant queue waiting to buy a ticket, then go into another queue to get on the chair lift. We only got to 5 lakes but had we been able to just walk at our own pace I think we would have been able to do 7. Instead we had to stick together (except this wasn’t communicated well so some people didn’t). The guides told some information but they didn’t speak to everyone. They just started speaking to a few people and then you would realise they were talking and come over. Not really worth the money and could easily be improved.

Collected by Evendo, Tripadvisor & Viator

2024-04-24 01:22