The Seven Rila Lakes & Rila Monastery

Meet us behind the Alexander Nevski Cathedral, close to a restaurant called "La Cattedrale" (LINK to the meeting point on Google Maps).
Please, arrive at the meeting point at least 10 min earlier. The bus departs at 07:00 am sharp and does NOT wait for any late passengers.

After a 2-hour journey you will arrive at the lower lift station where you can buy tickets for the Panichishte chair lift. The return ticket price is 30 BGN as in 2024.

Enjoy the beautiful Rila mountains nature during a 30 min ride on the Seven Rila Lakes (Panichishte) chair lift.

The total hiking time to the lakes is around 3.5/4 hours depending on the group's speed and the route taken. The route if of moderate difficulty.
Circular trek, starting from the Rila Lakes hut, going along the lower lakes up to the Kidney Lake, before descending back to the Rila Lakes hut (the highest two lakes will be skipped due to lack of time). (3,30hrs hiking time only; 4,5km; +200m; -200m)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).

Enjoy the beautiful rural scenery on the way to the Rila monastery with Traventuria's comfortable and reliable transportation vehicles. Great time to catch some rest from the hike and recharge for your next sight!

After hiking around Rila’s most remarkable and beautiful parts - the Seven Rila Lakes, you are transferred to the Rila Monastery: the largest and most significant Bulgarian Orthodox Church establishment. The 20m/70ft high walls shelter impressive cloisters, a church, and a chapel with unique murals and museum collections.
Spend around 1.5 hours at the Rila monastery, including a guided tour and some (however limited) free time, to explore on your own this stunning UNESCO heritage site. Visit the monastery's museum or grab a snack from the local bakery. We recommend their homemade traditional Bulgarian doughnuts - "mekitsi", offered with traditional Bulgarian yogurt.

After an approximate two hours driving, the tour is back at its starting point - behind the Alexander Nevski Cathedral, by the restaurant called 'La Cattedrale". (LINK to the meeting point on Google Maps).
Additional drop off points may be available during the booking process.

*Please note that all of the timetables are approximate and are subject to change, depending on the size of the group, the traffic along the way, weather conditions, and others