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This Seven Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery day trip puts Bulgaria's best known mountain walk and its most important monastery into one long day from Sofia. A chairlift takes you up into the glacial cirque, where you walk past lakes named after their shapes, the Eye, the Kidney and the Teardrop, between 2,100 and 2,500 metres. In the afternoon the bus drives down to Rila Monastery for an hour with your guide in the painted courtyard. Bring good boots and a reasonable level of fitness; the rest is arranged, and real people on WhatsApp are there if you have a question.
A question? Ask us on WhatsApp"Breathtaking view of the Rila lakes after a peaceful chairlift climb of 25 minutes. … The architecture and painting in Rila Monastery are also beautiful. The guide, Megi, is professional and helpful."
"Both the Seven Lakes and the monastery were amazing. The views along the hiking trail were unbelievable. Megi, our guide, kept a good and moderate pace throughout and stopped to explain the landscape around us."
"Gorgeous day. The tour went smoothly. Guide spoke good English and communicated clearly. The pace was good …"
"It was an incredible trip, from the views of the seven lagoons to the monastery. It is an intermediate hike and is totally worth it; the views and the experience you have are incredible."
"Our guide Radi was very friendly, helpful and enthusiastic. … The walking was great and Radi managed a group of differing fitness levels well."
There is no child price: the minimum age is 13 and everyone pays the same. The booking calendar shows which options run on your date.
The Seven Rila Lakes lie in a glacial cirque between 2,100 and 2,500 metres, each named after its shape: the Eye, the Kidney, the Teardrop, the Twin, the Trefoil, the Fish Lake and the Lower Lake. Depending on the group's pace you walk the whole circuit or a shorter loop that leaves out the two highest lakes.
Rila Monastery was founded in the 10th century and is on the UNESCO list. Behind its walls are the 14th century Hrelyo Tower, the five-domed Church of the Nativity and galleries covered in frescoes. Your guide spends about an hour with you in the courtyard; the museum is optional.
Like any lift, it can stop because of strong wind or a power cut. Your guide then offers another walk on the spot, and this does not give a right to a refund. In late autumn bad weather can also close it for the day: fit hikers then walk up on foot, about 3 extra hours, skip the monastery and get a free Rila Monastery tour another day; everyone else visits the monastery that day and gets a free Plovdiv tour another day.
Until mid November it is a normal lakes and monastery day, with cold mornings and possible snow on the higher lakes. From 20 November to 15 December it becomes a winter snow hike with up to 8 hikers per guide; the monastery is left out that day and you get a free tour of it on another day. Waterproof winter boots and warm gear are required, and some hiking experience helps.
Extras you can add at checkout: trekking poles (€6), a waterproof jacket or waterproof trousers (€5 each), a trekking map of Rila (€3) and a suitcase on board (€2). One small backpack per person is free.
The main meeting point is behind the Vasil Levski Monument in the centre of Sofia, in front of the Embassy of Slovakia, where the bus leaves at 07:00. You can also be collected earlier at the Central Railway Station, Vazrazhdane Square or Atanas Burov Square, which you choose when you book. Please be there 15 minutes early. If you take a taxi, use Yellow or Volt; Bolt does not operate in Bulgaria. Open in Google Maps →
€60 with a live English guide, €45 by bus with the audio app. The chairlift is €20 on the spot. You pay online when you book.
