Price
Overview
Visit Bulgaria’s Seven Rila Lakes and UNESCO Rila Monastery in One Day
Discover two of Bulgaria’s most iconic landmarks in a single day. Begin with a scenic hike in the Rila Mountains to admire the famous Seven Rila Lakes—glacial jewels nestled between 2,100 and 2,500 m. Later, explore the UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery, the country’s largest and most revered spiritual site, renowned for its striking frescoes and centuries-old history. This tour combines natural beauty with cultural heritage for an unforgettable experience.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- Experience two of Bulgaria’s top attractions in one day
- Hike among the stunning Seven Rila Lakes (2,100–2,500 m)
- Admire the unique shapes of lakes like The Kidney, The Eye, and The Tear
- Visit the UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery, Bulgaria’s largest spiritual center
- Explore centuries-old frescoes, architecture, and monastic history
Book Now
Know Before You Go
- Dress Code: The Rila Monastery is at 1150 m (3770 ft) a.s.l. Dress according to the season & the weather forecast. Don’t forget your umbrella.
There is a strict DRESS CODE at the Monastery. Shoulders and knees MUST be covered. High heels are NOT acceptable!
The Seven Rila Lakes are situated between 2,100 and 2,500 metres above sea level!
Dress according to the season & the weather forecast. Don’t forget a windproof and waterproof jacket or raincoat. Please wear comfortable hiking shoes. Sneakers and other kinds of sports shoes are acceptable as well. Please bring an extra layer of clothing and a hat and sun lotion for the summer. - Cash or Card: Payment by card at the Panichishte chair lift, Rila Monastery museum, and gift shop is possible but not reliable due to potential lack of internet connection. It is very important to have cash in Bulgarian leva (BGN) prepared for lift tickets and personal expenses like food, drinks, and use of toilet facilities.
- Food: Bring a packed lunch, some snacks, and a bottle of water! The tour is long and on a tight schedule. There won’t be time to sit down and have lunch at a hut or restaurant along the way.
- Hiking: Please have in mind that this is also a hiking tour. The chair lift does not take you directly to the lakes, but to the starting point of the trail. The trail is very well marked, but please pay attention to the tour leader and stay with the group!
- Different schedule for Monday departures: Please note that the chair lift is under maintenance every Monday morning. For tours scheduled on Monday, the first stop will be the Rila Monastery, and the hiking tour of the Rila lakes will be in the afternoon.
- Meeting time and place for departure from the lakes: Your tour leader will set a meeting time and place (usually the bottom lift station) for departure to the Rila monastery. Please be on time and make sure you keep your tour leader updated on your whereabouts in case you are running late. The group will NOT wait for you if you are late. In this case, you might have to make your own way back to Sofia.
Included/Excluded
- Live guide throughout the trip (if option selected)
- Audio guide (if option selected)
- Transport in a modern air-conditioned bus
- Parking Fees
- Food & Drinks
- Tips
- Ticket for the chairlift (30 BGN)
- Entry ticket for Rila monastery museums
Tour Plan
07:00 Departure from Vasil Levski Monument (Embassy of Slovakia)
Meet us at the Vasil Levski Monument, in front of the Embassy of Slovakia (LINK to the meeting point on Google Maps).
Please, arrive at the meeting point at least 10 minutes earlier. The bus departs at 07:00 am sharp and does NOT wait for any late passengers.
09:00 Arrival at Panichishte chair lift bottom station.
After a 2-hour journey you will arrive at the lower lift station where you can buy tickets for the Panichishte chair lift.
09:00-09:30 Seven Rila Lakes Chair Lift Ride
Enjoy the beautiful Rila mountains nature during a 30 min ride on the Seven Rila Lakes (Panichishte) chair lift.
09:30-14:30 Hiking to the Seven Rila lakes and back
The hike to the Seven Rila Lakes takes about 3.5–4 hours and is of moderate difficulty. Starting from the Rila Lakes Hut, the circular route passes the lower lakes and reaches Kidney Lake before looping back, usually skipping the two highest lakes due to the lack of time.
14:30-16:00 Transfer to Rila monastery
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!
16:00-17:00 Rila monastery guided tour (free time included)
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.
19:00 Arrival at Vasil Levski Monument (Embassy of Slovakia) meeting point.
After an approximate two hours driving, the tour is back at its starting point - at Vasil Levski Monument, in front of the Embassy of Slovakia (LINK to the meeting point on Google Maps).
Additional drop off points may be available during the booking process.
* Please note that the program (depending on the guide’s decision (based on the day of the week, weather conditions, etc.) may be executed the other way around, starting from Koprivshtitsa.
You may like
Book Now
Last Minute Deals
