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Rila National Park Tour: Lakes, Monastery, Views
5.0
1 Rating
Sofia
Mountains, Lakes, Monastery, Fresh air, Stunning views - all in one day! Escape from Sofia for a few hours to meet the highlights of Rila National park. The 7 Rila lakes are one of the most beautiful glacial lakes in Bulgaria and Rila monastery is the biggest and the most important monastery in Bulgaria.
Mountains, Lakes, Monastery, Fresh air, Stunning views - all in one day! Escape from Sofia for a few hours to meet the highlights of Rila National park. The 7 Rila lakes are one of the most beautiful glacial lakes in Bulgaria and Rila monastery is the biggest and the most important monastery in Bulgaria.
Duration:
12 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Sofia - The journey from Sofia to the lift for the lakes takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.
- Seven Rila Lakes - Breathtaking! This is the word most frequently used by our customers during their visit to the 7 Rila Lakes. Expect to see stunning nature, glacial lakes with crystal-clear water, and incredible landscapes. The starting point…
- Sofia - The journey from Sofia to the lift for the lakes takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.
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Seven Rila Lakes - Breathtaking! This is the word most frequently used by our customers during their visit to the 7 Rila Lakes. Expect to see stunning nature, glacial lakes with crystal-clear water, and incredible landscapes. The starting point for the hike is accessible by chair lift.
The hike begins at 2100 meters above sea level, with the upper viewpoint of the lakes at around 2550 meters. The hiking time is approximately 2 hours each way. It is highly recommended to wear hiking shoes, a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a jacket! - Rila Monastery - Rila Monastery is the largest and most significant monastery in Bulgaria and is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage. The travel time from the 7 Rila Lakes to Rila Monastery is about 1 hour and 50 minutes.
- Rila Monastery - Rila Monastery is included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list and is one of Bulgaria’s symbols. Founded in the 10th century by St. John of Rila, a hermit canonized by the Orthodox Church, his ascetic dwelling and tomb became a sacred site and evolved into a monastic complex that played a crucial role in the spiritual and social life of medieval Bulgaria. As a characteristic example of the Bulgarian Renaissance (18th–19th centuries), the monument represents the awareness of a Slavic cultural identity after centuries of occupation. Visitors will have ample time to explore the monastery, the main church, and the monastery museums.
- Sofia - The travel time from Rila Monastery to Sofia is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.
What's Included
- On-board WiFi
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Licensed English-speaking tour guide
- On-board WiFi
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Licensed English-speaking tour guide
What's Not Included
- Chair lift to the lakes - 30 leva per person for roundtrip
- Chair lift to the lakes - 30 leva per person for roundtrip
Additional Information
- Not recommended for travelers with knee problems
- Not recommended for travelers who are afraid of using an open chair lift
- Not recommended for travelers with knee problems
- Not recommended for travelers who are afraid of using an open chair lift
Location
площад „Княз Александър I“
Public parking space
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(1 Rating)
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1 star
Juliahj1275ls
Sep 8, 2023
Highlight of our trip to Bulgaria! - This was the second day in a row my friends and i spent with Ventsislav — we enjoyed our trip to Belogradchik with him so much that we canceled our planned tour of Rila and booked a private one with him (thanks again for accommodating that)!
This day was seriously something else. Just about as much fun as possible.
Worth noting, this is a physically demanding hike! Primarily in that it has lots of stairs/steep uphill, and then on the descent you’ve got lots of steep downhill. Ventsislav is super happy to go at whatever speed you want, and to take as many breaks as you’d like. We saw people of all ages and fitness levels able to reach the top, and there are tons of views worth stopping at along the way. That being said, wear something athletic including good running shoes, or if you have them, hiking boots. I went in my running shoes and was totally fine, but the primary reason I’d suggest hiking boots is because there are many areas where you need to walk on sort of loose rocks so a little ankle support can’t hurt. Also bring a hat for the sun and a light sweater for misty wind at the top (we went in August).
* also worth noting, Ventsislav carries an extra set of walking poles so if someone is worried about instability, definitely ask him ahead of time about borrowing those :)
The monetary itself was spectacular. As with everything, Ventsislav had tons of cool information to share with us and was happy to answer any and all questions. He’s an extremely experienced, kind, and friendly tour guide, and has a great sense of humor and disposition. 11/10! Thanks again!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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