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Seven Rila Lakes: Enjoy a Refreshing Small Group Day Tour from Sofia
4.8
28 Ratings
Sofia
Escape the city for a while and indulge in an unforgettable day trip to the Seven Rila Lakes’ natural beauty. Experience the clean air and embark on an awe-inspiring mountain hike.
Duration:
10 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral - The meeting point for the tour is Behild Alexander Nevsky Cathedral - please be there 15 minutes before the departure time.
- Seven Rila Lakes - The Seven Rila Lakes are just 1, 30 h away from the capital Sofia, which makes them a great day trip in the nature. All seven of the lakes have their own name which reflects its typical shape or characteristics. They are situated between 2,100 and 2,500 meters above sea level. In winter, they are frozen over and covered in snow; in summer, once melted, they are a clear emerald green and are great for picnic.
The meeting point for the tour is behind Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, next to cafe La Cathedrale. A comfortable minivan will take you to The Panichishte Resort cable car which goes us to the Seven Rila Lakes Cirque. The hiking path is of moderate difficulty, and the walking time is about 5 hours.
- St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral - At the end of the tour, the van/bus returns to the same starting point, Behind Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
What's Included
- Guided walking tour around the scenic Lakes
- Comfortable minivan transportation provided
- Choice of English speaking guide or driver
- Fuel surcharges included in the price
- Visit to the magnificent Seven Rila Lakes
What's Not Included
- food & drinks
- Cable car fee - 25 BGN, should be paid in cash on the spot – local currency only!!!
- Gratuities
Additional Information
- please wear comfortable walking shoes
- please be prepared for mountain conditions- light jackets & sweatshirts even in a good weather is reccommanded
- the tour is not suitable for hardly moving people
- check the weather forecast accordingly
Location
pl. "Sveti Aleksandar Nevski" 1А
ploshtad "Sveti Aleksandar Nevski"
The meeting point for the tour is Behind Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, near cafe La Cathedrale. Please be there at 7:45 and ask for travel agency City Tour.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(28 Ratings)
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Beth_s
Sep 22, 2023
Amazing hike - Great experience. Don’t miss. This can be challenging physically hiking to the top. The views are stellar along the way!
Review provided by Viator
243siang
Sep 17, 2023
Challenging but rewarding - Oh wow, the views were amazing , the last hour was quite a challenge but well worth it, Antonio really took care of the group
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Christophgc8392cv
Sep 17, 2023
uncomplicated and well organized - It was nice that you didn't have to worry about anything (schedule, map,...) and could just enjoy the hike! View was great! Guide was professional! Tour is also recommended for People who rarely hike.
Thank you!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Stevestanleycup
Aug 30, 2023
Beautiful scenic hike - I did the guided tour with guide Teto. The natural beauty of the Seven Lakes speaks for itself, and is well worth the trip! The cable car ride up and back is an added bonus. Teto managed our time well, so we did the full route without rushing, and had time for lunch break at the top, and time for photos along the route. Teto knew the best spots for the photos as well, that were away from the crowded areas. The van we rode in from and back to Sofia was comfortable and airconditioned, with USB power outlets.
Take cash for the cable car ride (25 BGN round trip), and pack lunch. However, we did stop at a gas station/convenience store on the way to 7 Lakes, so you can purchase water/drinks and food there if you wish. You can also rent hiking poles at the cable car base (5 BGN per pole); these poles can be helpful on the steep portions of the trail. Hiking boots are preferred, but the route is doable in sneakers.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lauraerica_w
Aug 14, 2023
Beautiful Hike - The hike was really beautiful, although the weather wasn't ideal. Yanislav was a great guide and we loved chatting with him.
Review provided by Viator
Roam40084416449
Aug 11, 2023
Mist do hiking in Bulgaria - That's a great place to visit. The hike itself is doable if you are almost fit. The shuttle is a good choice if you don't have a car and even so it is a mountainous local road. The guide was nice but is not really necessary if your concern is to find the way as it is almost impossible to get lost. So choose without tour if you want to set your own pace, and/or how far you wanna go.
And lastly don't forget to bring cash (25 BGN at the time of writing) for a return ticket of the cable car.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Simyc2023
Aug 10, 2023
I would do it again - Everything went like a charm. Really smoothly organized. Lovely guides.
It goes without saying that the landscape is stunning. Absolutely recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
122naturee
Sep 14, 2023
Spectacular scenery - If you visit Bulgaria and you love nature, this is definitely one of the places you MUST visit. The views are breathtaking and the place has some spirituality that actually makes you feel as if all the problems you have are so small. A great escape from the hustle and bustle.
The guide was nice enough but he had brought his girlfriend with him which I didn't find very professional.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Its-wat_it_is
Sep 10, 2023
Unique and satisfying - Travel time is not long at all, about 1.5 hours. We went on Saturday and the lift queue was long but move along at a steady pace. I would recommend the option without a tour guide as we never saw him. Pick the option to hike at your pace. We did not make it to the very top, but this how it goes - a beautiful and peaceful chair lift up that lasts about 20 minutes. The first part is about 30- 45 minutes of straight up the side of a mountain until you reach a nice plateau that will take you to the kidney lake (4th lake). After that is another 1.5 hours of straight up which can be very challenging from what I heard. We did go past the kidney late and decide to enjoy the day next to the late while we had lunch. The tour is fast paced and if not fit can run into problems in returning on time. We were lucky that we had a fantastic sunny, blue sky day. The guide, who was also the driver, barely spoke on the way and the return and I do not recall that he introduced himself.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Li000044
Aug 10, 2023
Great time away from the city - The mountain view is amazing. Cable car ride was great. Summer time go to the mountain is such enjoyable. We took self guided walk, but the tour manager still tell us everything. He is very 👍
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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