A Wander through the Beauties of the Rila and Pirin Mountains

Sofia – Govedartsi – Seven Rila Lakes – Musala Peak – Rila Monastery – Dobarsko church – Bezbog hut (region) – Tevno lake – Banderitsa lakes – Vihren Peak – Koncheto ridge – Bansko - Sofia

Day 1 ARRIVAL: Transfer from Sofia Airport to the village of Govedartsi (if the flight time schedule is appropriate – a city tour of the capital Sofia could be done).

Day 2 SEVEN RILA LAKES: Short transfer (20min) from your lodge will take you to the starting point and will bring you back from the same place at the end of the day – Pionerska Hut (1585 m.), from where a chair lift operates all the year round and takes visitors up to 2150 m.

The Seven Rila Lakes are without a doubt one of the most notable natural attractions on the Balkan Peninsula, a dream destination not to be missed. Located at between 2100 and 2500 metres (6900 to 8200ft) above sea level, these famous glacier lakes will charm you with their magnificent scenery which you can survey from the edge of the highest one. We start exploring them one by one. Each lake is named after its most characteristic feature. The highest one (at 2500m/8200ft above sea level) is called Salzata ("The Tear"), from where we have a bird’s eye view over all seven lakes, as well as surrounding outcrops and deep valleys; the next one in height carries the name Okoto ("The Eye") after its oval form; Babreka ("The Kidney") is the lake with the steepest shores of the entire group; Bliznaka ("The Twin") is the largest of all; Trilistnika ("The Trefoil") has an irregular shape; the shallowest lake is Ribnoto Ezero ("The Fish Lake") and the lowest one is Dolnoto Ezero ("The Lower Lake"; 2100m/6995ft), where the water that flows out of the other lakes is gathered to form the source of Dzherman River.

In order to fulfill the experience entirely we will do a short trek to the Skakavitsa waterfall. The River with the same name that runs down along the valley springs from a small lake above Skakavitsa Waterfall – the biggest in these mountains, with a free drop of 70 meters, situated at about 2000 m. above sea level. The name of the area (Skakavitsa) comes from the verb “skacham” which simply means “to jump” in Bulgarian, because of the many small water drops along the river bed.

Walking: about 15km; 6-7 hrs

Day 3 MUSALA PEAK: A short transfer from Govedartsi to Borovets resort (20mins), where you board the cabin lift to the trailhead/ lower station 1315m – highest station “Yastrebets Hut” 2369m./.
Musala (2925 m)(Mussala, Moussala) is the highest peak of the South-East Europe and Balkan Peninsula. It is situated in the Eastern (Musala) part of the RILA mountains that has a landscape reminiscent of the Alps. Also, Musala is the highest peak of Rila massif and of whole Bulgaria.
The name derives from "Mus Allah" ("the mountain of Allah"), being so named during the period when Bulgaria was part of the Islamic Ottoman Empire. The old name of the mountain is Tangra. The first written document about the climbing of the peak chronicles the ascent of Filip II, the father of Alexander the Great.
To climb the Musala peak is an extraordinary mountain experience, enjoyment in devine beauty of impressive massif of Mt Rila and it's highest peaks and highest peaks of Pirin massif and Mt Rodopi. Also, few beautifully Rila Lakes can be seen..
The average number of Musala's visitors exceeds 50,000 people annually. The area also boasts an Alpine meteorological observatory and an Ecological observatory called "Musala", which is placed on the summit of Musala (2925 m).

Walking: about 13km, 6-7 hrs

N.B. You can extend your program in Govedartsi with more nights to include climb to Mount Malyovitsa

Day 4 RILA MONASTERY & DOBARSKO CHURCH:

A goodbye time to say to Rila and start for Pirin.

During the day you will visit at Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is the most famous and largest Christian monastery in Bulgaria. The exceptional frescoes in the central church form a gallery of masterpieces of Renaissance art and could be considered a Bulgarian analogue of the frescoes of the Sistine chapel. Founded in the 10th century by St John of Rila, a hermit canonized by the Orthodox Church and destroyed by fire at the beginning of the 19th century, the complex was rebuilt between 1834 and 1862. A characteristic example of the Bulgarian Renaissance (18th–19th centuries), the monument symbolizes the awareness of a Slavic cultural identity following centuries of occupation.

The trip continues to the village of Dobarsko. The village of Dobarsko has gained global fame not only for its enthralling natural scenery, celebrated folk choir of the Dobarsko Grannies and quite tasty homemade food. The place not far from the skiing resort of Bansko, Southwestern Bulgaria, has emerged as a rural tourism destination since the beginning of 21 c. The reason: its stone church with frescoes dated 400 years ago. Among them there are two dismaying frescoes of Jesus Christ depicted in something that looks like a spaceship. The church has yet another mystery, and it has to do with the healing waters of the spring in the churchyard. Visitors often queue there carrying bottles and tubes. "The spring's debit neither grows nor decreases and it never freezes, even on coldest of days”, Nikola Naydenov says. “Its water is quite helpful in the treatment of eye diseases.

Thence, you proceed to Dobrinishte resort with overnight stay in Bezbog Hut. Transfer to Bezbog Hut by bus or by cable car /lower station 1894 m – upper station 2227m/.

OPTION 1:

Day 5 - TEVNO LAKE:
The path to the lake is marked, start points for the lake is Bezbog hut (4 hrs, green marking and then by Popovo lake, Samodivski lakes and through the Left Kraledvorska Porta).
One of the symbols of the majestic Pirin Mountain and goal for many tourists is located about 2515m above sea level - Tevno Lake. This is the most beautiful part of Pirin. Whether you visit the Pirin Mountain the winter or summer; you will always admire the amazing beauty of Tevno Lake and the area in which it is located.
Tevno Lake lies on a terraced plateau at the foot of Momin Dvor and Valyavishki chukar peaks. It is the highest and the largest of the lake group in Belemeto circus, which has over 30 small lakes, located on southeast. The name "Tevno" comes from the word "dark" - spoken in the local dialect. Its area is 65 acres and the depth - only 4m.
Next to the lake you find Tevno lake shelter, where you can get hot food and warm bed, having an unforgettable night high in the mountains, close to the stars, surrounded by the majestic peaks with the opportunity to see mountain goats. The shelter is massive 2-storey building with rooms of 7-8 beds. There are tourist kitchen and dining room. It is electrified with aggregate; drinking water from a spring, the toilets are outside. It is open all year round. The shelter is part of the European route E-4.
Once you come here, you will always come back again!

Walking: about 9km, 4 hrs

Day 6 - TEVNO LAKE – VIHREN HUT:

A marked path starts from Tevno Hut to Vihren Hut.

At first the trial follows the upper part of the ridges. However, the moment you start to descend you have to climb again to reach your objective. At one point the ridge walk dips down to a col, to cross the Wine Gate, where in years gone by, wine would be brought over the mountain range by mule or horse train from Greece.

The last couple of hours involve gentle climbing through alpine meadows, along the banks of a clear, fast-flowing mountain stream. The geology of the region means that steep climbs alternate with flatter areas, as this is how the mountains were carved by glaciers during the last ice-age. You reach an area with several lakes, and here the path divided, going right up over a ridge and into the Demianitsa valley, or left, your route, down and down over table-sized chunks of granite until you reach a point where three ridges meet, giving you stunning views into three separate valleys. The path follows the ridge allowing the choice of skirting the peaks for a more level walk, or taking in the peaks as you go.

The Vihren Hut is situated in the Pirin mountain, southwestern Bulgaria at an altitude of 1,915 m. It is composed of two massive buildings and bungalows. The rooms are of 4, 6 or 8 beds. Bathroom and WC are outside the building. There is a road from Bansko, which makes the refuge one of the most visited parts in Pirin. The hut is a starting point for the tourists to Vihren and some other peaks, lakes and refuges.

Walking: about 11 km, 6-7 hrs


N.B. To have a night around the Tevno lake and choosing OPTION 1, you need to take some luggage for 1 night with you because the hut is not accessible by bus. The bus will wait for the group in the Vihren Hut on Day 6.

OPTION 2:

Day 5 - THE POLEZHAN PEAKS AND LAKES :

The Bezbog hut is the setting-off point for the hiking trek to the Polezhan Summit (2851m) which offers one of the most beautiful panoramas in the Pirin, over 17 stunning glacier lakes, including the largest Popovo Lake (30m deep). Polezhan is the 5th highest summit in the Pirin. It is surrounded by three Cirques with three groups of lakes - Disilishki in the north, Polezhanski in the south and Strazhishki in the west. You use the classic route trough the northeast ridge, which is not difficult or too steep, except of the last 15-minute stage of the summit. Overnight again in Bezbog Hut.

Walking: about 9 km, 5 hrs

Day 6 - BANDERISHKI LAKES :

An arranged transfer takes the group to the Vihren Hut (appr. 30min). On the way visit the 1300 year old fir. From the hut you set off on a hiking trek through the pretty Cirque of the Banderishki Lakes, crossing the valley and the Todorini Ochi Lakes and thence through the thick spruce forests of the Yulen Nature Reserve on to the valley of the playful Demyanitsa River. Sceneries you enjoy once in a lifetime!

Walking: about 16 km; 5,30 hrs

For those, who prefer a relax walk before the most difficult climb to Mount Vihren on Day 7 (or in case of bad weather conditions), there is a shorter version of that trek. A walk among the lakes in the Bunderishki Lake Cirque will take you to all five of them, where you can have rest on their shores and enjoy the serenity of the rocky outcrops around you.

Overnight in Vihren hut.

Walking: about 7 km; 4 hrs

Day 7 - RIDING PIRIN HORSE - KONCHETO RIDGE AND PIRIN’S PREMIER - VIHREN

Starting points for “Koncheto” is Vihren hut.

According to a mountain story “Koncheto” (The small horse) is called so because during the time before the safety rope was put in 1963, some less experienced hikers go through Koncheto by saddling the ridge edge like a horse and slowly advancing which remained of horse-riding. “Koncheto” ridge is situated in Northern Pirin at 2810 m above sea level, about 150m long, the narrowest part is about half a meter.

When you reach the metal rope, hold on tight. A little more and you'll be on the ridge. When you are finally there, just take a deep breath. How do you feel? Small? Big? Winner? As far as you can see, there is only sky, peaks, white rocks and in the distance- in the lower lands – green grass.Often happens that on the one side of “Koncheto” the sun is shining and on the other – clouds cover the rocks. Probably because here is the meeting point of all winds and times.

Then you continue with climbing the Vihren peak via Koncheto ridge and Kutelo (2908 m) summit descent. This route is very attractive and most impressive because you can see incredible deepness of Pirin massif and it’s amazing peaks. Route start from Koncheto shelter, continue on Koncheto ridge till Kutelo (2908 m) summit, from where start descent to Vihren/Kutelo saddle on approximately 2600 m. From this pass you can reach the Vihren summit by climbing on it’s western side till its max height of 2914m.

Vihren is the highest peak in Pirin and second in Bulgaria. Due to the harsh weather conditions,one of its old names is Eltepe – Tempest Peak. Ancient Slavs worshipped it and believed that the mythical god Perun lived there – the God of tempests. A fascinating peculiarity is that of viewed from different angles, Vihren looks like different peaks.

Walking: about 16 km; 8-9 hrs

Return to Vihren Hut and transfer to Bansko - at the foot of Pirin Mountains, which will be your base for the following night. In the evening or the next day (depends on the flight time schedule) you can stroll along the cobbled streets and the charming ancient houses in the old part of the town.

Day 8: TRANSFER BANSKO – SOFIA AIRPORT

The price could be calculated on the personal wishes of the tourists - number of people, hotels/huts, BB or HB basis etc.