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Rila Monastery and 7 Rila Lakes Self-Guided Shared Trip from Sofia
4.7
141 Ratings
Sofia
Embark on a self-guided shared trip from Sofia to the stunning 7 Rila Lakes and the UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery. Hike through the lakes in the morning and explore the monastery in the afternoon.
Duration:
13 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral - Enjoy stunning morning views of Sofia’s main landmark
What's Included
- Driver
- Round-trip shared transfer
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan
What's Not Included
- Entrance fees - Rila Lakes chairlift ticket (25 BGN per person, two-way)
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks
- Guide services
Additional Information
Embark on a self-guided, communal shuttle tour that will usher you towards the stunning 7 Rila Lakes area in the morning, followed by a visit to the UNESCO-protected Rila Monastery in the Rila National Park, highlighting Bulgaria’s finest natural and cultural spots, in the afternoon. In the initial part of the day, the shuttle bus will transport you to the onset of the hiking trails at the Rila Lakes locality and the bottom dock of the chairlift, allowing you to ascend the mountain using the chairlift. You have an extensive span of over 5 hours for your autonomous exploration of the Rila Lakes region. Following that, in the latter part of the day, the communal shuttle will convey you to the Rila Monastery –– an epitome of Bulgaria’s cherished cultural and historical legacy. There is ample time exceeding 1 hour allotted for you to independently delve into the monastery premises.
- A moderate to intensive amount of walking is involved (walking/hiking experience is a must)
- Comfortable walking shoes and clothes suitable for mountain/walking are required
- Sun cream and sunglasses are strongly recommended
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Dress code at the Rila Monastery: high heels, short skirts and trousers, shirts with no sleeves, etc. are not allowed in the monastery.
Location
пл. „Княз Александър I“ 1
площад „Княз Александър I“
Go to the car parking at Knyaz Aleksander I square (in front of The Palace - National Art Gallery). Look for a vehicle with Rila Shutle sign. Nearest metro station is Serdika.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.7
(141 Ratings)
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Fernando_t
Jun 19, 2024
A very pleasant experience - A great and well organised journey which allows you to combine nature with a very impressive UNESCO site, the Monastery of Rila. Trustful company
Review provided by Viator
132jannickt
Jun 17, 2024
Perfect self-guided tour - Perfect tour. I took part alone and because the tour was self-guided, I was able to do everything at my own pace. There was a WhatsApp group beforehand. All information about the daily schedule, hiking routes, departure times, etc. was shared here. Philip answered questions immediately. He was the perfect guide. I felt totally comfortable and had a great day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Smnthklly
Jun 14, 2024
Well recommended for this great value day trip - Great experience. The tour being self hooded means you can go at your own pace how you want to, but the good part is the guide gives you information and tips before you depart Sofia and whilst you’re going about your day via WhatsApp. This is really a great idea. The Rila lakes are beautiful, a big challenging in places but we were lucky with the weather when we went it was beautiful. The monastery is well worth a visit and the hour time slot is just right. The roads are a little windy at times but our driver was very safe which is a definite bonus. Good value day trip and recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tour764188
Jun 13, 2024
Perfect timing - Overall an amazing tour. What I liked most, is the timing of the tour. You leave Sofia early enough, that you don’t get stuck in the traffic and are one of the first people by the lakes. At Rila Monastery you arrive late enough, that mos tourist are already gone.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Barbarats4962sn
Jun 12, 2024
7 lakes Rila + monastery - So an amazing day ! The activity was well organised, on time with the schedule, a good group and the guide was perfect.
We had a wonderful weather, sun and blue sky. It’s the perfect period to do this activity because it wasn’t busy.
We had enough time on place by taking our time at each spot. The guide was present for any questions even if we were free.
Definitely you have to do it but keep in mind that it’s a quite tough activity. You need good shoes and be prepared.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Esther_w
Jun 12, 2024
Beautiful hike and worth getting up early - It was totally worth it to get up early and take the tour. Very good communication, everything clear and had a beautiful day. The tour guide was very kind and helpful. Especially the hike was beautiful 😍
Review provided by Viator
Katy_f
Jun 11, 2024
A must do in Sofia! - Great trip. Loved that the logistics were all organised but I could go at my own pace for the hike. I skipped the top 2 lakes so I could do the rest of the hike at a slower pace and enjoy the scenery but all 7 lakes are easily do-able in the time if you’re fit enough and happy to go at a quicker pace. I wore trainers and these were fine, the higher 2 lakes still had snow on the track so this may have been a bit more difficult.
Would recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Aleksandar_b
Jun 6, 2024
Spectacular! - In one word, amazing! An absolute must while in Sofia! For nature lovers or those looking for something more relaxing and away from city life while going somewhere incredible, this is an absolute must.
Information given prior to the trip was in exceptional detail and really useful. Special thanks to Philip for being incredibly helpful to ensure we had an amazing time.
The time at the lakes was adequate to fully enjoy the hike without rushing, take the perfect pictures and to have a little picnic surrounded by spectacular scenery.
The monastery was also lovely and peaceful, with more than enough time to enjoy it while also having some refreshments prior to heading back to the city.
Review provided by Viator
431giulianom
Jun 19, 2024
Rila Monastery and 7 Rila Lakes - Very good organization, simple and fast. The place for those who love nature and excursions is very beautiful. The service (water and food), being in the mountains, is limited so be organised.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Pernilla_r
Jun 11, 2024
Amazing Hike - The Hike to the top- no problem timewise to manage and the beautiful momentet.
To meet up 7 in morning and then tour guide take 15 minutes explaining your while standing still was a waste of our time. That people are not on time still after all the reminders about departure time beats me!
Review provided by Viator
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