EXPLORING THE WILD HEART OF BULGARIA

DAY 1. FLIGHT TO SOFIA
Departure by flight to Sofia. Arrival in Sofia, assistance at the airport and transfer to our hotel.

Accommodation in a central hotel, Sofia.

DAY 2. PICO MUSALÁ (2925 m)
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Transfer to the Bórovets mountain center (2:00 am). From there we will go up by cable car to 2330 m and start the walk. We will pass through the Musalá refuge (2400 m) and then through the “Lédeno ézero” refuge (2720 m) located next to a lake and at the foot of the final ascent of the highest point of the Balkan Peninsula: the Musalá peak ( 2925m). On the ascent route we will pass by several mountain lakes. Picnic lunch and down the same path.

Hike: 5-6 hours; +/- 600 m
Accommodation in a central hotel, Sofia.

DAY 3. VALLEY MALYÓVITSA – PICO MALYÓVISTA (2730 m)
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Transfer by bus to the Govedartsi mountain village (1,150 m) and the Malyóvitsa refuge (1,730 m). Hike through the Malyóvitsa valley, an alpine region of singular beauty, crowned by the pyramid of the peak of the same name. We follow the path to the peak stopping at the homonymous refuge. Picnic lunch. Then we continue towards the summit, passing by a second glacier terrace in the circus with a beautiful mountain lake (2480 m). From there we will reach a pass (2655 m) and easy up the hill to the summit. Beautiful and extensive 360º panoramic view of all the mountains of the Rila mountain range. Descent by the same itinerary to the refuge and return to our hotel.

Walk: 6: 30-7 hours; +/- 1065 m

Accommodation in a central hotel, Sofia.

DAY 4. THE 7 LAKES OF RILA
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

After a 1 hour transfer we will arrive at the Paníchishte area. From there we take the chairlift to the Rilski ezerá refuge (2105 m) and we start the hike in one of the best-known regions of this massif: the glacial circus of the 7 Rila lakes. The trail will allow us to get a different point of view towards each of the lakes, and we will touch the shore of 5 of the 7 lakes: Trilístnika, Bábreka, Bliznátsite, Ríbnoto, Dólnoto. For those who would like, we can go up to the last two lakes (Okoto and Salzata). Picnic lunch. Return to the vehicle and transfer to the hotel.

Hike: 6 hours; +/- 1000 m
Hotel accommodation, Sofia.

DAY 5. MONASTERY OF RILA – BANSKO
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Transfer by bus (1:30 h) to the Rila Monastery (UNESCO). This day we will make a pilgrimage walk to the cave where the saint-hermit San Juan de Rila lived: founder of the monastery, passing through beautiful protected deciduous forests. Visit of the monastery. Lunch in a restaurant on the banks of the Rilska river and continuation by bus to Bansko (1:30 am). Accommodation in a central hotel and dinner.

Hike: 2 hours, +/- 200 m
Hotel accommodation, Bansko.

DAY 6. CROSSING REFUGIO VIJREN – REFUGIO DEMYÁNITSA
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

In the morning we travel by bus to the Bánderitsa refuge (1,825 m) where we start our trek through the Pirin glacial cirques. We pass through several crystalline lakes to reach the Todórina pass (2595 m) and descend on the other side of Mount Todorka. Picnic lunch. We go down admiring beautiful lakes and coniferous forests following the Demyánitsa river valley to the refuge (1905m). Return to Bansco.

Walk: 7 hours; + 800 / -1100 m
Hotel accommodation, Bansko.

DAY 7. PICO HIVREN (2914 m) – SOFÍA
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

A day dedicated to the ascent of the highest peak in the massif and the second highest in Bulgaria, Vihren (2914m). We leave again from the Bánderitsa refuge and start the walk through the rocky ridges, all of white marble and granite. We enjoy spectacular views from the alpine ridge to the Greek mountains to the south, the well-known mountain of Rila to the north and all the wonders of Pirin. Picnic lunch. We then descend to the refuge and return to the capital. Farewell dinner.

Hike: 6 hours; + 1100 / -1000 m
Accommodation in a central hotel, Sofia.

DAY 8. SOFÍA. RETURN FLIGHT
Breakfast.

On foot we visit the historical center of the capital seeking out the most important monuments: the Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (20th century) which is the largest Orthodox church in Bulgaria, the Church of Saint Sophia (6th century), the Saint George roundabout (4th century), the church Russian, the Banya Bashi Djami Mosque (XVI century), the Synagogue (XX century), etc. At the agreed time we will transfer to the airport and depart by flight back to our city of origin.