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8-Day Hiking through the Bulgarian Mountains

4.7

| 19 reviews

8-Day Hiking through the Bulgarian Mountains

Name: 8-Day Hiking through the Bulgarian Mountains
Rating: 4.74 (19 reviews)

Bulgaria

7 nights

Challenging

Explore Bulgaria’s most spectacular scenery – from glacial lakes to alpine meadows - and stay in comfortable family-run hotels

What's Included?

Small Like-minded Groups

Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 12 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people

From

…

excluding flights

From

…

excluding flights

What's it like?

4.7

| 19 reviews

Our guide knew all the secret little trails...

August 2019

Justin

August 2019

Justin

The scenery, the wildlife and getting to th...

August 2019

Anne

August 2019

Anne

Our guide Nadia (Nadezhda) was great, organ...

August 2019

Tayfun

August 2019

Tayfun

August 2019

Tayfun

Brilliant guide, fantastic scenery and very...

August 2018

Jeremy

August 2018

Jeremy

August 2018

Jeremy

Get off the beaten path and experience Bulgaria’s remote and rugged landscape

Explore the beautiful Pirin and Rila mountain ranges - considered the Alps of the Balkans

8 days of guided travel, 6 days of alpine hiking and 7 nights in friendly family-run hotels

Key Information

Day 1

Bansko

Travel to the town of Bansko at the foot of Mount Pirin (2.5hrs). Check into your hotel and head out for dinner and a chance to discuss the adventure ahead with your guide and the rest of your team.

Day 2

Polezhan summit

Hiking

8km · 650m up · 650m down

Ride the cable car to the Bezbog Hut and start your hike to the summit of Mount Polezhan (2851m,) home to some incredible view over 17 blue alpine lakes. Return along an equally scenic route and then head back into town for dinner. 1 hour vehicle transfer today.

Day 3

Banderishki Lakes Cirque

Hiking

6-7hrs · 16km · 700m up · 700m down

Remember those beautiful alpine lakes? Time to visit some of them. The trail will take you over Todorina Porta (2702 m) into the Yulen Nature Reserve and past Todorini Ochi (Todora’s Eyes.) Descend through groves of fir trees and finish the day with a walk along a shady riverside path before another traditional Bulgarian meal. 40mins vehicle transfer today.

Day 4

Mount Vihren

Hiking

6-7hrs · 9km · 1000m up · 800m down

Ascend through the dramatic Golem Kazan (Giant Cauldron) beneath the sheer face of Mount Vihren (2915 m). Your guide will point out endangered edelweiss, rare wallcreeper and hopefully some shy Balkan Chamois. Enjoy the view from the top and then return to your hotel for a last night in the Pirin range. 40mins vehicle transfer today.

Day 5

The Rila Range

Hiking

3-4hrs · 7km · 300m up · 300m down

Head for your second mountain range, the beautiful Rila, stopping off at the Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with some exceptional frescos. Check into your guesthouse in Panichiste and take an optional hike to the Skakavitsa Waterfall (70 m,) explore the nearby woods, or just relax. 3 hours vehicle transfer today.

Day 6

Seven Rila Lakes Cirque

Hiking

7hrs · 18km · 800m up · 800m down

Take a cable car to the start of the Seven Rila Lake Cirque and hike all day through a landscape of crystal lakes, jagged ridges and alpine meadows. Ascend Malyovitsa Mountain (2729m) and drop into Malyovitsa Valley, where you’ll spend the night at a locally owned guesthouse in the village of Govedartsi.

Day 7

Mt Musala (2925 m)

Hiking

6hrs · 13km · 750m up

Time to climb the highest peak in the Balkans - Mount Musala (2925 m). Ride the cable car ride from the Borovets Resort to the trailhead and ascend past rivers, lakes and mountain huts to the summit. Enjoy the views and take a moment to appreciate what you’ve just accomplished before descending back to Govedartsi. 1 hour vehicle transfer today.

Day 8

Back to Sofia

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before heading back to Sofia in time for your flight home (1.5hours transfer).

The Area

Logistics

Starts

Sofia Airport

15:30 on Day 1

Ends

Sofia Airport

09:30 on Day 8

Transfers

You'll be picked up on arrival and dropped off in time for departure. Feel free to book any flight that lands up to 30 minutes before the scheduled time. If you wish to arrive earlier, you can get a taxi (15 mins) into Sofia and your host can pick you up from your accommodation. You are free to book any departing flight that leaves after 11:00.

Travel options

There are regular flights to Sofia from airports across the Uk and Europe.

What about all the carbon?

We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity.

Day 1

Hotel · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 2 – Day 7

Hotel · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 8

Departure day

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

What is the food like?

Bulgarian food has a strong Mediterranean influence. Popular dishes include shopska (like a Greek salad), moussaka, pastries, stuffed vine leaves, sausages, cured meats and hearty stews. Common ingredients are yogurt, cheese, legumes and vegetables. You will be dining at a variety of restaurants, hotels, pubs and wineries. All dinners and breakfasts are included in the tour price.

What is the accommodation like?

The Mountains

You'll stay in small, three-star, family-run hotels and guest houses. These typically feature ensuite rooms with private balconies, an onsite restaurant that serves traditional Bulgarian food, Wi-Fi and stellar mountain views.

Upgrades

Solo travellers automatically stay in their own single room, however, If you're travelling as a couple or with other people and would like to share a twin/double room please let us know when booking - especially if you do not book together.

Rachel(February 2020)

Stefka was a fantastic guide who kept us fully informed about each of the hikes and was very knowledgeable.

Anne(September 2019)

Nadia Karastoyanova was an excellent guide, she was very knowledgeable about the mountains and the history of Bulgaria. She looked after us very well. The accommodation and food were good. Getting to the top of the mountains and completing the walks was very satisfying and climbing up the highest mountains of the Balkans was a bonus! The scenery was spectacular and we enjoyed seeing several new species of birds and butterflies.

Justin(August 2019)

Our guide knew all the secret little trails around the mountains so we saw more than other groups on similar tours. Amazing local food and a good group who felt like family after seven days.

Anne(August 2019)

The scenery, the wildlife and getting to the high tops of the mountains were great.

Fiona(August 2019)

The walking was fantastic, lovely scenery, guide excellent at managing the group.

Tayfun(August 2019)

Our guide Nadia (Nadezhda) was great, organization and quality of hikes also.

Liz(August 2019)

Great hiking and scenery, great group and our guide Nadia was friendly and looked out for us all!

Graham(August 2019)

The guide and the scenery were great. ...

The guide and the scenery were great.

Chantel(July 2019)

No frills booking and well-organised logistics from arrival at the airport, to every day scheduled activities and departure. Greater with our guide Kamen, he is very knowledgeable and brings the group together. Especially commendable for his love of his country and nature, he is a great guide and a true nature lover. Totally respect him.

Magda(September 2018)

The guide was really good, no request was a bother and he was really good at telling us all about Bulgaria. He even arranged a wine tasting! Hotels were lovely, and except 1 (1 night only), hosts were really good and food delicious. I could not have asked for a better holiday.

Lotte(September 2018)

The itineraries, the accommodation, the food, the weather, the pace and the views were great.

Boudicca(September 2018)

Incredible group, amazing scenery and really nice food.

Pia(September 2018)

The views! The scenery! The walks were great! (apart from the 10-hour one, that was way too long) The hotels were also lovely, especially the one in Bansko. Loved that they had a spa, the massages were amazing. The food was surprisingly good as well!

Kirsty(August 2018)

An incredible trip! I don’t think it could have been any better. The group gelled so well, the guide was knowledgeable, understanding and geared all the walks for the level of the group. The accommodations exceeded expectation and were well chosen and cosy.

David G.(August 2018)

Kamen, our guide and Pavil, our driver were great. The accommodation, scenery and the price also!

Jeremy(August 2018)

Brilliant guide, fantastic scenery and very reasonable prices.

T R.(July 2018)

Great guide - friendly, knowledgeable and relaxed. Well planned tours and great scenery.

Karolina(July 2018)

Everything was great!

Miriem(September 2017)

Service and Hikes were great.

Guides

Experienced, English speaking guides

Accommodation

7 nights in three-star, family-run hotels and guest houses

Meals

All your breakfasts and dinners

Transfers

To and from the airport and everything in-between

What do I need to bring?

Bags

Daypack for hiking
Waterproof liner for backpack

Clothes

Hiking boots (worn-in)
Waterproof jacket
Waterproof trousers
Breathable wicking layers
Fleece jacket or similar
Buff or neckscarf
Lightweight trousers/shorts / skirts
T-shirts, underwear & socks
Sunglasses
Sunhat
Something to sleep in

Other

Universal travel adapter
Power bank or solar charger
Passports (and visas)
Travel Insurance documents
Earplugs
Suncream
Personal first-aid kit (inc. blister treatment)
Personal items (biodegradable toiletries, sanitary wear etc)
Alcohol hand-gel
Reusable water bottle x1 ltr (2 of these if you have room)
Energy bars and snacks

*Requests for optional extras can be made after booking on your “My Bookings” page

Hiking Poles

Payable Before Departure

Hiking Poles

…

single room in 3* Sofia hotel incl. breakfast and transfer to the airport.

Payable Before Departure

single room in 3* Sofia hotel incl. breakfast and transfer to the airport.

… Per person

twin/dbl room in 3* Sofia hotel, incl. breakfast and transfer to the airport,

Payable Before Departure

twin/dbl room in 3* Sofia hotel, incl. breakfast and transfer to the airport,

… Per person

You'll need to bring all your luggage with you, however on each day of hiking your main luggage can be left in the accommodation, or left with the transfer vehicle and driver depending on the day of the trip. You will only need to have a daypack for each day of hiking.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).

For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.

We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

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DEPARTURE DATES

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SUMMER 2025 FLASH SALE NOW ON!

Save up to 15% on selected trips

8-Day Hiking through the Bulgarian Mountains

Explore Bulgaria’s most spectacular scenery – from glacial lakes to alpine meadows - and stay in comfortable family-run hotels

What's Included?

Small Like-minded Groups

…

…

What's it like?

Key Information

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

The Area

Logistics

What is the food like?

What is the accommodation like?

The Mountains

Upgrades

The guide and the scenery were great. ...

Guides

Accommodation

Meals

Transfers

What do I need to bring?

Bags

Clothes

Other

Explore our range of over 200 worldwide adventures

We've got your back

Guaranteed to run

Flexible payments

Happiness Guarantee

Full financial protection

Tried & Trusted

Connect before you go

DEPARTURE DATES

Go private and split the bill with ease.

Still Undecided?

A few other trips to tickle your fancy

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