Climb Mount Musala (2925m)
Climb the highest peak in Bulgaria and explore the seven Rila lakes, for some of the most iconic views in the country
What's Included?
Small ‘Like-minded’ Groups
Solo-friendly by design, our small n’ sociable groups of up to 14 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people…
Trek to the summit of Mt. Musala (2925m)- the highest point on the Balkan Peninsula
Explore the range’s most famous location – the Rila lakes, seven glacial lakes situated between 2100m and 2500m above sea level
Ride cable cars and bed down in the remote mountain village of Govedartsi
Key Information
Day 1
Govedartsi
Meet your guide in Sofia and head to the little village of Govedartsi where you can relax and get to know your team before a big day tomorrow.
Day 2
Summit Mt Musala (2925m)
Hiking
Drive to Borovets Resort, the starting point for your summit attempt on the magnificent Mt. Musala (2925m). Ride the cable car to the top of Yastrebets (2396m), take in the panoramic views, negotiate glacier lakes and pass mountain shelters surrounded by outcrops, peaks, and deep valleys. This is the highest mountain in the Balkans and when you reach the top, the views are worthy of its title; you’ll be rewarded with all the major mountain ranges in Bulgaria, including the rest of the magnificent Rila. After a cup of herbal tea and the chance to enjoy your achievement, make the easier descent down for some much-needed chill time back at the hotel.
Day 3
The seven Rila lakes
Hiking
Take the cable car to the start of the Rila Lakes Cirque and then explore them one by one, starting with the Salzata - the highest at 2500m. Don’t make the mistake of thinking a lake is just a lake, as each of the seven has its own unique features - from the steep shores of the Babreka (2282m) to the recognisable shape of the Trilistnika (2216m) and the shallow bed of the Ribnoto Ezero (2184m). Enjoy an amazing birds’ eye view over the beauty you’re about to explore and then complete the circuit, ending at Dolnoto Ezero (2100m). Head back to Sofia and then home with some photos that will blow your friends away.
Day 1
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 2
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 3
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.
For breakfast, expect cold meats, cheeses, eggs, bread and butter with jams, and fruit. Dinner is usually a starter of fresh salad or soup, followed by meat (chicken or pork) with vegetables and bread. If you have any special requests, let your host know and they will try to accommodate them.
What is the accommodation like?
Govedartsi
You’ll stay at the family run Krusharska House in the village of Govedartsi. Rooms are comfortable and offer en-suite facilities and free WiFi. There's also a restaurant on site.
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 at the same time.
The Area
Logistics
Starts
Sofia Airport
19:00
Ends
Sofia Airport
17:00
Transfers
Your adventure begins at Sofia Airport (SOF) with your airport transfer at 19:00. Please schedule your flight to arrive more than 30 minutes before this time.
If you have the option to arrive earlier, you can get a 15 minute taxi into Sofia city centre spend time on your own, exploring the famous sites downtown. In this case, your host will arrange to pick you up in the centre of Sofia at 19:00 and transfer you to the first overnight accommodation. Just let your host know when booking.
At the end of your adventure you will be dropped back at Sofia Airport (SOF) at 17:00. You are free to book any flight that departs after 19:00.
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.
Enjoy 12.5% Off Outdoor Gear
In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 12.5% discount to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock and Runner's Need.
What do I need to bring?
Bags
- Main luggage bag/backpack
- 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 gloves
- Lightweight trousers/shorts / skirts
- T-shirts, underwear & socks
- Sunglasses
- Sunhat
- Something to sleep in
Other
- Universal travel adapter
- Spare camera batteries
- 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
No optional extras are available for this trip.
Pretty much everything was perfect. The choice of hotels, our guides, the actual treks all top quality. Taking 20 people away is usually stressful but not this time - thank you!
All journey was amazing, everything organised, good guide! Was an amazing experience for my first time hiking!!
Everything was great! Itinerary, transfers, guesthouse/food and local guide. Was really impressed.
Fantastic scenery, very well organized and professional guide.
The trip generally was well organised, accommodation very good (provided excellent food and hospitality), drop off at hotels for those staying in Sofia at the end of the trip was a nice bonus.
As a solo traveler, it is great to be able to go on trips like this. I felt welcome and looked after the whole time. It was a great experience.
Great guide, beautiful scenery. ...
Great guide, beautiful scenery.
Really enjoyed this weekend in Bulgaria. The surroundings are beautiful and it was so nice to sleep in a bed (and not a tent!) at the end of the day. We came up against some torrential rain pour which prevented us from making it to the summit, however we all had such a great weekend that we said we’d go back. Boyan our host was exceptional. You couldn’t want for more. He was knowledgeable, funny and had a pace which always kept in mind the slowest. This is such a rarity in group trips but it meant no one felt left behind. This is an easy-moderate hike and would suit first-timers as well as those who like an active weekend, like me. Oh, and the food was delicious. That’s always a bonus.
Boyan is a great guide. Very articulate and knowledgeable. We had a great experience with him.
Everything was as was written in the trip description. Our guide Boyan was great. Excellent English and told us about Bulgarian history, culture, food, nature. He really made the trip very enjoyable.
The host Boyan was brilliant, he was very knowledgeable about the country and the mountains. We had terrible conditions on the mountain on the first day but he still managed to make sure we were all enjoying ourselves and that everyone was ok, he helped those that were struggling. The scenery was amazing out there and the food was great too! Would definitely visit again.
Boyan was a fantastic guide. As we arrived early (1 pm rather than 7 pm) he gave us a walking tour of Sofia as a bonus which was great - he was really knowledgeable. The hotel we stayed at was very nice and the food was amazing! On the day of climbing Mt Musala the weather was terrible - driving rain and wind and by the time we reached the second hut we decided to abandon as everyone was soaked through and freezing. Despite this, somehow Boyan still made the experience really enjoyable and no-one was any less happy about not reaching the peak. He took us up to the seven lakes the day after when (fortunately) the sun was out so we had a lovely last day, with Boyan filling us in on the details of each lake as we went, which was really interesting. Overall, I would recommend this trip to anyone - the itinerary makes it good but Boyan made it fantastic!
A 25km hike is no easy feat, so you need to be in good physical condition, however, while the path can be steep and rocky, no climbing experience is required.
Sure can! Over 50% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.
In summer (June-August) temperatures are normally between 25-30˚C and occasionally exceed 35˚C. At night it cools down to 15-20˚C. At the higher altitudes, expect temperatures of between 5˚C and 20˚C during the day. Rain is not common in summer, but does occur, especially in the late afternoons, along with the odd thunderstorm.
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.
We recommend checking out the country specific information here and also talking to a travel nurse.
For current advice about travelling in Bulgaria, have a read of the UK Foreign Office pages here.
Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.
Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing.
Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness.
We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last-minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!
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 (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.
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.
Interested in a more exclusive experience? Opt for a 'Private Group' through the dates and prices tab to book this adventure for just you and your chosen companions.
Our team of Adventure Hunters create exclusive adventures with highly vetted, specialist hosts. We only work with independent, local in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. See here for more info about the local teams we partner with.
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Connect before you go
You'll be invited to join a WhatsApp group to get to know each other before your big adventure together.
DEPARTURE DATES
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