The Balkan mountain range of Bulgaria lends its name to the entire Balkan peninsula and its tumultuous history.
Although the most prominent, the Balkan range is not the one with the highest stature in the country.
Of the seven mountain ranges traversing this land of greatly varied terrain, the Rila Mountains is the highest range in Bulgaria and South East Europe.
Nestled within the range is the Rila National Park, which boasts a collection of seven glacial lakes of ethereal beauty.
The Seven Rila Lakes are named after their distinguishing features and legends: Salzata (The Tear) – the highest, Bubreka (The Kidney), Okoto (The Eye), Bliznaka (The Twin), Trilistnika (The Trefoil), Ribnoto Ezero (The Fish Lake), and Dolnoto Ezero (The Lower Lake).
A 2-hour drive from these wonderful lakes leads you to the Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site, Bulgaria’s largest and most renowned Eastern Orthodox monastery.
This article covers everything you must know before booking tickets for the Seven Rila Lakes.
Table of contents
What to expect at Seven Rila Lakes
Hop into an air-conditioned shuttle at the majestic Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia’s most important orthodox Cathedral.
Enjoy a picturesque 90-minute trip to the beautiful resort area of Panichishte, at the edge of Rila National Park.
Take a 30-minute chairlift ride from the resort area to the Rila Mountain Lakes, and watch the breathtaking terrain turn from verdant green to pristine white.
Your guide’s instructions will come to your aid as you choose between milder and steeper terrains according to your fitness levels.
Take a self-guided exploratory tour of the stunning Rila Mountain lakes area, or have a guide curate your trek for you.
Discover the Seven Rila Lakes, each with a distinct shape, size, and color, making the entire area an otherworldly pleasure for your senses.
Hike through lush meadows, pristine mountain air, dense pine forests, and rocky terrains to soak in the azure magnificence of the lakes as they reveal themselves to you one by one.
You will be charmed by the hypnotic effect of the pure water reflecting the blue skies above.
For nature enthusiasts and photographers, the Seven Rila Lakes offer endless opportunities to capture stunning landscapes, observe diverse flora and fauna, and breathe in the crisp mountain air.
After taking the chairlift back to the resort, continue your journey with a serene two-hour drive to the Rila Monastery.
Step into a sacred space of spiritual significance and historical importance at this UNESCO World Heritage site, Bulgaria’s largest and most renowned Eastern Orthodox monastery.
Admire the harmonious complex crafted in Bulgarian national revival architecture with Byzantine influences.
Visit the Hrelyo Tower, a 14th-century defensive structure that once protected the monastery from invaders.
Let the mystical allure of the space permeate you as you enter the main church, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin, standing tall with its intricate frescoes and ornate wood-carved wall of icons.
Witness a rich collection of religious artifacts, ancient manuscripts, and exquisite religious art and delve into the old stories.
Visit the revered tomb of Saint Ivan of Rila, which attracts pilgrims and spiritual seekers from all over the world.
The peaceful environment encourages reflection and introspection, allowing you to connect with your inner self and find calm in the middle of the hectic outer world.
Where to book tickets
Tickets for The Seven Rila Lakes Tour are available online or offline.
Online ticket prices tend to be cheaper than tickets at the counters.
When you buy online, you can avoid the long queues at the ticket counters.
Because some tours sell a limited number of tickets, booking early helps avoid last-minute disappointment.
How do online tickets work
Go to the The Seven Rila Lakes Tour booking page, select the number of tickets and preferred date, and buy the tickets immediately.
After the purchase, you will receive the tickets through your email.
There is no requirement to bring any printouts.
On the day of your visit, you can show the e-ticket on your smartphone to the guide or staff at the entrance and start the tour.
The Seven Rila Lakes ticket cost
A self-guided tour to the Seven Lakes of Rila Mountains will cost adults over 18 years €49.
For children between two and 17 years old, the tickets cost €32.
Infants up to one year old get free entry.
A guided tour (live or audio) of the 7 Lakes of Rila Mountains will cost you €40.
A day trip (shared or private) to Seven Rila Lakes & the Rila Monastery without a guide can be purchased for €30.
The Seven Rila Lakes tickets
Tickets to the Rila Monastery and the Seven Rila Lakes offer a gateway into Bulgaria’s combined prowess of natural beauty and spiritual legacy.
The breathtaking scenery of the Seven Rila Lakes & the profound tranquility of the Rila Monastery will forever swirl in your heart like the vague chimes of a wind instrument lulling you into calm.
7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Self-Guided Trip tickets
With a ticket to this tour, you will be shuttled out of Sofia from the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in an air-conditioned vehicle.
Upon arrival at Panchishthe Resort, your driver will give you detailed instructions about the terrain and the different routes you can take to explore the Seven Rila lakes.
After that, you can set off on the chairlift and explore the Rila Lake terrain at your leisure for 5 hours without a guide.
Return to a pre-decided meeting point from where the shuttle will take you on a 2-hour drive to the Rila Monastery.
You will have 1.5 hours to explore the Eastern Orthodox monastery, after which you will be shuttled back to your meeting point in Sofia.
Meeting Point: Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia. Get Directions.
Ticket Prices
Adult Ticket (18+ Years): €49
Child Ticket (2 to 17 Years): €32
Infant Ticket (up to 2 years): Free
The Seven Rila Lakes Full-Day Tour tickets
After the shuttle picks you up from Alexander Nevsky church, you will take the chairlift to Seven Rila Lakes after being driven to the Panichishthe resort area.
Depending on your fitness levels on this tour, you can pick a steep or mild route.
The Seven Rila Lakes full-day Tour is self-guided, but you have the option to add a live guide or audio guide to your hike.
You will be required to pack your own lunch. There will be stops along the way where you can buy food.
The fee for the cable car (chairlift) is not included in the ticket price. 25 Lev (12.5 Euros) must be paid for access.
Children under 12 are not allowed.
Meeting Point: Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia. Get Directions.
Ticket Prices
Self-Guided Tour: €30
Guided Tour (Live or Audio): €40
Seven Rila Lakes Shuttle Group Day Trip tickets
Seven Rila Lakes Shuttle Group Day Trip will begin with pickup from Sofia, and then you will take the chairlift to the Seven Rila Lakes after traveling to the Panichisthe resort.
A guide will be with you throughout your trip to make your trip all the more memorable, telling you about alternate routes, legends, and fables of the land that the lakes preserve!
You can also opt for a hotel pickup with a private tour.
You will be required to pack your own lunch. There will be stops along the way where you can buy food.
The fee for the cable car (chairlift) is not included in the ticket price. 25 Lev (12.5 Euros) must be paid for access.
The tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.
Meeting Point: Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia. Get Directions.
Ticket Prices
Guided Tour: €40
Private Tour: €210
Seven Rila Lakes & Rila Monastery Full-Day Tour tickets
This fully guided tour will start with picking up an Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, encapsulating the scenic Rila Lakes trail, and then finish at the Rila Monastery in the deep valley of the Rilska River.
The shuttle will circle back to the original meeting point to drop you off.
You will be required to pack your own lunch. There will be stops along the way where you can buy food.
The fee for the cable car (chairlift) is not included in the ticket price. 25 Lev (12.5 Euros) must be paid for access.
The tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.
Meeting Point: Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia. Get Directions.
Ticket Price: €55
Private Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Day-Trip tickets
This private Rila lakes and monastery trip will involve hotel pick-up from Sofia, travel in a wifi enabled shuttle, and a walking tour of the Seven Rila Lakes, followed by a guided tour of the Eastern Orthodox Rila Monastery.
The fee for the cable car (chairlift) is not included in the ticket price. 25 Lev (12.5 Euros) must be paid for access.
Food and drinks are not included.
The Tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.
Ticket Price: €130
Save time and money! On a full-day guided tour of Sofia, learn about one of Europe’s oldest towns while taking in UNESCO-listed structures, remnants of the Soviet era, and examples of the city’s rich artistic history. At just €90, take tours to Boyana Church, National Historical Museum, National Archaeological Museum, the Royal Church, and more.
How to reach Seven Rila Lakes
The Seven Rila Lakes are situated in the northwestern Rila Mountain in Bulgaria.
Address: 2650, Bulgaria. Get Directions.
You have to take a chairlift at Pionerska Hut (Hizha Pionerska) in Panichishthe to reach the starting point of the Seven Rila Lake hike. The chairlift ride is 30 minutes long.
There are very few public transport options for Pionerska Hut.
Your best bet is renting a car or booking a shuttle ride.
By Bus
Take a bus from the outside bays at Sofia Central Bus Station to the town of Dupnitsa.
From here, take a bus to the town of Sapareva Banya, 20 minutes away.
From here, you can take a bus to the Pionerska Hut via Panichishte Resort Area.
By Shuttle
The best way to travel to the Seven Rila lakes is by taking a shuttle from Sofia.
Several private shuttle services and shuttle tours run between Sofia and Seven Rila Lakes.
These tours are both guided and unguided.
You can find one such tour here.
By Car
Put your starting point here and navigate to the chairlift that takes you to the starting point of the Seven Rila Lakes Trek.
To navigate the Panichishte resort area near the chairlift, put your starting point here.
Rented cars are easily available in Sofia.
You can also book a taxi for your travels.
Parking is available near the Hizha Pionerska (Pionerska Hut.)
Seven Rila Lakes timings
The chairlift to the Seven Rila Lakes runs from 9 am to 6.30 pm from Tuesday to Sunday.
On Mondays, the chairlift is functional from 12.30 to 6.30 pm.
The lift is closed for maintenance on every month’s last Monday.
Please time your hike in such a fashion that you do not miss the last chairlift back to Hizha Pionerska.
How long does the tour take
The hike to cover the mesmerizing landscape of the Seven Rila Lakes usually takes around 3 to 5 hours, depending on how leisurely or urgent you want your stroll to be.
If you are taking a shuttle from Sofia, it takes 90 minutes to reach the Panichishte Resort area and another 30 minutes on the chairlift.
So a roundtrip tour of the Seven Rila Lakes from Sofia will take 7 to 9 hours to complete.
Best time to visit Seven Rila Lakes
Early mornings and evenings are good times for a peaceful visit to the 7 Rila Lakes.
June, July, August, and September are the best months for a day trip to the Rila Lakes.
July and August have the most pleasant climate but also attract a sizable amount of crowds.
June and September are colder, but the rush is lesser.
It is advisable to put on layers of clothing that you can take off or put back on according to how comfortable you feel.
FAQs about 7 Rila Lakes
Here is a list of frequently asked questions about Rila lakes.
The tour is a trek through mountainous terrain.
It is, unfortunately, unsuitable for people with mobility issues.
The tour has a range of trails you can select according to your fitness level.
It lies in the easy to moderate range of difficulty.
Please do not step off the trail. It is easy to lose your way in the wilderness.
No, food and drinks are not included. There will be plenty of stops where you can buy food for yourself.
Please wear loose, comfortable clothes with closed-toed shoes.
Wear layers of clothing so that you can take off or put on clothes according to how comfortable you feel in the mountain climate.
The Rila Lake Mountains are a 90-minute drive from Sofia, followed by a 30-minute chairlift ride.
To reach the starting point for the Seven Rila Lakes trek without the chairlift, you must hike an extra 2 hours on foot, adding an extra 4 hours of back-and-forth hike to your time budget.
No, the temperature will vary a lot and can get much colder.
Please do not base your preparations for the hike on the weather in Sofia.
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