Weekend Trek in the Rila Mountains, Bulgaria!

What makes this trek so great?

1. It’s close!

2. You can customize the route based on how much time you have.

3. The climbs are intense, but the views make it all worthwhile.

   
   
   
   

My Experience:

As a student who loves hiking and trekking, I was looking for a short and accessible trek in Europe that could fit into a long weekend with a good friend. After much deliberation, we chose the Seven Rila Lakes!

We flew to Sofia and took a taxi to a small town called Sapareva Banya, where we stayed with a local family. The next morning, we set off on our adventure!

The first day started with a beautiful walk through a lush green forest, passing small streams and a stunning waterfall. After a few hours, the view opened up to a vast valley. To reach the cliffs above, we had to cross a river flowing from the waterfall and navigate a challenging boulder field. At the top, we found a gorgeous grassy plateau, scattered with patches of snow and flowing water.

By the end of the first day, we finally reached the first of the Seven Lakes—The Kidney Lake! After a short rest, we continued towards our mountain hut for the night. Along the way, we passed three more lakes: The Twin Lake (featured in the attached photo), The Trefoil Lake, and The Fish Lake, located just below our accommodation for the night—Sedemte Ezera Hut.

On the second morning, we set out early to climb Otovitsa Peak, which offers a breathtaking panoramic view of all Seven Lakes. On the way up, we passed two more lakes we hadn’t yet seen—The Eye Lake and The Tear Lake.

After a refreshing morning climb, we reached the famous viewpoint overlooking all the lakes. The last visible lake from the viewpoint is The Lower Lake, situated beneath the hut where we had stayed.

The rest of the day was filled with stunning landscapes—open mountain views, herds of wild horses and cows, vibrant flowers, endless green meadows, and a steep descent towards the Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a spectacular way to end this short but incredible trek.

After finishing the hike, we hitched a ride to a cozy mountain lodge near the monastery, where we enjoyed a much-needed shower and rest. On our last day, we explored Sofia before catching our flight back home.

A long weekend packed with adventure—just a short trip away!