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Rila Monastery and 7 Rila Lakes Self-Guided Shared Trip from Sofia
4.5
Full view

Rila Monastery and 7 Rila Lakes Self-Guided Shared Trip from Sofia

By Rila Shuttle
from
$53.43
per adult
from
$53.43
per adult
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-99, max of 36 per group
Duration: 13h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
English
  • Round-trip shared transfer
  • Transport by air-conditioned minivan
  • Driver
  • Entry/Admission - Rila Shuttle
What's not included
  • Entrance fees - Rila Lakes chairlift ticket (25 BGN per person, two-way)
  • Gratuities
  • Food and drinks
  • Guide services
Departure details
  • pl. "Sveti Aleksandar Nevski" 1А, 1504 Old City Center, Sofia, Bulgaria Meeting point is at the car parking, behind St. Alexander Nevski cathedral and in front of La Cattedrale restaurant
Return details
  • Returns to original departure point
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 15352P6
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • A moderate to intensive amount of walking is involved (walking/hiking experience is a must)
  • Comfortable walking shoes and clothes suitable for mountain/walking are required
  • Sun cream and sunglasses are strongly recommended
  • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
  • Dress code at the Rila Monastery: high heels, short skirts and trousers, shirts with no sleeves, etc. are not allowed in the monastery.
  • Not recommended for travelers with back problems
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 36 travelers
  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
What you can expect during your visit
  • Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
  • Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
  • Face masks required for guides in public areas
  • Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Community
Ask a questionWrite a review
  • Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
Which attractions will I visit with Rila Monastery and 7 Rila Lakes Self-Guided Shared Trip from Sofia?
During this experience, places you will visit include:Discover and book Rila Monastery and 7 Rila Lakes Self-Guided Shared Trip from Sofia on Tripadvisor
How much is Rila Monastery and 7 Rila Lakes Self-Guided Shared Trip from Sofia?
Rila Monastery and 7 Rila Lakes Self-Guided Shared Trip from Sofia price starts from $54.09. Discover and book Rila Monastery and 7 Rila Lakes Self-Guided Shared Trip from Sofia on Tripadvisor
What is the Rila Monastery and 7 Rila Lakes Self-Guided Shared Trip from Sofia cancellation policy?
Rila Monastery and 7 Rila Lakes Self-Guided Shared Trip from Sofia cancellation policy: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Discover and book Rila Monastery and 7 Rila Lakes Self-Guided Shared Trip from Sofia on Tripadvisor
Which company provides Rila Monastery and 7 Rila Lakes Self-Guided Shared Trip from Sofia?
Rila Monastery and 7 Rila Lakes Self-Guided Shared Trip from Sofia is hosted by Rila Shuttle. Read reviews, discover additonal experiences or contact Rila Shuttle on Tripadvisor. Discover and book Rila Monastery and 7 Rila Lakes Self-Guided Shared Trip from Sofia on Tripadvisor
If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 15352P6
Itinerary
  • You'll start at
    pl. "Sveti Aleksandar Nevski" 1А
    pl. "Sveti Aleksandar Nevski" 1А, 1504 Old City Center, Sofia, Bulgaria
    Meeting point is at the car parking, behind St. Alexander Nevski cathedral and in front of La Cattedrale restaurant
    See address & details
  • 1
    St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral
    Stop: 15 minutes
    See details
  • 2
    Seven Rila Lakes
    Stop: 6 hours
    See details
  • 3
    Rila Monastery
    Stop: 60 minutes
    See details
  • 4
    Rila Shuttle
    Stop: 13 hours - Admission included
    See details
  • 5
    Rila Mountains
    Stop: 13 hours
    See details
  • 6
    Rila National Park
    Stop: 13 hours
    See details
  • You'll return to the starting point
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About the operator

Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator.

By: Rila Shuttle
430
603taniaa
603taniaa
00
Will use their services again
Our plan was to visit the 7 lakes and monastery but due to bad weather, we could not go to the lakes. The company g…
evapY690XW
evapY690XW
00
Impressive
Lovely trip. Bobby, our tour guide, was great. Even stopped for a look at the wine yards. Couldn’t recommend more.
MF1800
MF1800
00
Your fit for kings, excellent guide Bobus
Excellent tour with comfortable transport of a regal standard. The highlight was our guide Bobus who was friendly a…
shakira2015
shakira2015
00
Exceptionally well organized tour with an awesome guide Bobby
Great value for the price, exceptionally well-organized team sending us a reminder, the exact location of our meeti…
DP_SouthAfrica
DP_SouthAfrica
00
Great experience definately recommend
Amazing place, definitely worth the visit. Trip is approx 2 hours from Sofia with lovely views of the country side.…
beerwort
beerwort
00
A must see
The monastery is very unique and worth the drive. Bring warm clothes! Our guide was very organized and helpful, I h…
mrstraveller1
mrstraveller1
00
Enjoyable Tour, Excellent Guide
This was an enjoyable & worthwhile trip which combined 3 of the attractions I was most interested in. I booked via …
alicerY2464WL
alicerY2464WL
00
Amazing experience - a must do!
This trip was extremely well organised. I emailed to change the day from a Saturday to a Sunday a few days before a…
Helen M
Helen M
00
Excellent tour
Great experience Not to be missed while in Bulgaria. The guides where very nice and helpful. They take good care of…
Gini7
Gini7
00
Sun, rain and the incredible beauty of the Rila lakes region
Hiking is always the best part and the magnificant Rila lakes are in a class of their own. This tome I was with a y…
Lavalampen
Lavalampen
00
Beautiful place
Had a awesome experience, with a great guide. It does require a decent amount of walking and hiking, so be prepare…
Janox
Janox
00
A very enjoyable day trip to three sites.
This was such a great trip, Philip is a great guide full of useful information. I would definitely recommend visit…
763valentinv
763valentinv
00
very good tour it was amazing , will come back in the near future
very nice place and full of history my tours guy was amazing, will come back in the near future, the tour was full …
luigicH4123TX
luigicH4123TX
00
Rila shuttle
we spent a wonderful day in the company of Bobby always caring and friendly I recommend everyone thanks
dkdmadam
dkdmadam
00
Excellent Efficient Way to See the Bulgarian Sights from Sofia with Rila Shuttle
I took two day trips out of Sofia with Phillip, the owner of the company, and couldn't have been more satisfied. T…
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
39 reviews
Excellent
26
Very good
7
Average
4
Poor
0
Terrible
2
midnightvea
Aversa, Italy1 contribution
Great expetience and trip!
Aug 2022 • Couples
We enjoyed our trip to Rila Lakes & Monastery very much. The minivan was comfy, it had aircon and charging stations for our phones. Bobi, who welcomed us in front of the Cathedral, was so pleasant and funny. He gave us info about the lakes and the monastery, and gave us a small itinerary map of the lakes. Thank you! I recombed this experience! The lakes & the monastery are so worth visiting!
Written August 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jackie D
6 contributions
Private shuttle to Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery
Nov 2021
Bobby was our tour guide for a Private shuttle from Sofia, the trip included the 7 Rila Lakes and the Rila Monastery.

Bobby was an excellent tour guide, provided us with excellent maps to use on the hike, was very accommodating and gave us lots of information about the lakes, monastery and Bulgaria.

Was a thoroughly enjoyable trip and would highly recommend! Much easier than organising to use local transport to visit both these places!
Written November 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Milan
Kyiv, Ukraine7 contributions
Great trip!
Aug 2020
It was a wonderful experience! Two great places in one day in addition to a reasonable price is the best choise, if you are for the first time in Sophia and want to discover places of interest nearby. The nature and the views are really stunning and worth visiting!
Moreover, the driver was very careful, we had an opportunity to speak and to find out a lot about the country during the trip.
The weather is indeed very changable in mountains, that's why take some warmer clothes, preferably jackets with you. While walking up, it was cold, windy and very cloudy, but on the way back the weather became much better and sunny, and gave us the opportunity to enjoy the views.
If you walk quite fast, it is recommended to use the both routes (shorter ~2h and longer ~3h) to see all the lakes closely.
Written August 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ray mountford
Malta8 contributions
Rila lakes and Monastry
Oct 2022
Had an excellent day out. The trip up to the lakes on the chairlift was very cold and in fact was 1oC at the top. There is a building where you buy drinks and food, and a great log fire going in the large room. The walk to the lakes is quite hard but the views are stunning. The Monastery is amazing and well worth the visit. All in all a great day out.
Written October 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ilonka
Bucharest, Romania2 contributions
Great day trip!
The transfer ride to Rila was ok. It was minibus with airconditioning and very comfortable. Before we left we were given information. Unfortunately, we couldn’t visit the museums Monastery because it closed at 16.30 hrs. Self guided tour through the Rila lakes was perfect because you could do things at your own pace. You really need all that time. It is such a marvelous place. The monastery is also worth the visit, but after a whole day hiking what I wanted was to get back to my hotel.
Written August 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jorge O
San Sebastian - Donostia, Spain3 contributions
Best way to combine 2 amazing places, the 7 Rila Lakes and the Rila Monastery
Aug 2020
Wonderful experience!! An amazing day to enjoy the nature beauty of 7 Rila Lakes and the most sacred place in Bulgaria, the stunning Rila Monastery, an UNESCO Heritage Site. This self guide tour is the best option to combine both in just one day trip from Sofia at a very good price. Philip, apart of a very good driver, told a lot of interesting things about bulgarian history, people and culture and gave us detailed information about the trek and the monastery. Beautiful trek, dont forget your picnic, comfy shoes and some warm clothes.. And one last important thing in these "new normal" days, our driver and other guest comply with the requirements of wear masks during the transfers.
Written September 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Charbel
Antelias, Lebanon21 contributions
They dont care abt us
Oct 2022
the monastery was really nice but the weather was horrible. They knew it but we are tourists. i did not expected the weather to be this bad on october 3rd!! so obviously we did not see any lake. the fog was too much and it was extremely cold and raining like crazy. so we sat in the cabin for few hours until its time to go home HAHA
Written November 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Johann L
Vergeze, France23 contributions
Awesome day
This day was the best during our stay in Sofia. The city is very nice to visit, but the Rila moutains are incredible. The nature tells you "Hey, take a pic'" every 10 meters! The walk all around the 7 lakes takes some time (about 4 to 5 hours if you take your time) and is really enjoyable. Don't forget to take some good hiking shoes, and a jacket! Is was cold on the top, even for August (about 10°C). Definitely worst the driving time, which was anyway nice too, as Philippe takes the time to explain everything about the trip and more about the area and Bulgarian History.
After the lakes, he drove us to the Rila Monastery while telling us its building origin. The site is a jowel surrounded by the Rila mountains. You'll take some very beautiful pictures and surely learn a lot about the Bulgarian religious history.
Written August 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ethan
12 contributions
Fantastic hiking experience.
Nov 2020
Fantastic hiking experience. Amazing scenary and gorgeous views.
If you go in the colder months though, stick to the shorter route, the longer one gets very icy and difficult to navigate. The shorter route has much better views anyway.
The Monestry was interesting, though a lot quiet at the time of year that I went.

Special thanks to Philip for rearranging the days of the trips so that the Rila Monestry was viable too before I returned home.
Written November 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dauan A
1 contribution
Avoid this tour
They did not give me enough information to arrive location and tried to many time to call them on number on the ticket.no reply and i asked later for refund they refued.do not recommend them at all.avoid avoid
Written September 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Product Overview: Rila Monastery and 7 Rila Lakes Self-Guided Shared Trip from Sofia

Prices From$54
Number of Reviews39
Number of Photos54
Duration780 minutes