The Seven Rila Lakes & Rila Monastery
5
Full view
LIKELY TO SELL OUT*
The Seven Rila Lakes & Rila Monastery
By Traventuria
Recommended by 97% of travelers
This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher
Sofia visitors may not know it, but this Bulgarian city is actually an ideal jumping-off point for a side trip into the countryside. With this full-day tour, you're whisked to trek at Seven Rila Lakes, and visit a monastery that's listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Though entry fees and chairlift ride are at your own expense, you still get a great value, with travel—and mountain views—included.
from per adult
$55.08
from per adult
$55.08
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 12-99, max of 15 per group
Duration: 12h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
English
Highlights
- Explore the Bulgarian mountains on this full-day tour and trek, from Sofia
- Ride a cable car to the Seven Rila Lakes, and enjoy a mountainous hike
- Visit Rila Monastery, and see its cloisters, chapel, and museum collection
- Travel easily from Sofia's Old City Center, with no more than 15 travelers
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan
- English-speaking guide
- Fuel surcharge
What's not included- Entrance fee for the Rila monastery's museum
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Departure details
- Aleksandar Nevski Square, 1000 Old City Center, Sofia, Bulgaria IMPORTANT: The meeting point is BEHIND Alexander Nevski Cathedral (opposite La Cattedrale restaurant) | | GPS coordinates: 42.695598, 23.333649 | Please, be there 15 min. in advance!
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: 6992P20- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Food:
- although there are two huts on our way where we can purchase some basic food (i.e. beans soup, meatballs, tea) we advise you to come prepared with a lunch pack from Sofia, because the programme today is rather tight and for sure we won’t have much time for a proper lunch.
- Difficulty:
- the hiking route is moderately arduous, with individual brief paths featuring steep inclines. Please bring along comfortable walking boots. Sandals and flip-flops are not accepted. Rain jacket might be useful in summer as heavy showers sometimes occur in the afternoons.
- IMPORTANT FOR MAY AND JUNE DEPARTURES!
- Kindly note, that availability of the tour depends on the weather conditions and the operation of the chairlift.
- The terrain will be very wet and slippery and there will still be snow in the area. Walking in such conditions requires adequate equipment (good trekking boots, waterproof clothes and a warm layer beneath the jacket). The hike is demanding, so a good fitness level is also required. Keep in mind that some of the lakes may be covered in snow.
- The tour can be canceled with a last minute notice (100% refund will be applied) due to harsh conditions or closure of the chairlift.
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Important
- As with all lifts the one, used for the hike to The Seven Rila Lakes, may halt operations (due to strong winds, power cuts etc.). In this unlikely event, an alternative hike will be offered on spot by the guide. Mind that such a situation does not make you eligible for a refund for the tour.
- 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 tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 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
- Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
- Guides required to regularly wash hands
- Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
- Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
- Face masks required for guides in public areas
- Gear/equipment sanitized between use
- Face masks required for travelers in public areas
- Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Community- Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
- Which attractions will I visit with The Seven Rila Lakes & Rila Monastery?
- During this experience, places you will visit include:Discover and book The Seven Rila Lakes & Rila Monastery on Tripadvisor
- How much is The Seven Rila Lakes & Rila Monastery?
- The Seven Rila Lakes & Rila Monastery price starts from $54.74. Discover and book The Seven Rila Lakes & Rila Monastery on Tripadvisor
- What is the The Seven Rila Lakes & Rila Monastery cancellation policy?
- The Seven Rila Lakes & Rila Monastery cancellation policy: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Discover and book The Seven Rila Lakes & Rila Monastery on Tripadvisor
- Which company provides The Seven Rila Lakes & Rila Monastery?
- The Seven Rila Lakes & Rila Monastery is hosted by Traventuria. Read reviews, discover additonal experiences or contact Traventuria on Tripadvisor. Discover and book The Seven Rila Lakes & Rila Monastery 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: 6992P20
Itinerary
- You'll start atAleksandar Nevski Square1000 Old City Center, Sofia, BulgariaIMPORTANT: The meeting point is BEHIND Alexander Nevski Cathedral (opposite La Cattedrale restaurant) | | GPS coordinates: 42.695598, 23.333649 | Please, be there 15 min. in advance!See address & details
- Pass bySt. Alexander Nevski Cathedral
- 1Seven Rila LakesStop: 4 hoursSee details
- 2Rila MonasteryStop: 60 minutesSee detailsPass bySt. Alexander Nevski Cathedral
- 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.
samanthagK4845YO
00Great guide and well planned day
Maria was an excellent guide and the trip was well planned with plenty of free time as well as really informative t…
Michael G
00Excellent trip!
Great guide (Maria) and great driver. Thank you! We will book more trips through Trip Advisor now that we’ve done…
Dave5583
00Overcrowded
The drinks were very cheap, however the pool and complex was over sold and the pool was extremely busy. No lounger…
jumpy1966
00Not worth a visit.
Out of date swimming pool showers do not work and changing rooms are very small . Sun loungers all dirty . Really n…
ocptmicpt
00Great Day Trip from Sofia!
Bus load of 50 for a long bus ride, but it was really worth it. Rila is the Bulgarian version of the Vatican as was…
JJJasper1850
00Very Fun ride
Definitely worth every minute! Kind people fast horses and landscape made out of a movie ! Would visit again
voicescuv
00Nice clean pools. Old facilities, too expensive
No value for the money. The water is hot but the pools and facilities are quite old and not well taken care of.
kevintZ9362OO
00Must visit pilgrimage! Life changing.
The overall tour experience was exceptional. Our guide was extremely helpful and ensured we were all well looked af…
Wyatt H
00Great
The tour was great, and our tour guide Martin was like a father to me! Great bang for your buck, would definitely r…
A4618ZUmariaa
00Beautiful ride but not suitable for complete beginners!
This activity is not suitable for complete beginners! My partner has only ever sat on a horse once but we booked th…
FarAway783549
00Wonderful
First of all, Martin was a wonderful guide and a very safe driver. Both make the experience even better. The Boyana…
cristianoalenz
00A must-do trip for anyone visiting Sofia in Bulgaria
The starting point was from the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia, where I boarded the very comfortable bus. Mart…
donatal832
00A beatufil day with new places and new people
it was a very great experience! The places were amazing and the guide was very intresting! Ihave met nice people an…
adamericg
00Great trip with expert guide
This was a fantastic trip. I cannot praise Martin enough for his expertise and humor. Thank you for a great day at …
miroslavan2023
00Best day trip
Fast ... nice driver ... Comfortable cab...for that price u won't get anything better...monastery is an awesome.pla…
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
39 reviews
Excellent
34
Very good
4
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Pierre N
Paris, France23 contributions
Oct 2021 • Solo
The guide was very friendly and really explained us each site into details. The group was small (7 people) so it felt great. The tour includes a lot of driving so if you have the time, I would recommend to book tours for the monastery and for the lakes on separate days. If you are more in a rush, this is clearly manageable though.
Written October 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
TraventuriaAdmin
Dear Pierre!
Hello,
Thank you so much for your review! One of the most amazing parts of our job is injecting others with the wanderlust we have! Our entire team is really joyful because of your review! Thank you once again!
Safe travels,
Maria Kamenova
Written October 23, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kelly
Island of Malta, Malta30 contributions
If you are travelling to Sofia then The seven Rila lakes are a must ! Since, it was my first mountain hiking experience I decided to opt for a guided tour and it was the best decision ever. The insights and the route taken by our guide was ideal especially for someone who is not trained to walk for 6 hours.
The guide was super friendly and very fluent in English and he made sure to make the walk super interesting and fun by telling us different curiosities, history and legends behind the Rila lakes. Highly recommended !
Some tips before the trip: Wear comfy hiking shoes, clothes layers (it was quiet warm in Sept) and buy trekking poles to make your journey easier.
The guide was super friendly and very fluent in English and he made sure to make the walk super interesting and fun by telling us different curiosities, history and legends behind the Rila lakes. Highly recommended !
Some tips before the trip: Wear comfy hiking shoes, clothes layers (it was quiet warm in Sept) and buy trekking poles to make your journey easier.
Written September 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Dear customer,
Thank you for your review! Sharing your experience with others on TripAdvisor is really important for us. We highly value the time you have taken to rate our service! Thank you once again!
Looking forward to other great trips!
Best regards,
Maria Kamenova
Written September 29, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Cathy Beans
14 contributions
Oct 2022
The views from the 7 lakes hike were absolutely beautiful; and the walk was nice and easy in pace so that we had time to really take in our surroundings. Going up the chair lift was a lovely way to start viewing the mountain. It was a bit chilly on the chairlift, but then when we were hiking it was really warm (we were lucky with the sunshine).
Both of our guides were nice and friendly and they gave us some really interesting info about the Rila Monastery and it's frescoes.
We also got chatting to some other English travellers, so overall a really great day!
Both of our guides were nice and friendly and they gave us some really interesting info about the Rila Monastery and it's frescoes.
We also got chatting to some other English travellers, so overall a really great day!
Written October 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Dear Cathy! Thank you for sharing your feedback with others here on TripAdvisor! We are lucky we had you as our guest! Looking forward to many new trips!
Best regards,
Maria Kamenova
Written October 26, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
CarrFarr
12 contributions
Jul 2022 • Couples
I would like to thank both the guides / drivers and also to the administration team. They did all the best to help us in order to go / join these tours since we really wanted to go.
Going to the 7 lakes it's was a wonderful experience. An experience that we will never forget. Even though the trail might be challenging in the beginning but worth it once you reach the summit.
With regards the monastery, it was OK. It's an experience of you had never been to a monastery. Yet certain places where restricted to view them.
Going to the 7 lakes it's was a wonderful experience. An experience that we will never forget. Even though the trail might be challenging in the beginning but worth it once you reach the summit.
With regards the monastery, it was OK. It's an experience of you had never been to a monastery. Yet certain places where restricted to view them.
Written July 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Dear Caroline! Thank you for reviewing our service. I hope you will meet us again and we will meet your expectations for an excellent review next time!
Kind regards,
Maria Kamenova
Written August 1, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Didi H
Strasbourg, France329 contributions
Jun 2020 • Friends
We did Seven Rila Lakes and Rila monastery in 2 days .This is one of the most beautiful areas of Rila mountain with stunning views and friendly local people .At this time of the year ,the weather was foggy and rainy so we could not actually hike to the top .The snow was melting the the mountain streams were wild ,flooded and not easy to cross .I have visited many times Seven Rila lakes and I think the bad weather was actually my award so I could experience something new and different.
The next day at Rila Monastery was fabulous,due to the Pandemic it was empty and I shut the best pictures ever .
The next day at Rila Monastery was fabulous,due to the Pandemic it was empty and I shut the best pictures ever .
Written September 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
AnniePaykova
Dear Didi,
Thank you for your review! It's amazing that such a passionate traveler is our guest! Most people find the bad weather really challenging and I am so happy to see that you enjoyed it!
We are looking forward to seeing you again in the nearest future!
Best regards,
Annie Paykova
Written May 10, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Alex K
1 contribution
Jul 2021
Thank you. That was very nice tour with really fascinating views on Rila mountain. In Rila monastery was a great opportunity to hear some interesting facts about the history of Bulgaria and monastery.The guide was really nice and friendly.
Written July 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
AnniePaykova
Hello,
We are the people to thank you for choosing our services and for letting us host you in our small, but beautiful country! Wishing you many many amazing travels!
Stay safe,
Annie Paykova
Written August 1, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Janette J
5 contributions
Jul 2022 • Friends
A faultless trip. Traventuria were fantastic. They looked after us very well and the organisation was superb. The walks were varied and in truly stunning countryside. Very demanding walking/hiking/scrambling but so worth it. Loved that we ate out in 4 different places in Bansco rather than just in hotel. They threw in a couple of surprises too. KAMEN our guide was excellent and his knowledge of Rila Monastry was a highlight. ROSEN our driver was very kind when one of our group was unwell. Bulgaria is beautiful and inexpensive.
Written July 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Dear Janette! Thank you for the amazing and detailed review that you gave of our service and the sights seen. Kamen and Rosen are happy to know they were an important part of your day! Looking forward to many new trips!
Safe travels,
Maria Kamenova
Written August 1, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mauro M
2 contributions
Very Cool trekking tour, the lakes are located in the beautiful national park. The tour guide, Todo, was so great, nice and help us to enjoy very much the day! Also the monastery was very interesting .
I suggest it very much!
I suggest it very much!
Written June 28, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
AnniePaykova
Dear Mauro,
It's a pleasure for us to read your feedback! Todor will be also very happy to know you enjoyed the time with him! Thank you for sharing your review of our services! Our team is looking forward to seeing you again!
Best regards,
Annie Paykova
Written June 29, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Garrett S
15 contributions
Aug 2019
The lakes region was beautiful and the hike was great. Beautiful nature and not too difficult to trek. Todor was a great guide, very friendly and helpful, he did a perfect job explaining everything and managing the group in general. The monastery was equally beautiful, a truly unique complex and a must see if you're in Bulgaria. Highly recommended!
Written August 31, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Dear Garrett,
What a great comprehensive review - thank you! We really appreciate that your review covers the work done by our exceptional guides. Todor is such a genuine and helpful guide and a valuable member of our team. It is so incredibly pleasing to hear you say our guides are great, we know they are, so it is amazing when they get such lovely public recognition for all their hard work. The word of mouth from people like you recommending our trips to people traveling to Bulgaria is invaluable for us. Thanks for taking the time to write a review.
Kind regards,
Annie Krumova
Written September 25, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
TravelMom10
Montgomery, AL20 contributions
May 2019 • Solo
The visit to Rila Monastery and the Rila Lakes was fantastic. Traventuria did an excellent job communicating before the tour & Petar was a wonderful guide. Our group left right on time and we made it to Rila Monastery before the crowds and in time for morning prayer. The Monastery is fascinating and beautiful. We traveled on to Rila Lakes—the top four are are snow covered in May, but this adds to the adventure. Do wear good hiking boots and bring a hiking pole. There are poles for rent from Traventuria, too. The ski lift starts again on June 1st, but there are trucks/jeeps for hire to get you to the hiking point...our 4-wheel journey was pretty exciting! Absolutely recommend Traventuria and the Rila Lakes and Monastery trip. Our guide made the trip even better with his knowledge and humor.
Written May 20, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Hello!
Thanks for the good words and the review!
We really appreciate heartfelt reviews like yours as we work hard to create services that will be enjoyed! We hope to see you again in the future.
Kind regards,
Ameliya
Written August 13, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Bonjour,
J'aimerai connaitre la différence entre l'excursion qui comprend les 7 lacs et le monastère à partir de 39,99 euros et celle-ci.
Cordialement
binta d
2 contributions
My friend and I booked this a few days ago and it was really nice.
Really tiring because we have to walk all the day along but we don't regret it at all !
The views were impressive !
And our guide, Vasco, was really nice. We talked a lot with him, he passed on his love of nature, he was kind and enthousiastic. We learned a lot about the history of Bulgaria also.
It was our first hike and he helped us, always waited for us without showing any exasperation because we were so slow.
He was always optimistic and we had a great time with him !
If you can choose your guide, I highly recommande him !
Tootsies1970
Dubai, United Arab Emirates9 contributions
Hi There! Did you book this thru tripadvisor or Traventura Day Tours?
alinix27
Chester, UK3 contributions
Hi, Me and my friend are wanting to do this trip but then stay in Rila/Blagoevgrad afterwards to continue our travels through Bulgaria. Is there a possibility of being dropped off there instead of going back to Sofia? Thanks x
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
