Social Program

The social program includes excursions to the Rila Monastery and the Seven Rila Lakes. Please, read through the instructions carefully.

Wednesday, 5 June 2019

08:00 – 14:00 Excursion to the Rila Monastery.

Thursday, 6 June 2019

10:00 – 16:30 Excursion to the Seven Rila Lakes.

Excursion to the Rila Monastery

The buses start from hotel Yastrebets at 08:00. The ride to the monastery takes about 1h 45 min. As it is a mountains area, please, be prepared for a fast-changing weather. It can be pleasantly warm and sunny and it can be cloudy and rainy. We will spend about two hours at the monastery and then will be heading back to the hotel. Snacks will be provided for the trip. The lunch will be at 14:00 back in the hotel. Find out more the Rila Monastery here.

Excursion to the Seven Rila Lakes

The trip includes a bus ride, a chair lift and a hike. The buses start from hotel Yastrebets at 10:00. The bus ride to the first lift station takes 1.5 hours. The lift ride is about 15 min. At the last lift station, we will form two hiking groups: a ‘short-trail’ group and a ‘long-trail’ group. The short-trail group, as seen in the name, will have a shorter and easier trail with the aim to reach some of the lakes. The hike will take up to two hours and the group will return to the first lift station at about 14:00. This will allow people who have afternoon flights to take transportation directly from the lift to Sofia airport and catch their flights. The car ride from the parking at the lift station to Sofia airport takes about two hours.

The long-trail group will go on a longer and higher-altitude trail with the aim to reach all seven lakes. Find out more about the Seven Rila Lakes here.

The duration of this hike will be about 4-4.5 hours and hiking will be more demanding. The group will return to the first lift station by 16:30, since the lift stops operating at that time. Persons who have evening flights, can still go directly to the airport (count two hours ride) and the rest of the group will return to the hotel at around 18:00.

Important for both groups: Please, read carefully the following instructions and try to comply with the requirements there.

Instructions about the hiking trip to Seven Rila lakes

We are going to a mountain hike. The trails are not very demanding still you need to be in good health and come prepared. There will be two groups: one taking an easier and shorter trail for about two hours and another taking a longer and more demanding trail for about 4 hours. The weather in the mountains might vary during the day and might change suddenly. You have to have to following equipment

Comfortable waterproof tourist shoes, suitable for mountain terrain. Sandals, sneakers or running shoes are not suitable.
A backpack for extra clothes. We will provide snacks and a bottle of water, which you will have to carry in your backpack.
A few layers of clothes, easy to be taken off in case of warm weather and put back in case of cold.
Sun-protective hat and sunglasses. Applying a sun protective lotion before the trip is highly advisable.
Raincoat and/or waterproof jacket.

There will be an expert mountain guide, who will lead the group. He/she will decide on the hiking trail and trip duration. If the weather conditions are not permissive, the guide might decide to cancel or shorten the hike. Strictly follow the guide’s instructions during the trip.

Rila Monastery

Rila Monastery was founded in the 10th century by St John of Rila, a hermit canonized by the Orthodox Church. A characteristic example of the Bulgarian Renaissance (18th–19th centuries), the monument symbolizes the awareness of a Slavic cultural identity following centuries of occupation.

Seven Rila Lakes

The Seven Rila Lakes are the most visited group of lakes in Bulgaria. The lakes are located one above the other and they are connected by small streams, which form beautiful waterfalls and cascades.