Tour the Seven Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery
About this experience
Book a hiking tour and sightseeing program to the Seven Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery. Spend a day in nature surrounded by the Rila Mountains and visit the UNESCO World Heritage monastery.
What to expect
Enjoy a full-day guided trek to the Rila Mountains and explore the most important area in the mountains – The Seven Rila Lakes and the UNESCO World Heritage Rila Monastery.<br><br>Begin with a transfer to Rila, followed by a brief cable car ride to the Seven Rila Lakes Cirque. Located between 2100 and 2500m above sea level, you'll see the glacier lakes with names fitting their shapes, like Babreka (the Kidney), Okoto (the Eye), and Salzata (the Teardrop). Walk the whole trek around all lakes, or make a shorter stroll and skip the two highest ones.<br><br>Next, admire the impressive Rila Monastery with architecture and frescoes that present the apogee of Bulgarian Renaissance art. On a 1-hour guided tour of the inner yard and the Monastery museum, you'll learn the most fascinating facts and stories about the biggest Bulgarian monastery complex. Then return to the starting point of your tour.
Highlights
- Learn about Bulgarian Revival Period and see the frescoes
- Smaller group size gives you a personalized experience in good company
- Enjoy the idyllic alpine beauty of Rila Mountains
- Visit the largest and the most famous Bulgarian Monastery
Things to note
- This tour requires a minimum age of 13
- At checkout, choose between tour options: Transport Only (a self-guided tour), or Guided tour with an online audio-guide
- The audio-guided tour is offered in different languages - English, Spanish, Italian, German, French, and Russian.
- The audio is online (cloud-based), therefore, an internet connection is required for download and use
- The hiking route is moderately arduous, with individual brief paths featuring steep inclines
- Wear comfortable walking boots - sandals and flip-flops are not acceptable shoe options.
- It's recommended to bring a rain jacket in summer months when heavy showers sometimes occur in the afternoons
Location
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Self-guided tour
Choose your date
April 2026
Passengers
$42.60 each
About this ticket
Enjoy a full-day guided trek to the Rila Mountains and explore the most important area in the mountains – The Seven Rila Lakes and the UNESCO World Heritage Rila Monastery.Begin with transfer to Rila, followed by a brief cable car ride to the Seven Rila Lakes Cirque. Located between 2100 and 2500m above sea level, you'll see the glacier lakes with name fitting their shapes, like Babreka (the Kidney), Okoto (the Eye), and Salzata (the Teardrop). Walk the whole trek around all lakes, or make a shorter stroll and skip the two highest ones.Next, admire the impressive Rila Monastery with architecture and frescoes that present the apogee of the Bulgarian Renaissance art. On a 1-hour guided tour of the inner yard and the Monastery museum, you will learn the most fascinating facts and stories about the biggest Bulgarian monastery complex. Then return to the starting point of your tour.
Enjoy a full-day guided trek to the Rila Mountains and explore the most important area in the mountains – The Seven Rila Lakes and the UNESCO World...
Choose your date
April 2026
Passengers
$42.60 each