Sofia, Bulgaria 
- Transfers to and from Sofia Airport (on first/last tour date only)
- Accommodation
- Catering
- English-speaking mountain guide
- Snowshoes and poles
- Cable car tickets
What's Included
What's excluded
- Museum entry charges
- Extra food and drink
- Mountain maps
- Medical insurance
- Personal expenses
WHAT TO EXPECT
Revel in the beauty of nature amid winter. Sense the calm of winter magic in three of Bulgaria’s best-loved mountains: the Vitosha Nature Park, Rila and Pirin national parks. This tour's snowshoeing trek passes old mountain forests, high plateaus, steep slopes, and valleys, tiring you out before an evening spent in a peasant family hotel with a glass of red wine with appetizing local specialties. The itinerary includes a call at one of Bulgaria’s most renowned sights: the UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery.
Snowshoe walking appears easy fun, yet calls for some stamina because any walking through snow can be tiring. Even if you have not tried this type of locomotion, you will rapidly get used to using the poles and snowshoes on thick, fluffy virgin mountain snow. The program is moderate to difficult and suitable for people in good physical shape. Depending on the weather and snow cover, your guide may change the proposed routes.
Day 1 - Arrival
We meet you at Sofia Airport and transfer you to the hotel where the group will overnight.
Day 2 - Vitosha
Today, the tour traverse Vitosha: the most popular destination for Sofianites. Starting from the Aleko Hut, we shall trek along the crest of the mountain through the Torfeno Branishte Nature Reserve to the famous Zlatni Mostove (Golden Bridges) stone rivers. Then transfer for overnight in a cozy family-run pension in the village of Govedartsi, Rila Mountains. (4-5hrs of walking, climbing 150m/490ft and descending 600m/1970ft)
Day 3 - Malyovitsa
After breakfast, the tour transfers to the nearby resort Malyovitsa. From there the tour starts climbing up towards Yonchevo Lake. As you walk out of the woods enjoy the panorama to the neighbouring peaks and deep valleys of Rila. Eventually,walk down through an old coniferous forest to get back to Maliovitsa along a different route. (5hrs of walking, climbing 550m/1800ft and descending 550m/1800ft)
Day 4 - Musala Peak
Today’s aim is to get to the foot of Bulgaria’s, and the Balkans’, highest summit: Musala Peak (2925m/9594ft). Climb to the starting point of the route by cable car from the Borovets Resort and then continue snowshoeing to the highest mountain refuge in Bulgaria – The Icy Lake. At this point, the rugged summit of Musala will be facing you from a very close distance, but as long as the last stage will require the use of ropes and crampons in winter you will have to skip this part. Then turn back along the same route to overnight at Govedartsi again. (5,30 hrs of walking, climbing 850m/2790ft and descending 850m/2790ft)
Day 5 - Panichishte Resort
A brief transfer takes you to the Panichishte Resort where you board a cable car to the Seven Rila Lakes Cirque for a tour among the lower five of them. Though frozen and covered in thick snow in winter, the area remains rather pretty. The day ends in a cozy family hotel at the famous ski resort of Bansko in Pirin Mountains, where you stay for the next two nights. (5hrs of walking, climbing 350m/1150ft and descending 350m/1150ft)
Day 6 - Bezbog Peak
Another short transfer takes you above Dobrinishte resort to board the chair cable car to the Bezbog Hut. This is the setting-off point for the hiking trek to the Bezbog (No God) Peak (2645m high). Stunning panoramas of the neighbouring summits and ridges will be accompanying you as the tour makes its way to the top. Transfer back to Bansko. (4-5hrs of walking, climbing and descending 400m/1315ft).
Day 7 - Rila Monastery
You leave the Pirin and transfer to one of Bulgaria’s top tourist attractions: the Rila Monastery listed by UNESCO. The latter is the largest and most significant Bulgarian Orthodox Church establishment. The 20m high walls shelter impressive cloisters, a church, and a chapel with unique murals and museum collections. A short walk can be performed in the area to the cave of St. John of Rila (the monastery founder) or to the picturesque sandy pyramids of Stob. Then continue on to Sofia, where you have gala dinner and last overnight. (1-2hrs of walking, climbing 100m/330ft and descending 100m/330ft)
Day 8
Transfer to Sofia Airport.
Accommodation: three-star and family hotels; en-suite rooms; breakfast and supper included.
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