Rila - Pirin Mountain Trek - Trekking Trip
1 week: Bulgaria to Bulgaria (RPMT)
This trek is in two mountain chains with Balkan Peninsula\'s highest peaks, enormous national parks, rare vegetation and rich animal life. The trip is made in such a way as to bring the participants out in remote regions with beautiful and unspoiled natural sceneries and waste landscapes. If you do not have the time for trekking in the world\'s biggest mountain chains, this tour is warmly recommended to you. Here you can enjoy elements of physical challenge in alpine landscapes above the tree border, as well as the cultural treasures of Bulgaria and the warm hospitality of the local people.Accommodation
We stay overnight in 3-star hotels (days 1, 3 & 4) with rooms with en-suite facilities and in mountain huts (days 2, 5 & 6) and guesthouses (day 7) with shared facilities on FB (breakfast, lunch pack and dinner included).
Itineraries
Day 1Arrival at Sofia or Plovdiv airport and transfer to the hotel in the Rila Mountains, where we stay overnight (1,20 hrs from Sofia; 2,30 hrs from Plovdiv). This will be also the starting point for the trek.
Day 2This day will be dedicated to both high altitude adaptation and the demands of the forthcoming trek. In the morning we will take a leisurely walk through the spruce forest to the Skakavitsa hut and the Skakavitsa waterfalls. The path then travels uphill to the Seven Rila Lakes hut where we will stay overnight.
Uphill/downhill walk: 900/200 m; walking time: 4-5 hrs
After breakfast, breathtaking scenery awaits us as we head towards our next target – the revered Rila Monastery (situated at 1,147 m). Please note: there are steep and rather long descents to the monastery, which will be hard on the knees. We stay overnight in a hotel by the monastery walls.
Uphill/downhill walk: 500/1500 m; walking time: 7-8 hrs
A short hike to the hermitage of St. Ivan Rilski and sightseeing of the Rila Monastery are planned till noon. Then we have a transfer to Bansko (taking about 1,5 hrs), which will be the starting point for our treks in Pirin Mounatins. In the afternoon we will make a sightseeing trip in the old quarters of the town.
Uphill/downhill walk: 150/150 m; walking time: 2-3 hrs
In the morning the bus will deposit us a distance above the town of Bansko, ensuring a better starting point for the day\'s trek. We begin our walk from the Vihren hut (1,950 m). Close to this structure you will see the marble peak of the giant of the Pirin Mountains – Mount Vihren (2,914 m). From the hut the path passes by the glacial Bunderishki Lakes and along the highest parts of the Julen Reserve until it reaches the Tevno Lake hut where we stay overnight.
Uphill/downhill walk: 900/300 m; walking time: 7-8 hrs
Today\'s walk is a real delight. Our track descends towards the valley of the Zheleznishka River and follows its riverbed all the way on to the Pirin hut, our next overnight stop.
Uphill/downhill walk: 100/950 m; walking time: 4-5 hrs
In the morning we head towards the final stop on the Rila-Pirin trek, the Rozhen village, housing a monastery of the same place nearby. From the village we have a short transfer through the sandy pyramids of the area to the smallest and one of the oldest towns in Bulgaria - Melnik, famous for its local brand of red wine. After a short stroll along the main street of the town we will transfer from Melnik to Sofia (3hrs) or Plovdiv (5hrs)(depending on your departure flight) where we stay overnight.
Uphill/downhill walk: 100/1,100 m; walking time: 5 hrs
Transfer to Sofia or Plovdiv airport for departure
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