I was in Bulgaria for a few days. It was a stop towards the end of my itinerary. I looked for things to do and found that I could do a day trip to the Seven Rila Lakes from Sofia.
Learn more about my experience by reading this post.
Nature Escape
The Seven Rila Lakes are glacier lakes located in Rila Mountain. The lakes are located more than 2,000m high in the mountains. It's one of the most famous tourist destinations in the country because of its scenic views and easy to navigate trail. The lakes got their names based on their most recognizable feature and shape such as "eye", "tear", and "kidney" just to name a few.
How to Get to the Seven Rila Lakes
You have a couple of options on how you can reach the chairlift to the start of the hike.
By Public TransportationIt's possible to go to the Seven Rila Lakes using public transportation. However, the schedule is unpredictable. You'll have to make your way to Dupnitsa first by bus or train. The bus is the recommended option because of its more frequent schedule. From Dupnitsa, you're better off taking a taxi to reach the chairlift station. Look for other passengers heading in the same direction to share costs.
Join a TourThe most convenient way to do the hike is to join a tour. Most packages already include guides and transportation. You might still need to bring cash to pay for fees in the park. Some operators provide you with the option to join a guided hike or do a self-guided one. Both include transportation to and from the park. You can book a tour here: Seven Rila Lakes Hike
The Beautiful Route
I took the chairlift up to the start of the trail. The first station at the top was where you can buy some snacks and water, use the toilet, and prepare for the hike. The first uphill climb was manageable it was like a hike up one of the mountains in Batangas (in the Philippines). If you can get through this section, you can reach one of the peaks with the views of the lakes.
As we made our way through the trail, we got to see the lakes from different angles.
We took a short break with the guide explaining a few things about the park (this happens throughout the different rest stops our group took). Then we were off to the peak!
The views were spectacular. We had lunch at one of the peaks before we started the descent. One group (which I was a part of) took the longer route back to the chairlift station.
After reaching the chairlift, we took a brief rest before going back to the parking lot. That was the end of my fun excursion to one of Bulgaria's most popular parks. The guides of the tour added color to the trip that's why I would recommend joining a tour if you plan to do the Seven Rila Lakes hike.