Hiking the 7 Rila Lakes, Bulgaria – All You Need to Know
Bulgaria is a small country full of outstanding, natural beauty. Not only are there beautiful beaches to the east, but there are also plenty of soaring mountains and stunning, crystal-clear lakes. One truly breath-taking hike is the Seven (7) Rila Lakes. This is actually pretty easy to get to from Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital city, and we highly recommend a day of invigorating mountain air and outstanding scenery. In this post we detail all you need to know before hiking the 7 Rila Lakes, including how to get there from Sofia, when to go, what to see and loads more useful tips!
What is the Seven Rila Lakes Hike?
The Rila 7 Lakes hike is one of the best short hikes we have taken in the Balkans! As the name suggests, the hike encompasses several small lakes and the scenery is spectacularly beautiful.
Each of the lakes are named as follows, Dolnoto (The lower lake), Ribnoto (The fish lake), Trilistnika (The Trefoil), Bliznaka (The twin), Babreka (The kidney), Okoto (The eye) and Salzata (The Tear). You will be able to identify each one by its unique shape. Make sure you tick them off as you go!
Where Are The Seven Rila Lakes
The Seven Lakes hike is in the Rila area of Bulgaria. It is under 100km (62 miles) from Sofia making it pretty easy to reach for an incredible day in the mountains.
How to Get to the Seven Rila Lakes Hike from Sofia
If you have access to a car while staying in Bulgaria, driving is one of the easiest options to reach the Seven Rila Lakes hike from Sofia. The drive should take around 1.5 hours, depending on traffic in the city. There is a small car park when you arrive at the start of the trail.
If, like us, you don’t fancy driving, there are a couple of other options to get to the Seven Rila Lakes. The easiest way is to take an organised tour. With this method, all transport is organised for you. Often a tour also includes another stop nearby, such as the Rila Monastery. Check out some if these great options HERE.
There are also two options for shuttle buses. The Rila Shuttle and Traventuria are companies that will take you from Sofia to Panichishte, where the hike begins.
However you arrive at Panichishte, you will now have two options. You can either begin the hike from the very start, or you can take the chair lift that will elevate you from 1585m to 2100m in around 20 minutes. You can then begin hiking from the hut.
Hiking the 7 Rila Lakes
There are a few different types that you can take while hiking the Seven Rila Lakes. The most popular is to begin at the top of the chair lift and continue all the way to the Lake Peak. This route takes around 5 hours and requires moderate fitness.
The route begins with a steady ascent before reaching the ridge and the first of the seven lakes – Kidney Lake (Babreka). After hiking along the ridge, and admiring the views of three other lakes, the climb gets quite steep. This takes you up towards The Eye and The Tear lakes. Just a little further and you will reach the lake peak.
This point is proudly marked by the flag of Bulgaria and you can’t miss it! From here, you have a unique view of all seven lakes. It is truly a magical spot where you can spend some time up in the clouds at 2657m.
From the top, you can decide how you want to return back to the chair lift. You can go back the way you came, or complete the loop and head towards the Twin lakes and then re-join the path to the lift.
Where to Eat When Hiking the 7 Rila Lakes
There are a few mountain huts in the area. The most convenient one is at the top of the chair lift – the Rila Lakes Chalet. We stopped in for some food here after our hike and it was really tasty!
Photo Locations when Hiking the 7 Rila Lakes
You could point your camera almost anywhere in this place and you would get an amazing picture! Obviously getting some stunning panoramas from Lake Peak is a great location.
We would also recommend heading down towards the Twin lake and shooting the beautiful chalet on the lake’s shores.
If you get a calm day, take a few angles that show the stunning reflection of the mountains in the lake.
Take some shots from the chair lift, the views are spectacular!
When to Go Hiking the 7 Rila Lakes
We last hiked the Seven Rila Lakes in mid October and the weather was perfect, we were so lucky! There was a little ice on the paths but the sky was blue and the sun was warm.
Early autumn can be ideal as the crowds are pretty minimal, unlike during the summer or national holidays when it can be busy. We only saw 5 or 6 other people while hiking.
Late spring can also be beautiful if you are fortunate with the weather.
During the winter there will be snow and the lakes will be frozen. There is skiing in the area of you prefer that to a winter hike.
If you prefer to hike in the summer, try to get there as early in the morning as possible and go on a weekday to avoid the crowds, it’s a popular spot for obvious reasons.
How Long Do you Need to Hike the 7 Rila Lakes
To hike the full Seven Lakes you will need at least 5 hours if you travel at a moderate pace. We stopped for a lot of pics and even spent a bit of time soaking up the warm October sun.
Is Hiking the Seven Rila Lakes Safe?
Hiking the 7 Rila Lakes is safe. When hiking anywhere, it is important to take the following precautions –
- Always follow the marked trails
- Try to avoid hiking alone
- Tell people your route in case you get lost
- Check conditions before you set off
- Pack appropriately
- In case of emergency, call 112
- Not really a safety issue, however, it’s good to know – there are toilets at the Mountain Hut at the top of the cable car
What to Bring for a Day of Hiking the Seven Rila Lakes
We have put together a basic packing list for some day hiking the 7 Rila Lakes
- Hiking boots or shoes
- Backpack
- Cash
- Snacks for the hike
- Water bottle (at least a litre in summer). You can fill up at a few points on the way
- Weather appropriate clothing such as windbreaker, hiking socks, buff/hat, and fleece. Make sure to wear layers to account for the changing conditions
- Insect repellent
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- Map or downloaded GPS or map application on your phone
- Decent camera with plenty of space for pictures of the spectacular scenery
Some More General Tips
The local Currency is Bulgarian LEV. 1 LEV equals about €0.50. We would recommend having some cash in case card is not accepted.
The Bulgarian Language
Bulgarian is the official language spoken throughout the country. It is a south Slavic language which is often difficult for English speakers. Here are a few phrases for you to try out.
Hello – Здравейте. (zdrah-VEY-teh)
Please – Моля. (moh-LYAH)
Thank you – Благодаря. (blah-goh-DAH-ryah)
Yes –Да. (dah)
No – Не. (neh)
Goodbye – Довиждане. (doh-VEEZH-dah-neh)
Where to go next
Do you have some more time in Bulgaria? Check out these unusual Things to Do in Sofia.
Final note: Things change in the Balkans all the time and there is not much information online in English. We would definitely advise checking with a local where possible. We found people to be really friendly and super helpful.
Have you visited Bulgaria or hiked the Seven Rila Lakes? Are you planning a trip and need more information? Drop a comment in the box, we’d love to hear from you!
In a hurry? Save “Hiking the 7 Rila Lakes, Bulgaria – All You Need to Know” for later by pinning below.
