Bulgaria Mountains, Snowshoeing in the Rila-Rhodope Massif

Arriving at Sofia airport. Meeting with your tour guide and transfer to a nice family hotel deep in the forests of Rhodope Mountain. Accommodation and short briefing about the tour. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. Short morning transfer (15 min.) to the beginning of our trail. Next is a 4-hour walk through the magnificent Canyon of the waterfalls – some amazing views to the frozen cascades and overlooks to the mountain. Lunch will be a picnic. Afternoon – another short transfer (1 h.) to the beautiful village of Trigrad, situated between some vertical rock walls. Accommodation in a nice small hotel here. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. Today is a more relaxing hike (3 h.). We will start with a visit to the famous Devil’s throat cave – the legendary way to the kingdom of Hades. Next is the trek through the beautiful scenery of the Rhodope mountains – centuries-old pine forests, meadows and imposing rock formations. Lunch will be a picnic. Visitation to the marvelous Yagodina cave and the Buinovo gorge. Late afternoon short transfer (30 min.) to the town of Devin and accommodation in a nice family hotel. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. It is a day of leisure. In the morning we will have the opportunity to visit an open-air mineral pool. Lunch will take place in a great traditional restaurant. In the afternoon, transfer (3.30 h.) to Rila mountains and accommodation in a comfortable hotel, hidden in the foothills of the range. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. It is time for the ascent to the summit of Malyovitsa (2729 m.) – one of the symbols of Rila mountain, the most technical part of the walking tour. About 7 hours for the ascent and descent to the highest point of Northwest Rila. Lunch will be a picnic. The scenery is just amazing – some incredible views of pointed alpine peaks, rock walls, and glacial cirques. Return back to the same accommodation. Dinner at the hotel and overnight.

Breakfast. From our hotel starts a forest trail, that leads to the famous Seven Rila Lakes area. The trek with snowshoes here is pleasant and easy and takes 5 hours. During this hike we will enjoy the pine forests of Rila range, along with some stunning views towards the main ridge. Lunch will be a picnic. At the end of this trail we will reach a remote family hotel, just below the Seven lakes cirque. Accommodation. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. Today we will hike with the snowshoes across the Seven Rila Lakes. After an ascent with a gondola to the higher parts of the mountain, our trail will lead us to the fifth lake – the Kidney. Lunch will be a picnic. Descent via the frozen Skakavitsa waterfall. In the afternoon a licensed instructor will show us some ice climbing and everyone will have the opportunity to try. Descent to our hotel. Same accommodation and dinner. Overnight.

Breakfast. Transfer to Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, and depart from Sofia airport.