Musala Peak day trek in the Rila Mountains

Discover Rila National Park in this guided day trek to the summit of Musala Peak (2925 m), the highest mountain on the Balkan Peninsula.

Private

Rila Mountains

1 Day

Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Occasional

Beginner

Highlights

Reach the top of the highest mountain on the Balkan Peninsula.
Explore the Rila Mountains and the Rila National Park.
Contemplate breathtaking views from the summit.

Description

At 2925 m, Musala Peak is the highest mountain on the Balkan Peninsula. It belongs to the Rila Mountains and it’s located in Rila National Park, a natural area protected in a big part by UNESCO and also the largest national park in Bulgaria.

In this one day trip, I invite you to enjoy a breathtaking mountain experience: getting to the top of Musala Peak.

This activity involves between five and six hours of trekking, but it doesn’t require any special physical training. The highlight of this trip is definitely the outstanding view you can get from the summit of Musala Peak. From there, you’ll be able to admire the most important mountain ranges in Bulgaria, such as Rila, Vitosha, Pirin, Sredna Gora, and Rodopi Mountains, as well as the Balkan Mountains.

In addition, you will see the wonderful Rila Lakes, a group of seven deep blue glacial lakes.

I recommend summer as the best season to ascent Mount Musala. Nevertheless, it’s important to mention that you can also visit this place during winter, and practice sports like snowshoeing, ski touring and split boarding.

Below, I provide you further details about this trip, one of the top destinations among visitors in Bulgaria.

If you are planning a trip to the Rila Mountains, please get in touch with me. I will be happy to be your guide in this adventure.

Another option could be this 2-day program from Seven Lakes to Rila Monastery. Check it out!

Itinerary

Day 1: Itinerary to Musala Peak

Early in the morning, a transfer will take us to Borovets (1350 m). This trip will be two hours and a half long. Once there, we will take the gondola lift towards Yastrebets, the starting point of this hike.

We will arrive to the top of Musala Peak after five or six hours of hiking. Of course, we’ll have time there to admire the wonderful view and also take a little rest.

After that, we will start our way back to Yastrebets and finally take the gondola-lift to Borovets.

Details

Meeting point

Sofia (Bulgaria)

Photos

About the guide

Nikolay

4.86

(35)

Mountain Leader

I started snowboarding when only a few people were doing it. At the time, it was just an emerging sport. We used to experiment modifying our equipment by hand. We didn't know about first lines or powder days, we were simply having fun and enjoying amazing snow.
As things got more serious, I gained experience and learned more about the mountains. I found so many new possibilities!
From the mountains, I learned how to enjoy with just the essentials, to travel lightly and to cherish the company of a friend on the snow. But I also learned responsibility and learned from my mistakes.
This passion led me in 1994 to the Himalayas, where the beauty of the scenery and the amazing peaks were almost overwhelming. In summer, I started exploring the mountain and in this way I discovered climbing.
All of this inspired me to become a professional. Now I have a Ski Instructor Qualification Class C, a Professional Mountain Leader UIMLA Qualification and in 2009 I became the first Bulgarian snowboard guide. Since 2017, I'm a snowboard Instructor qualification Level “3” and international ISIA.

Languages

Russian | English | Bulgarian

Certificates

UIMLA

Residence

Bansko

What people are saying about this trip

Hollie Ivy

5.00

July, 2022

Unfortunately Niki was not well enough to guide me on the trek, but his colleague Zahari made for an excellent hiking companion. Very knowledgeable about the local terrain, history, geography and plant life - picked excellent routes to avoid the crowds and timed everything really well. Great company, I think of him as a friend now and this mountain is absolutely stunning. Would definitely recommend.

Prices per person

Group of 1	EUR 186 Each
Group of 2	EUR 98 Each
Group of 3	EUR 83 Each
Group of 4	EUR 62 Each
Group of 5	EUR 62 Each
Group of 6	EUR 62 Each
Group of 7	EUR 62 Each
Group of 8	EUR 62 Each

Want a different number of travellers?

Price includes

- Guiding fee

- Transport during the trip

Price details

The price includes: Private transfer, english-speaking mountain guide, picnic lunch (a small energy pack). The price excludes: Return chair lift tickets, food, drinks, insurance, other personal expenses