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Northwest Rila Mountains 2 Day Guided Ski Tour

Northwest Rila Mountains 2 Day Guided Ski Tour | Bulgaria

On this 2-day Bulgarian ski touring trek, a UIMLA guide wants to show you the Northern Rila mountains.

Private

Rila Mountains

2 Days

Jan - Apr

Fit

Intermediate


Description

On this 2-day ski touring excursion, we would like to take you through the Northwestern area of the Rila Mountains in Bulgaria. The Rila Mountains are the largest collection of peaks in the country, and they are absolutely breathtaking when seen up close.

The trip will begin in the capital city of Sofia. From there we will take a one-and-a-half hour drive to the Pionerska hut. From the hut, we will take a lift to an altitude of 2,140 metres. Following our drop off from the lift, we will stop at the Rila Lakes hut before skinning up to the Otovitsa ridge at 2,700 metres. The ridge offers some truly amazing views of the famous Rila seven lakes and the surrounding peaks. It also offers some exciting descents, which you can enjoy for several hours before we return to the Rila Lakes hut, where we will spend the night.

On the second day of the trip, we will make our way back down to the Pionerska hut. Our route will depend on weather conditions. However, you will get to enjoy over 1,000 metres of exciting descents, no matter the conditions. And finally, at the conclusion of the trip, we will make a stop at the Sapareva Banya village, where you can enjoy soothing thermal pools before returning to Sofia.

This 2-day trip presents a great opportunity to explore and appreciate the Northern Rila mountains. It also presents a great opportunity to enjoy some fun descents as well! So if you would like to join me, send us a request, and let us guide you.

Are you looking for a ski touring trip that offers a more extensive and challenging experience in the Rila mountains? If so, we also offer this 3 day ski tour through some of the range's largest peaks.

Price includes

- Accommodation included

- Guiding fee

- Breakfast

- Dinner

- Lift tickets

- Transport during the trip

Price details

The price includes transfers to and from Sofia, accommodation, half board, and lift tickets. Participants should have appropriate safety equipment such as probes, shovel and beacon, as well as proper skiing equipment that includes touring skis, ski touring bindings, with ski/walk mode and brakes or straps, climbing skins, ski crampons, poles, and ski boots. All of this equipment is available for rent in Sofia.


Details

More info

Participants should bring the following items with them: rucksack (35-45L), water and windproof jacket and pants, rain cover, sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, warm hat and gloves, water bottle (1.5L), travel liner (optional), torch, personal first aid kit.

Meeting point

Sofia

About the guide

Guide profile image

Lyuben

4.80

(7)

Mountain Leader

I work as a mountain leader since 2006, both with individuals and larger organized groups, mainly English speaking.

Together with a group of colleagues we offer a wide-range of activities: hiking, trekking, rock climbing and mountain biking, snowshoeing, ice climbing, ski touring and off-piste skiing.

All our guides are certified, experienced and passionate about their job and will guide you with a smile and care through the wild beauty of the Bulgarian and the Balkan mountains.

Languages

Russian | English | Bulgarian

Certificates

UIMLA

Request more information

What people are saying about Lyuben

Gaelle

5.00

Lyuben is a very good guide. More than a ski touring guide , he is a perfect travel organiser. We were a group of 4 Belgium guys around 50 to make the 4 days touring ski tour. He chose for us a very good family guesthouse, with very good food. He let us discover local thermal bath, traditional restaurant. About ski touring, Lyuben chose each day the best spot possible for the landscape and the snow adapted to the changing weather conditions. Time keeping was perfect. Zero stress for any situation. He has a comfortable car and does not hesitate to drive hours to bring us to the best area or to bring back us to the airport. Very friendly, super adaptive with us, I warmly recommend Lyuben.

Matt

5.00

Lyuben and Ivo were excellent. Communication was great. Lyuben helped us hire kit before arriving. Each day was great with a good variety or touring and excellent snow. thank you!

Lissi

5.00

Wonderful 9-day hiking in the mountains of Bulgaria and Greece. It was easy to book a trip through the Explore-Share page. They responded quickly, everything was fine and well organized. My whole 9 days were very well organized. Guide picked me up on Sofia's airport and on the 9th day guide taken me back to the airport. Everything in between was organized by Top Guides Bulgaria. The physical effort was great, but it was worth it, wonderful views and very good emotions. I met three guides - Lyuben, Ruslan and Moni. They were very nice and friendly and very good guides. They kept my pace when hiking the mountains and helped and taught me if it was necessary. I felt safe and supported all the time. The hardest part for me was the last part of Mt. Olympus, climbing to the top, it took self-transcendence and a big effort. I haven't been rock climbing before. I am proud to myself that I made it. I was able to do this thanks to Lyuben's support, help and teachings. I am very grateful to him. When hiking in the mountains, you must be prepared to walk up the hill for several hours, which is physically difficult. At this time, wonderful views and feelings gives strength and the will to move on. Guide Moni had taken with him binocular. So we saw the animals and the birds more closer and he had knowledge to talk about them. In the mountains guide Ruslan talked about myths, local culture and nature. On the last day we had the city tour in Sofia. Guide Ruslan introduced me the historical buildings and told many interesting stories about history. All of it was very interesting to listen. The program of the days was very well structured. On the 5th day I felt physically tired and would not have been able to go hiking in the mountains straight away again. According to the plan, came the time to rest: Greece beach, the return trip to Bulgaria, a walk in the beautiful town of Bansko. After that I felt rested and enjoyed hiking in the mountains again. On the evenings of hiking days, you can relax: a delicious dinners in local restaurants, nights in lovely hotels and mountain huts, you can go to a mineral water spa, local market, etc. I am very satisfied and happy about this 9-day trip. Everything was very good. I have great memories and wonderful pictures of it. I definitely want to go back there, at another time of the year: to ski in the winter or to see waterfalls in the spring. Also, I would be happy to use the services of Explore-Share and Top Guides Bulgaria again when hiking in other regions.

Alexander

5.00

A few words about the wonderful guide Kaloyan Peichev. He is a very responsible guide, a wonderful skier and a generous teacher, he has professional knowledge of mountains, snow, etc. and a very kind person.

Jane

5.00

Amazing trip..... 100% recommend this trip... Lyuben was both professional and friendly. We loved it. A great activity to do with a non-skier in tow.


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