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Rila, Olympus, Bulgaria, Greece 9 Day Guided Hike

Rila, Olympus, Bulgaria, Greece 9 Day Guided Hike | undefined

Join a UIMLA Tour Operator for an amazing 9-day hike in the Rila, Pirin, Olympus mountains of Bulgaria and Greece.

Private

Olympus, Pirin, Rila Mountains

9 Days

Jun - Oct

High

Intermediate


Description

Over the course of 9 exciting days, we want to guide you on an adventure that will stretch over 3 different mountain ranges and 2 countries. The mountain ranges are the Rila mountains and Pirin mountains of Bulgaria and the Olympus mountains of Greece. However, there is so much more you will get to see and do throughout this trip. From the Bulgarian capital city of Sofia, and the Aegean sea of Greece, to the Rila monastery, the variety is incredible.

This is an extensive trek. There will be a lot of walking. Typically we will be hiking between 5 and 8 hours every day. Hence, all participants should be in good physical condition. They should also have some prior hiking experience.

Throughout the trip, we will be staying in several different forms of accommodation. We will be spending our nights in hotels, family run guesthouses and mountain huts. All of these places offer their own unique advantages and charms.

During the hike, we will be ascending 3 different peaks. Those peaks include the Polezhan peak (2,851m), Mount Vihren (2,914m), which is the highest peak in the Pirin mountains, and Mount Olympus (2,918m) otherwise known as Mytikas.

There are many other wonderful highlights on this trip that stretches from the Rila mountains to Mount Olympus. They include the Belmeken dam, the village of Bansko, The Bezbog lake, various ancient Greek temples, the village of Paralia, the beautiful Rila monastery and so much more. It is also important to note that the views you will get of the natural landscape from the various peaks, as well as along the trails, are truly breathtaking.

It would be our pleasure to guide you on this 9 day adventure. We know you will gain enough exciting memories to last a lifetime. So if you would like to join us on this amazing journey that will take you from Bulgaria to Greece and back again, just send us a request.

We also offer a 5 day, hut to hut hike through the Balkans as well.

Price includes

  • Accommodation included
  • Guiding fee
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
  • Transport during the trip
  • Lifts tickets

Price details

  • The price includes transfers to and from Sofia, accommodation, and lift tickets.

Itinerary

Day 1: Sofia

Today, participants will meet at Sofia, were we will spend the day and spend the night in a local hotel.

Day 2: Bansko

Today participants will transfer to the high dam of Belmeken. We will ascent to the Belmeken peak, before hiking down to the village of Bansko where we will spend the night in a local guesthouse.

Day 3: Polezhan Peak (2,851m)

Today participants will take a ride to the Bezbog hut and log before trekking to the Polezhan peak. Afterwards, we will hike back to Bansko, where we will spend the night in the same guesthouse.

Day 4: Mount Vihren (2,914m)

Today we will make our way up Mount Vihren before descending and making our way back to Bansko where we will spend the night in the same guesthouse.

Day 5: Olympus mountain (2,918m)

We will take a long, 5 hour transfer to Mount Olympus, which we will then ascend to the mountain hut at approximately 2000 metres, where we will spend the night.

Day 6: Mount Olympus summit

Today we will finish the ascent of Mount Olympus and reach the summit before making our way back down to the hut for the night.

Day 7: Village of Paralia

Today participants will make our way down Mount Olympus, crossing the plateau of the muses, then enjoying a swim in the Aegean sea before reaching the village of Paralia, where we will spend the night in a local hotel.

Day 8: Rila Monastery

Today we will make our return to Sofia in Bulgaria. However, we will first stop at the beautiful Rila monastery, before reaching the capital, where we will spend the night in a hotel.

Day 9: Departure

On the final day, participants will get to enjoy the sights of Sofia before returning home.

 

Details

More info

Participants should bring the following items with them: hiking boots, rucksack (35-45L), trekking poles, water and windproof jacket, 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

5.0

(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 this trip

Lissi

5

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.


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