Join UIMLA-certified mountain leader Nikolay on a two-day hike to one of the iconic mountains in Bulgaria on an immersive program in the Rila Mountains.
Private
2 Days
Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Fit
All Levels
Malyovitsa Peak (2,729m) is the pride and joy of Bulgaria, set within the Rila Mountains just south of Sofia. Its landscape is replete with lake views and valley vistas, the ideal location for an extended trek. At the foot of Malyovitsa stands the Rila Monastery, the largest Eastern Orthodox monastery in the country. During the snowier months, it serves as a major hub for winter sports.
You will begin your excursion by hiking the granite and gneiss rocks, enjoying the flora and fauna that is unique to Rila and Malyovitsa. Keep your eyes peeled for deer and goats, as well as rabbits and foxes. Three species of plants are endemic to this mountain, offering a rare glimpse into natural Bulgaria.
There are many mountain huts in the area, including one just a few hours from the summit. The views from the top include other Rila Mounatins and the Pirin Mountains, as well as the iconic Rila Monastery at the southern foot of the mountain. As you descend down the mountain, you will see Strashno Lake and the towers of Towers of Kupenite.
Our program immerses you in these delectable features for two full days of impeccable exploration. You will hike along trails lined with the alpine crags that have given notoriety to the Rila. The growing reputation of these mountains contributes to the increase in extreme sports and activities among its peaks, included rock climbing, mountaineering, and skiing.
This area is my home and I am delighted to share it with you. I will ensure you have a safe and fulfilling journey to the top of Malyovitsa, providing you with information, assistance, and an all-around great time. Let me know what you are looking to accomplish with your hike and I will make sure you get the most out of your adventure.
This program requires a good level of physical fitness, but everyone who is capable of a two-day hike is welcome to join.
Book this amazing Bulgarian hiking program NOW and spend two days in the enchanting Rila Mountains on your way to summit the might Malyovitsa Peak!
I can also take you on a two-day guided trek to Musala Peak, or we can enjoy a Balkan Mountain journey and see three summits!
Meeting point Contact me upon booking to establish a meeting point. |
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.
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.
Sander Meijers
5.00
February, 2022
Lovely authentic experience with great company, easy going, flexible and fun!
Michael Supple
4.00
February, 2021
Nikolay and Jordan are extremely knowledgable about the area; keen for clients to enjoy the experience whilst remaining conscious of the conditions and the inherent risks involved.
Leanne Gwilliam
5.00
December, 2020
Nikolay was brilliant, really accommodating to our date changes. Extremely friendly and helpful, has great knowledge of the area. We felt very comfortable and confident even though the weather wasn't great. Overall really enjoyed our 2 day split boarding course. Would highly recommend for anyone that wants a challenge.
Dick Cowan
4.00
March, 2020
Nikolay is an experienced and very helpful guide. He provided us with 3 very good days of varied skiing and touring in sometimes difficult weather conditions. Nikolay assessed our aspirations and our abilities and provided the perfect combination of skiing and touring experience for us in conditions which were sometimes challenging. In addition to his very good service on the snow, he sorted out the perfect accommodation for our needs and very efficiently sorted out our airport transfers. He is very good company and his love of the mountains is infectious. I strongly recommend him.
Magnus Gunnarsson
5.00
February, 2020
Niki took us to the best available experience in Bansko even thou it was not a lot of snow. We had a truly great experience together with Niki!
Sebastian Schäffer
5.00
February, 2020
Best guy, very experienced and friendly. Knows the Bansko Mountains perfect! Was a pleasure gettin to know Niki!
Persson Dav
5.00
February, 2020
Unfortnately we had very little snow in Bansko at the time of our trip, despite the bad snow conditions we had a great time in the mountains and a great ski touring experience. Him and his team is really friendly and it feels like they try hard to make the tour as good as possible without jeopardizing safety. He also helped us arrange equipment at a local store in Bansko since one of us didn't have touring skis. I could definitely imagine coming back to Bansko and would gladly book another tour with Nikolay, hopefully with some more snow.
Red Hodgkinson
5.00
January, 2020
Did a trip in Feb 2019 with Nikolay. This is the second year we have been with him. Brilliant day out with hiking and riding off the beaten track. I would highly reccomend this if you're looking for an experience off the slopes!!!
Nitzan Orgal
5.00
September, 2019
We had 2 very professional guides whom we enjoyed very much. But this is a medium moderated course and it's not for people with no experience. It was a full day trip.
Tomer Ash
5.00
August, 2019
we approached Explore - Share to find a guide for the Via Ferrata Malyovitsa in Bulgaria. Nikolay Pavlov responded and from this moment remain in ongoing communication to make sure we receive a great service. he was very responsive and was kind enough to assist us in planning additional hiking days. on the July 31st we met one of his guides - Stoimaen (AKA - Bambita) and another guide - Elena which led my partner and myself through the Via Ferrata with a lot of good spirit and patience (and passion).they made the introduction to Bulgarian outdoors much enjoyable. The additional tips we received from this great team enhanced the quality of our Bulgarian adventure. much recommended. Regards Natasha & Tomer
Laurence Marineau
5.00
June, 2019
I only have good things to say about this day trip! Nikolay is a really good and experienced guide. We had such a great time in this via ferrata! Do not hesitate to book this :)
Red Hodgkinson
5.00
March, 2019
This is our second time with Nikolay and it did not disappoint. I would highly recommend!!
Perttu Prusi
5.00
March, 2019
Nikolay Pavlov is an experienced guide with intimate knowledge of the terrain and conditions in Bansko. A great half day trip with two summits on a very short notice. Additionally good company to ride with.
Jake English
5.00
February, 2019
Nikolay is an awesome guide who is clearly very experienced. We planned to climb+ride Todorka in late January but due to snow storms and high winds we had to postpone the trip. However as soon as the conditions had improved and the avalanche risk was manageable Nikolay called me to say its game on for tomorrow if that works for me. We had an awesome day riding and I learnt so much from Nikolay about Avalanches, exposure and climbing. Would definitely recommend! Cheers!
George McNally
5.00
April, 2018
One of the best powder days skiing of my life! An amazing combination of couloirs, tree runs and open powder fields all accessible by lifts. Nikolay is a great guide who judged the abilities of the group and chose routes to suit everyone! Highly recommended trip, excellent value for money!
Chris Newnham
5.00
March, 2018
We picked the perfect day. The off-piste was was incredible and Nikolay was informative, extremely knowledgable and professional. We felt safe at all times as Nikolay was in constant comms with others on the mountain and the tour was managed to minimise risk of avalanches. Will happily book via Explore Share again. Thanks.
Dimitry Zakharov
5.00
March, 2018
I'm glad to write a short review for you. Nikolay is very friendly and communicative person. He gave me a lot of information about Bansko and coming tour. Nikolay's Russian is very good, so it was very convenient to talk my native language instead of English. We met a day before splitboarding, he helped me to tune rented splitboard, avalanche equipment and gave general instructions about splitboard. The next 2 days of splitboarding were great, Nikolay and his friends were very responsible and tried to do anything to make our tour nice and safe. 5/5!
Neil Robertson
5.00
March, 2018
Both Nikolay and the other guide with us (apologies for forgetting his name) were highly qualified and experienced. They found us the best conditions available and made sure we had a good time while staying safe.
Agnes Johansson
5.00
February, 2018
Good guide! Friendly, safe and made the best day out of the current conditions. This day was for sure the high light of our week in Bansko. Thanks!
Dale rowe
5.00
February, 2018
Niki is a great guide we would definitely recommend him to anyone that wants to go off piste.
Cornelia Kropp
4.00
February, 2018
The traveller did not leave a comment.
Julie Finch
3.00
February, 2018
The traveller did not leave a comment.
Ellen Baker
5.00
September, 2017
What a glorious day!! Niki was a top guide, really chilled out and knowledgeable - had an amazing day and learnt so much more about the mountain (and Bulgaria in general!) than I expected! Communication wth the company was great and they did their very best to make sure I could do this trip on mega short notice. Amazing all round - thanks guys :)
Lager Francois
5.00
August, 2017
I learned à lot about Bulgarie. . Not only about nature, but also culture and politics. Great thanks to Nikolay!.
Isabel Beltran
5.00
August, 2017
Very nice and professional guide. Good experience
Jessica Abadee
5.00
June, 2017
Nikolay was amazing. he was both professional and friendly at the same time. he did everything to make sure that i had a great experience including picking me up early to ensure i was the first up the mountain which i loved. I would definitely recommend him again.
Tanguy
5.00
April, 2017
Niki was a great guide for ski-touring. He was very clear and supportive in the preparation of the trip (itineraries, ski renting, hotel, taxis). When we finally met in Bansko, after 5 minutes I understood we were in good hands. He was indeed very much secure and adapting to our needs. He knows everybody in the place, always aware of the good spots and very keen to let you discover his region. He also turned to be an excellent guide for after-ski activities. He puts all his energy to ensure your experience will be unforgettable, which he greatly succeeded.
Jonathan
5.00
March, 2017
Very nice experience with Niki and Yavo. We did not have the best snow conditions but Niki was able to find very good skying and mountaineering spots in this area that he knows better than anyone. He also took care of most aspects (airport transit, ski rental, etc), which made this 3 days trip very efficient ! For the after-ski, Bansko and the surrounding area offer lots of opportunities. I'll definitely come back shortly.
Alexandre
5.00
March, 2017
Great free-ride ski experience with Niki and Javo, our two very friendly and knowledgeable guides. Probably the best guides you can get in Bansko! In addition, Niki helped to arrange for everything: transport to/from the airport, indication of best places to eat & chill-out. Definitely strongly recommended!
René
5.00
March, 2017
Very satisfied of those 3 days ski touring with Niki. He is really a one stop shop guide: he arranged for everything from A to Z: transfer from Sofia to Bansko, cheap and nice hotel, ski rental, shovel/arva/probe, and, last but not least 3 days of exciting ski touring in Bansko backcountry. Despite the fact that the conditions were far from ideal (avalanche risk) he managed to find an interesting programme for each day, taking into account the level of the participants and the safety of everybody. Bansko is definitely a place with a lot of potential for ski touring: we will be back!
François
5.00
March, 2017
I have spent 3 tremendous days of ski touring and freeride ski with Nikolay and his colleague Javo in Bansko. We were a group of 8 skiers with both beginners and more experienced people. Beyond their professionalism and wide mountain expertise, Nikolay and Javo where caring and very friendly guys. We had an incredible skiing experience in the wonderful landscapes of the Pirin mountain ranges. In addition, Nikolay recommended probably the best places to sleep, eat and relax in Bansko while avoiding the expensive touristic addresses. I strongly recommend him.
Red
5.00
February, 2017
The trip out with Nikolay was the best days experience I have ever had snowboarding. Nikolay came across as very experienced and the safety of the group was very important to him. We rode lines and terrain exactly like we wanted and were also able to hike to the very top of the mountain which was great in itself. If I go back I would look to go out with him again and would recommend to others no problem.
Jens
5.00
February, 2017
The Trip was an experience, I especially enjoyed the first day which was just "the perfect day", sunny, good snow and several good rides!
Nikola
5.00
January, 2017
I decided to take guidance from Nikolay despite knowing that snow conditions were not very good for off-piste riding. We planed to have short mix of riding near the piste and tutoring. Generally speaking - it was useful for me, and i got some very good tips and insights from Nikolay. He seems to be ok guy and knows a lot about mountain and snowboarding. I would contact him next time i want to try off piste riding or trekking in Bansko. Hopefully i will have some friends with me then.
Group of 1 | EUR 361 Each |
Group of 2 | EUR 176 Each |
Group of 3 | EUR 145 Each |
Group of 4 | EUR 104 Each |
Group of 5 | EUR 104 Each |
Group of 6 | EUR 104 Each |
Group of 7 | EUR 104 Each |
Want a different number of travellers?
- Guiding fee
The price includes the guiding fee.
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