Day trip

Experience dramatic landscapes and breathtaking alpine sceneries, centuries old pine forests, rugged mountain peaks and deep relaxation in thermal spas all within a winter day tour from Sofia.

About this activity

Free cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Reserve now & pay later: Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
Duration 1 day: Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide: English
Pickup included: Pick-up from your hotel or address within the city of Sofia. Please wait in the hotel lobby 10 minutes before your scheduled pickup time.

Highlighted reviews from other travelers

Treve – United Kingdom

Incredible trip with our amazing guide Velko, he went above and beyond and made the trip so memorable

Jane – United Kingdom

Was so great!! The lakes were frozen over and had snow on them but given the time of year, it was still worth doing! I really enjoyed! I would recommend this. Alex was the mountain guide and driver. Alex was friendly, kind and caring. He drove very safely and was a fantastic guide. The tour started later due to safety reasons as the weather was very cold. I liked that he took safety very seriously as I know being in the mountains 🏔️ can be a very dangerous territory. I personally wasn’t bothered for the hot springs pool as I don’t like being in the water nor swimming. I did the trip only for the 7 lakes. The rest of the group wanted to do the pools and Alex let me sit with him and we had lunch instead which I was grateful for as I was hungry anyway. What a great day. Totally loved it and would highly recommend it. The views were lush!!!!! I’m a mountain girl and just loved this Trek.

Highlights

Join an easy to moderate snowshoeing tour in the Rila Mountains National Park
See the stunning Seven Rila Lakes during winter
Relax in the hot thermal pools at Sapareva Banya Spa Resort

Full description

Dramatic landscapes and breathtaking alpine sceneries, centuries old pine forests and rugged mountain peaks make the Seven Rila Lakes circuit one of the most beautiful areas in the Rila Mountains National Park. Enjoy a gentle snowshoe walk in the picturesque Seven Rila Lakes area followed by relaxation in the thermal water pools of Sapareva Banya Spa Resort, fed by one of the hottest springs in Europe. All this within a day tour from Sofia.

Your guide will pick you up early in the morning from your hotel in Sofia for a wonderful journey to the Rila Mountains. You will arrive within 1.5-hours to Pionerska Mountain Hut from where you will take a chairlift to Rila Lakes Hut, situated high above the tree line at 2150 meters above sea level. The walk will begin from the hut in the direction of the Kidney, the third of the Seven Rila Lakes.

Along the way, admire breathtaking alpine sceneries of jagged peaks and frozen mountain lakes. After a short break and a cup of warm tea at the lake, you will head toward Rila Lakes Hut and descend via the chairlift to the van and have a short transfer (20 minutes) to Sapareva Banya Spa Resort, where you will be able to relax deeply in the thermal pools fed by hot spring waters.

Includes

Pick-up/ drop-off at your hotel
All transportation by private vehicle
English-speaking certified mountain leader
Guidance throughout the tour
Snowshoes and walking poles
All local taxes

Food and drinks
Chairlift tickets (13 € round trip ticket per person)
Entrance fees for the mineral water pools (from 8 to 20 € per person depending on the facilities)
Personal travel insurance
Other personal expenses
Gratuities (optional)

Important information

What to bring

Hat
Gloves
Flip-flops
Snow clothing
Daypack
Warm clothing
Sunglasses

Know before you go

Walking (snowshoeing) time: approximately 2.5-hours
Uphill/ downhill: approximately 250 meters

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Sofia: Seven Rila Lakes Snowshoe Walk & Thermal Spring Pools