Winter Mountain Adventure – Vitosha, Rila and Pirin in 10 Days

Bulgaria is a small but thrilling country that has a lot to offer to every passionate adventurer. Its high mountains touch the sky, offering magnificent views; its picturesque valleys tell stories that exite every heart; its sea cost reveals the beauty of the horizon and the rivers, flowing through the country capture the passion to explore. Dive into something new and exiting by visiting Bulgaria in the winter.  

Detailed program:

Day 01: Arrival to Sofia 

On your arrival at the airport you will be picked up by your guide and transfered to the hotel. You will have some free time after check-in to refresh. In the evening we will meet at the lobby for a quick introduction to the program for the next nine days. What follows is a delicious welcome dinner in one of the best restaurants that serve traditional Bulgarian cuisine. 

• Private pick-up at the Sofia Airport. 
• Transfer to the hotel in the city center and check-in.
• Welcome dinner in a traditional Bulgarian restaurant. 
• Overnight at the Hotel.

Day 02: Vitosha Mountain – the Adventure Begins

We start the day with a nice breakfast. What follows is a private transfer to Aleko Hut in Vitosha Mountain. This is where our winter mountain adventure begins. We hike up to Cherni Vrah, 2290 m. – the highest peak in Vitosha and if we are lucky enough we may have the chance to enjoy a beautiful view from the top over the city of Sofia. From Cherni Vrah we descend down through picturesque paths to one of the most popular áreas in the mountain – Zlatni Mostove (Golden Bridges). In the evening we take another private transfer to Govedartsi village where we  stay for the night. 

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Transfer to Aleko Hut /Vitosha Mountain/ (30 min.)
• Hiking to Cherni Vrah and a descend down to Zlatni Mostove
• Transfer to Govedartsi village (2 hours)
• Dinner and overnight at the hotel 

Hiking duration: up to 6 hours

Day 03: Rila Mountain and the Symbolic Malyovitsa Valley  

After breakfast we get a quick transfer to Central Mountain School Malyovitsa where our hiking trip for the day begins. We enter Malyovitsa Valley – an area that is known as the symbol of the Bulgarian alpinism. From the very beginning of the trail we get an inspiring view towards mount Malyovitsa, 2729 m. and its majestic North Wall. On that day we hike up to Strashnoto Ezero (the Scary Lake) at 2465 m. We will admire the beautiful winter surrounding and the view to the Great Kupen, 2731 m.,that rises above the lake. After this we descend to Malyovitsa Hut for the night. 

• Breakfast at the hotel 
• Transfer to Central Mountain School Malyovitsa
• Hiking trip to Strashnoto Ezero and a descend to Malyovitsa Hut
• Dinner and overnight at the hut.

Hiking duration: up to 7 hours.

Day 04: Mount Malyovitsa, 2729 m

After a nice breakfast and a cup of tea or coffee we gether our gear and we head towards mount Malyovitsa – one of the most famous peaks in Bulgaria. We take the regular winter trail. On our way we pass the beautiful Elenino Lake which at this time of the year will be covered by snow. We will also see the inspiring North-east Edge of Mount Malyovitsa which is a popular alpine trail for advanced mountaneers. We reach the top around noon, remain there enough to contemplate the beautiful view and then we go back down to the hut. We have a short break there to prepare our backpacks and then we descend to the Central Mountain School Malyovitsa where our minibús will wait for us to take us to our next stop – Borovets Mountain Resort.

• Breakfast at the hut
• Hiking to mount Malyovitsa at 2729 m. and a descend back to Central Mountain School Malyovitsa
• Transfer to Borovets
• Check in, dinner and overnight at the hotel

Hiking duration: up to 6 hours.

Day 05: Mount Musala, 2925 m. – on Top of the Balkans

We wake up early, have breakfast and off we go to the cabin car in the heart of Borovets which takes us directly in the high mountain. From there we take the regular winter trail to Mount Musala – the highest in Bulgaria and on the Balkan Peninsula. On the foot of the peak, we  stop at Ledeno Ezro Refuge (The Icy Lake Refuge) for a short break. We gear up and we go up to the top where a magnifisent view is awaiting. We remain there for a short period of time just to capture the beauty in hpotos and we start our descend back down to the cable car and Boroviets resort. In the evening we transfer from Borovets to Sapareva Banya where we will spend the night.

• Early wake-up and quick breakfast at the hotel
• Hiking trip to the highest summit on the Balkan Peninsula – Mount Musala, 2925 m.
• Descend back to Borovets resort and transfer to Sapareva Banya
• Check-in, dinner and overnight at the guest house

Hiking duration: up to 7 hours.

Day 06: The Seven Rila Lakes and the Spirit of the Mountain

After breakfast we transfer to Panichishte resort up in Rila Mountain. From there we take the chair lift to Rila Lakes Hut where the trail to the world popular Seven Rila Lakes begins. They are a group of glacier lakes, situated between 2100 and 2500 meters elevation above sea level. In the winter they are covered in snow. However, the beauty and the magnetic energy of the área remains. The Seven Rila Lakes are concidered to be one of the few energy centers on the planet and are frequently visited by spiritual people. We will finish the day back in Sapareva Banya for some hot springs bliss. Sapareva Banya is where the hottest mineral wáter spring on the Balkans is located - +103 degrees Celcius and the home town of the only geyser on the Peninsula.

• Breakfast at the guest house
• Short transfer to Panichishe resort (15 min.)
• Hiking trip to the fifth lake – Babreka (The Kidney) at 2282 m. and descend back down to Panichishte
• Transfer to Sapareva Banya (15 мин.)
• SPA and Wellness at the balneological center in Sapareva Banya

Hiking duration: up to 4 hours.

Day 07: Pirin Mountain – Mount Bezbog, 2645 m. 

After a good night sleep and a delicious breakfast, we get transferred to Gotse Delchev Hut in Pirin Mountain. From there we take the chair lift to Bezbog Hut and then hit the trail to Mount Bezbog at 2645 m. On the top, if the weather allows, we will have beautiful panoramic view towards the neighbouring peaks. Then we go back to Gotse Delchev Hut for a nice evening rest and a good night sleep.

• Breakfast at the guest house
• Transfer to Gotse delchev Hut (2 hours)
• Hiking trip to Mount Bezbog, 2645 m. and descend back down to Gotse Delchev Hut
• Dinner and overnight at the hut

Hiking duration: up to 5 hours.

Day 08: The Treasures of UNESCO – Guided Tour of the Rila Monastery

We enjoy the breakfast at Gotse Delchev Hut and then we get transferred to Rila Monastery. This day is dedicated to one of the most important spiritual centers in Bulgaria. Rila Monastery is not only one of the UNESCO sites that should be visited. It is a gardien of the Bulgarian history and culture. We will take a guided tour of the monastery, visiting the main church and the museum. If the weather conditions allow, we will take a walk to the cave of St. John of Rila – the founder of the monastery. In the afternoon we will head back to Sofia.

• Breakfast at the hut
• Transfer to Rila Monastery (2 hours)
• Guided tour of the monastery and its museum 
• Transfer to Sofia (1h30)
• Check-in, dinner and overnight at the hotel

Day 09: Guided Tour of Sofia – The Two Faces of the City

The last day of this adventure we dedícate to the city of Sofia – the capital of Bulgaria. Sofia is a modern city with an ancient heart. We will show you the two faces of the capital by taking you to the most thrilling places that reveal the balance between old and new. In the evening we will have a final dinner to celebrate the beautiful emotions that we created during these nine days around the Bulgarian winter mountains.

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Guided tour of Sofia
• Goodbie dinner
• Overnight at the hotel

Day 10: 

It is time tos ay “Goodbie”. We will transfer you to Sofia Airport where you will get the flight back home. 

Price:

Services  Included in the price:

• Transfer airport / hotel / airport – Sofia
• Internal transfers according to the program
• Cable car and chair lift tickets
• Winter mountain gear /snowshoes, crampons/
• Local certified mountain guide
• Local tour guide
• 5 nights stay at a *** hotel (breakfast & dinner included)
• 2 nights stay at mountain huts (breakfas & dinner included)
• 2 nights stay at guest house (breakfast & dinner included)
• Lunch meals during the hiking program and the cultural program 
• Entrance fee to the Rila Monastery museum
• Entrance fee to the balneological center in Sapareva Banya
• City touring Sofia
• First Aid

 

Not Included:

• International Flights
• Travel accident and health insurance
• Travel luggage and Travel cancellation insurance
• Not mentioned food and beverages
• Personal Spending
• Personal camping and hiking equipment (sleeping bag, climbing boots, gaiters, snow glasses, appropriate clothes, personal medicines, etc.)
• Tips for the team

Necessary equipment:

• Winter hiking boots
• Winter hiking trousers
• Wind and water-prooved jacket
• Thermal underwear
• Fleece and T-shirts
• Few pairs of hiking socks
• Two pairs of gloves
• Winter hat
• Buff
• Googles and sunglasses
• Hiking polls
• Headlamp
• Water bottle (at least 1 L)
• Sunscreen and lip balm
• Camera
• Personal medicines
• Comfortable sport shoes for the cultural tours
• Comfortable clothes for the cultural tours

Weather in Bulgaria during the winter season

In Bulgaria, the climate is generally continental, with cold winters and warm to hot summers; it is slightly milder along the coast of the Black Sea, and of course colder in hills and mountains. In the recent years the climate change has affected the lenght of the winter season making it slightly shorter – from December to March. From December to February, is cold throughout the country. Cold air often stagnates on the plains, with cloudy skies and light snowfalls, but these stable periods may be interrupted by warm wind invasions from the south, which can raise the temperature to 15 °C (59 °F) and more, and more frequently, by of cold air outbreaks from Russia, which can bring strong winds followed by severe frosts.

In the mountains winter is usually stable with nice snow cover up until April.