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Incredible Day tour from Sofia to 7 Rila lakes and Rila monastery

Recommended by 100% of travelers
Sofia, Bulgaria
  • 10 to 30 minutes (approx.)
  • Pickup offered
  • Group discounts
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

    What's Included

    • Coffee and/or Tea
    • Air-conditioned vehicle
    • Bottled water
    • Lunch
    • GST (Goods and Services Tax)

    Meeting and Pickup

    You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup

    Pickup points

    Select a pickup point

    Pickup details

    We will meet in front of the reception

    or

    Meeting point

    • Patriarchal Cathedral St. Alexander Nevsky
      Sofia Center, pl. "Sveti Aleksandar Nevski", 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria

      We will meet you infront of the main gate!

    End point

    This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    Operating hours
    .8:00 am

    Itinerary

    1

    Seven Rila Lakes

    3 hours Admission Ticket Not Included

    Rila National Park (Pass By)

    2

    Geyser

    5 minutesAdmission Ticket Included

    3

    Rila Monastery

    2 hours Admission Ticket Free

    Additional Info

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Infant seats available
    • Not recommended for travelers with back problems
    • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
    • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
    • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers

    Cancellation Policy

    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

    Traveler Photos

    Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

    Reviews

    4.9
    based on 10 reviews
    Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

    An Outstanding Day from Start to Finish

    Kimberly_P, Jul 2025
    We had the absolute pleasure of having Radu as our guide, and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. From the very beginning, he was proactive and thoughtful—he even reached out to us before the tour to make sure everything was in place. Radu was calm, punctual, and incredibly well-organized, which made the day feel relaxed and enjoyable. What really stood out was how genuinely caring he was. He kept an eye on the mountain weather to help us stay prepared, let us know about restroom stops, and checked in with us about food preferences and needs. His communication was clear and kind throughout. Radu answered all of our questions with patience and insight, helping us gain a deeper appreciation for Bulgarian culture and history. We also loved hearing his personal stories—especially the sweet ones about his grandmother’s garden. Spending the day with Radu was a true highlight of our trip. It felt like exploring with a friend who cared. We wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone visiting Sofia.

    Trip to the lakes and the Rila Monastery

    Melanie_B, May 2025
    He was a great hiker and led us to the best views of the lakes. Somewhat quiet but knowledgeable when you asked questions. He drove well. At the Monastery he introduced us to very good pastries which we appreciated after that hike! A long day because driving from one stop to the next was about 1 1/2 hours.

    A Thoughtful and Charming Guide Who Made My Solo Mountain Day Tour Truly Special

    Fiona_C, Apr 2025
    I had an amazing day tour with Lyuben. From the very beginning, Lyuben took the initiative to contact me in advance to arrange the pick-up and share helpful information about what to bring and what to expect. His clear and friendly communication gave me peace of mind and built up my excitement for the trip. When we met, I was immediately struck by how warm, easygoing, and genuinely lovely he was to talk to. Having traveled to Asia himself, Lyuben had so many interesting stories to share, and we easily found common ground. Conversations flowed effortlessly, making the journey feel more like a day out with a friend than a guided tour. Due to unexpected snow, the original hiking plan had to be changed, and we ended up doing two shorter hikes and they turned out to be the perfect way to enjoy the fresh mountain air and stunning views. Lyuben's love for nature and the mountains really came through, and it made the whole experience even more special and grounding. Overall, Lyuben was attentive, engaging, and full of local knowledge, and his thoughtful approach made my solo adventure feel safe, personal, and full of joy. I'm so glad I had the chance to explore Bulgaria’s mountain beauty with someone who truly loves what he does. Highly recommended for solo travelers and small groups alike!

    Great Day Trip

    Beth_F, Jul 2024
    We had such a fun day on this tour. Our guide Marin was so knowledgeable, helpful and considerate. The lakes and the monastery were beautiful. Would definitely recommend if you want to see more of what Bulgaria has to offer!

    Exciting, stunning, worth it

    Ivan_G, Apr 2024
    Joro was incredible and extremely nice and knowledgeable. He had so much information and stories to share about the tour and his experiences. He was very well prepared and positive all the time. The lakes were all.frozen and there was still a lot of snow which made the tour very exciting. The landscapes were grand and absolutely stunning. Rila manastry also a jewel in the country was beautiful and full of stories and history. Would highly recommend!

    Response from Host, Jul 2024

    Great words Ivan, Joro is one of our top guides. Thank you for your recommendation!

    My favorite part of Bulgaria!

    Michelle_J, Dec 2023
    My favorite part of Bulgaria! Unfortunately, the lifts weren’t open while we were there, which I was really looking forward to seeing the lakes, but we pivoted and went on a beautiful hike instead.

    Response from Host, Dec 2023

    Thank you Michell for the positive feedback! You can come back in the summer :) All the best!

    Incredible experience with an Incredible guide!

    Pedro_D, Oct 2025
    Wow! What a sensational walk! Unfortunately, we could not visit all the lakes because of the weather, however, it was possible to see how wonderful and challenging this tour is. Our guide was Ves, a sensational Cover who showed us everything in detail and explained. It is impressive the attention of Ves to all the details of the tour, an amazing guide and who clearly was very concerned not only with our well being on the tour, but in passing all possible information. Even with the downtime (elevator was not working for a few hours), we managed to meet the schedule. I highly recommend the tour, the Enterprise and the excellent guide.
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    Likely to Sell Out

    From $152.77

    per person

    up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

    Book ahead!
    On average, this is booked 64 days in advance.

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