What is the 7 Rila Lakes Hike?
Welcome to an adventure that takes you to the heart of Bulgaria’s natural splendor. Nestled amidst the rugged but beautiful peaks of the Rila Mountains, this trek is one that will leave its mark on you forever! The 7 Rila Lakes, a collection of glacial lakes that vary in size and elevation, are the crown jewels of this hiking experience. The further you hike, the more you’ll be rewarded with beautiful views of the lakes and their unique characteristics.
As you pass through evergreen forests, alpine meadows, and rocky terrain, you’ll discover stunning vistas that unfold with every step. From the serenity of the Lower Lake, reflecting the surrounding peaks like a pristine mirror, to the awe-inspiring panorama from the highest lake, you’ll witness nature’s artistry at its finest.
Whether you’re an avid hiker seeking a new challenge or a nature enthusiast eager to immerse yourself in the untouched beauty of Eastern Europe, the 7 Rila Lakes hike promises an unforgettable experience. Join us as we delve into the details of this extraordinary journey, uncovering the wonders that await those who dare to explore this enchanting corner of the world.
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How to Get to the 7 Rila Lakes
The most popular way to get the 7 Rila Lakes is coming from Sofia, whether that be part of a tour like this one, by renting a car, or by public transportation. While using public transportation is the cheapest option, it is certainly difficult! Unfortunately, there are no flights to the 7 Rila Lakes, but you can fly into Sofia and drive under 2 hours to get to the 7 Rila Lakes. You can also stay in Sapareva Banya, which can be a great base for easily doing the 7 Rila Lakes Hike as well as the Rila Monastery.
How to Get to the 7 Rila Lakes From Sofia By Car
You can rent a car at the airport and a few other places in Sofia. Make sure to check this site for the best prices! To get to the 7 Rila Lakes from Sofia by car, you’ll want to get to the parking lot for the chairlift – driving here will take about 1.5 hours from Sofia. If you rent a car, you can just put 7 Rila Lakes into your GPS. You’ll pay 5 BGN (~3 USD) for parking and park on the side of the uphill road. There were lots of cars so prepared for it to be busy in the mornings and early afternoon. Then you’ll walk up the hill until you get to the ticket booth on your left, and then head to the chairlift!
How to Get to the 7 Rila Lakes From Sofia By Public Transportation
This is the best option for budget travelers, but it’s definitely the most difficult way to get here. You will want to either take a bus to Sapareva from the West Bus Station in Sofia, or take a bus from Central Bus Station to Dupnitsa, and then another bus from Dupitnsa to Sapareva. From Sapareva, you’ll want to take a taxi as far up as they’ll take you. This will likely be before the parking attendant stops you, so you might be hiking up the hill a bit more than if you were renting a car. Hitchhiking is also always an option!
How to Do the 7 Rila Lakes Hike
The best thing about this hike is that you can do as little or as much as you’d like! Start off by taking the chairlift up to the trailhead (you can find the lift by searching “Lift to the 7 Rila Lakes” in Google Maps) and then follow this AllTrails for the most popular version of the hike. However, you can veer off, turn around, or go further if you’d like! I highly recommend getting to Lake Peak, which is the only place from which you can see all seven lakes.
Difficulty of the 7 Rila Lakes Hike
The difficulty of the 7 Rila Lakes Hike depends on which version of the hike you do. You can even just take the chairlift up, grab a cup of hot cocoa, and see the first two lakes! The views from here are amazing, so don’t count this option out if you don’t have the best physical ability! Another option is from the chairlift, doing a steep 45 minute round-trip hike to get to the most frequented lookout. You can opt to keep walking on the fairly flat ground to see another couple lakes, or go even further! There is a combination of flat ground and incline if you continue, so keep this in mind! We decided to do the standard 6.2 mile loop (and a little more), which wasn’t too hard! You will be hiking at elevations between 2,100 and 2,750 meters, so you may get a little more tired, and there is a small chance you get altitude sickness.
Best Time to Do the 7 Rila Lakes Hike
The best time to do the 7 Rila Lakes Hike is from June to September. However, there may be too much snow in early June and late September for you to do this hike, so make sure to check the weather forecast before you go! The best time of day to do the 7 Rila Lakes Hike is in the morning. If you are a hardcore hiker, you can hike up as early as possible (instead of taking the chairlift), and beating the crowds. Keep in mind that the people staying overnight might be waiting for you at the top! If you plan on taking the chairlift, it opens at 9am, so if possible, go then! This way you’ll beat the crowds and enjoy amazing views with few other people around. We don’t recommend going in the early afternoon because you may be sprinting back to catch the last chairlift (yes, we planned poorly and did this!).
What are the 7 Rila Lakes?
The Dolnoto (Lower) Lake collects the waters of all the other lakes in the group and is located at the lowest point in the cirque, hence its name. It is located at a height of 2095 m, its area is 0.59 hectares and its depth is 11 m. It is the source of the river Dzherman, which on its way collects the waters of the rivers Skakavitsa, Goritsa, Otovitsa, Dupnitsa Bistritsa and others and takes them to the Struma River.
The Ribnoto (Fish) Lake is situated at a height of 2184 m, with a depth of only 2.5 m and an area of 2.3 hectares. Its banks are grassy and the bottom is muddy, overgrown with higher aquatic plants. “The Seven Lakes Hut” is situated nearby. On the southern bank of the lake is the “The Giving Hands” fountain spring.
The Trilistnika (Trefoil) Lake is located at an altitude of 2216 m, with an area of 2.6 hectares and a depth of 6.5 m. The lake has an irregular shape, resembling a three-leaved clover, hence its name. The lake is reached by a marked hiking trail connecting the lower lakes and the huts near Babreka Lake.
The Bliznaka (Twin) Lake is located at 2243 m, has an area of 9.1 hectares and a depth of up to 27.5 m. In dry years the narrowest part in the middle almost dries up and splits into two lakes, which are similar. Hence its name. The lake is the largest in area and the longest as well. Above it is Mount Haiduta (Haramiata).
The Babreka (Kidney) Lake covers 8.5 hectares at an elevation of 2282 m and has a depth of 28 m. It is the second largest lake. On the meadow to the east of the lake, the followers of the Bulgarian spiritual teacher Petar Danov celebrate and perform the ritual dance called “Paneurhythmy”.
The Okoto (Eye) Lake is the deepest cirque lake on the Balkan Peninsula with 37.5 m. Its area is 6.8 hectares, with an altitude of 2440 m. Its deep blue color and characteristic oval shape are the basis of its name. Viewed from above, the lake resembles an iris.
The Salzata (Tear) Lake is the highest in the cirque at elevation of 2,535 m. It is only 0.7 hectares in size and 4.5 m deep. Its name comes from its shape and crystal clear waters, clear as a tear, which offers great visibility compared to the other lakes. It is also called Upper Lake because it is the highest of the 7 Rila Lakes. It is frozen for almost nine months of the year and is filled by melting snow and rain.
Things to Know About the 7 Rila Lakes Hike
- The chairlift hours are 9:00am – 7:30pm, but the hours may vary on Mondays.
- These lakes are high up – between 2,100 and 2,500 meters above sea level – so you might get extra tired due to the altitude! You can hike even further after the lakes to get to 2,750 meters above sea level.
- Even if it’s cloudy, bring sunscreen!!
- You can hike up and down instead of taking the chairlift, but that takes around 1.5 hours each way.
- You can camp next to the Ribnoto lake in order to see the sunset/sunrise and rest before continuing on to your next destination!
- If you want to stay overnight, but not camp, you can stay at the Chalet Seven Lakes (best views), Rila Lakes Chalet (closest to the chairlift) or this small mountain cabin. There are also a number of other stays further off the beaten path.
What to Pack for the 7 Rila Lakes Hike
- Good hiking shoes! This can definitely be done with normal sneakers, but hiking shoes are alwasy good to have. For women we recommend this pair of Jack Wolfskins and for men we recommend this pair of Salomons.
- Layers! You will be cold going up the chairlift, during any breaks, and for at least part of the hike. You can always take these off but you’re in for a bad time if you don’t bring them!
- A water bottle and snacks. There is potable water on the trail so bring a water bottle you can refill! We use the LARQ Pure Vis bottle which cleans itself and purifies the water using a UV light. You don’t necessarily need this for this hike, but this has helped us tremendously in our travels. Also, the hike takes around 4 hours and you’ll be burning a lot of calories, so make sure to replenish!
- Sunscreen!!! Just because it’s cold up there doesn’t mean you won’t get burned! Our favorite is this La Roche Posay Face Sunscreen, which lasted about two months of us each using at least once a day We can’t say enough good things about this!
Adding the Rila Monastery to Your Itinerary
We recommend doing the 7 lakes hike and the Rila Monastery on the same trip because they’re fairly close to each other. If you’re in Sofia and looking for a quick one day trip that will allow you to see both of these, we would recommend this tour. However, if you’re up for it, you can actually hike from one to the other! This private tour has a guide that will take you from Sofia to the 7 lakes, the to the highest mountain hut on the Balkan peninsula where you’ll spend the night, and then onward to the Rila Monastery.
If you want to read more about visiting the Rila Monastery, check out our post!
Staying Overnight at the 7 Rila Lakes
You have two main options to stay overnight at the 7 Rila Lakes. You can either bring your own (or rented) tent or stay at one of the lodges up here. We deeply regret not doing this, so if you have the time, you should consider staying overnight! The biggest lodge, which is right next to the chairlift is the Rila Lakes Chalet. The second biggest lodge, which is right on one of the lakes and has the prettiest views, is Chalet Seven Lakes. Another lodge, which is smaller and in a great location, is Горски пункт. We aren’t 100% if you can rent a tent at the campsite at the top, so if possible, bring your own!
Summary: The 7 Rila Lakes Hike
The 7 Rila Lakes is the best hiking experience in Bulgaria, and we can’t say we’ve seen anything like it. There’s nothing like relaxing in the clouds at Lake Peak and enjoying the views of the magnificent reflective lakes. The beautiful and vast grasslands, the waterfalls and the unbelievable mountains make this one of my favorite hikes. So what are you waiting for? Add this to your itinerary and let us know how you like it and if you have any questions!
Keep Exploring Bulgaria….
- Bansko: The Balkans’ Ultimate All-Season Resort Town
- 10 Best Things to Do in Beautiful Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Rila Monastery: Everything You Need To Know Before You Go
- The Best Things to Do in Nessebar and More
Our Favorite Travel Resources
Accommodations: We use Booking.com for hotels and HostelWorld for hostels. We also use VRBO or TrustedHousesitters for longer stays.
Flights: We recommend using Skyscanner to find the cheapest and best flights.
Ground Transport: We use 12Go and Omio for buses and private transfers, and rentalcars.com and Discover Cars for rental cars.
Activities: GetYourGuide and Viator are the best websites for booking organized tours.
International Medical Insurance: We highly recommend SafetyWing for Digital Nomads and HeyMondo for those not traveling full-time, or who frequently engage in higher-risk adventure activities.
eSIM: We recommend Airalo or Holafly for getting data internationally.
Check out our Travel Resources Page for more of our favorite travel-related products and services!
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FAQs
How much does it cost to take the chairlift?
A one-way ticket for adults is 15 BGN (~$8), and a two-way ticket is 25 BGN (~$14). However for children it’s 10 BGN (~$6) for one way and 15 BGN for a two-way ticket.
How long does it take to hike the 7 Rila Lakes?
It took us about 4 hours but it’s up to you what pace you go at. Some people just go up the chairlift, go to the first peak, and head to the Seven Lakes Mountain hut for some food/drinks.
Can you swim in the 7 Rila Lakes?
It is forbidden to swim in the 7 Rila Lakes, and we’re not sure why you’d want to swim in them anyways! At this elevation, the air and water temperatures are fairly low year-round.
What is the highest point of the 7 Rila Lakes ?
The highest lake is the Salzata Lake at 2,535 meters, but the highest peak you can go to is around 2,750 meters.
