Seven Rila Lakes tour from Plovdiv: Hike to the highest lake

Hike through mountain terrain to seven glacial lakes, ending at the highest one

This full-day guided tour from Plovdiv takes you by private transport to Seven Rila Lakes in Bulgaria's largest national park, about 100 km south of Sofia. You hike at a leisurely pace through rare mountain ecosystems up to the highest of the seven lakes. The park sits at the source of some of the Balkan Peninsula's largest rivers and holds wildlife species found nowhere else.

Step-by-step itinerary

Guided tour to Seven Rila Lakes

• Travel from Plovdiv to Rila National Park
• Hike to the highest of the seven lakes
• Explore mountain landscapes and ecosystems

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from your Plovdiv accommodation and a drive south into Rila National Park. The park's name comes from an ancient Thracian word meaning "lots of water": a fitting name for a landscape shaped by glaciers and fed by springs that birth major Balkan rivers. You'll spend the day hiking at a steady, manageable pace through the park's self-regulating ecosystems, moving upward through the terrain where the seven lakes sit at different elevations.

The hike culminates at the highest of the seven lakes, where the mountain landscape opens around you. Along the way, you pass through habitats that shelter rare and endangered wildlife species and communities found in few other places. The park also contains historic sites of global cultural and scientific significance, woven into the terrain you traverse. The full day (roughly 10 to 12 hours from start to finish) lets you move without rushing, taking in the scale of the park rather than racing through it.

Your guide speaks English throughout and leads the group at the leisurely pace the itinerary promises. Private transportation means no waiting for a shared bus or coordinating with other groups. The van picks you up and returns you to Plovdiv at the end of the day. Children from age 3 are welcome on the tour, though the hike's length and terrain are the real measure of what works for your group.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your Plovdiv accommodation.
• all fees and taxes.
• a live English-speaking guide for the full day.

Before you book

Days and timesThursday and FridayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (16 to 65 years) · Senior (66 to 89 years) · Child (3 to 15 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 9 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Green Valleys Tours

Is this one for you?Pickup from Plovdiv means you don't need a car or arrange your own transport to the park. The van collects you and returns you at the end of the day, so the 100 km journey is handled as part of the tour. The leisurely pace and full-day format suit travelers who want to move through the landscape without rushing, and children from age 3 can join.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 15 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What are the Seven Rila Lakes, and why do they sit at different heights?

The Seven Rila Lakes are glacial lakes formed in the mountains of Rila National Park, each one positioned at a different elevation as the terrain rises. They are fed by springs and snowmelt that originate some of the Balkan Peninsula's largest rivers, and the park's name itself comes from an ancient word meaning "lots of water."

How difficult is the hike, and will I be able to keep up?

The tour moves at a leisurely pace, and it is suitable for all physical fitness levels. The full day is 10 to 12 hours, so the challenge is time and distance rather than steep or technical terrain. You set your own rhythm within the group.

What wildlife or rare species might I see in the park?

Rila National Park contains rare and endangered wildlife species and communities that exist in few other places, along with self-regulating ecosystems of high biological diversity. The park is also a source region for major Balkan rivers, making it ecologically significant across the whole peninsula.

Do I need to bring lunch, and what about getting back down from the highest lake?

Lunch is not included in the tour, so bring food or plan to eat before or after. A chair lift return ticket (13 euros per person) is available if you prefer not to hike back down from the highest lake, but it is not included in the tour price.

How far is Rila National Park from Plovdiv, and what is the drive like?

The park is located about 100 km (62 miles) south of Sofia and is reached by private transport from your Plovdiv pickup point. The drive is part of the full-day itinerary, and your guide handles all navigation and timing.