Seven Rila Lakes

Beautiful place to hike.
You can hike from the bottom to the top or take a lift and from there it is like 2-3 hours to the highest point.
Where is the lift on both sides there is a restaurant where you can also use toilets.
Also there are some hotels or camp cities so you can spend the night there. On the trail there are few stops for water and toilet and some power snacks or beverages.
You cannot go into the lakes it's very restricted.
The landscapes are so amazing. The whole hike is well maintained and clean. In summer don't forget your sunscreen and hat!

Very well-marked trail and and a busy spot for tourism and hiking in the summer. Make sure to check the hours of the gondola and get there at least 30 to 45 minutes early to avoid the huge lines. It is easy to catch a taxi up to the start of the trailhead, but there are not many taxis to take you down. We ended up hitching hiking down. We recommend hiking up to Lake Peak and going beyond that to find some solitude away from the crowds and to get views of Bulgaria's tallest peak, Musala. We stayed in Sapareva Banya which was a 25-min drive to the trailhead. Getting to the first 3 lakes is easy to moderate, but the 2 upper lakes take a bit more effort. We share a video on our experience on our travel channel YouTube @HelenandTimTravel

A must see if you’re in Bulgaria! We arrived at 13 and took the 20 min lift up. We did the hike in 2,5 hours with a few stops for photos. We do not workout/hike regularly but it didn’t feel hard. Last lift was 16.30 and we didn’t feel rushed. We did the red to yellow route counter clockwise with the steep hard part first which I really recommend because you see the lakes from up there and the you can enjoy downhill the rest of the hike! We skipped the 2 higher elevated lakes.

Parking was 5 BGN and lots of places. Lift was 25 up and down and no queues at that time.

What a beautiful place. 2 hours from Sofia, one of the most amazing places i have visited recently. 7 Rila are 7 glacier lakes, they are world patrimony and it's a very special place. To visit the first 5 lakes is an easy/moderate walk, but to visit the other 2, it's at least a moderate one. One of the places that you need to visit once in a lifetime.

Incredible! A must-do when in Bulgaria!
The views were amazing.
Go early to beat the crowds, we were dropped at the ski lift at 9am.
The hike is hard work if you’re a complete beginner like me but if you take your time you will make it to the top viewing point!
Make sure you take layers, a light coat is good and gloves for when it gets a little cold on the ski lift! We walked in trainers which was fine but walking boots might be more comfortable!
You will need change (1 Lev) to use the toilet at the main building and the ski lift is usually cash only (25 Lev for a return ticket).

The experience is amazing!! Bring a bottle of water with you, comfortable clothes and shoes and start walking around the lakes. The view from the top is really worth it. It is around 2 hours to go up and around 2 hours to go down. The path is not simple but you can do it slowly slowly and be careful for the rocks. You can see seven different lakes in 7 different spots while you are walking through the path.

beautiful hike, highly recommended.
You take a ski lift up to the bottom lake, then walk up, with each of the lakes revealing itself. Each is unique in shape, altitude and depth. The colors and reflections are beautiful.
The first part is a bit steep
Then it becomes easier
The last part is a very steep hike to the top with a magnificent view.

All in all, it's not an easy hike, but I saw families with toddlers, and really anyone can do it.

I highly recommend traventuria's tour, took us there and back with a guide along the way up lots of nice explanations

Wonderful amazing and mindful place filled with beauty and magic. Visit there at least twice every year and it never ceases to amaze me. The atmosphere is incredible beauty is breathtaking love singing the and watching the view for hours you can’t get bored.

wonderful experience with spectacular views of lakes and mountains. we took the lift up and spent about 3h for the loop. we skipped the last stretch to the summit and turned back at the kidney lake because it was rather late. highly recommended! bring a jacket...

One of (if not the most) stunning hikes I have ever done! We went half prepared with my mum (as you can see on the photo 😅); it was still fine, it's not too complicated. Highly, highly recommend for people who are looking for food for the soul. I feel rejuvenated! ♥

Amasing hike. Its very hard for inexperienced person. A lot of people is doing a hike, but the views are truly amasing. There is a lyct that takea u up to the start of the hike. But it only takes you back at 18:30 latest. Si we decided to reach top point and hike back full way. So it was fun to hike back onto the darkness.

If you have the opportunity to visit the region, it is definitely worth it to make the gondola trip to the lakes and take the full route to see all lakes.
The views are magical and are a great reward (with exercise as a bonus)))
P.s.please walk along the marked route and do not step/swim in the lakes. It is very important to preserve the lakes intact from foreign flora and fauna so we could continue enjoying the majestic views in the future

This beautiful hiking trail offers breathtaking views, but it requires strong knees and muscles, especially at the beginning when you have to climb uphill. The initial ascent can be challenging, so it's important to be physically prepared. Wearing appropriate clothing and having a backpack filled with essentials like water, snacks, and extra clothes is recommended. The trail rewards you with stunning scenery.

Additional Information:
1. The park entrance fee is 5 leva, and you can purchase round-trip tickets for the cable car for 25 leva.
2. Be prepared for the cable car ride as it can be quite cold, especially since you are sitting and exposed to wind and rain.
3. There is a clean restroom available at the lounge area, located 50 meters uphill from the lift, and it costs 1 leva to use.

4.
a. When it comes to footwear, it's important to avoid wearing just any sneakers. The trail can be slippery, so it's recommended to wear sturdy, stable shoes with good traction. Water-resistant shoes are preferable, and it's advisable to bring an extra pair of shoes in case the ones you're wearing get muddy.
b. bring extra clothes different layers.

5. When descending from the hill to the lakes, you have two options:
a. Going back the same way you came is the easiest and safest choice.
b. Taking the left path downhill through rocky and slippery narrow trails offers stunning views, but it can be risky. Eventually, you will need to climb back up to the lounge where your journey began and ended, with the restroom facility available.

The most scenic and stunning climb I have ever done.

A brilliant walk on nice, well walked pathways. Take the cable car to the start point and then bask in the beauty that Bulgaria has to offer.

My wife and I are experienced climbers and did this in under 4 hours wearing only gym shoes and shorts. We were in the middle of summer though so dress accordingly for the time of year.

This was one of the favourite experiences I ever had . Capturing the rila mountains and discovering the 7 rila lakes . Wasn’t really a easy experience as we had go 100 km outside Sofia and then ride a pretty scary cable car for 40 minutes then hike for 5 hours in unpredictable weather . The hike to discover all the 7 rila lakes is 5 hours . It’s not a easy hike as u need to walk over snow and trails are quite difficult and slippery especially the return so make sure to pack a good hiking shoes. It was raining most of the time but when it was not , it felt majestic so I could do with the wet clothes 😂. I could see all the 7 lakes (3from a close up and rest from a distance) . Out of 7 lakes 6 of them were frozen .We were attacked by a fox on the way and thing to keep in mind is there can be wild life and trails are pretty ghosted. We found a few people on the way up but on the way down it was just us .
But boy was it worth it ❤

Seven Rila lakes is the one of the highlights of our trip. When we arrived we plan on using the lift to go up unfortunately due to winds the lift was closed. We climb up 1.5h very high elevation, you need to be in pretty good shape to climb up because of the rocks. Otherwise a wonderful hike. There is a small house on top with food and functional bathrooms you have to pay 1 LEV to use the bathroom. No garbage make sure to keep it in your bag. The lakes on top is another 1H and very much worth the hike. On the way down lift was working it’s 15 LEV one way, lift was very safe.

If u want to see lakes don't go in April :)
We go there in early April, and was full of snow.
Lift is 12.5€ per person.
Mountain lodge was great with good prices.
I walk through snow to first lake, but was frozen and covered with snow. But mountains was beautiful.

The best way to get here is by driving to "Lift to the 7 Rila Lakes". Then you need to pay 25 leva for a round trip ticket and you can get on the lift. The lift will leave you up in the mountains near a hut. I walked a loop from that hut, passing by another hut in the middle of the track, and it took me around 3 hours to do it all, stopping to take pictures and eat a snack.

I came here by the end of March and it was such an experience. Everything was covered with snow! So the lakes were not visible actually, but the landscape was still beautiful. Beware, you should bring warm clothes, waterproof shoes (or an extra pair to get changed afterwards) and sunscreen. I walked in trekking shoes and it's doable, although my feet would sink on the snow frequently. Also, it was easy to follow the tracks as there were footprints of other people.

A bit of a long hike, for non active people, I would stay at the lower lakes. It's a tough hike to the upper ones :)

If you go to Bulgaria you have to go here. If you are not planning to go to Bulgaria, you still HAVE to go here.

It’s more beautiful than you can imagine, the landscape is so breathtaking you will not want to leave.

The terrain can be a bit challenging, so make sure to wear proper footwear and clothing that can get muddy.

We drove up to the ski-lift, where from we paid 25 BGN/ pers for tickets that were valid for up and down the mountain.