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Trekking Bulgaria’s Rila and Pirin mountains
From £1,255 Altitude 2,914m Grade: T2
Trekking Bulgaria’s Rila and Pirin mountains
Trek to the Seven Lakes of Rila with day walks from valley bases and visit the unspoilt Bankso village.
If you are looking for a holiday where you can enjoy decent length days out on the hill, look forward to a shower and a comfy bed each night, keep the costs down and not have to travel too far then trekking the Rila and Pirin mountains will tick all the boxes.
Bulgaria, a fascinating country where east meets west, is the home to some beautiful mountains which are easily accessible from the capital, Sofia. We ascend through beech and pine forests, juniper and dwarf pine to reach the upper alpine zones of both the Rila and the Pirin ranges, studded with lakes of all sizes. Mountain huts provide welcome refreshments for the thirsty walker along the way and the views are truly breath taking.
Utilising short transfers by vehicle and some chairlifts, we are able to get high into the mountains each day, bag a few summits and return to a hotel in the valley each night. We visit the Seven Lakes of Rila, Bulgaria’s most famous landmark, the beautiful Rila Monastery, and enjoy wonderful hospitality, traditional food, folklore and music in the valley bases where we stay.
This trip will operate with a minimum of 4 participants with a Bulgarian leader.
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£1,295
2,729m
Grade: T2
8 Days
£1,495
2,545m
Grade: T3/Backpacking
8 Days With Flight
Dates & Prices
Availability
* A deposit of £200 will be required at checkout.
What's Included
- Estimated International flights from London (flight inclusive package)
- Accommodation - 7 nights Hotels
- Meals - 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 evening meals
- Qualified Bulgarian tour leader
- An Adventure Peaks gift.
- Baggage transfers
- 24 hour back up and support from UK staff
- 15% discount off the RRP on clothing and equipment purchased at the Adventure Peaks shop
What's Excluded
- Travel Insurance
- Meals except those specified in 'Inclusions'
- Drinks and personal spending
- Personal equipment
- Visas if required
Insurance
It is essential for a trip of this type that you are adequately insured. When researching insurance options, please ensure the policy covers you for the following:
- Cancellation or curtailment
- Helicopter rescue (most insurance companies will no longer cover for ‘search and rescue’ but providing you stay with the group, they will assist with ‘rescue’)
- Repatriation
- The altitude that you are expected to attain
- The location especially when travelling to Antarctica
- Grade of trek/climb/expedition
- Medical cover
Adventure Peaks partners with Global Rescue to offer the world’s leading travel protection services. Medical and security emergencies happen. When they do, we rely on Global Rescue to provide our clients with medical, security, travel risk and crisis response services. Without a membership, an emergency evacuation could cost over $100,000. More than one million members trust Global Rescue to get them home safely when the unexpected happens. We highly recommend our clients enroll with Global Rescue, in particular for peaks over 7000m:
https://partner.globalrescue.com/adventurepeaks/
We are aware the following provide insurance:
For UK based clients:
Expeditions and Treks under 7000m - Campbell Irvine Direct : http://www.campbellirvine.com/AdventurePeaks
HCC Medical Insurance Services: LLC sales@hccmis.com Tel: 1-800-605-2282
Travelex Ins. Services: www.travelexinsurance.com Tel: 1-800 228 9792
True Traveller Ins: www.truetraveller.com Tel: 0333 999 3140 for treks including over 4500m
Austrian Alpine Club (UK) www.aacuk.org.uk Tel: +44 (0)1929 556870
Rothwell & Towler: www.world-first.co.uk Tel: 0345 908 0161 (under 6400m)
J S Insurance: www.jsinsurance.co.uk Tel: 0844 848 1500
Snowcard: www.snowcard.co.uk Tel: 01295 660836
The B.M.C.: www.thebmc.co.uk Tel: 0161 445 6111 (call and speak to Jim. Please note the BMC cannot cover Mt Damavand)
Dogtag: www.dogtag.co.uk Tel: 0800 036 4824 (Check excess etc)
For non-UK based clients:
HCC Medical Insurance Services: LLC sales@hccmis.com Tel: 1-800-605-2282
Travelex Ins. Services: www.travelexinsurance.com Tel: 1-800 228 9792
True Traveller Ins: www.truetraveller.com Tel: 0333 999 3140 for treks including over 4500m
Austrian Alpine Club (UK): www.aacuk.org.uk Tel: +44 (0)1929 556870
AXA Worldwide Travel Ins: www.axainsurance.com Tel: +44 (0)844 874 0360
Ingle International: www.ingleinternational.com Tel: (USA) 1.800.360.3234
Insure for Less: www.insure4less.com.au (Australian clients)
You do not have to use any of the above, but if you make your own insurance arrangements documentary evidence of your own policy is required.
Please forward the details of your Insurance as soon as you have it: we need the insurance company’s name, their 24 hour emergency telephone number and your insurance policy number – admin@adventurepeaks.com
Reviews
We both thought it was a great holiday in a beautiful and fascinating country. The walk on the central Pirin ridge was one of the best ridge walks that I have done. The only thing that I would add is that as a vegetarian I was a bit worried before the trip that vegetarian food would be limited. In fact it was excellent in all the hotels (and indeed the hut) and I was really well catered for.
I have just returned from your Bulgaria Rila & Pirin trip, and thought you might welcome a bit of feedback. It was excellent, and exceeded my expectations in every way. The whole trip in Bulgaria was well planned and organised, and our guide (Stoyan) was really first class: knowledgeable, patient, reliable and a thoroughly nice guy. The driver (“Jimmy”) was also very reliable and a fun personality. When we got back to Sofia at the end of the trip, they took us on a fascinating tour of the city, which wasn’t even on the itinerary (but ought to be!).
The scenery on the trip was really beautiful, and also pristine: no litter, no eroded paths; and although some areas were busy (it was a holiday weekend in Bulgaria when we were there), there were also places where we walked miles without seeing anyone else. The places we stayed were characterful and genuinely local rather than being impersonal hotels. The food was fresh, plentiful and of excellent quality. There was also a good insight into the history, culture and lifestyles of the area.
Just came back from the Rila and Pirin Mountains Trek, had an excellent experience and Adventure Peaks were incredibly helpful and friendly during the entire process. I will be using Adventure Peaks again!
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