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RILA - PIRIN SNOWSHOEING AND SPA / Bulgaria
Rila - Pirin Snowshoeing and SPA / Bulgaria
INTRODUCTION:
Is there anything better than an active winter trip followed by relaxation in hot thermal springs? The abundance of over 500 geothermal springs and diverse of alpine mountains is the key inspiration behind this tour. Ensuring a great experience outdoors it combines the best of two aspects of the tourism, moderate to challenging snowshoe hikes in the two gorgeous alpine type mountains Rila and Pirin with the recreational effect of the hot mineral water as a reward for the physical effort and emotional charge during the day. A holiday which will definitely fill up one’s power sources a breaking line for the everyday life.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:
Banya village – with its numerous hot thermal springs, Sapareva Banya SPA resort, famous with one of the hottest thermal springs in Europe and Dolna Banya ♦ Pirin monuntain National Park listed in the Unesco world heritage list ♦ Musala (2925 m a.s.l.), the highest peak in the Balkans ♦ Rila monastery – UNESCO World Heritage site, St. Ivan of Rila cave and Rila Monastery Natural Reserve ♦ The 7 Rila Lakes ♦ Skakavitsa waterfall - the highest in Rila Mountains (80 m) and Goritsa waterfall ♦ Vitosha – the oldest national park and symbol of the capital Sofia
DATES: Daily from 1 January to 30 April
DURATION: 8 days
DIFFICULTY: Medium
DURATION: 8 days
DIFFICULTY: Medium
INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:
Pick up and drop off at Sofia or Plovdiv airports ♦ all ground transfers as per itinerary ♦ cable car and chairlift tickets as per itinerary ♦ entrance fees for all hot thermal pools as per itinerary ♦ accommodation in 3 star hotels in double rooms with private facilities on HB (breakfast and dinner included) ♦ English-speaking mountain guide member of UIMLA ♦ snowshoes and walking poles ♦ all local taxes
NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:
Flight tickets ♦ lunches/lunch packs (could be ordered on spot) ♦ entrance fees (museums, monasteries) ♦ additional SPA treatments (massage, aromatherapy, etc.) ♦ maps (could be ordered in advance) ♦ personal insurance ♦ drinks and other personal expenses ♦ tips
ITINERARY:
DAY 1. Sofia – Banya village near Bansko ski resort
Arrival at Sofia or Plovdiv airport and transfer to Banya (bath) village famous for its numerous hot thermal springs (more than 75) with the temperature of the water ranging from 45 to 70 C.
DAY 2. Banya – Bezbog hut – Bezbog peak 2645 m.a.s.l.
Breakfast and transfer to the nearby ski resort of Dobrinishte where a chairlift takes us to Bezbog mountain hut (2240 m.a.s.l.). We start this scenic walk along the shore of a frozen glacial lake towards the pass of Bezbog. Admiring stunning panoramas of the alpine scenery we climb the Bezbog peak (2645 m.a.s.l.), offering breathtaking views of some of the highest peaks of the mountain. Later we have lunch at the hut and via the chairlift and a short transfer we arrive in Banya SPA reasort where we have time to relax in the hot pools before dinner.
DAY 3. Banya – Bunderishka valley – Bansko
Today we explore the valley of Bunderitsa above Bansko ski resort. This walk takes us to the foot of mount Vihren (2914 m.a.s.l.), the highest peak of Pirin mountain. In good weather we reach Bunderitsa lakes and walk back to the resort from where we have a short transfer to Bansko. Time for shower and a stroll in the old historical part of the town. Later we have dinner in traditional Bulgarian Mehana.
DAY 4. Banya – Rila monastery – St. Ivan Rilski cave – Sapareva Banya SPA resort
We check out the hotel and have a transfer to the Rila monastery, UNESCO World Heritage site and probably the most famous tourist landmark in Bulgaria. We visit the monastery and have a short walk to the cave where St. Ivan of Rila, the founder of the monastery lived many years as a hermit. The trail goes through the century old forests of Rila monastery natural reserve. Later we visit Goritsa waterfall (39 m) and have time for rest in Sapareva Banya SPA resort. The small town is famous with one of the hottest thermal springs in Europe – 103 C.
DAY 5. S. Banya – 7 Rila lakes – Skakavitsa waterfall – Skakavitsa reserve
Short transfer to Pionerska mountain hut from where via chairlift we reach Rila lakes hut and the area of the 7 Rila lakes nature landmark. Already above the tree line we admire stunning alpine panoramas and passing by the first four of the 7 Rila lakes we reach the fifth called the Kidney. Later we head towards the highest waterfall of the mountain (Skakavitsa, 80 m) via the “Dry ridge”, offering great panoramas. The last part of this exciting route we walk into the century old Macedonian pine forests of Skakavitsa reserve. Free time in the afternoon for relaxation in the hot pools of Sapareva Banya.
DAY 6. S. Banya – Borovets ski resort – Musala peak (2925 m.a.s.l.) – Dolna Banya
Early breakfast and transfer to Borovets ski resort from where via cable car we reach Yastrebets peak (2361 m a.s.l.). Jagged peaks, glacial lakes, stunning alpine views… we spend the day exploring the highest part of the mountain, including the second highest alpine lake in Bulgaria – The Icy lake. We climb the highest peak of the entire Balkan Peninsula – Musala (2925 m a.s.l.), offering breathtaking views and descent back to Borovets, where the bus waits to transfer us to Dolna Banya. The treasure of the village are the hot geothermal springs with temperature of the water 62° - 65° C. The water is suitable for the treatment and prevention of muscular and nervous system diseases.
DAY 7. Vitosha – Cherni vrah (2290 m.a.s.l.) – Zlatni Mostove – Sofia
After breakfast we have transfer to Aleko mountain resort in Vitosha – the fourth highest mountain in Bulgaira, the oldest national park and symbol of the capital Sofia. We walk to the highest peak of the mountain (Cherni – the Black peak 2290 m.a.s.l.) offering magnificent panoramas of the city of Sofia and Rila mountains and then head towards Zlatni mostove (The Golden bridges) nature landmark. The bus is waiting there to transfer the group to the center of Sofia for check in. Later we have guided city tour and dinner.
DAY 8. Departure
Arrival at Sofia or Plovdiv airport and transfer to Banya (bath) village famous for its numerous hot thermal springs (more than 75) with the temperature of the water ranging from 45 to 70 C.
DAY 2. Banya – Bezbog hut – Bezbog peak 2645 m.a.s.l.
Breakfast and transfer to the nearby ski resort of Dobrinishte where a chairlift takes us to Bezbog mountain hut (2240 m.a.s.l.). We start this scenic walk along the shore of a frozen glacial lake towards the pass of Bezbog. Admiring stunning panoramas of the alpine scenery we climb the Bezbog peak (2645 m.a.s.l.), offering breathtaking views of some of the highest peaks of the mountain. Later we have lunch at the hut and via the chairlift and a short transfer we arrive in Banya SPA reasort where we have time to relax in the hot pools before dinner.
DAY 3. Banya – Bunderishka valley – Bansko
Today we explore the valley of Bunderitsa above Bansko ski resort. This walk takes us to the foot of mount Vihren (2914 m.a.s.l.), the highest peak of Pirin mountain. In good weather we reach Bunderitsa lakes and walk back to the resort from where we have a short transfer to Bansko. Time for shower and a stroll in the old historical part of the town. Later we have dinner in traditional Bulgarian Mehana.
DAY 4. Banya – Rila monastery – St. Ivan Rilski cave – Sapareva Banya SPA resort
We check out the hotel and have a transfer to the Rila monastery, UNESCO World Heritage site and probably the most famous tourist landmark in Bulgaria. We visit the monastery and have a short walk to the cave where St. Ivan of Rila, the founder of the monastery lived many years as a hermit. The trail goes through the century old forests of Rila monastery natural reserve. Later we visit Goritsa waterfall (39 m) and have time for rest in Sapareva Banya SPA resort. The small town is famous with one of the hottest thermal springs in Europe – 103 C.
DAY 5. S. Banya – 7 Rila lakes – Skakavitsa waterfall – Skakavitsa reserve
Short transfer to Pionerska mountain hut from where via chairlift we reach Rila lakes hut and the area of the 7 Rila lakes nature landmark. Already above the tree line we admire stunning alpine panoramas and passing by the first four of the 7 Rila lakes we reach the fifth called the Kidney. Later we head towards the highest waterfall of the mountain (Skakavitsa, 80 m) via the “Dry ridge”, offering great panoramas. The last part of this exciting route we walk into the century old Macedonian pine forests of Skakavitsa reserve. Free time in the afternoon for relaxation in the hot pools of Sapareva Banya.
DAY 6. S. Banya – Borovets ski resort – Musala peak (2925 m.a.s.l.) – Dolna Banya
Early breakfast and transfer to Borovets ski resort from where via cable car we reach Yastrebets peak (2361 m a.s.l.). Jagged peaks, glacial lakes, stunning alpine views… we spend the day exploring the highest part of the mountain, including the second highest alpine lake in Bulgaria – The Icy lake. We climb the highest peak of the entire Balkan Peninsula – Musala (2925 m a.s.l.), offering breathtaking views and descent back to Borovets, where the bus waits to transfer us to Dolna Banya. The treasure of the village are the hot geothermal springs with temperature of the water 62° - 65° C. The water is suitable for the treatment and prevention of muscular and nervous system diseases.
DAY 7. Vitosha – Cherni vrah (2290 m.a.s.l.) – Zlatni Mostove – Sofia
After breakfast we have transfer to Aleko mountain resort in Vitosha – the fourth highest mountain in Bulgaira, the oldest national park and symbol of the capital Sofia. We walk to the highest peak of the mountain (Cherni – the Black peak 2290 m.a.s.l.) offering magnificent panoramas of the city of Sofia and Rila mountains and then head towards Zlatni mostove (The Golden bridges) nature landmark. The bus is waiting there to transfer the group to the center of Sofia for check in. Later we have guided city tour and dinner.
DAY 8. Departure
Transfer to the airport according to your departure.
