8-Day Rila and Pirin Trekking Tour with Musala and Mount Vihren

• Arrival at Sofia Airport and transfer to your hotel for an overnight stay (30-minute drive).

• Transfer to Borovets (70 km).

• Take the cable car to Yastrebetz (2300 m).

• Climb Musala (2925 m a.s.l.), the highest peak in the Balkans. The view from the top is truly breathtaking, and you can make out the remaining peaks of the Rila Mountains, the marble edges of the Pirin Mountains, Mount Vitosha and the Sredna Gora Mountains, the green summits of the Rodopi Mountains, and, last but not least, the long body of the Balkan range. Uphill walk: 650 m (2,132 ft); downhill walk: 650 m (2,132 ft); walking time: about 6 hours.

• Transfer to Govedartsi (1150 m a.s.l.), where we stay overnight (40-minute drive from Borovets). B/-/D

• Trek from Maliovitsa Resort, going up along the valley to the wide circus of the Prekorechki Lakes, enclosed by the steep slopes and rocky walls of several peaks exceeding 2700 m. Uphill walk: 850 m (2,788 ft); downhill walk: 850 m (2,788 ft); walking time: about 6.30 hours. B/-/D

• Transfer to Pionerska Hut, from where we take the chairlift to the Seven Rila Lakes (above 2200 m a.s.l.).

• Loop hike to Razdela and Zeleni Rid.

• Continue to Rila Monastery, the most famous landmark of Bulgaria.

• Drive to Bansko for an overnight stay. Uphill walk: 400 m (1320 ft); downhill walk: 400 m (1320 ft); walking time: about 5 hours. B/-/D

• Take a trek to the most beautiful part of Central Pirin.

• Start from Bezbog Hut and, after 4-5 hours of walking, reach Tevno Ezero Hut, where we stay overnight. Uphill walk: 450 m (1470 ft); downhill walk: 150 m (492 ft); walking time: about 6 hours. B/-/D

This day's walk offers stunning views over the Pirin glacier lakes - Valyavishki, Dulgoto (the Long) Lake, and Ribno (the Fish) Lake. The trek takes 5-6 hours before we reach the road below Demyanitsa Hut, where we meet our vehicle to drive back to Bansko. Uphill walk: 150 m (492 ft); downhill walk: 650 m (2,132 ft); walking time: about 6 hours. B/-/D

• Ascent to Mount Vihren (2914 m a.s.l.), the highest peak in the Pirin Mountains.

• Enjoy views of most of Pirin's peaks, Vahini, and the Bunderishki glacial lakes, as well as Edelweiss and many other rare plants flowering in the karst parts of the mountains. Uphill walk: 1,000 m (3,280 ft); downhill walk: 1,000 m (3,280 ft); walking time: 6-7 hours. B/-/D

• Transfer to Sofia Airport for departure (2.30-hour drive). B/-/-