Every place in Rila is worth visiting so if you find yourself wondering where to go and what to do, here are a few useful ideas: Lakes Are you drawn to the deep blue color of the mountain lakes, to the crisp fresh air and to the vast open spaces? Then a trip to the 7 Rila Lakes would be a perfect destination for you. Where to go? Follow the marked, rather steep path, up to the ridge and continue on until you reach Bubreka (“The Kidney”) lake. The path will then lead you to Okoto (“The Eye”) lake, which is the deepest lake in Bulgaria. Go on and after about 30 minutes of climbing you will reach Sulzata (The Tear) lake and finally The Lake Peak, from where you can see all 7 lakes. The view is truly amazing. How to get there? The easiest way to get to the Seven Rila Lakes area is from the village of Panichishte, which you can reach from the town of Dupnitsa. Sofia- Dupnitsa (train) / Departure 7:25 – Arrival 9:32 / Price: 4.30 lv (2nd class) Sofia- Dupnitsa (bus) / Departure 07:10; 07:30 Dupnitsa-Panichishte (minibus) / Departure 9:15, 13:50, 16:45 (contacts: 0896 778512 ; 0885 148906) Then you have to take the road to Pionerska Hut. The distance between the village of Panichishte and Pionerska Hut is about 4 km. From there you can take the lift directly to the Rilski Ezera Hut (it takes about 20 minutes) or if you prefer walking you can follow the path (about 1 hour 30 minutes). Waterfall Do you need some excitement and adrenaline rush? Then you must go to the breathtaking Skakavica waterfall and take a cold shower under its crystal waters. The pleasant walk, the beautiful view and the adrenaline will surely make you feel reborn. Where to go? Follow the marked route Panichishte-Skakavica Hut (about 40 minutes). Once you reach it you should definitely try a cup of herbal tea and eat the traditional bean soup with some fried kiufteta (meat balls). From the hut take the path up to the waterfall; you can't miss it- when you see a lot of water, falling from about 70 m, surrounded by huge cliffs and lush forests, you've reached the right place! Peaks Do you often find yourself wanting to achieve more, to escape from the lazy everyday life and push your limits at least for a day or two? Then we suggest you climb the highest peak on the Balkan Peninsula – Musala (2,925 m), or maybe peak Maliovitsa, which is not as high (2,729 m), but will require a bit more strength and muscle from you. How to reach it? Borovets – You can reach the resort by bus or minibus from Sofia. Musala – The easiest climb is by a footpath from the ski resort of Borovets - 10 km to the north. There is also a Gondola lift from Borovets to the Yastrebets peak which is at 2,369 m altitude. From Yastrebets it is a one hour hike to the Musala chalet (2,430 m), from which the ascent to the summit takes another 1,5 to 2 hours via the shelter Everest, the highest mountain hut in Bulgaria. When you finally reach the peak, you can buy a nice cup of steaming hot herbal tea and a vafla (waffle) Borovets from the pleasant man at the weather station, and enjoy your stay on the top of the Balkan Peninsula. Maliovitsa – By bus or minibus from Sofia or Samokov. From The Mountain Learning Center follow the marked path, have a cup of tea at hut Maliovitsa and be ready for 2,5 hours hike to the top. Once you reach the ridge, look down at the famous Rila Monastery. **Make sure you bring a jacket, because it gets quite chilly up there.