Visit the Seven Rila Lakes in Bulgaria. We did that in summer 2021. They are the most visited mountain lakes in Bulgaria. It was a warm and sunny day. The weather in the mountains was also very nice which is not always the case when you hike at over 2000m elevation. Be careful when you go to the mountains. The weather can change easily. Always bring a jacket with you even if you are visiting in summer. A proper hiking equipment is not to be underestimated even for a short hike like this one.
The seven Rila lakes are glacial lakes connected to each other via small streams.
| English name | Bulgarian name | Notes |
| The Tear | Сълзата (Salzata) | Named after its clear waters |
| The Eye | Окото (Okoto) | Named after its oval shape. Deepest cirque lake in Bulgaria |
| The Kidney | Бъбрека (Babreka) | Steepest shores of all |
| The Twin | Близнака (Bliznaka) | Largest by area |
| The Trefoil | Трилистника (Trilistnika) | Irregular shapes and low shores |
| The Fish Lake | Рибното езеро (Ribnoto ezero) | The shallowest lake |
| The Lower Lake | Долното езеро (Dolnoto ezero) | The lowest lake |
How to get there
There is a cable lift from Hizha Pionerska (Pionerska Hut) that can take you up to the mountain where the lakes are located. The easiest way to get to the lift is by car. The drive is about an hour away from the capital Sofia. Taking the bus from Sofia Central Bus Station to the town of Separeva Banya (Сепарева Баня) is also an option. From there you can take a taxi to the lift.
The lift will save you 2 hours of hike. It costs 10 levs or 5 euros per ride. However, please note that once you reach the place, the lakes are not near the lift. The closest lake is about 1h30 away hiking. There is a hut near the lift which is called Seven Rila Lakes Hut (Хижа Седемте Рислки Езера). There is a café inside and toilets. You can make use of these facilities before or after your hike.
Follow the trails
I found that hiking there was not easy, especially on some of the trails, but still totally worth it. The views are breathtaking. This is the most popular place to hike in Bulgaria and there is a reason: it’s stunning out there!
If you look at the map, you can choose either direction to go to. We chose the trail that goes first to the Kidney (Бъбрека) which is an hour and half away. Most of the people chose this option, so this is the direction the flow of people goes into. The views on the way there and at the lake The Kidney are incredible. I think that the photos cannot do them justice.
From the Kidney there is a very steep section of the trail that leads to a peak with a viewpoint. This is the most difficult one but leads to the most breathtaking views. The viewpoint from where you can see all the seven lakes! This is also where the lakes The Eye and The Tear are located. This section is quite stony and it can be difficult for many people, especially if you are not used to physical exercise. Be careful when you descent from the peak because it’s really steep.
Warning: if you are not used to physical exercise or are going with children, I would advise that you go back the way you came. Because the other trail to go back (the trail that we chose) is steep and stony. It’s a difficult path.
We came back via the other trail, passing by the Trefoil (Трилистника), The Fish Lake (Рибното езеро) and the Lower Lake (Долното езеро). You can see that a section of that trail is coloured red. And it’s not red for nothing. The last hour was hard for hikers like us who are not that experienced or do not have the proper hiking gear. The incline was quite steep and there were many big stones which made the descent hard.
We ended our hike right where we started it, at The Seven Rila Lakes Hut with a glass of cold beer. This was really refreshing after 5 hours of hiking. Then we took the lift back to our car.
I must say that I had really underestimated the Seven Rile Lakes, not only in their beauty but also in the fact that it was a serious hike around there. It seemed quite easy from the advertisements of that place – you just go up, walk around and see the lakes. No! This is not the case. Visiting the Seven Rila Lakes was 5 hours of hiking and due to the inclines, it was quite of a job.
Useful Tips
- Bring plenty of water and your own food and snacks. Hiking can be tiring.
- Wear comfortable shoes. Hiking shoes are strongly recommended. You can probably also wear comfortable sneakers like some people do but for me, this is a mistake. There are far too many rocks on the trails.
- Take a jacket or wear layers of clothes. The weather in the mountains can easily change. We went in summer when the weather was perfect but even then, it became colder in the evening.
- Wear SPF. The sunlight in the mountain is quite strong.
- Do not swim or enter the lakes. This is forbidden. Keep the lakes and the surrounding nature clean.
Where to stay
We did not stay in the area. We came from Sofia by car. But here are some options:
- In the huts nearby
- Panichishte (Паничище) – a resort with many hotels
- Separeva Banya (Сепарева Баня)– a small town with a large selection of hotels and guest houses
Thank you for reading “Visit the Seven Rila Lakes in Bulgaria”
