The 7 Wonders of Rila

Are you a fan of reality TV shows? If not, now you will be. Take a pit stop at this beautiful open hut, that is the very space where the popular Bulgarian TV show, Fermata, had been shot for 8 series.
The cast of the series would live together, similarly to UK’s Big Brother, and be competing until there is a winner. It’s a great spot that overlooks the lake and something to brag about to your friends when you are back from your trip.

Stop off at this local restaurant for a quick bite of fresh and craftfully prepared food. They offer lovely omelettes and bread with cheese that you can stock up on for the hike ahead.
Open Hours: Sunday – Friday: 10:00 – 03:00 Saturday: 09:00 – 03:00

Drive up to Panishshte resort, where you can park your car here and walk up to the chair lift that will take you to the top. It's about a 40-min ride, where you will enjoy incredible views of the region from above.
From there you can begin your hike of the 7 lakes. Make sure you make it back before the closing times and bring some snacks and water for the hike.
Open Hours: Monday - Sunday: 08:30 - 18:30
For more information on hours and prices, visit this website.

Arrive at the upper lift station, where you can now begin your hike to the Rila Lakes. The hike takes around 3.5h to complete the loop and finish back at the upper ski-lift.

The Seven Rila lakes are without a doubt one of Bulgaria’s top attractions when it comes to nature and hiking. Nestled inside the Rila mountains, sit crystal blue lakes, that are formed from the snowmelt and rain in this region. This is an incredibly beautiful hike that really allows you to absorb the best of Bulgarian nature and beauty. Each lake with its own unique name, normally given due to its shape, such as Kidney lake. Breath in the fresh mountain air and take some wonderful photo memories from this mesmerizing place.
A fun fact about this area is that every year on August 19th, a ceremony of the White Brotherhood (Danovites) takes place to celebrate their new year, which often involves music and dancing.

Bulgaria is a very spiritual place, especially when it comes to natural healing methods and visiting places of high-energy to clear illnesses and ailments. The fountain of giving hands is one of those places, where locals who pass through this route always fill up their bottle from the fountain that provides so-called "blessed" water.
There are many such places throughout Bulgaria, where people would sometimes travel for days to try the healing water of a specific area. When I was a kid, there were many stories and tales of how people cured all types of illnesses by drinking the water from these "blessed" places. Of course, it's hard to truly know, but better not to waste this precious opportunity of tasting fresh mountain water.

Make your way back to the upper-lift to make your way down to your next visit here.

Get back to the lower part of the region and visit the next destination – Skakavitsa waterfall.
Note that you can also visit the waterfall before the 7 lakes hike, however in order to leave you with plenty of time and not having to stress over making it back for the last ski-lift, you can always leave this visit as an add-on should you wish to do so and have energy left from the hike.

On your way back to the ski lift, visit this incredible waterfall Skakavica, which is the highest in the Rila mountain. The path to it is filled with tall, pine trees, filled with the sounds of birds echoing throughout the trail, that will make you feel like something out of an enchanted fairy tale.
After about a 40-min walk, you will be led straight onto the majestic view of the cascade. The path is well-marked and pretty easy to walk through. Definitely worth a visit to experience this breathtaking natural spot.

Collect your car from the Panichishte and drive to your last visit of the day.

Finally, after a long hike, you deserve a long recharging rest. Visit this mineral outdoor pools, also famously known as "bani" in Bulgaria, where you will be able to enjoy and make the most of the beautiful views of the area, while relaxing in the hot outdoor pools.
This is a great place for both summer and winter, and at a very good price. Spend a couple of hours bathing in the healing pools as you admire the mountains of Rila.
Open Hours: Sunday - Thursday: 09:00 - 20:00 Friday - Saturday: 09:00 - 21:00
For more info, visit here.

Finally, stop off for dinner at the town's favourite local pizzeria and also dubbed one of the best Italian kitchens in the region. Serving everything from pizza, steak and pasta, as well as wonderful desserts, this is the best way to end your day.
Open Hours: Tuesday - Sunday: 11:30 - 00:00 Monday: closed

Spend the night at these wonderful apartments that offer stunning views of the mountains right from your terrace, as you enjoy some herbal tea and wind down.