
7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Small Group Day tour from Sofia
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September 2026
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Who is going?
Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 1 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is 7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Small Group Day tour from Sofia worth booking?
7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Small Group Day tour from Sofia is a 11-hour experience in Sofia, Bulgaria, from $100 per person. It scores 55 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 5/5 rating across 1 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 55 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (1)
- Duration
- 11 hours
- From
- $100 per person
Mountains, Lakes, Monastery, Fresh air, Stunning views - all in one day! Escape from Sofia for a few hours to meet the highlights of Rila National park. The 7 Rila lakes are one of the most beautiful glacial lakes in Bul
What you get
About this experience
Mountains, Lakes, Monastery, Fresh air, Stunning views - all in one day! Escape from Sofia for a few hours to meet the highlights of Rila National park. The 7 Rila lakes are one of the most beautiful glacial lakes in Bulgaria and Rila monastery is the biggest and the most important monastery in Bulgaria.
What's included
Included
- On-board WiFi
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Licenced english speaking tour guide
Not included
- Chair lift to the lakes - 16 euro per person for roundtrip
What you'll see and do
Sofia
Travel time from Sofia to the lift for the lakes is around 1 hour and 45 minutes
105 minutes here
Seven Rila Lakes
Stunning! That is the most used word from our customers during the trip to the 7 Rila lakes. We will see beautiful nature, glacial lakes with crystal clear water, unbelievable landscapes. We will reach the starting point for the hike by chair lift. The hikes starts from 2100 above the sea level and the upper view point to the lakes is at around 2550. Hiking time is around 2 hours in direction. Wearing a hiking shoes, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, jacket are highly recommendable!
300 minutes here · Admission not included
Rila Monastery
Rila monastery is the biggest and most important monastery in Bulgaria and also part of Unesco World Heritage. Travel time from 7 Rila lakes to Rila monastery is around 1 hour and 50 minutes.
110 minutes here
Rila Monastery
Rila monastery is part of UNESCO world cultural heritage list and It’s one of the symbols of Bulgaria. Rila Monastery was founded in the 10th century by St John of Rila, a hermit canonized by the Orthodox Church. His ascetic dwelling and tomb became a holy site and were transformed into a monastic complex which played an important role in the spiritual and social life of medieval Bulgaria. A characteristic example of the Bulgarian Renaissance (18th–19th centuries), the monument symbolizes the awareness of a Slavic cultural identity following centuries of occupation. You will have enough time to explore the monastery, the main church and the monastery museums.
60 minutes here
Sofia
Travel time from Rila monastery to Sofia is around 1 hour and 45 minutes.
105 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Sofia
Public parking space
Hotel pickup
Pickup is available for selected locations. Pickup begins about 30 minutes before departure.
Ends at
Public parking space
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
- Group size
- Up to 7 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Multi Travel Bulgaria
Know before you go
- Service animals allowed
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Not recommended for travelers with knee problems
- Not recommended for travelers who are afraid of using an open chair lift
Photos






Traveler reviews
1 verified traveler reviews for 7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Small Group Day tour from Sofia. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Highlight of our trip to Bulgaria!
This was the second day in a row my friends and i spent with Ventsislav — we enjoyed our trip to Belogradchik with him so much that we canceled our planned tour of Rila and booked a private one with him (thanks again for accommodating that)! This day was seriously something else. Just about as much fun as possible. Worth noting, this is a physically demanding hike! Primarily in that it has lots of stairs/steep uphill, and then on the descent you’ve got lots of steep downhill. Ventsislav is super happy to go at whatever speed you want, and to take as many breaks as you’d like. We saw people of all ages and fitness levels able to reach the top, and there are tons of views worth stopping at along the way. That being said, wear something athletic including good running shoes, or if you have them, hiking boots. I went in my running shoes and was totally fine, but the primary reason I’d suggest hiking boots is because there are many areas where you need to walk on sort of loose rocks so a little ankle support can’t hurt. Also bring a hat for the sun and a light sweater for misty wind at the top (we went in August). * also worth noting, Ventsislav carries an extra set of walking poles so if someone is worried about instability, definitely ask him ahead of time about borrowing those :) The monetary itself was spectacular. As with everything, Ventsislav had tons of cool information to share with us and was happy to answer any and all questions. He’s an extremely experienced, kind, and friendly tour guide, and has a great sense of humor and disposition. 11/10! Thanks again!
Response from the operator: Thank's for your amazing review, Julia. It was a pleasure for me to guide you and also a lot of fun!
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 11 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
- Price range
- $100 to $115
- Hotel pickup
- Available for selected locations
- Booked in 30 days
- 0
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 55
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Small Group Day tour from Sofia: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Sofia.
How much does 7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Small Group Day tour from Sofia cost?
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Prices start at $100 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Sofia usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does 7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Small Group Day tour from Sofia take?
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Plan for about 11 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Sofia is not rushed.
Is 7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Small Group Day tour from Sofia worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 55 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 1 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Sofia, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule 7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Small Group Day tour from Sofia?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is 7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Small Group Day tour from Sofia suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 11-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book 7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Small Group Day tour from Sofia?
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Around 0 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Sofia can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Sofia and add a light layer if any part of the 11-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does 7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Small Group Day tour from Sofia start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Sofia within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Sofia?
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On Outty we rank every Sofia experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Communist Walking Tour of Sofia, Sofia Highlights 2 Hour Sightseeing Walking Tour, Sofia Escape Room - Teorema Rooms. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Sofia?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Sofia?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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