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Aya Radwan
Aya Radwan
The Seven Rila Lakes are the most spectacular group of lakes in Bulgaria. They are located in the Rila Mountain range, in the southwest of Bulgaria and form part of the Rila-Rhodope Massif. Some of the Balkans’ longest and deepest rivers, such as the Maritsa, Iskar, and Mesta rivers, originate from Rila.
In this article, we’ll get acquainted with the Rila Mountain Range, the Seven Rila Lakes and their Names, how to get to the lakes and how much that will cost you, the hiking trip, and whether or not you can swim in the lakes. Then, I’ll give you some tips to ensure you have the best time preparing for and enjoying the hike.
The Rila Mountain Range
The Rila Mountain range is divided into four parts, each with its peaks, characteristics, and lakes. East Rila, also known as Musala Rila, is the largest and highest subdivision located between the valleys of Beli Iskar and Belishka.
Central Rila, also known as Skakavitsa Rila, is the smallest part of the range but has the most Alpine character and the highest average altitude. Skakavitsa Rila stretches between the valleys of the rivers Beli Iskar, Cherni Iskar, Levi Iskar, Liyna, and Rilska.
Northwest Rila, also known as Malyovitsa Rila, is situated between the valleys of Rilska to the south, Levi Iskar to the east, Samokov to the northeast, and Dupnitsa to the west. This subdivision is famous for its rugged peaks and picturesque lakes in the Alpine zone, including the Seven Rila Lakes.
The last section is the southwest Rila, between the valleys of the Rilska, Liyna, and Belishka to the north, the Predel Saddle separating it from Pirin to the south, and the Simitli and Blagoevgrad valleys to the west. This section has the lowest elevation in the Rila Mountain Range. Also, southwest Rila doesn’t have the same Alpine character as the other three subdivisions.
The Seven Rila Lakes – their Names and best time to visit
The Seven Rila Lakes are a group of glacial lakes in the northwest Rila section of the Rila Mountain Range. They are at the foot of a massive cirque with three mountain peaks: Suhi Chal (Dry Peak), Otovishki and Haramiya. The lakes are all located one above the other, with small streams that form tiny waterfalls and cascades connecting them.
Each of the lakes is named after its shape and characteristics. The highest lake is The Tear, which earned its name from its crystal-clear waters and is right beneath the Otovishki Peak.
The oval-shaped Eye Lake follows in altitude with its intense deep blue colour and good weather. Divers explored the Eye once to gain better information about it.
After that comes the kidney-shaped Kidney Lake with the steepest shores of all lakes. Twin Lake follows as it was named after it split into two smaller lakes during the dry seasons; hence the name. The Trefoil, Fish Lake, and Lower Lake follow after that.
The cold environment of the lakes isn’t suitable for marine life. Minnows and trout live in some lakes, but these high-mountain lakes fed by rain and snowmelt don’t house much marine life.
The busiest and most common time to visit the lakes is during the summer, July and August. This is ideal since the temperatures can be above the coldness of 10 degrees Celsius and have a lower risk of storms.
The lakes usually freeze in October and don’t melt before June. With severe weather during the cold months, the ice cover can reach up to 2 meters.
The Seven Rila Lakes are Bulgaria’s most visited lakes and host one important local celebration.
Every year, on 19 August near Kidney Lake, the White Brotherhood, or Danovites, gathers to celebrate their new year. The celebration is a ritual of unison dancing in a large circle. For the Danovites, the Rila Mountains are a holy place where devotees gather yearly to celebrate their new dawn.
The Seven Rila Lakes in Bulgaria, Most Beautiful Places in Bulgaria – Connolly Cove
How do get to the Seven Rila Lakes, and for how much?
Booking a day trip to the Seven Rila Lakes couldn’t be easier. Several travel agencies offer day trips from Sofia to the lakes for a mere 25 Euros. This introductory trip is about hiking the trails up to the mountain peak and enjoying the unique scenery atop the Rila mountain. A cable car will take you up the mountain before you set foot to explore the way to the lakes.
A trip to the Seven Rila Lakes and the Rila Monastery will cost 97 Euros, but the price varies depending on the group size. The Rila Monastery is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. It is regarded as one of Bulgaria’s most important cultural, historical, and architectural monuments and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A trip with dinner at a traditional restaurant or resort on the way will cost 45 Euros per adult. Private day trips to the Seven Rila Lakes are also available for booking, but they can be a bit pricy, at 105 Euro per adult. The trip is offered with a professional driver-guide, hotel pickup, and drop-off, though it doesn’t include the cable car fee or the lakes’ entry fee.
Whichever trip you choose to book, there are many trips you can choose from; the hiking trip will start the same. You will get up to the mountain hut through a 30-minute cable car ride – about 10 Euros per person – where you will get to enjoy the mesmerizing scenery along the way.
When you get to the top, the group will gather around for all of you to set on foot down the trek to explore the lakes.
The Hiking trip through the Seven Rila Lakes
All booked trips offer hotel pickup and drop-off, but check them while viewing the itinerary. When you get from the hotel to the Rila Mountain Range, most trips stop at the Panichishte ski resort before hiking.
With your map and guide leading the way, one of the most exciting trips you’ll take is about to start. There is no need to rush; you can stroll at your own pace through the hiking trails. You will get the opportunity to stop along the way to take photos and breathe in the clean air of the mountain while resting your legs as well.
1. Dolnoto Ezero (The Lower Lake)
The first lake, the impressive lower lake which will greet you, is Dolnoto Ezero, the gathering place of the water flowing from all the other lakes to form the Dzherman River. Dolnoto Ezero is named the lower lake due to its location at the lowest altitude of all lakes: 2,095 meters, 11 meters deep.
2. Ribnoto Ezero (Fish Lake):
Being the shallowest of the lakes, the Fish Lake is only 2.5 meters deep. The lake stands at an altitude of 2,184 meters. Tourist accommodation in the Seven Lakes Shelter is available close to the lake where you can rest from the hike and recharge before completing the trip.
3. Trilistnika (The Trefoil):
The Trefoil or the three-leafed lake will have you stop at it for some time. You would marvel at its irregular shape and the lower shores than the rest of the lakes. The Trefoil is situated at an altitude of 2,216 meters and is only 6.5 meters deep.
4. Bliznaka (The Twin):
The Twin Lake is considered the largest of the lakes due to its staggering 8.9030.8 square meters of space. The Twin Lake stands at 2,243 meters of altitude and is 27.5 meters deep. The Twin Lake is vast at the edges and narrow in the middle, making it an hourglass.
The dry season splits the lake into two smaller lakes, where it got its name.
5. Babreka (The Kidney):
At an altitude of 2,282 meters, the Kidney has the steepest shores of all the lakes. The lake derives its name from the shape it takes, you will notice from above that it truly looks like a kidney. The Kidney is also 28 meters deep.
6. Okoto (The Eye):
Named The Eye due to its oval shape, resembling an eye. Okoto is Bulgaria’s deepest cirque lake, with 37.5 meters-deep waters. The Eye stands at an altitude of 2,440 meters.
7. Salzata (The Tear):
With the smallest area space, The Tear earned its name for having the lakes’ most transparent water. It is also the highest lake at an altitude of 2,535 meters and a depth of 4.5 meters. The seas of Salzata are so clear you can peer into the lake’s bottom.
Can you swim in the Seven Rila Lakes?
This is one of the most asked online questions; the simple answer is no! The Seven Rila Lakes are part of the Rila National Park, a nature reserve. So, you can just sit back and enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the lakes while helping preserve them.
Tips to enjoy your Seven Rila Lakes Trip
A hiking trip has one essential requirement, after which everything else is complimentary. You not only have to love nature but also be in love with hiking. The Seven Rila Lakes hiking trips are one to test your endurance and capabilities and, in return, offer you some of the most breathtaking scenes you’ll enjoy during your life.
Here are the best tips to enjoy your hiking trip and what to be aware of.
1. Your Essentials:
Yes, you must bring your travel essentials with you: sun protection lotion, warm clothes, sunglasses, a warm coat, a hat, something to sit on the ground, and comfortable shoes with good ankle support. The hike is also dog-friendly, so you can bring your pet’s best friend along to enjoy the terrain.
2. Bring your food:
While some travel agencies offer a light dinner for a little more money than the usual hiking trip, most don’t, and many tourists don’t opt for it because it can be pricy. This is why it’s always best to bring your food and drinks on the day trip since you’ll undoubtedly need them during the 5-hour hike.
3. Good hiking boots:
A hiking trip is made easier when you’re equipped with the best hiking boots. So, during your visit to Bulgaria, you’ll want to come prepared with boots that offer good ankle support and are also comfortable to wear for long stretches of time.
Remember that the terrain can be wet and slippery with snow here or there, so boots with a good grip are essential.
4. Proper clothing:
While the weather might be warm and sunny in the region, the weather by the terrain and lakes can fluctuate. So you’ll always want to bring an extra layer of waterproof clothes and wear an additional layer beneath your jacket. Even during the summer season, parts of some lakes remain covered in snow, which gives an even chillier vibe.
5. Fitness:
Since the hike is demanding, stretching over five hours with wild terrain, a certain level of fitness is required. For your own health and safety, the hike is not recommended for pregnant women and is not allowed for children under nine years of age.
The hike is suitable for tourists with no health issues related to the legs, heart, or other diseases related to sun exposure and long hikes.
6. Money:
While you might not need that much money on you during your hike, there are no shops or restaurants in the area. You will need 10 Euros for the chairlift ticket. The fee you pay while booking your trip with the travel agency includes the fee for entering the Seven Rila Lakes, so no worries about that.
7. Cancelation:
Keep in contact with the agency with which you booked your hiking trip. Since the weather can be unpredictable in that area, trips can be cancelled. Another reason the trip might be cancelled is whether or not the chairlift is operational.
All agencies offer the option of setting another date for the trip or a total refund if the trip is cancelled for any reason, so there’s nothing to worry about.
As you are dropped off at your hotel at the end of the day, your legs might be sore, but your soul will be filled with calmness and beauty. Hiking to the Seven Rila Lakes is a new way of spending your vacation off the beaten track and away from the buzzing of city life.
Lake trips are becoming increasingly popular among European tourists, especially those from Russia.
The day hiking trip has been featured in several online tourist sites and blogs run by the neighbouring Russians. One of the best Russian comments about the hike was from Olga Rabo, who runs and writes The Russian Abroad blog. She’d described the Seven Rila Lakes as the most notable natural attraction in Bulgaria and the Balkans.
