A day-long trek to Rila Mountains’ highest summit - Musala

This day-long trek takes you up to the highest mountain peak on the Balkan Peninsula – Mount Musala (2925 m). The gondola lift takes you up to the starting point of the trekking trail – Yastrebets Hut. You traverse the left slope of the deep glacial valley and continue on even ground to the cirque near the Musala Lakes and Musala Hut. 2.5-3 km down the trail you’ll reach Musala hut by the banks of Lower Musala Lake. Along its banks and those of two other lakes, you’ll start a moderate-to-steep ascent up the cirque towards one of the other lakes. The path winds up the slope over Aleko Lake, and up ahead there’s another lake. Soon you'll reach the high “Ledeno Lake” (Icy Lake) mountain shelter, situated by the banks of the eponymous lake, which, at 2709 m above sea level, is the highest situated glacial lake in Bulgaria. A 30-40-minute trek up a moderately steep slope takes to Mount Musala. There is a weather station on the peak and the view around is spectacular. There is no place higher than Mount Musala between the Alps and Caucasus. The breathtaking panoramic view of the mountains of Bulgaria from the peak of Rila Mountain is more than worth the adventure.

You’ll be heading back through the same route. After taking the lift down you’ll be transferred to Sofia.