Rila & Pirin - Bulgaria - Aldwickbury School 2026

Leader: Dave Glover

8th July 2026 - A Waterfall, a Monastery and 'Dotto'...

The group spent the morning on a scenic walk through a beautiful pine forest, passing a mountain hut before reaching an impressive 70-metre waterfall. From the start of the hike, they were accompanied by a friendly dog, affectionately named "Dotto" by the group. They returned along the same route, stopping at the mountain hut to enjoy lunch on the way back.

In the afternoon, the group visited the Rila Monastery. During the bus journey, their local guide, Stoyan, entertained everyone with fascinating and humorous stories about the monastery's origins. On arrival, the group took a guided tour, admiring the intricate frescoes, wood carvings, and striking architecture before sampling the monastery's famous sweet bread.

7th July 2026 - The Mountains and the Seven Rila Lakes Call...

The group began the day by taking a chairlift to the spectacular Seven Rila Lakes, one of Bulgaria's most iconic mountain landscapes. They explored a series of the glacial lakes—including the Lower Lake, Fish Lake, Trefoil (Three-Leaf Clover), Twin, Kidney, and Eye—while learning about the area's unique wildlife and endemic plant species found only in the Balkans and the Seven Rila Lakes region, such as the Heavenly Primrose and Red Geum.

The group then made the climb to the highest lake, the Tear, where they enjoyed a picturesque picnic lunch surrounded by breathtaking mountain scenery and panoramic views across all seven lakes. After spending time at a nearby viewpoint, they descended along a broad, grassy ridge that offered a different perspective of the lakes below.

During the return journey to the chairlift, the group learned about the traditions, culture, and religious heritage of the local communities, and the day ended with a special wildlife sighting, as the group was fortunate enough to spot a European adder beside the trail.

6th July 2026 - Off to Bulgaria!

After an early start and flight, the team arrived in Sofia, where they were welcomed at the airport by the trip leaders, Stoyan and Dave. From there, they travelled by coach into the city, taking in the sights while learning about some of Sofia’s most prominent landmarks, including the Parliament, the University, places of worship, statues, theatres, and more, before stopping for lunch at a local sandwich shop.

After lunch, the team enjoyed some free time to explore one of the city's popular central streets before boarding the coach once again for the journey into the mountains. They arrived at their first accommodation, where they enjoyed an evening meal before spending the night at an altitude of 1,420 metres.