Fly to Sofia. Your tour guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to a remote family hotel deep in the forests of the Rila Mountains. In the evening your guide will brief you on the challenges of the next few days. 90 minutes drive approximately.

Ascent of Mount Malyovitsa – one of the symbols of the region. The summit offers an amazing 360 panorama across countless peaks and glacial lakes. After lunch we follow the ridge, which leads to the famous Seven Rila Lakes. We drop down from the ridge to a nice hotel in the dense pine forests. Optional chairlift to descend the last hour. 7 - 8 hours walking.

We start the day with a chairlift ride back up to the Seven Lakes which are scattered at the foot of a massive cirque and have been named after their shapes and qualities, such as Tear Lake, Eye Lake and Kidney Lake. We stop at the Razdela pass (2600m) for our picnic and then descend through some very old pine and beech forests, straight to the Rila monastery - the biggest and the oldest in Bulgaria. Other lakes and many of the mountain's highest peaks can be seen today. There will be time in the late afternoon to visit the monastery. 6 - 7 hours walking.

After a short 20 minute transfer we set off again through the beautiful southern part of the mountains. We descend past the Makedonia hut to the little village of Dobarsko, from where we make a transfer to Bansko, a ski resort and a town of old traditional buildings and typical Bulgarian folk music, at the foot of the impressive Pirin Mountain. We stay in a family house for the next two nights and enjoy home cooked food and homemade rakia! 6 hours walking.

After breakfast we will take a short transfer to a mountain hut at 2000m. From here we make our ascent of Mount Vihren (2914m) - the highest peak of Pirin and the most technical part of this trip. We are rewarded with some incredible views of alpine peaks, marble rock walls and glacial lakes. This may be undertaken as a circular trip via scramble up the west ridge, or an out-and-back ascent via the easier south slope. We return back to Bansko where you will be able to enjoy the traditional food and music in a local restaurant.    6 hours walking.

We start with a 30 minute transfer to Vihren hut. From here today’s walk takes us along the central ridge of the Pirin Mountain. During this trek we will be rewarded with stunning views of many lakes and the whole Pinin range. Our destination is the little Tevno Ezero (Dark Lake) hut at 2515 m in the very heart of the mountains. The hut is equipped with beds (cosily close in traditional mountain hut style!) so you will only need to pack a few extra items for the night spent here.  6 to 7 hours walking.

We descend from the Tevno Ezero hut passing a clutch of glacial lakes and walking through cool pine forests to a beautiful village where our walk finishes. After lunch a short transfer takes us to the town of Melnik - the smallest town in Bulgaria, with just 300 inhabitants. Melnik is full of traditional old Bulgarian houses and is renowned for its excellent red wine - what better place to finish our exploration of the Bulgarian mountains! 4 hours walking.

Transfer to Sofia airport (approx 2.5 hrs) and departure