Seven Rila Lakes

The seven Rila glacial naturally created lakes named as follows:

Salzata  (“The Tear”) so named because of clear water 
Okoto (“The Eye”) so named because of its oval shape 
Babreka (“The Kidney”) so named because it is the steepest of the shores
Bliznaka (“The Twin”) so named because it is the largest in area 
Trilistnika (“The Trefoil”) so named because of irregular shape and low shores
Ribnoto (“Fish lake”) because it is the shallowest lake
Dolnoto ezero (“The Lower lake”) take a guess?

From Sofia to Ovchartsi (by bus) and from Ovchartsi to Seven Rila Lakes (by taxi)
will take 1 hour 20 minutes by Bus and cost 6 BGN to 8 BGN 
From Ovchartsi to  Seven Rila Lakes
will take 43 minutes by Taxi distance to be covered is 21.1 km and the cost is 22 BGN to 28 BGN

Sofia to Dupnica (by train) and from Dupnica to Seven Rila Lakes (by taxi)
2 hours 7 minutes by Train, costing 6 BGN to 8 BGN
Dupnica to Seven Rila Lakes
59 minutes by Taxi traveling a distance of 34.9 km costing 38 BGN to 44 BGN

Taking a taxi directly from Sofia to Seven Rila Lakes will take  1 hour 47 minutes to travel a distance of 99 km and the one-way fare will be 100 BGN to 120 BGN.

• Wear comfortable clothes. Recommendations are trousers and t-Shirt,  also since you will be hiking to higher elevations the temperature is cooler, hence carry a jacket.
• Waterproof  shoes with a very good grip is a must
• Keep dry tissues as well as wet ones. You will need both while climbing
• Ladies carry backpacks instead of purse or handbags
• Carry water bottles, as buying the same here is not recommended
• It is good to pack plenty of food, all the hiking will make you hungry
• Do not forget your sunglasses or sunscreen
• You would want to capture the entire scenery in your cameras, do not forget the cameras
• There is a lift available that takes you from Panichishte to the Seven Rila Lakes
• The working hours of the lift are from 9:00 a.m. till 4:30 p.m. 
• On Mondays, the lift does not start till 12 noon. It is better to check the timings always.
• You can have a cup of coffee or tea or use the loo in the chalet
• Use the general route marked 1 that starts from the Rila Lakes chalet, where lift begins and ends. In this path, you see only five lakes.
• Continue on path 2, if you want to see all 7 lakes. Usually, you will find people on that route and hence will not miss it
• English is not spoken by many of the hut workers, so be prepared with a language guide book
• Though the trails are well marked, do carry a map with you. It is always helpful in times of need

The attraction is always open.
The following are the lift timings:
Rilski Ezera chair lift opening hours

Summer (July to August)

Sunday:       8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Monday:    12:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday:      8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Thursday:     8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Friday:          8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Saturday:      8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

June and September

Sunday:       8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Monday:    12:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday:      8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Thursday:     8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Friday:          8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Saturday:      8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. 

Winter

Sunday:         9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Monday:        9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday:       9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday:  9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Thursday:      9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Friday:           9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday:       9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

If you depend on the lift to get down, double-check the lift’s closing time and be back at the station at least 15 minutes before.