Peaks & Lakes of the Pirin and Rila Mountains — Self-Launched

Land in Sofia and head straight to the mountains. Take the metro from the airport to Sofia's Central Bus Station (about 1 lv, 20 min) and catch a direct bus or minibus to Bansko (roughly 3 hours, ~12–15 lv / £6–7). Buses run several times daily in summer — book a seat a day ahead via a local operator or just turn up early. In Bansko, check into a guesthouse in the old town, buy a large-scale Pirin map and any missing gear (Bansko has several outdoor shops), and pick up breakfast/summit snacks for the week. Evening: eat at a traditional mehana and plan your trail days with offline GPX files.

🚌Airport metro + direct bus Sofia–Bansko (~3h, £6–7)

🛏Guesthouse in Bansko old town (twin/double, ~£16–20 pp)

• →Sofia airport metro to Central Bus Station
• →Bus to Bansko
• →Gear and map shopping in Bansko
• →Mehana dinner in old town

The big Pirin classic. Get a shared taxi or arrange a guesthouse transfer from Bansko to the Gotse Delchev / Dobrinishte side and up the road to Bezbog (the chairlift from Dobrinishte runs in summer, ~10–12 lv, and saves the long forest walk; check operating hours the day before). From Bezbog Hut, follow the well-marked trail past Popovo Lake, then climb the steady switchbacks to the Polezhan ridge — around 5–6 hours round trip, some easy scrambling near the top. Descend to Bezbog Hut for a bowl of bean soup before the lift/taxi back to Bansko. This is the day to start early (7am) as afternoon storms are common in July–August.

🚌Shared taxi/transfer Bansko–Dobrinishte–Bezbog (~£10 pp each way split 4 ways) + chairlift (~£5)

🛏Guesthouse in Bansko (~£16–20 pp)

• →Chairlift to Bezbog Hut
• →Hike to Polezhan Summit (2,851m)
• →Popovo Lake
• →Soup stop at Bezbog Hut

A gentler but spectacular day out of Vihren Hut, reached by shared taxi or a local bus/shuttle from Bansko to the Vihren trailhead (~£8–10 pp split). Walk the Banderishki Lakes circuit — a chain of glacial tarns climbing through the cirque past the Todora's Eyes lakes toward the Demyanitsa side, with the option of descending to Demyanitsa Hut for lunch and walking out along the Demyanitsa River. Roughly 5–6 hours, ~600–800m ascent, well marked and easy to navigate solo. Back in Bansko, rest legs and prep for Vihren.

🚌Shared taxi to Vihren Hut trailhead (~£8–10 pp return, split)

🛏Guesthouse in Bansko (~£16–20 pp)

• →Banderishki Lakes Cirque hike
• →Todora's Eyes Lakes
• →Optional descent to Demyanitsa Hut

Bulgaria's second-highest summit and the toughest day of the Pirin block. Take the early shared taxi to Vihren Hut and follow the marked route up to the Golem Kazan saddle — a steep, rocky, occasionally hands-on scramble with fixed chains in places (do not attempt in rain or high wind). About 3 hours up, 2.5 down, with the last section exposed. Alternatively, take the chairlift from Bansko toward Banderitsa to shorten the approach if it's running. Carry 2+ litres of water — there's a spring at Vihren Hut but nothing reliable higher up. Afternoon transfer back to Bansko for a rest evening.

🚌Shared taxi to/from Vihren Hut (~£8–10 pp)

🛏Guesthouse in Bansko (~£16–20 pp)

• →Summit Mount Vihren (2,914m)
• →Golem Kazan scramble
• →Optional Banderitsa chairlift

Travel day with a UNESCO highlight. Buses from Bansko to Rila town/Sapareva Banya run several times daily (~2–2.5h, ~£5–6); from Rila town a local bus or shared taxi reaches Rila Monastery (~40 min, ~£2–3). Wander the frescoed courtyard and museum freely (small entry fee ~£5), then continue by local bus toward Sapareva Banya or Panichishte (~30–45 min). Base in a family guesthouse near Panichishte for the Rila days. If time allows, take the short walk to Skakavitsa Waterfall (about 1.5–2h return from the lodge area) — an easy leg-stretcher after a lot of driving.

🚌Bansko–Rila town bus (~£5–6) + local bus/taxi to monastery and Panichishte (~£4)

🛏Family guesthouse in Panichishte/Govedartsi (~£15–18 pp)

• →Rila Monastery (UNESCO)
• →Monastery museum and frescoes
• →Skakavitsa Waterfall nature walk

The signature Rila day. From Panichishte, take the chairlift from Pionerska Hut up to Rila Lakes Hut (~£5–7 return; runs in summer only, check dates), then walk the classic circuit passing all seven lakes — Dolnoto, Ribnoto, Trilistnika, Bliznaka, Babreka (the Kidney), Okoto (the Eye) and Salzata (the Tear) — with the option to push on to the Urdini Lakes or toward Malyovitsa ridge if legs allow. 4–6 hours, moderate but high altitude; waymarked throughout and busy in peak season, so navigation is easy. Return via the chairlift and a short transfer back to your guesthouse for a home-cooked dinner.

🚌Local transfer to Pionerska + chairlift (~£8 total)

🛏Family guesthouse in Panichishte/Govedartsi (~£15–18 pp)

• →Chairlift to Rila Lakes Hut
• →Seven Rila Lakes circuit
• →Optional Urdini Lakes extension

Bulgaria's highest peak. Take a local bus or shared taxi to Borovets (~45–60 min, ~£4–6), then the Yastrebets chairlift/gondola up to roughly 2,300m. From the top station, walk the well-marked trail past the Icy Lake to Musala Hut and on to the summit ridge — 5–6 hours round trip, above 2,500m the whole way with changeable weather and snow patches possible even in July. Bring warm layers, waterproofs and plenty of water. Descend to Borovets and transfer back to Govedartsi/Panichishte for a final-night dinner.

🚌Shared taxi/bus Panichishte–Borovets (~£5) + lift (~£10) + return

🛏Family guesthouse in Govedartsi (~£15–18 pp)

• →Borovets lifts to Yastrebets
• →Hike Musala Summit (2,925m)
• →Musala Hut stop

Easy morning: local bus or shared minibus from Govedartsi/Panichishte to Sapareva Banya or Dupnitsa, then a bus or train onward to Sofia (~2–2.5h total, ~£6–8). Trains from Dupnitsa to Sofia are cheap and scenic; buses are faster. If your flight is late, drop bags at the bus station lockers and see the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the Roman ruins, or grab a final banitsa. Aim to be at Sofia Airport 2 hours before departure.

🚌Local minibus to Dupnitsa/Sapareva Banya + bus/train to Sofia (~£7)

🛏N/A (departure day)

• →Transfer to Sofia
• →Optional city stroll: Alexander Nevsky Cathedral