Included

• Ten days with a high mountain guide.
• Accommodation and mountain hut booking arrangements.
• Three nights in the valley, with breakfast. Dinners are at your own expense.
• Six nights in mountain huts on a half-board basis.
• Return airport transfers to the hotel.
• Local transfers.
• The guide’s accommodation and meal expenses.
• Technical equipment from the general information list that you do not own.
• Individual and shared safety equipment; see the equipment list.

Not included

• Return flight between Spain and Sofia.
• Personal expenses, such as drinks in huts and dinners in the valley.
• Travel to the meeting point at Sofia Airport.
• Baggage problems, including loss or delayed arrival on flights.
• Costs arising from leaving the planned itinerary.
• Dinners on days 1, 7 and 8.
• Picnics and lunches.
• Contact us for details.

What you need to bring

• Complete ski-touring equipment, including ski-touring boots.
• Ice axe and crampons.
• Avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe.
• Helmet.
• Gore-Tex or equivalent waterproof jacket and trousers.
• Hiking trousers and a 200-weight fleece or equivalent.
• Thermal base layer.
• Gloves and a spare pair.
• Warm hat, sun cap, sunglasses and ski goggles.
• 45–50 litre backpack.
• Sun protection.
• Sleeping bag liner.
• Food you enjoy for the practical outings and 1.5 litres of water.

Equipment we can lend you

• Ice axe and crampons.
• Avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe.
• Helmet.
• A large backpack if you do not have one.
• Contact us for advice.

Bulgaria: Rila and Pirin itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Sofia and stay in a central hotel. Walking visit of the historic centre; dinner independently.

Day 2: Transfer to Panichishte and spend the day in the Seven Rila Lakes area. Possible routes include Otovitsa Peak and Skakavitsa icefall. Dinner and overnight at Sedemte Ezera hut. 5 hours; +800 m / −700 m.

Day 3: Traverse towards Malyovitsa Peak (2,729 m). Dinner and overnight at Malyovitsa hut. 6 hours; +1,000 m / −1,200 m.

Day 4: Explore the Malyovitsa and Kamilata glacial cirques. Dinner and overnight at a guesthouse in Govedartsi.

Day 5: Depending on conditions and the group’s level, climb Musala (2,925 m), the highest peak in Bulgaria and the Balkans: 5 hours, +700 m / −1,400 m; or descend towards Rila Monastery: 5 hours, +700 m / −1,500 m. Transfer to Pirin National Park. Dinner and overnight in Bansko.

Day 6: Climb Vihren (2,914 m), Pirin’s highest peak. 6 hours; +1,100 m / −1,600 m. Dinner and overnight at the same hotel in Bansko.

Day 7: Climb Polezhan (2,881 m). 5 hours; +700 m / −1,500 m. Overnight at the same hotel; dinner independently.

Day 8: Climb Kutelo (2,908 m) or Tsarna Mogila (2,681 m). 5–7 hours; +1,100 m / −1,100 m. Overnight at the same hotel; dinner independently.

Day 9: Transfer to Rila Monastery, approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, and visit if not already visited on day 5. Afternoon transfer to Sofia, central hotel and farewell dinner.

Day 10: Flight home.