Climbing and via ferrata in the Rila mountains, Bulgaria

Join Kiril, an experienced local mountain leader for 2 full days of climbing and via ferrata in the Rila mountains in Bulgaria.

Private

Rila

2 Days

Jun - Oct

High

Intermediate

Highlights

* Climb, scramble and abseil your way around four spectacular peaks.

* Traverse a classic via ferrata route that ends near picturesque lakes.

* Witness breathtaking vistas of the Rila mountains.

Description

Join me on 2 -full days of adrenaline rush in one of the most spectacular alpine areas of the Rila mountains in Bulgaria. Situated in southwestern Bulgaria, Rila is the highest mountain range of Bulgaria and the Balkan Peninsula. With a concentration of vertical walls and rock giants over 400 m, this spot is simply perfect for some real adventure.

The trip has so much to offer. You will have a mix of rock climbing, mountaineering and via ferrata in the Malyovitsa area. This region is symbolic for Bulgarian mountaineering.

We’ll begin and end this trip in the capital city of Sofia. From here, a drive of about 1.5 hour takes us to the Malyovitsa area, the starting point of our climb. Here, you’ll be presented with two routes to climb the peak of Zliya Zab and you can choose according to your expertise.

It will be a true adventure of climbing, scrambling and abseiling as you capture not just Zliya Zab but also three other spectacular peaks on the first day. The second day involves a classic via ferrata route that ends near picturesque lakes offering breathtaking views.

Regarding difficulty, keep in mind that it is a demanding trip which requires you to be fit and have previous mountaineering experience. Rest I am there to guide you through difficult passages, so you don’t have to worry.

So, what are you waiting for? Send a message now to hop on some extreme adventure of climbing and via ferrata in the Rila mountains in Bulgaria.

I also guide this 10-day hiking trip where we visit the beautiful monasteries, mountains, and lakes in Bulgaria.

Price includes

- Accommodation included

- Guiding fee

- Breakfast

- Lunch

- Dinner

- Transport during the trip

Price details

Price per person.

Itinerary

Day 1: Climb the peak of Zliya zab

Transfer from your hotel or the airport to Malyovitsa area. There are 2 ways to the summit of Zliya zab from here.

Option 1-Climb the Zliya zab peak via the south ridge. It is an easier climb.

Hike the scenic south ridge for about 3.5 hours to reach the peak of Zliya zab. The way down involves abseiling and hiking.

Option 2-Zliya zab peak via its northeast ridge. It is a more difficult route.

Hike for about 2.5 hours to a col between the two peaks of Zliya zab (2678m) and Lovnica (2695m). This is the starting point for some real climbing! From here, the climb to the summit of Zliya zab will take around 3 hours. After a short break, you’ll abseil via the south side and continue to tackle two more peaks of Orlovets (2685m) and Petlite.

Finally, you’ll descend to the guesthouse for dinner and a good night’s rest.

Day 2: Take on the via ferrata

After a hearty breakfast, begin on a short hike to the bottom of Kuklata rock (2257m) to take on the via ferrata. Traversing the via ferrata will take 2-2½ hours, after which you’ll reach the ridge to see panoramic views of the neighbouring peaks and valleys.

After a short break, you’ll descend and will be transferred back to Sofia.

Details

More info

Please don't forget to bring along: Water bottle, Backpack, Hiking Clothes, Waterproofs, Fleece Jacket, Hat, Gloves, Suncream and Climbing Shoes.

Meeting point

Sofia Airport or Your Hotel

Equipment you will need to bring

Backpack

Water bottle

Hiking clothes and boots, waterproofs, fleece, jacket, hat ,thin gloves, sun hat, suncream, climbing shoes if possible

FAQs

What are some recommended accommodations near our adventure location?

We understand that finding the perfect place to stay is an essential part of your adventure experience. To help you with this, we’ve curated a list of three highly recommended hotels that offer comfort, convenience, and a touch of local charm. These accommodations are well-suited for adventurers looking to relax and rejuvenate after an exciting day of exploration

Hotel Elbrus Blagoevgrad Bulgaria

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Hotel Luxor Blagoevgrad Bulgaria

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City Hotel Blagoevgrad Bulgaria

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About the guide

Kiril

5.0

(4)

Mountain Leader

I was born in the mountains and fell in love with them since I was a little kid. My father was an alpinist and I grew up surrounded by lots of mountaineering books from the family library. I love staying in and moving through a natural environment, no matter if on skis, crampons, bike, climbing or running shoes.

I started guiding in 2016 and I haven't stopped since then. What a great chance to turn my passion into my job! I'm a certified mountain guide in Bulgaria, climbing instructor and ski instructor. I'm working together with a great team of IFMGA and UIMLA certified guides. We work at Climbing and Mountaineering School in Sofia, where we give climbing courses.

We guide in all the Bulgarian mountains and abroad. In summer, we offer rock climbing, trail running and mountaineering tours; in winter, ski touring, freeriding, ice and mix climbing.

I look forward to sharing mountain adventures together!

Languages

English

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What people are saying about Explore-Share

Man

Climbing with guide Guillaume was absolutely a highlight of my 2-week Europe vacation. Originally, we were planning on climbing in the Calanques, but the park was closed due to wind and fire danger. Guillaume chose another amazing location (Pic de Bretagne) based on my climbing abilities and preferences and kindly offered train station pick-up and hotel drop off, which I appreciated very much. The multi-pitch route we did was not only fun but also the right amount of challenge, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The communication from the team (Gauthier) was prompt and clear—highly recommend!

Maxine

Luis Silva was a great climbing guide and belayer! He taught me how to do moves that were difficult and encouraged me to try routes that were challenging for me! Because of his encouragement, I managed to complete these routes! I really enjoyed the climbs and completed 8 routes in the Sesimbra/Azoia area. The weather was perfect, no direct sun and cool enough to enjoy the climbs. Explore-Share made booking an outdoor climbing experience in Lisbon extremely easy. Luis, our guide, was fantastic, and the platform’s organization was flawless.

Valeriya

You’re simply the best!!! :))) Explore-Share made everything easy and stress-free. Will definitely use again.

Joshua

We had Léo as a guide for our day climb in Fonty. We were blessed with a knowledgeable, warm, and instructive guide. Communication with Léo and Ivan was smooth and swift. Explore-Share was excellent in arranging everything for our day climb. The communication was quick, and the platform was easy to use, making our adventure stress-free.

Cami

Patrick was a great guide. He took us on an intermediate Via Ferrata at Passo Sella. Renato was quick to respond with any outreach on the Explore-Share platform. The booking process was straightforward, and once Patrick was confirmed, all went well. It was a wonderful experience, and I’d highly recommend the platform.

4.8