Overview
A five day self-guided Pirin Mountains walking break, within Pirin National Park which protects this spectacular range. The Pirin Mountains boast more than 60 granite peaks with elevations of over 2,500m and, on this short holiday, you trek to the top of two of them. These are Mount Vihren (2914m), Mount Polezhan (2,850m), but you also head up to the exquisite heights of Todorina Porta Pass at 2,550m, with superb views all around.
This is a centre-based holiday, staying at a small, family-run hotel in Bankso, a popular ski resort in winter months.
If you have more time to spare, we recommend our Summits and lakes of Rila and Pirin holiday instead.
- Pirin National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Mount Vihren
- Bansko Old Town
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Itinerary
Day 1: Bansko
Arrive in Bansko, where you’ll be based for the next four days. You can get to Bansko by public bus from Sofia, there are several departures daily, with a journey time of approximately 3.5h.
- Accommodation: 3* family hotel Rahoff or similar
Day 2: Todorina Porta Pass (2,550m) | 15km
A short transfer (30mins) brings you to Vihren Hut, from where you start walking. En route to the starting point, you can make a short stop to see the Baykusheva Mura, the oldest pine tree in Bulgaria, with an approximate age of about 1,300 years. First, you follow the river that runs beside the hut, but soon you make a left turn and start ascending on a rocky trail and reach the rocky peaks that surround the valley. Take a break at the two glacial Frog Lakes from where you can see the north face of Mount Todorka, also known as Mount Todorin. You continue your ascent towards the Pass and, after a short and steep ascent, you get to the highest point for the day – Todorina Porta Pass. A beautiful view awaits on a clear day – with the Eyes of Todorka (two glacial lakes) to the east, and Strajite ridge in the background. The return path will take you down to Demyanitsa hut and eventually to an asphalt road where your transfer will pick you back to Bansko.
- Walking for the day: 15km, ↑550m, ↓1,000m, 7-8h
- Accommodation: 3* family hotel Rahoff or similar
- Included meals: breakfast
Day 3: Mount Vihren (2,914m) | 8km
After a short transfer (30mins) to Vihren Hut, you head towards the highest summit of Pirin National Park – Mount Vihren (2,914m). The route will take you to the peak through its southwest ridge, and the last section of the climb finishes with a slightly more technical part (no scrambling) facilitated by a steel rope. The descent follows a different path back to the starting point where your transfer car will be waiting for you to take you back to Bansko.
- Walking for the day: 8km, ↑↓ 1,000m, 6-7h
- Accommodation: 3* family hotel Rahoff or similar
- Included meals: breakfast
Day 4: Mount Polezhan (2,850m) | 8km
Today you will explore a different part of the mountain, climbing one of its most scenic peaks, Mount Polezhan (2,850m). An early transfer will take you to the nearby town of Dobriniste (20mins), from where you will take a chairlift to the Bezbog Hut (2,240m), where your hike begins. The walk is much more relaxed than the previous day, although the last section is quite bit steep and rocky (no scrambling). Once you get to the top, in good weather, you will be able to enjoy an amazing 360-degree view, including some of the landscapes you explored yesterday. Return along the same path, taking the lift back to the car park, where your transfer will pick you up and get you back to Bansko.
- Walking for the day: 8km, ↑610m, ↓610m, 6-7h
- Accommodation: 3* family hotel Rahoff or similar
- Included meals: breakfast
Day 5: Departure
You depart using public transport (there is a local bus station with regular departures to Sofia and Plovdiv) or private transfer (upon request).
- Meals included: breakfast
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food and commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view default hotels
Hotels are subject to availability. In case a particular hotel is fully booked for your desired dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide you with the exact accommodation details upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included. Lunches and snacks should either be bought from local shops, or you can pre-order packed lunch from your hotel the night before. Dinner is available either from the restaurant in your hotel or from restaurants and taverns in the town near your hotel.
Difficulty and terrain
Appropriate for experienced walkers in good physical shape. The walks take an average of 7-8h per day with approximately 800-1,000m ascent/descent (read more about difficulty grades). None of the routes involves scrambling, and there are no sheer drops. However, most of the paths are steep and rocky, requiring sure-footedness. You can also shorten most of the routes, if you find them too difficult.
Most of the trails are well-marked and signposted. We strongly advise you follow only marked trails and never try to shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed road notes, maps and GPX tracks, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack
When to go
This trip is available every day from late June until the end of September. The weather is best in July and August.
The climate is temperate continental, with an average of 200 days of sunshine a year. It is influenced both by the colder air coming from the north and by the warmer breeze from the Mediterranean. Depending on location and altitude, temperatures vary, but in the June-September period, the daily averages are 15-25C. Spring and autumn are pleasant, with cold nights and occasional rain and thunderstorms. High summer daytime temperatures are rarely too hot as even though temperatures can occasionally reach 30C, the mountains and forests remain cooler, dropping at night to 5-15C.
Getting there
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Our recommended arrival airport for this tour is Sofia.
Note that if you book extra nights in Sofia before the holiday, the additional airport transfer to your Sofia hotel is not included, but the downtown is easily reachable by metro or taxi (20-30mins), or you can book an additional airport transfer. The return transfer, from Bansko to Sofia at the end of the holiday is not included as there is a regular bus line to both Sofia and Plovdiv. Still, you can also book a private transfer upon request.
Inclusions
Included
- 4 overnights in a small family hotel
- 4 breakfasts
- All transportation as described in the itinerary
- Detailed route notes and maps (a digital copy, provided before the tour)
- GPS tracks
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Tickets for the chairlift to Bezbog Hut on day 4 (BGN18 / €9 pp)
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses such as phone calls, extra transfers, tips, etc.
- Any items not specifically mentioned as ‘included’ in the programme
- Optional return transfer from/to Sofia
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers; a supplement will be charged as accommodation and luggage transfer costs are not shared (we never mix and match – solo travellers will be accommodated in single rooms)
- Extra nights in Sofia or Bansko are available upon request
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