Bulgaria · WINTER ACTIVITIES
The 7 best winter activities you can book today, with what each costs, how long it runs and who it suits. Number one is top for a reason; start there.
Leave Sofia early with an English-speaking mountain leader such as Velko, Alex, Daniel, or Kiril. Ride a chairlift above the pine forest, snowshoe toward the Kidney Lake, then soak in Sapareva Banya’s thermal pools. Weather may change the route.
“Incredible trip with our amazing guide Velko, he went above and beyond and made the trip so memorable”
Leave Sofia early with an English-speaking mountain leader, ride a chairlift to 2,150 meters, and snowshoe toward the Kidney lake with poles and gear supplied. After about 2.5 hours on the trail, return to Sapareva Banya for mineral-water baths. Lift and spa fees cost extra.
“In advance of the tour, we sent multiple Viator messages, wrote an email, and called the provided number 5+ times. We did not select a pickup point because we were already going to be in Rila and wanted to meet there, so we asked where would be best to meet the local guide. No one responded to any of these inquiries, no one reached out to us via the phone number I provided, and so ultimately my husband and I did not go on this tour. (Despite having paid for it!) We had a great day in Rila by ourselves, but there was absolutely no communication from the vendor which…”
Leave Sofia at 8:00 am for Aleko resort, then snowshoe through Vitosha’s winter forests and open slopes to Cherni Vrah, the 2,290-meter Black Peak. Your private English-speaking guide provides snowshoes, poles, transport, and hot tea. Bring sturdy boots, lunch, water, and warm layers.
“An amazing day with a great team! We got very lucky with the weather and had an opportunity to hike up to the 5th lake since it was clear and sunny. It might be a bit challenging physically for some but in general everyone would be able to do it without a lot of preparation. Appreciation to our guide Daniel for his knowledge, competency and responsibility.”
Travel from Sofia to snowy Borovets, tour the former royal grounds of Tsarska Bistritsa, then spend 3.5 hours at Sapareva Banya’s spa with five panoramic pools and saunas. An English-speaking host, including guides such as Vasil, handles the day.
A private English-speaking guide collects you in Sofia at 9 AM for a nine-hour Rila Mountain outing. Choose from skiing, a lift ride, Tsari Mali Grad, or a private lesson. Guides Simon and Diana have earned especially warm praise for their patience and care.
“The pick up and drop off was smooth. I have the best driver and guide called Simon. He’s very patient and makes the trip so enjoyable. Make sure before booking that you have someone to guide you, not only to drive as in the description.”
Join mountain guide Simeon for a small-group winter outing from Sofia to Vitosha National Park. Walk snowshoe trails through forests and alpine terrain, stop at a mountain hut for lunch and hot drinks, then visit Dragalevtsi Monastery. Equipment and transport are included, but lunch costs extra.
“This was an amazing experience and a highlight of our first visit to Sofia. Vitosha National Park is very close to the city and absolutely beautiful when covered in snow. We were lucky to have great weather.”
Leave Sofia at 9am with a private driver-guide such as Simo or Simeon, then spend about four hours around snowy Borovets and nearby Rila Mountain. Choose from skiing, a ski-doo ride, the cabin lift, Tsari Mali Grad fortress, or a spa. Transport is included, activities cost extra.
“Simeon took us to beautiful places, including the spa and went out of his way to accommodate our requests. Highly recommended!”
Pick a monastery, a ridge, a cellar or a beach.
