Pirin National Park
Pirin National Park
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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Tom V
Brussels, Belgium136 contributions
Aug 2022
Beautiful National Park with mountains and several idyllic lakes. The lakes are an easy hike up. Lake Okoto is within easy reach for instance. It has a circular shape and hence the name "Okoto" which means "The eye".
Written September 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Phil B
Sunny Beach, Bulgaria1,635 contributions
Aug 2015 • Couples
Arguably the most scenic mountain range in Bulgaria.
Hiking season normally starts around mid-June but if winter had been harsh, patches of snow on certain trails may still remain until the beginning of July.
Exploring the mountains can be done using a base (for example the towns of Bansko or Dobrinishte) or going hut to hut and carrying all your luggage with you.
Using a base allows you to walk only using a day pack or to skip a certain day if you feel tired or the weather is not good (and use that time to relax in the nearby thermal SPAs).
Going hut to hut means you need to reach your next destination no matter what, to stay in a dorm sometimes with a lot of people and/or noisy companies (unless you don't set up your own tent near the hut) and to be ready sometimes to pay double the price local people pay for food and drinks. If you are a big group do not go on such adventure without firm reservations made with all huts you plan to visit. It is very likely in summer that there will be no space for you inside. Hut to hut trails are better done using a mountain guide, who can react adequately in case of emergency up in the mountains and to look after your interests in the huts where you stay.
If you base at Bansko/Dobrinishte you can do day hikes to: 1) Bynderishki Lakes Cirque; 2) Mount Vihren (2914m); 3) do a longer hike from Vihren hut through Bynderishki Lakes and Vasilashki Lakes down to Demyanitsa hut and Bansko; 4) use the chairlift above Dobrinishte for a walk to Popovo Lake and/or climb Mount Bezbog and the summit of Mount Polezhan, the latter offering stunning views in clear weather. Short transfers there and back should be prearranged although the cabin lift from Bansko works some days in summer but working schedule is advised very late in the season and is not really reliable. It also doesn't bring you up to the trails starting point at Vihren hut and you need to walk a bit further.
If you deside to go hut to hut some of the best trails is (or a part of it): Yavorov Hut - Koncheto - Mt. Vihren - Vihren hut - Tevno Lake refuge - Bezbog hut. Mind that Koncheto is among the biggest attractions of Pirin - very narrow marble ridge, which is extremely dangerous when it is foggy or rainy. Better visit only with a guide.
Good itineraries for guided and self-guided hiking tours in Pirin can be found on Traventuria's website. Weather conditions and snow presence in Pirin can be checked on the webcams of Julen - the ski lifts operator. Hotel accommodations are cheap in summer (around 12-15 Euros/person incl. breakfast in 3* hotel). Very good places to relax in hot water could be found in Banya village (just 5km outside Bansko) or in Dobrinishte resort.
Hiking season normally starts around mid-June but if winter had been harsh, patches of snow on certain trails may still remain until the beginning of July.
Exploring the mountains can be done using a base (for example the towns of Bansko or Dobrinishte) or going hut to hut and carrying all your luggage with you.
Using a base allows you to walk only using a day pack or to skip a certain day if you feel tired or the weather is not good (and use that time to relax in the nearby thermal SPAs).
Going hut to hut means you need to reach your next destination no matter what, to stay in a dorm sometimes with a lot of people and/or noisy companies (unless you don't set up your own tent near the hut) and to be ready sometimes to pay double the price local people pay for food and drinks. If you are a big group do not go on such adventure without firm reservations made with all huts you plan to visit. It is very likely in summer that there will be no space for you inside. Hut to hut trails are better done using a mountain guide, who can react adequately in case of emergency up in the mountains and to look after your interests in the huts where you stay.
If you base at Bansko/Dobrinishte you can do day hikes to: 1) Bynderishki Lakes Cirque; 2) Mount Vihren (2914m); 3) do a longer hike from Vihren hut through Bynderishki Lakes and Vasilashki Lakes down to Demyanitsa hut and Bansko; 4) use the chairlift above Dobrinishte for a walk to Popovo Lake and/or climb Mount Bezbog and the summit of Mount Polezhan, the latter offering stunning views in clear weather. Short transfers there and back should be prearranged although the cabin lift from Bansko works some days in summer but working schedule is advised very late in the season and is not really reliable. It also doesn't bring you up to the trails starting point at Vihren hut and you need to walk a bit further.
If you deside to go hut to hut some of the best trails is (or a part of it): Yavorov Hut - Koncheto - Mt. Vihren - Vihren hut - Tevno Lake refuge - Bezbog hut. Mind that Koncheto is among the biggest attractions of Pirin - very narrow marble ridge, which is extremely dangerous when it is foggy or rainy. Better visit only with a guide.
Good itineraries for guided and self-guided hiking tours in Pirin can be found on Traventuria's website. Weather conditions and snow presence in Pirin can be checked on the webcams of Julen - the ski lifts operator. Hotel accommodations are cheap in summer (around 12-15 Euros/person incl. breakfast in 3* hotel). Very good places to relax in hot water could be found in Banya village (just 5km outside Bansko) or in Dobrinishte resort.
Written June 21, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lloyd F
Devon, UK130 contributions
Aug 2016 • Couples
Not an avid hiker but we decided to spend a day exploring in the mountains, we had a car and the local advice was to drive to the "Vihren hut" and go from there, this is also easily accessed by taxi or bus from Bansko. As it happened we could not get to it as the road was shut further down and a cafe/campsite, no big deal, just a bit further to walk. The road up is tight, twisty and sometimes busy, if you're not comfortable driving abroad at the best if times, I'd give this one a miss and get the bus! Once at the hut there are a myriad of walks, the easiest being a 20 route to lake Okoto take the blue and yellow route there and cross the little bridge on your left, you can get to it on the red and green route but it is much steeper. All the routes are clearly marked with stripes of paint on the rocks, all routes involve scrabbling, three points of contact with the ground at times and you will get out of breath. It's hard going and walking shoes/really sturdy trainers are a must. Ideally take a day bag with water ect in with you. We spent about 5 hours on various trails and were both knackered by the time we got back to the car! God knows what the 9 hour route to the summit of mount vihren is like! Well worth the effort though, the views are stunning and it's all free....even the car parking!
Written August 20, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ahappycamper09
San Francisco, CA3 contributions
Aug 2011 • Friends
We hiked in Pirin National Park, known for its wealth of flora and fauna. There were colored markings along the trails. The glorious alpine landscape and its beautiful glacial lakes, called “the crystal eyes of Pirin” make it completely worth to be a World heritage national. Visited Southwestern Bulgaria(Bansko, Pirin National Park, Rila Monastery, Sofia) this August. For more info and pictures: http://ahappycampersblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/lets-go-international-visiting-bulgaria.html
Written September 19, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stanimir Z
Plovdiv, Bulgaria8 contributions
Apr 2016 • Friends
Pirin mountain is one of my favourite places in Bulgaria.Hiking during this time when you can definitely say the conditions are pure winter is not a joke at all.You should be very careful and appropriate equipment is a must if you decide to go for a walk up there.Besides this there is almost no people at all because ski season is over and all the crowd into Bezbog Hut is gone.
This is a Hut into the Pirin National park which you can reach with a lift Working from 8:30 to 16:00 every day, one way ticket is 10lv and 2 way ticket is 15.
To stay over for a night is between 15 and 30 lv depending if you want private room or shared one.The best thing you can try while you are up there is the Yogurt with Blueberry jam from the place right next to the lake.
If you are looking for a weekend far away from people and feel ready to make some good winter walk if the conditions are good Highly recommend it!
This is a Hut into the Pirin National park which you can reach with a lift Working from 8:30 to 16:00 every day, one way ticket is 10lv and 2 way ticket is 15.
To stay over for a night is between 15 and 30 lv depending if you want private room or shared one.The best thing you can try while you are up there is the Yogurt with Blueberry jam from the place right next to the lake.
If you are looking for a weekend far away from people and feel ready to make some good winter walk if the conditions are good Highly recommend it!
Written November 6, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mishulynne
Bucharest, Romania23 contributions
Aug 2015
The Pirin Mountains are very nice, although steep, with beautiful landscapes and many lakes. For the ones who made the Retezat mountains in Romania - they look similar, but Pirin are steeper and the altitude is higher.
The Vihren Peak (2914m) looks very unapproachable, but in fact is ok, not so technical as it looks like.
And the Koncheto Ridge is maybe the most spectacular high route in Pirin. As I saw some people pulling along the ridge, being afraid of, I strongly recommend - to the ones wanting to go there - to see some recordings with walking in the ridge (you may find on YouTube) in order to be prepared and to have realistic expectations. It is better, for your protection and mental comfort, to wear some climbing equipment on: a harness with two slings (nylon runners) and two carabiners, and you'll set up an anchor on the existent cable.
In rest, as a helpful note try to learn the Cyrillic alphabet and take a map of the Pirin Mountains with you, as there on the mountain area are only a few people speaking English.
Enjoy!
The Vihren Peak (2914m) looks very unapproachable, but in fact is ok, not so technical as it looks like.
And the Koncheto Ridge is maybe the most spectacular high route in Pirin. As I saw some people pulling along the ridge, being afraid of, I strongly recommend - to the ones wanting to go there - to see some recordings with walking in the ridge (you may find on YouTube) in order to be prepared and to have realistic expectations. It is better, for your protection and mental comfort, to wear some climbing equipment on: a harness with two slings (nylon runners) and two carabiners, and you'll set up an anchor on the existent cable.
In rest, as a helpful note try to learn the Cyrillic alphabet and take a map of the Pirin Mountains with you, as there on the mountain area are only a few people speaking English.
Enjoy!
Written August 19, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Desi_H
Sofia2 contributions
Aug 2011 • Friends
A beautiful and rewarding place for mountaineers and hikers. A lot of trekking opportunities in the summer of various difficulty and exposure. Most of the paths are marked and there are good maps. Good weather forecast is recommended. (Forecast for the highest peak Vihren can be found here http://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/Vihren/forecasts/2915). There may be snow up on the mountain until late spring/early summer. Winter activities in the mountain are only for experienced mountaineers/climbers. The park is protected area so sleeping in a tent is forbidden (near some huts it is allowed). If you plan to sleep in a hut you should better call to save a place at least two weeks earlier in high season. More information and accommodation you can find in Bansko, a famous winter ski resort near the mountain.
Written March 26, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Debra M
Val-d'Or, Quebec, Canada20 contributions
Jul 2017 • Couples
One of our favourite days in Bulgaria was spent hiking in Pirin Park - a UNESCO heritage site. We hiked to the first glacial lake - a gorgeous spot! You need good shoes and a hat. Bulgaria’s oldest tree (1,300 years old) is also in the park; a short walk leads to it. There is a restaurant where you can park your car and continue walking up the road to the first refuge where the real hiking begins; the food at the restaurant was delicious (We had bean soup with garlic bread and strained yogurt with honey, which is a typical Bulgarian dessert), but be aware that the toilet facilities are a hole in the floor of a rough building located behind a hillock a short walk away from the restaurant.
Written April 15, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Catherine W
50 contributions
Jul 2017
The proximity to Bansko makes the park an excellent option for day hikes. The scenery is spectacular. We opted for some of the hikes to the alpine lakes. Popovo (or Priest's lake) makes for a great day trip. Drive through Dobrinishte to the Gotse Delchev hut and then take the chairlift up to Bezbog hut (about 20 minutes) to find the start of the trail. The hike to the lake takes a couple hours and has some steep rocky sections so not for beginners. Another great hike starts from Vihren hut - you can drive and park there - and then look for the trails to Okoto,Ribnoto and Muratovo. Also a 2 hour hike each way. Look online for more details of specific trails.
Written July 20, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sorin-Daniel D
Constanta, Romania233 contributions
Jul 2012 • Family
First of all, travelling by car in Bulgaria isn't the best thing. Roads are awfull. Stupid drivers, no rules for locals, but for foreigners are a lot of them. After every corner traffic police stand for "catching you". For 2-3 km above the stupid speed limits, you can choose to pay the fine at the border, or to pay "on site" 10 euro. You have a 90km/h speed limits outside cities, but suddenly you have a signs sequence 60-40-30, and after corner police is waiting. if you drive with 42km/h on a 40 limit you are burned. But locals can overtake you on forbidden areas, in curves, in crossings, they can drive with 120 or more without any problem because "only foreigners" can be "burned".
Hotels are OK, nice, comfortable, ncie facilities, but in most of them services are below limit. English is an issue. Using card payment can also be an issue most of the time. Safety for you or your car is on your hand only.
I seriously think to find another route, even longer and more expensive than crossing Bulgaria by car.
Hotels are OK, nice, comfortable, ncie facilities, but in most of them services are below limit. English is an issue. Using card payment can also be an issue most of the time. Safety for you or your car is on your hand only.
I seriously think to find another route, even longer and more expensive than crossing Bulgaria by car.
Written July 29, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Good morning,
I would like to do a 2-day hike with 2 boys of 11 and 13 years with a good condition, and sleep in a hut. What can you advise?
Thank you.
Stéphanie
Written June 8, 2021
Hi, am thinking of staying 2 nights in Bansko. However, we do not have a car. Can we do daily hike? Will there be hiking trails which we can follow?
Written March 3, 2020
Does anybody know about short (2-4 hours) trail passable by a wheelchair in the park in June?
Written June 8, 2019
Will be traveling with a 5 year old end of August. Will have a car.
Are there any easy trails we can attempt?
Written August 14, 2017
hi,
How do I contact hut Bezbog and Demyanitsa hut to reserve beds there? The no. I have is diconnected.Is there an e-mail? How did you do it?
Thank you
Inam
Written July 10, 2017
Paulien0987
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
What is the best way to reach the Pirin National Park, without having a car? I am planning on going there in july, per plain. How to get there from Sofia is the question.
Written March 4, 2015
Can anyone advise how to book Demianista and Pirin huts please. We want to do a longer walk and stay overnight in these huts but can't find contact details
Thanks
Written March 3, 2015
Can anyone advise me how to book the Demyanista Hut and the Pirin Hut please. We are walking in the Pirin Park and want to do a longer walk staying overnight in the huts but can't get contact details. Thankyou
Written February 28, 2015
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