Borovets (summer)

Once upon a time… The place to be for hiking! Borovets is the oldest and largest winter sports resort in Bulgaria but, in summer, it becomes a haven for the hiker. Situated at 1350 meters altitude on the north side of the Rila Mountains, it offers the regions best hikes, like the 7 Rila Lakes or Mount Musala, the highest peak in the Balkans (2925 m).

As per usual, we offer you a number of different options: you can either join one of our fabulous groups, you can take off on your own, with a close-knit group of family and/or friends… Let’s first address the group trips that Once Upon A Time has planned for Summer 2022. Your holiday starts on Friday, August 5 and ends on Friday, August 12.

We’ve concocted a fantastic program that blends hiking, yoga classes and fabulous moments of relaxation in a 5-star hotel. In fact, our home base will be the Rila Hotel, the most prestigious hotel in Borovets. Even if the sporty side of things is an integral part of this trip… imagine a pool, a gym and a spa at the end of a long day of hiking… I’d call that an extra layer of well-being.

Let us know what you think about the program…
08:00 : yoga class and a early morning physical work-out
09:00 : breakfast
10:30 : mountain hiking (between 3 and 6 hours, depending on your level) and/or excursions
17:00 : yoga class
18:00 : relaxation (swimming, steam bath, sauna, massage…)
20:00 : dinner and other activities (bowling, long conversations by the fireplace…)

As far as the hikes go, we will most definitely be going to the 7 Rila Lakes (an incredible hike that we have already reviewed for you in 2021 – you can read about it here) and Mount Musala, the highest peak in the Balkans, at almost 3000 meters altitude. However, our guide and hike-manager, Asen Rashev will also be taking you on the not-so beaten track. Two different groups (depending on fitness levels) will allow everyone to enjoy the breathtaking scenery that this region offers.

During one of the hikes, we will also be visiting the Rila Monastery. At the heart of the Rila National Park, it is the most visited site in Bulgaria. The monument is typical of Bulgarian Renaissance and serves as a symbol of the Bulgarians’ cultural awakening after centuries of Ottoman occupation. The Rila Monastery has been recognised as a cultural heritage by UNESCO, since 1983.

Check out the “Travel Diaries” section where you can read an account of one of our trips, which we undertook with a group of about 20 people, in August 2021, in Pamporovo.

If you prefer travelling alone, or with a bunch of friends or your partner, we’ll be by your side to make things as easy as possible by helping you put together the trip of your dreams. That’s our “As you wish” option: all you need to do is decide on the length of your trip, the number of people who’ll be joining you and what program appeals most to you… we can even tweak that too, if you’d like. That’s it! We take care of all the nitty-gritty for you: transportation, guides, visits…

In any case… we promise you an exceptional break-from-it-all!