Musala — Attraction in Samokov

How to Reach Mount Musala (2925 m)

Mount Musala, located in the Rila Mountains, is the highest peak in Bulgaria and the entire Balkan Peninsula. Despite its impressive height, the route to the summit is relatively accessible and well-organized, making it one of the most popular hiking destinations in the country.

The most common route begins in the Borovets ski resort, which is about 70 km south of Sofia. From Borovets, you can take the Yastrebetz gondola lift, which brings you up to an altitude of 2,369 meters in about 25 minutes. This is where the actual hike to the summit begins.

The trail is well-marked and maintained. The first part of the hike leads to Musala Hut, located at 2,389 meters, where many hikers choose to take a short break. From the hut, the trail continues gradually upward to the Ledenoto Ezero Shelter (“The Icy Lake”), situated just below the summit. This is the last resting point before the final ascent.

The last stretch of the trail is steeper and more rocky, but it does not require special mountaineering equipment. With a bit of caution and moderate physical fitness, most hikers can complete the ascent safely. On clear days, the panoramic views from the summit are absolutely breathtaking — you can see vast stretches of the Rila, Pirin, and even the Balkan mountains.

The round-trip hike from the top of the lift station to Musala Peak typically takes around 5 to 6 hours, depending on your pace and the weather conditions. It’s recommended to start early in the day to avoid afternoon clouds or sudden weather changes.

Although not technically difficult, the hike to Musala is high-altitude and can be challenging due to weather, so hikers should wear proper footwear, bring layers of clothing, water, snacks, and ideally a GPS or offline map.

Whether you're an experienced hiker or just looking to conquer the highest point in the Balkans, Musala offers an unforgettable alpine experience and some of the best views...

The hike from Musala Hut (via Ledenoto Hut) is a challenging 3.5 km that takes 2 hours for the relatively fit. The ridge "trail" that goes pretty much straight from the Yastrebets Gondola station to the summit is rugged, not well defined, and significantly more challenging than approaching Via Musala Hut. It looks shorter on the map (and it is), but it will end up taking more time due to the challenging terrain of large boulders, scree fields, and difficult route-finding. It was fun and had beautiful views, but the ridge trail is definitely more challenging for both ascending and descending.

It's pretty cool to be at the highest point in Bulgaria - just 6 meters higher than Mount Olympus (the highest point in Greece). There is a bit of a rivalry between Bulgaria and Greece and it's said, every time a Bulgarian climbs Mount Musala, they should take a rock up to make it taller, and each time a Greek climbs Musala, they bring...

Musala is the leader of Rila and the entire Balkan Peninsula. Its altitude is 2925.4 m. Тhere are several routes to Mount Musala from Borovets, the shortest being the Yastrebets lift via the Musala hut and the Everest shelter, which takes about 4 hours to climb. About 3 hours longer is the classic ascent from Borovets along the Musalen trail that leads to the Musala hut. The other possible ascents from Borovets are through the valley of Maritsa, and there are several marked trails between the Chakar voivoda, Maritsa and Zavrachitsa huts. From the south, Musala can be climbed in about 4 hours from Granchar hut, which can be reached from Yakoruda, Belmeken, Semkovo or Ribni Ezera hut. That even the White Sea can be seen on a clear day is a legend. The mountains in southern Bulgaria and northern Greece prevent direct visibility, and the spherical shape of the Earth makes it impossible to observe such...