Yastrebets Gondola Lift - Upper Station

This is the most popular summer route for climbing the highest peak in the Balkans and is one of the most scenic in Rila – we will see the five highest peaks in the mountain and pass along the shores of several glacial lakes. The Yastrebets Gondola lift takes us up to an altitude of nearly 2,400 meters and saves us most of the elevation gain, and along the way, there are two places where we can grab a bite to eat – Musala Hut and Ledeno Ezero (Ice Lake) Shelter. The route is suitable for a day trip from Sofia. Even if you don’t have a car, the bus ride to Borovets via Samokov takes about an hour and a half to two hours each way (including the wait at the stops), and the gondola lift takes 25 minutes to reach Yastrebets. So, if you leave early (with the first bus from Sofia at 7:30 AM), you can return on the same day.

The Crown of Musala is one of the two classic alpine traverses in Rila – the other being the Malyovitsa Traverse. There is no shortage of dangerous sections, especially at Trionite (The Saws) and on the descent from Malka Musala Peak, so if you have doubts about your preparation, it is better to hire a mountain guide.