Hike & Indulge: 5★ Kempinski Spa Hotel, Vihren Peak & Rila Monastery

Join us in the Balkans for a powerful long weekend combining a serious mountain ascent, luxury spa indulgence, and one of Eastern Europe’s most important UNESCO sites.

We summit Vihren Peak (2,914m) — the third-highest mountain in the Balkans — before unwinding in a 5★ Kempinski spa hotel in the mountain town of Bansko. The weekend finishes with a visit to the Rila Monastery, hidden deep in forested mountains, and a final night out in Sofia, Bulgaria’s lively capital.

📏 Key Info
• 🌙 Nights: 3 (Fri–Mon)
• 💷 Cost: £418
• 🥾 Difficulty: Challenging/Tough 6–7 hrs hiking
• 🛶 Activities: Hiking/sightseeing
• 🛌 Room Type: Hotels - Twin ensuite
• 🚐 Transport: Private minibus
• 🍽️ Meals Included: All Breakfasts
• ✈️ Start & End City: Sofia (free transfer to Hotels)
• 🚐 Airport Transfer: Group transfer included for suggested flights

🌟 Trip Highlights
• Summit Vihren Peak (1100m ascent) - third highest mountain in the Balkans
• 2 nights at the 5★ Kempinski Grand Arena Bansko (LINK)
• Full spa access included - pools, saunas, outdoor jacuzzi & bar
• Visit the Rila Monastery (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
• Final night in Sofia to enjoy the capital’s nightlife
• Qualified English speaking Bulgarian mountain guides (approx. 1 guide per 8 hikers)
• Private transport throughout
• Easy, high-impact long weekend escape

🌅 Trip Description
This weekend is designed for hikers who want breathtaking mountains by day and comfortable luxury to match.

We hike within Pirin National Park, a UNESCO-listed wilderness of jagged limestone peaks, alpine lakes and ancient forests stretching towards Greece. Our goal is Vihren, the highest mountain in the range and a true Balkan classic.

After the hike, recovery is taken seriously. We stay at the Kempinski Grand Arena, where heated pools, saunas, spa rooms and a large outdoor jacuzzi make recovery feel indulgent rather than optional.

On Sunday, we slow the pace with a visit to the Rila Monastery, an architectural and spiritual masterpiece over 1,000 years old, set deep in a forested mountain valley. The trip finishes in Sofia, where you’re free to explore the city’s restaurants, bars and nightlife.

🛏️ Accommodation & Transport
• Bansko (2 nights) – Twin bedded en-suite rooms at Kempinski Grand Arena (LINK)
• Sofia (1 night) – Twin bedded en-suite rooms at Budapest Hotel (LINK)
• Transport:
Private group minibus: Sofia Airport → Bansko → Sofia

📅 Itinerary

Friday – Arrival & Transfer to Bansko

Meet at Sofia Airport and transfer by private vehicle to Bansko, Bulgaria’s premier mountain resort, set beneath the towering Pirin peaks.

Check in, settle into the spa hotel, and enjoy a relaxed evening with access to the pools, spa and local restaurants.

Saturday
• Hike: Vihren Peak (2914m)
• Grading: Challenging/Tough - similar to Snowdon
• Ascent: 1100m
• Hiking time: 6 – 7 hours

An early start sees us heading into Pirin National Park, a UNESCO-listed mountain range with over 100 glacial lakes and Europe’s southernmost glaciers.

This is a proper mountain hike requiring good fitness, steady footing and confidence on steep terrain. Those who have completed Snowdon or Lake District big days will be well prepared.

Weather dependent, we reach the summit of Vihren - LINK, with panoramic views across Bulgaria and into Greece. A basic packed breakfast is provided due to the early departure.

The afternoon and evening are for spa indulgence - pools, saunas, jacuzzi and relaxed dining.

Sunday

• Activity: Visit Rila Monastery UNESCO LINK
• Visit time: 2 hours

After breakfast, we travel to the Rila Monastery, Bulgaria’s most important cultural and spiritual site. Founded in the 10th century, it sits hidden within forested mountains at over 1,100m altitude.

After time to explore independently, we transfer to Sofia. The guided portion of the trip ends here. Evening free to enjoy the capital - past groups have made the most of it.

Monday – Sofia & Departure

After breakfast, enjoy free time in Sofia before making your own way to the airport.
The metro to the airport is simple and inexpensive (approx. €1).

🍽️ Food
Breakfast is provided each day. As we are staying in a town with many shops and supermarkets you are free to buy your own favourite items for lunch each day as per your own dietary preferences/requirements. For dinner you can explore the local cuisine with some great restaurants here. The hotels offer buffet breakfasts and can cater for all mainstream dietary requirements.

Dietary requirements:
• We must be aware of all dietary needs before booking – please email us first to confirm if your requirements can be accommodated: [info@outdooraholics.co.uk](mailto:info@outdooraholics.co.uk)

💷 Cost & Booking
• £418

How to book:
• Click “Attend” and pay a £100 deposit by PayPal to secure your space
• Remainder due by Sunday 31st May 2026 (by bank transfer)
• Payment details are emailed 1 week before the balance deadline

Payment terms:
• Payments are non-refundable and non-transferable
• When the trip is sold out, fully paid spaces may be advertised to the same gender (see FAQ for details)

✅ Price Includes
• 3 nights’ accommodation in twin bedded en-suite rooms (2 in the spa hotel, 1 in Sofia city)
• Breakfast each day
• Use of the hotel pools and spa at our Spa Hotel
• Private minibus throughout the trip and back to Sofia
• Complimentary fixed time airport transfer at the start
• Hikes by trained guides (Outdoor First Aiders)
• Compliance with the 2018 Package Travel Regulations, including financial protection

❌ Price Excludes
• Flights, dinners, drinks and lunches
• Local airport transfer on the last day (Metro to Sofia Airport is approx 1 Euro)

✈️ Flights, Start & End Times
All times below are local Bulgarian time.

Arrival – Friday (Sofia Airport → Bansko)
For anyone arriving on one of the suggested flights below or already at the airport – we offer a complimentary group transfer, departing 2:20pm from Sofia Airport - TERMINAL 2. We will wait up to 3 hours for delays on the listed flights below only.

Inbound flights – 18.09.2026

• Wizzair flight: W64302
8:10am from London Luton (LTN) → Sofia Terminal 1 (SOF) landing 1:20pm
• British Airways flight: BA892
8:20am from London Heathrow (LHR) → Sofia Terminal 2 (SOF) landing 1:30pm
• Ryanair flight: FR9961
9:00am from London Stansted (STN) → Sofia Terminal 2 (SOF) landing 2:00pm

If you arrive later or on a different flight, you’ll need to make your own way to the accommodation in Bansko. Flights are not part of the package. You are responsible for reaching the meeting point, even if your flight is delayed or changed so please ensure your travel insurance covers travel disruption.

Return – Monday

The trip ends at the hotel in Sofia and you can make your own way to the airport. The cheapest way to do this is via metro (underground) and it costs about 0.80 Euros, taxis are also cheap.

Please book return flights with a comfortable buffer, as we are not responsible for missed connections; your travel insurance should cover delays or disruption. Due to risks of delays in the journey/accidents/breakdowns/road works etc, we recommend exploring Sofia and taking an evening flight.

🛡️ Insurance & Entry Requirements
It is essential that you have travel insurance which covers:
• Emergency medical treatment
• Hiking (up to 3000m in this case)
• Cancellation and curtailment
• Travel disruption (e.g. if you cannot reach the start of the trip due to delayed or cancelled flights)

You will be required to provide a copy of your insurance policy. Without valid insurance, we cannot accept you onto the trip and no refund will be due in this case.

Outdooraholics cannot verify what any policy covers – you must confirm this directly with your insurer. The guide accepting your policy details is not confirmation that it is valid or adequate.

Entry requirements:
• Valid travel documents for Bulgaria, including a passport and visa if required
• Bulgaria is in the EU – please check entry rules for your nationality

❓ Want to Know More?
• New to Our Overseas Trips? – Perfect for first-timers, answers “what to expect”
• About Us – Who Outdooraholics are, credibility & history
• ❓ FAQs – Answers to the most common queries

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