Ushite, Rila, 2026

Finally in Rila! For various reasons these months we've been sticking mostly to Vitosha and last Friday was our first hike in Rila for the year.

We decided to repeat a hike we did last year with our daughter - to peak Ushite in Rila. Although the climb to Ushite is considered fairly difficult and rather steep, the place is so beautiful and the terrain so varied, that this hike is becoming one of my favourites.

The first part of the hike starts from the parking lot at the Central Mountain Station towards hut Malyovitza. The day was hot, but cloudy and for August the popular place was fairly empty, probably because of the work day.

We stopped at hut Malyovitza only for a short while, to fill up our water bottles, and continued towards the first terrace.

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

Husband: boxers, Burda T-shirt, Burda cargo pants, Burda hoodie

I: lingerie, Burda raglan T-shirt, Burda colour jeans

The trail to Ushite deviatesfrom the popular trail to Malyovitza  at the first terrace and takes a steep climb along the Ovcharski chute.

 

Finally on the ridge - by the beautiful Malyovitza lakes

We had decided to divide the hike into two phases and had a small protein packed power snack for the first break by the second Malyovitza lake - boiled egg, cheddar, home-grown cherry tomatoes and cucumbers.

After a nice and relaxing pause, we continued up by the third Malyovitza lake to the next ridge.

The view from the ridge towards the gorge of Urdina river

Peak Ushite

Finally on the peak - the scenery was like from a post card

Hike info:

Date: 05 August 2026 

Destination: Ushite peak round trail (2547 m)

Mountain: Rila

Total length: 16 km

Elevation gain: 850 m

Total duration (plus picnic and rests): 7 hours

Average difficulty: 7 / 10

We had a long lunch break here, enjoying the views and the well deserved tortillas and beer.

The gorge of Urdina river is home of Gold eagles and common kestrels, as well as many other birds of prey and mountain birds. It was simply amazing to watch the mighty eagles fly around us so up close.

Zeleni ridge and the Kalin peaks across 

The astonishing Malyovo pole - so level and grassy at 2500 m altitude. We went down through the meadow towards the first Malyovitza lake, directly through the grass, without trail, probably the most fun part of the hike.

To close the circle, we decided to climb down through the so call Rabbit trail - a long, very steep and slippery trail from the ridge to Malyovitza hut. One of those trails, where going down is almost as tiring and slow as climbing up.

Finally, back to Malyovitza hut, for a short break and to fill up our water bottles again, before the final stretch to the parking lot and the car. Summer is late this year and the blueberries at the higher altitudes were still green, unlike last year, but the bushes in the forest near the start of the trail had enough berries, so that we managed to pick some for a blueberry crumble, that I baked immediately on the next day - and it was delicious :)

Razgrad August 2026

A few photos from my walks through Razgrad during my August visit recently.

The year is distinctly cooler and rainier and the flowers and greenery are much fresher, than they were in the summer last year.

The central pedestrian area, with the clock tower, which stands nearly 26 meters tall. Originally constructed in the 18th century, it was rebuilt in 1864. Its design features a solid, fortress-like stone base topped with an elegant octagonal wooden belfry. The historic bell inside was imported from Hungary back in 1731 and still rings out today.

Built in 1879–1880, a memorial chapel and ossuary, that holds the remains of Russian soldiers who died in the area during the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878). It was designed by the famous Austrian architect Friedrich Grünanger in a Classical Revival / Neo-Renaissance style with prominent columns and a triangular pediment, topped with an Orthodox dome and cross.

The sculpture of Master Manol, a legendary craftsman from Balkan folklore, the Bulgarian Icarus. According to legend, after building a magnificent structure for the ruler, Manol was trapped atop it so he could never replicate his work; to escape, he crafted wooden wings and took to the sky - making the statue a symbol of human creativity, freedom, and spirit.

The Ibrahim Pasha Mosque is one of the largest Ottoman-era mosques in the Balkans and the second-largest in Bulgaria, recognized as a national monument of culture. Commissioned in the 16th century by Grand Vizier Ibrahim Pasha, it is an architectural masterpiece of classical Ottoman stone masonry.

Traditional terracotta roof tiling - known as "monk and nun" tiles - layered along the stone walls and eaves, giving the traditional Bulgarian Revival architecture its warm, rustic, and weathered character

Boyana Waterfalls 2026

We had a wonderful hike on Friday to Boyana waterfalls on Vitosha. The day was very hot, but the forest offered us shadow and breeze, the trail is fairly easy and we definitely had one of our most relaxed hikes lately.

The Boyana lake - I had never seen it with so many water lilies!

On Borova skala, overlooking the Kopitoto tv tower and peak

Hike info:

Date: 31 July 2026

Destination: Boyana Waterfalls

Mountain: Vitosha

Total length: 14 km

Elevation gain: 290 m

Total duration (plus picnic and rests): 5 hours

Average difficulty: 4 / 10

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

Husband: boxers, Burda cargo pants, Burda hoodie in backpack

I: lingerie, Love Notions Joggers, Love Notions LDT

The waterfall - in the middle of the summer, the rivers, that usually run along the trail near the waterfall, were almost dry and the waterfall itself is only a small part of its full-watered self in spring.

We stayed here shortly - lately we prefer to take our lunch at a less touristy and quieter place - although the trail was not packed, by any means, the waterfall itself was quite packed with hikers and there was even a big schoolchildren group.

On our way back, we made a happy discovery - the hidden trail to Sui vrah - very secluded and totally empty. We found a lovely oak tree grove with comfortable moss covered ground, where we spent a blessed hour, drinking cold beer, enjoying our delicious tortillas and jam-filled muffins.

While husband was resting, I explored the trail to the end and climbed the Sui vrah

The view to Sofia from Sui vrah

And back to Boyana lake - it was so beautiful with all these yellow water lilies

and a couple of white

Although the trail is to and fro, and I prefer circuit trails, it was one of the best hiking experiences we've had lately - so beautiful and relaxing, and only half an hour car drive from home - what is there not to like!