Borovetz 2026

Last Friday husband and I decided to make another hike on Rila, that has been among our staples in the last few years - from Borovetz to Chakur voivoda hut, and from there up to the skirts of peak Shatur and back to Borovetz along an alternative trail.

The first part of the hike to Sitnyakovo was honestly pretty ugly - there was some "sanitary" felling of trees, the track was dusty, broken and disturbed by heavy machinery, tree logs and branches were scattered around and the entire atmosphere was more of an industrial construction site rather than a nature park.

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

Husband: boxers, Burda cargo pants

I: lingerie, Burda color jeans, hound tooth's hoodie

Thankfully, the felling and vehicles are only allowed up to a point below Sitnyakovo, so from there on our beloved Rila was back in all of its usual glory and might. The route we had designed for ourselves was circuit, so we didn't have to go back along the same track.

Hike info:

Date: 14 August 2026

Destination: Tzarska Bistritza round trip

Mountain: Rila

Total length: 16.5 km

Elevation gain: 790 m

Total duration (plus picnic and berry gathering): 6 hours

Average difficulty: 6 / 10

We had a lovely picnic on our usual bench at Chakur voivoda and after a well deserved rest we continued up the trail.

Soon the peaks of Deno and Shatur were visible

The season of blueberries along this part of the trail was in its prime and in the end we gave up and stopped to collect a few handfuls for a blueberry pie.

The highest point of our hike - at the foot of peak Shatur.

The border of blueberry shrubs on both sides of the track was kilometers long, but we were a bit more careful, after I saw a snake on the track, scared by our steps, crawl into the shrubs.

The most beautiful part of the trail was the forest by the Bistritza river - this part of the mountain is absolutely mesmerizing.

The last section of the trail ran along the track to Musala hut and we came upon some raspberry bushes. It was late in the day along a well frequented track, so the berries were mostly gone, picked by other hikers, but we managed to gather a handful, which I turned into an parfait cake with raspberries. Nothing compares to the flavour of wild raspberries, you have to taste it to believe it - it was bombastic!

Borovetz 2025

This Sunday we chose to repeat a circuit hike around Borovetz, we composed two years ago. Despite its 17 km length and decent almost 800 m elevation gain, the trail is not too strenuous and extremely pleasant, especially after Chakur Voivoda shelter, where from it encompasses paths, which are more obscure and rarely trodden upon.

The day was somewhat cloudy and with a freshness in the air, which made the hike additionally pleasant. We parked the car at Tzarska Bistritza and took the trail to Sitnyakovo.

Borovetz mountain resort from the track 

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

Husband: boxers, Burda cargo pants

I: lingerie, Burda raglan t-shirt, Sabrina Slims II, hound tooth's hoodie in the backpack

 

Hike info:

Date: 29 June 2025 

Destination: Tzarska Bistritza round trip

Mountain: Rila

Total length: 17 km

Elevation gain: 790 m

Total duration (plus picnic and rests): 6 hours

Average difficulty: 6 / 10

The high peaks of Rila became visible for a spell, once we climbed up from Chakur voivoda shelter, where had our lunch.

A glimpse towards the town of Samokov and Iskar dam

The second part of our hike passed by the river Bistritza (one of the many with this name) and its tributaries. I tried the trick of dipping your bare feet in the freezing waters - it is extremely refreshing for the tired legs after a long hike.

We closed the circuit with a shortcut through the woods to Tzarska Bistritza parking lot - a glorious 6 hour hike, that was worth every drop of sweat :)

Borovetz 2023

This year's first hike on Rila. I am always so hyped when we climb there, Rila is really something else for me, as far as mountains go, even when we stick to the lower parts of the mountain.

Last week we hiked a circular track from Tzarska Bistritza in Borovetz, through Sitnyakovo and Chakur voivoda hut to the cross point at the foot of Shatur peak and down back to Tzarska Bistritza along an alternative trail. It was a warm sunny day, just perfect for a hike in the mountains, and as it was a Friday, the resort and the trails were fairly empty, which is such a bonus. I love it, when the weather forecasts pin Friday as the best day for a mountain hike, as we get to enjoy the mountains comfortably and not get to compete for parking space, navigate traffic jams and crowded trails, especially during the busy summer season.

 :Borovetz mountain resort

Hike info:

Destination: Tzarska Bistritza round trip

Mountain: Rila

Total length: 17 km

Elevation gain: 790 m

Total duration (plus picnic and rests): 6 hours

Average difficulty: 6 / 10

 

:Sitnyakovo private residence

:The high peaks of Rila became visible when we climbed above the 2000 m mark

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

Husband: boxers, Knipmode cargo pants, Burda raglan hoodie in the backpack

I: lingerie, Burda raglan blouse, Knipmode  flared leggings, Houndstooth hoodie in the backpack

:At the cross-point section (2170 m), with the backdrop of peak Shatur

:The town of Samokov and Iskar dam in the distance

:The final stretch of the trail back to Borovetz runs along Bistritza river (one of the dozen or so same-named rivers in the country)

:We had to cross the river and its tributaries several times, along real or makeshift (fallen logs) bridges

Borovetz 2022

Yesterday was probably one of the hottest days in Sofia this year so far - 37C, so we decided to spend it in Rila, starting very early in the morning. So early, that we obviously hadn't quite awakened and forgot our sandwiches, freshly made and packed, on the kitchen table :(

We chose to hike along the path to Chakur voivoda hut, one of our favourite paths, starting from Borovetz.

:Even though we were above the 1800 m altitude line, it was still hot and very, very sunny

:I wore my new hiking leggings, which I had just finished on Friday. I used the free kid's leggins pattern by Love Notions, size 14, shortened below the knee and with an added cuff with two buttons.

:We chose Borovetz in the hope that the shady path under the pine trees would be more comfortable to hike compared to the open paths in the higher parts of the mountain.

:Half way to Chakur voivoda hut we had an idea to spice up our usual route and to take an alternative path.

:We detoured to Sitnyakovo lift chair, drank a cold home made lemonade in a local coffee shop with this gorgeous view over the pine forest and the peaks across and began discussing the alternative trail. However, after a closer inspection of the map it became clear to us, that it would be better to continue to Chakur voivoda hut along the popular trail, climb up to the cross-point section  and take the alternative trail downhill, as it was too steep - this is what we did and it was a truly wise decision!

:After a short lunch break at Chakur voivoda, we continued uphill and soon the glorious tops of Shatur, Deno and other Rila peaks were visible.

Hike info:

Destination: Chakur Voivoda hut round trip

Mountain: Rila

Total length: 20 km

Elevation gain: 810 m

Total duration (plus picnic and rests): 6 hours

Average difficulty: 6 / 10

:At the cross-point section (2170 m), with the backdrop of peak Shatur

:Some part of the downhill trail passed through thick dwarf mountain pines and included elements of limbo-rock and duck walk exercises. Unfortunately, here I lost my hiking pole, which I had stuck in my backpack - it must have fallen out without me noticing during all the crawling and fencing off branches :(

:After the dwarf pines we came to the most beautiful part of the hike - the lonely and narrow trail through the true pine forest.

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

Husband: boxers

I: lingerie, striped tunic, Love Notions leggings, Houndstooth hoodie in the backpack

:Yellow flowers and butterflies at Sitnyakovo

:Borovetz mountain resort