Places to visit
Many of the most popular hiking trails in Rila Mountain start or pass through Panichishte, i.e. the trails to the Seven Lakes, Skakavitsa Reserve and Waterfall, Malyovitsa, Borovets and the most popular spiritual monument in Bulgaria - the Rila Monastery. The tourist routes take you to Lovna and Vada chalets, downstream Bistritsa River mountaineers can reach the Byal kladenetz (White Well) and Ivan Vazov chalets.
The trip to Skakavitsa Chalet lasts about two hours. The route goes on to the Seven Rila Lakes and the two Rila Lakes Chalets – the old and the new one. The place near the chalets is very good for skiing, and especially skiing on unbeaten snow and descending through the forests.
Panichishte is the largest natural opening to the heart of Rila Mountain and that fact makes it the perfect place for building a visitors’ center in it. The center was designed to attractively fit its location and blend with the natural silhouette of the mountain. The focus of the Rila National Park Visitor’s Center in the Panichishte Resort is to offer visitors all the information they may require concerning Rila National Park.
The Visitors’ Center gives information about the variety of plant and animal species that live in the mountain. The center also helps to promote ecologically sensitive tourism.
In the center you can find necessary information regarding tourist trails in Rila Mountain, organize mountain guides, or make reservations. There is a small shop on the first floor of the center where visitors can buy maps, postcards, souvenirs, films and toiletries. Newspapers and magazines are also available there.
Keen excursion goers can visit the nearby Sapareva Banya town which is on the way from Sofia to Panichishte. The road from the town to the resort site is cleaned regularly and there is also a regular minivan that can take you there. Sapareva Banya is famous for its warm water geyser, the only one on the Balkans.
Panichishte is the largest natural opening to the heart of Rila Mountain and that fact makes it the perfect place for building a visitors’ center in it. The center was designed to attractively fit its location and blend with the natural silhouette of the mountain. The focus of the Rila National Park Visitor’s Center in the Panichishte Resort is to offer visitors all the information they may require concerning Rila National Park.
The Visitors’ Center gives information about the variety of plant and animal species that live in the mountain. The center also helps to promote ecologically sensitive tourism.
In the center you can find necessary information regarding tourist trails in Rila Mountain, organize mountain guides, or make reservations. There is a small shop on the first floor of the center where visitors can buy maps, postcards, souvenirs, films and toiletries. Newspapers and magazines are also available there.
Keen excursion goers can visit the nearby Sapareva Banya town which is on the way from Sofia to Panichishte. The road from the town to the resort site is cleaned regularly and there is also a regular minivan that can take you there. Sapareva Banya is famous for its warm water geyser, the only one on the Balkans.
