Four days in Pirin - hiking trail

General information

Getting there

The four day trek starts at Vihren hut. There is a small bus driving multiple times per day between Vihren hut and Bansko. Bansko is a city which can be reached by public transport if you wish to do so. Times for the bus between Vihren hut and Bansko can be found on this website: https://visit-bansko.bg/en/helpful/line-bansko-vihren

Starting point coordinates: 41.756562, 23.416483

Information about the hike

This four day hike in the Pirin National Park gives you a great overview of what Pirin has to offer. High peaks, rocky paths as well as some smoother terrain with many streams and lakes.

You will spend three nights in Bulgarian mountain huts where food and beds with sheets are available. Do not forget to make a timely reservation, especially on the weekends.

The second day of this hike is the most challenging of the four days. More details on this can be read in the desciption of that day. The trail can be made easier to your liking. The attached GPS tracks are however made for the more challenging option. It is not hard to make the route easier with a bit of map reading in combination with the description of the second day.

Getting back

You can get back to Bansko with the same bus that took you to Vihren hut.

Day 1 - Information

On the first day of this four day trek you walk from Vihren hut to Sinanitsa hut. This day's hike is fairly short, allowing you to travel to Vihren hut on the same day. The hike should however not be underestimated as the first half is mainly uphill. After the first half, the terrain is fairly even, ending with a 30 minute descend to end up at the hut. The trail is signed with blue signs.

Route info

Day 2 - Information

The destination of the second day is Spano Pole shelter. It's called shelter but is rather a fully serviced, renovated hut nowadays.

For those who are brave and in good shape, the suggested GPS track will guide you in combination with the man made small stone pyramids to the peak. For very fit and experienced people, the estimated time is too high, but it's better to overestimate this trail.
In case you are easily afraid of heights and steep paths, it is better to skip the peak, or to approach it starting from the point where the final descend started on the first day and then go the same way back. From the point where the final descend to Sinanitsa hut started, you should follow the red signs to reach Spano Pole hut.

The first four kilometres are unsigned, but man made small pyramids will help you guide the way until you reach the path to Spano Pole, which will be signed in red.

Route info

Day 3 - Information

On the third day, the trek is easier in terms of terrain, mainly less rocks and less steep. The hike features a short section through a pine forest in the beginning and after that some sandy paths with rocky sections surrounded by dwarf pines. The first half of the hike will be a short descend followed by an ascend until you cross a gap in a ridge. This will be right after you reach a big lake.

You will find a big green arrow indicating the path to Demyanitsa hut. Pathfinding on the first downhill section can be difficult as it is not well indicated. Once you reach a river, you start following the blue signs downhill, keeping the river to your right until you reach Demyanitsa hut.

Route info

Day 4 - Information

The last day starts of on the same path as the one you were on when arriving at the hut. After about 10 minutes ascending, you will find the green path to your right. The green trail leads you all the way back to Vihren hut.

The first half is mainly an ascend with a short flat section next to a beautiful lake. The second half will be mainly descending, after you reached a great view point. Both the ascend and descend will be steeper as the previous day. Pathfinding is however easier, as the today's trail is signed quite well.

Route info

Photos