Boyana Waterfall & Lake | Alone in the Mountains of Bulgaria

Beyond Sofia is the beautiful snow peaked Vitosha Mountain which hides the mysterious Boyana Waterfall and Lake - both a popular place to go hiking. Join me on a day trip from Sofia!
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I packed up my cameras, hiking shoes and a few snacks and set off for the trailhead - and after jumping on an underground train, flagging down a local bus and stopping briefly at Boyana Church for some impromptu sightseeing, I was ready to go. Boyana is a famed waterfall in Bulgaria, most likely because it is so close to the capital city Sofia yet easily accessible to all. It's also a wonder of nature and I like many others enjoy the great outdoors and seeing the natural world.

There are two hiking trails that lead up to the waterfall - as you look up towards the mountain there is a path on the left and a path on the right. To the left is a gentler but longer trail that winds its way up through the forest. To the right is a more adventurous trail, it's shorter in distance but much more challenging - expect to face some steep inclines, climb over and through large boulders and even cross a few streams using perfectly placed rocks. Needless to say I opted for the more challenging route and was rewarded by an incredible adventure through the forestry mountainside, across muddy terrain, over large rock formations and through snow drifts to reach the waterfall.

I continued upwards with the hope of reaching the Golden Bridges area further on up the mountain. The whole area is stunning and the views back across Sofia are breathtaking - it truly is a beautiful area.

On the way down I decided to take the longer, easier path that took me past Boyana Lake - a place teeming with nature, wild flowers and wildlife.

During the day I didn't see another person - it was like I had the entire mountain to myself. Complete with a deserted waterfall and an abandoned lake - nobody around except me and the wildlife! Everything calm and still, no noise but the trampling of my own feet. Complete solitude overlooking a busy city. It was awesome!

Having hiked to Boyana Waterfall and Boyana Lake here's a few tips if you're thinking of making the same journey-

+ From central Sofia I caught an underground train from Serdica to Vitosha (M2 metro line) and then caught bus 64 (Boyana Express) that dropped me off about 10 minutes walk from the trailhead. I bought a public transport day-card costing approximately 4LEV (£2) which allowed me to ride on 2 buses and 2 underground trains in one day (this got me there and back).
+ Check the weather before you begin, it can be incredibly hot or cold depending on the time of year you're visiting.
+ Anticipate that there may be a change in temperature the higher you climb.
+ If you're planning to take the tougher route make sure you have proper footwear.
+ Be careful, wet rocks and muddy inclines can be very slippery.
+ Take enough food and drink for the day, you will not be able to buy any on the hike. I went through three bottles of water on a fairly cold day. There is a large shopping centre above Vitosha Metro Station with lots of food outlets - I stopped there for an evening meal on the way back. There are also some local restaurants and bars in the Boyana District close to the trailhead. Finally, some of the hiking huts further on up the mountain may be open during peak season so worth checking out the details before you go.
+ Make sure you take your camera and have a phone for emergency use.
+ If you're hiking alone always let somebody know when you'll be back. This can be an arrangement to text/call somebody at a certain time.

Vitosha Mountain stands at a height of 1,275 metres (4,183 ft).

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#Sofia #BoyanaWaterfall #Bulgaria #SoloTravel #Vitosha

🔴 This was filmed before the current crisis, I'm now back in the UK. Stay safe out there!

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