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Hotels in Panichishte

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Panichishte

Mountainous resort Panichishte or a journey to the heart of Rila mountain

Perhaps the title sounds like a prelude to a guide which will take you to the centre of the planet. Have you ever heard of Panichishte, one of the most beautiful mountainous resorts in Bulgaria, a rival of top ski destination in Bulgaria. Panichishte is on a par with Bansko’s beauty, however, it offers affordable prices that fits into every budget. I don’t know whether you have stumbled upon Panichishte just by coincidence or out of curiosity you would like to get acquainted with this paradise spot, but I am sure that there is something that you will find interesting and thus provoke you visit the diamond of Rila Mountain.

Having in mind the location of Panichishte, I cannot miss the description of Rila Mountain, the most imposing mountain in Bulgaria. Actually, every mountain has a peculiar charm and natural resources that are one of a kind and this is the reason why there is no point in convincing thrill-seekers to believe that Rila offers more cultural experiences in comparison to Rhodope.

Rila Mountain features a peculiar beauty that is a magnet for travellers, tourists who cannot resist trying various ski challenges. Rila Mountain is the home of thousands of opportunities to reveal your adventurous spirit, the beautiful tarns, unique plant and animal species, lush meadows, lovely nooks where you can relax completely. Have you seen an angel? Rila Mountain is the home of ‘’white angels’’ who practice Paneuritmia, a system of musical physical exercises performed in the morning in the open air. Rila Mountain is one a kind and its unique features make it a favourite mountain destination.
Even if you have decided to dedicate a weekend in this mountain, you will be able to visit Rila Monastery, huddled in the mountain, a custodian of our faith and a monument of great architectural and artistic value.

If you cannot breathe without adventures and you want to explore the most beautiful parts of the mountain, then the ideal holiday choice for you is the picturesque Panichishte.

It is located at an altitude of 1300m. It is located only 10km away from Sapareva Banya, a famous SPA resort in Bulgaria. Panichishte is surrounded by fresh pine forests and therefore you cannot be misguided to another resort. Panichishte lies at the border of National Park Rila and hence it’s a base point for interesting tourist routes. Should you look for a short break or a relaxing weekend, then Panichishte ideally suits your needs. If you have visited Bulgaria’s capital city due to business purposes, then you can also spend a day or two in Panichishte since it is located only 1,5 h drive away from Sofia city.

Panichishte is derived from the shape of tectonics lake which looks like a bowl. Actually, it’s the lowest lake in Rila mountain. Suho Lake /Dry Lake/ is located near Panichishte, it doesn’t retain water due to the natural drainage and it looks like an amphitheatre stadium.

Every year Panichishte draws more tourists and holidaymakers due to the diverse opportunities for an active vacation, exciting ski adventures, hiking tours and adventures. The good hotel base and developed infrastructure of the popular mountain resort are prerequisites for the rapid increase of the tourist flow.

Many holidaymakers find the prices in Panichishte relatively cheap and this is only one of the reasons why all hotels in Panichishte are fully booked even during the weekdays.

Hotel Magnolia in Panichishte is one of the most favourite places due to the excellent location, first class services and opportunities for various types of tourism. Ski facilities in Panichishte are adapted to skiers of different levels and ages. Ski tracks are maintained in a good condition in order to ensure the pleasure of tourists and all who love the fluffy snow and pine forests.

The relief of the region, excellent climate conditions and natural resources of the region make it a holiday destination in both winter and summer. The healing properties of the mountainous air and the beautiful nature of Panichishte draw visitors throughout the year.

Panichishte offers cozy hotels, restaurants, tourist information centre, ski trail and well maintained ski tracks.
The information centre in Panichishte provides useful information about Nature Park Rila, local plants and animal species, tourist routes, as well as additional services which the avid traveller would appreciate. The tourist information centre in Panichishte is constructed under the program Phare of EU and therefore it is an exemplary of the most famous centres worldwide. Yet, it’s the only one of a kind in Bulgaria.
Panichishte is the gate of Rila Mountain. Panichishte is a base point for some of most popular routes in Rila- Seven Rila Lakes, Malyovitsa Peak, Skakavitsa chalet, Haramiya and Rila Monastery.

The visitor centre is one of the landmarks in Panichishte and therefore you need to visit it in order to receive accurate information, pertaining to all questions that may be of your interest in regard to your exciting vacation in Panichishte.

Football, volleyball teams will be able to play at the gorgeous terrains of Suhoto Lake. Fans of tennis and swimming will be able to use the pool and tennis court of the hotel Energoremont.

Mountainous resort Panichishte, a leading ski destination, disposes of several ski tracks which are described in detail in Panichishte ski info centre.

If you would like to feel the thrills of joy with extreme ski downhill on an unprocessed terrain, then you should have in mind that the inclination of the slope at the chalet ‘’Seven Rila Lakes’’ will be a real challenge for you.

Currently a project, which envisages the construction of a cabin lift Sapareva Banya-Panichishte- Pionerska chalet, is being developed and it is expected that new ski facilities and equipment will be also built. Once the project has been completed, Panichishte will become a winter resort which caters for skiers and all travellers who look for alternative tourism opportunities, health tourism and SPA centres that use the mineral waters which Sapareva Banya is famous for.

Panichishte offers comfy hotels and cozy guesthouses. The town is also attractive due to rural tourism opportunities. If you follow the marked tourist paths, you will be able to easily reach the huts in Skakavitsa, Lozad and Vada, as well as Seven Rila Lakes.

As far as hotels are concerned, we would advise you to choose 3-star hotel which offers Sauna and whirlpool bath so that you can plunge into relaxation after an exhausting day of skiing and hiking. Thus, you will be able to relax, combine the exciting mountain routes with active sports experiences in order to fully recharge your batteries and get the most out of the tranquil atmosphere. Hotel Planinski Lakes is a pioneer of hotel services in Panichishte. 3-star Temenuga hotel is a boutique accommodation that boasts sheer elegance, guarantees the high level of service.

The beauty of north-western part of Rila Mounain is second to none. This is why natural landmarks are must see on your list if you will be staying in Panichishte for more than 2 days.

There is a unique phenomenon in Rila Mountain that will keep you coming back to this paradise place. Seven Rila Lakes are a spiritual place where the soul breathes freely in harmony with the rhythm of nature. Each lake is one of a kind due to its specific shape. Indisputably all skiers and mountaineers find the routes to Seven Rila Lakes to be the most interesting ones, because the lakes are considered to be the most picturesque lake group in North-western Rila Mountain. Seven Lakes, located in the biggest Rila circus, fascinate with their beauty. The lift makes the lakes easily reachable, so you are not forced to endure exhausting hiking tours. There is a difference of 400m between the highest and the lowest lake.

Besides winter sports and mineral springs, Panichishte offers wonderful opportunities for mountain tourism. Panichishte is the base point of the most interesting routes in Rila Mountain.

Sometimes a landmark is not so popular and this is the reason why it remains in oblivion until somebody dares to explore it. This is the case with the unique area of Urdini Lakes. The difference between Urdini and Rila Lakes is that the area of Urdini Lakes is a venue for brave tourists who embark on a journey in order to explore their irresistible beauty which is jealously kept in the inner part of Rila Mountain.Urdini Lakes are located amphitheatrically in the western part of the vast and deep Urdini circus. Lakes are small in size and all of them feature a spherical shape. The smallest lake is the majestic Ribno Lake which is the most popular one. The region is suitable for fishing.

Don’t miss to visit the resort Sapareva Banya which is located near Panichishte. The resort is famous for having the hottest mineral spring and biggest hot geyser on the Balkan Peninsula. Other interesting landmarks are the excavation of the antique Roman town Germaneya, the medieval church ‘’Saint Nikola’’ and Ovcharchenski Waterfall.

If you are not a mountaineer, but you’d love to explore the beauty of Rila Mountain, then you will be happy to hear the region offers a wide diversity of routes that relatively easy:

  • Alley of Health- a tour
  • Panichishte-Pionerska Chalet- 1 hour
  • Panichishte-Sapareva Banya- 2hours
  • Panichishte- Skakavitsa Chalet- 2 hours
  • Panichishte- Skakavitsa Chalet- Skakavishki Waterfall-2,5h
  • Panichishte-Rila Lakes-4 hours
  • Panichishte- Rila Lakes chalet- Seven Rila Lakes-6 hours

One of the most interesting places is Skakavishki Waterfall. It is the third highest waterfall in Bulgaria. It is located at an altitude of 750m. If you passionate about adventures, you should climb the ice Skakavitsa waterfall.

The various relief forms, altitude, great number of sunny days, diverse flora and fauna, as well as the snow retention make Panichishte all year round destination.

Provided that you have read some books that focus on self-improvement, then you may have heard that the followers of the White Brotherhood of Petur Dunov gather at Rila Lakes in August. They spend some days in the area in order to meditate, improve their concentration and perform the unique movements of Paneuritmia /a dance which demonstrates the harmony between human being and nature/.

Panichishte is the ideal base point which allows you to explore the gorgeous Rila Mountain in order to determine why so many mountaineers, aesthetics, scientists, artists and poets found their inspiration in the beautiful Rila.