Botev Peak and Raysko praskalo (Heavenly waterfall): A 3-day Itinerary
Do you want to explore the Bulgarian part of the Balkans but don’t know where to start?
Why not start with the highest peak (Peak Botev) and highest waterfall (Heavenly Waterfall) of the Balkan mountains? When you don’t know where you’re headed, you might as well reach for the stars.
Here is a 3-day itinerary with the best advice, up-to-date contacts, and alternative routes.
*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. That means if you click through and book or buy something, I might earn a small commission – at no extra cost to you. It’s a simple way to support this blog (and maybe even my next banitsa or bus ticket across Bulgaria).
When to go to Rayskoto Praskalo and Botev Peak?
The best time for hiking in the area is in June/July.
The photos in this post are made in August. May is still quite cold, while in June the weather starts warming up and the snows start melting. When the snows are melting, the Rayskoto praskalo is even more spectacular because it’s full of water.
In addition, it’s always lighter to hike in warmer conditions. Beware of summer thunderstorms when hiking and always check the weather beforehand.
Useful tip
In Bulgaria, the following names refer to the same thing:
- Hizha ray = Rai chalet/hut = Heavenly chalet/hut
- Raiskoto Praskalo = Heavenly Waterfall
- Balkans (Balkan Mountains) = Stara Planina = Old Mountain
General information about Peak Botev and Raiskoto Praskalo
- Denivelation: around 1600 m
- Distance: About 14 km (8 h)
- Hiking difficulty: 4 out of 6
Day 1 – Arrive in Pavel Banya or Kalofer
Pavel Banya
Things to do:
- Walk around the village and find the mineral water source
- SPA procedures – DianaMar or Balneo Sanatorium
- Visit the park and monuments
Places to eat:
- Restaurant Arizona
- Restaurant Bulgaria
- Restaurant Markoni
- Restaurant Mehana
- Bistro Aso
- SMania Cafe
Kalofer
Things to do:
- National Museum Hristo Botev
- Churches and the nun monastery
- The monument of Kalifer Voivode
Places to eat:
- Restaurant Panorama
- Restaurant Byala Reka
- Restaurant Pri Chorbadjiikata
- Mehana Kaloferska Kashta
- Restaurant Prohlada
- Hotel Mehana Kalifer
Day 2 – Start your hike to the Heavenly Waterfall
Morning: Starting your hike
Panitsite is an area located about 4 km from Kalofer and it is the starting place of the hike. You can get there by foot, taxi, car or ask somebody to take you there/hitchhike. Maybe the hotel you are staying at organizes some kind of transport to get there.
I advise you to be there around 08:00 am at the latest, so you can have a nice and cool hike.
- Part 1 – 1.5 h beech and oak forests (entering the area of the National park Central Balkan)
- Part 2 – 1 h through a vast flat field called Paradjika
- Part 3 – 1.5 h steep upward hike through a Beech forest
- 0.5 h – for breaks, food and water
Noon: Arriving at the Rai Chalet (Heavenly Chalet)
What you need to know about the Rai Chalet
Keep in mind that you’ll need to book your stay in advance, because it’s very popular for both Bulgarian and foreign tourists, especially during the summer months. If you show up there, probably you won’t have where to stay, unless you have brought a tent with you.
Typically, the weekends are busier than the weekdays.
If you are from another country and don’t speak Bulgarian, you won’t be able to make a reservation by yourself, since the people there don’t speak English.
Worry do not, and please don’t hesitate to contact me in order to help you out with the reservation arrangements. I’d be more than happy to help.
Some other things to consider are:
- No pets: Pets are not allowed inside the chalet itself but can stay outside. Keep in mind that outside there are other animals, mainly horses which walk freely, a big dog which is on a leash and a few cats.
- Toilets: There are two small buildings located outside the main building where you’ll find the squatting toilets. In all honesty, they were quite bad. The doors don’t close very well, there is no lighting and no toilet paper, and the water tanks are a bit broken so the water keeps running.
- Showers: The showers are located in another building also outside and can be used only after 4 pm. There are two showers in one room (without separators), so you might have to wait if there are a lot of people lining up.
How to book your stay
- Contact this phone number for a reservation: 088 296 64 94 or 0882 966491
- Fee per night (1 person): 30 lv
- Campground per night: 15 lv
- Pay your stay upfront via bank transfer
- IBAN: BG41 STSA 9300 0005 1958 36
- BIC: STSABGSF
- Account holder: ТД “Хайдут” / TD “Haidut”
Afternoon: Hiking to the Heavenly Waterfall
Day 3 – Hike to Peak Botev and back to the Heaven Chalet or Panitsite
Hiking up to Peak Botev through the Tarzan Way
Staying at the top
There is a place where you can buy some water, hot tea and coffee, some snacks and the best part – you can get a mark for your book “100 tourist sites of Bulgaria”. They say it’s the hardest stamp to get, which seems pretty accurate to me.
Getting back
Alternative Itineraries
Alternative 1 (4 days):
- Day 1 – Arrive at Pavel Banya or Kalofer
- Day 2 – Get to the Rai Chalet and waterfall
- Day 3 – Climb peak Botev and back to the Rai Chalet
- Day 4 – Descend from the chalet towards Panitsite
Alternative 2 (5 days):
- Day 1 – Arrive at Pavel Banya or Kalofer
- Day 2 – Get to the Rai Chalet and the Heavenly Waterfall
- Day 3 – Rai Chalet – Peak Botev – Botev shelter
- Day 4 – Botev Shelter – Levski Chalet – Balkanski rozi Chalet – Hubavets Chalet
- Day 5 – Hubavets Chalet – Karlovo (this works if you are with 2 cars or rely on public transport/hitchhiking).
Please, keep in mind that there are also other ways of getting to Peak Botev. However, the alternatives I gave above are the ones where you can see both the Heavenly Waterfall and the peak.
What to bring: The essentials
Some items will make your life easier during the hike:
- Light food and snacks
- Water
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Clothes for cold and sunny weather
- VERY good shoes
- Toilet paper and wet wipes
- Cash
- Camera
- Trekking poles or a wooden stick
- Wind/waterproof jacket
- Mountain insurance
Did you hike this route or are you planning on doing it? Share your thoughts with me below in the comments.
Im really intrigued by this hike, but slightly conscious of the day 2 🙃. Is there alternatives for day 2 that maybe don’t include the peak and are another amazing 5h hike?
Hi, Christa,
Thanks for reaching out! According to this itinerary, on day 2, you don’t hike up to the peak just yet. Instead, you only go up to the hut and the waterfall.
If you’re looking for another beautiful but less challenging hike near Kalofer, I’d suggest looking into Ecopath Byala Reka/White River (BG: Екопътека Бяла Река). You can first visit the Kalofer Monastery. The beginning of the path is about 200 meters away from it. It’s about 2 km long and takes about 2 hours. It’s a scenic walk near, parallel and across the river. There are wooden bridges, lovely forests and waterfalls.
I hope this helps! 🙂 Feel free to message me at any time and have a lovely trip 🙂