Musala Peak

With its height of 2925 meters Musala is the highest peak on the Balkan Peninsula. It is situated in the Eastern (Musala) part of the Rila mountain quite much reminding visitors of the Alps. The average annual temperature is -3.1C, and the snow-cap on the summit lasts 8 months per year. The name of the peak is derived from the Turkish and means "towards God". The first written document about the climbing of the peak chronicles the ascent of Filip II, the father of Alexander the Great.
Musala peak is the most preferred by people, no matter age or nationality, desiring to participate in alpine activities and other forms of high altitude tourism. The average number of visitors of the area exceeds 50,000 people every year. The region also boasts an Alpine meteorological observatory and an Ecological observatory called "Musala".

The climb to the top of Musala peak usually takes about 3-4 hours if you take the gondola lift from Borovets to Yastrebetz and then follow the marked trail that passes by the Musala chalet and climb towards the summit.
Musala peak (2925 m) in the Rila Mountain south of Sofia is the highest mountain peak between the Alps and Transcaucasia, and is almost equalled by Vihren Peak (2915 m) in the Pirin Massif further south.
The oldest Bulgarian resort, Borovets, is hidden among the aromatic pine woods covering the northern slopes of Mount Musala in Rila mountain, 12 km south of Samokov and 72 km of Sofia. Borovets Ski resort is a major point of departure for Mount Musala, the highest peak on the Balkans (2925m).