Hike To Sinanitsa Peak: Everything You Need To Know

I have hiked A LOT in Pirin National Park, and still one of my absolute favourites is the hike to Sinanitsa. It’s a full day hike with a diverse trail, a mountain hut at a picturesque location next to a lake and the Sinanitsa ridge. The Sinanitsa Peak looks so impressive and majestic from the hut side! On top of that you have nature pretty much all to yourself during this hike, since it’s one of the furthest peaks from the Vihren Hut.

I have done this hike in August 2023 and July 2024. In this article you will find everything you need to know to also enjoy this beautiful hike to Sinanitsa!

Last update & prices in the article are from May 2025.

Also read: Picturesque Hike To Muratov Peak (& Muratov Lake) In Pirin

Practical info for the hike to Sinanitsa

Starting point for the hike: Vihren Hut. You can park close to the mountain hut or take a taxi/shuttle up to the hut from Bansko. These are the Google Maps coordinates for Vihren Hut.

Total kilometers: 16 kilometers in total

Elevation: 1070 meters up and down

Hiking time: I would take 8-10 hours for this hike to enjoy it: 7-8 hours of walking and 1-2 hours of breaks.

Type of hike: more or less a loop in the Sinanitsa area, but a big part of the trail is the same way back

Dog friendly: my dog Bella has joined this hike. She is very active, but I even have seen smaller dogs on most of the trail as well. No lift or ladders involved. Usually you won’t encounter any shepherds with their cattle in this area, so no sheep dogs that can bother your dog either. The part between Sinanitsa Hut and Sinanitsa Peak is big boulders so there is some climbing involved, so decide for yourself if your dog is capable of doing that.

Hiking trail: you can open the Sinanitsa hike on Mapy.cz via this link

Everything you need to know for the hike to Sinanitsa

1. Where is Sinanitsa?

Sinanitsa refers to the peak in Pirin National Park, close to Bansko. This peak has an impressive location on a ridge with a big drop on one side, on the side of the Sinanitsa Lake and the Sinanitsa Hut.

With a height of 2516m Sinanitsa is one of the peaks above 2500m in Pirin National Park. James from Coliving Avalon created a nice challenge called The Davies. During this challenge you hike in Pirin National Park and tick off all these peaks above 2500m: 90 in total! You can ask for a map and more info via Coliving Avalon.

2. How do you get to the starting point of this hike?

This hike to Sinanitsa starts at the Vihren Hut in Pirin National Park. There are several ways to get from Bansko to the Vihren Hut:

• I have done this hike as a day hike from Bansko. If you have a car you can leave early in the morning from Bansko to the Vihren Hut. It’s about 25 minutes driving from Bansko to the hut, the starting point of this hike. Keep in mind that it’s getting quite busy in the summer months, so between June and September you have to drive up before 8.00. Parking at the Vihren Hut is free.
• It’s also possible in the summer months to take a shuttle bus up from Bansko to the Vihren Hut. The first shuttle bus goes up at 8.30 starting at the Train Station. Another place to get into the shuttle bus is Hotel Kempinski in the gondola area. Check the shuttle bus times here. A bus ticket is 12 leva (€6) per person.
• In case you can’t drive up yourself, it’s always possible to take a taxi to the hut. I have not done this myself, but I have heard people taking taxi’s for 40 leva (€20) per car.
• And last but not least: you can take the gondola up to the upper station, Banderiska Polyana. From here you walk in about 1 hour to the Vihren Hut. The elevation of this part is about 350 meters.

Alternatively you can also hike from the southern side of Pirin National Park to Sinanitsa. You then start at the Yane Sandanski Hut, north of the villages Sandanski and Lilyanovo. The elevation is about the same (1000m), but since the hike is longer (10 kilometers) the hiking time is longer as well (5 hours to the Sinanitsa Hut instead of 3-3,5). But this is an option ifyou want to combine this hike with a visit to Melnik, in the southern part of Bulgaria.

3. What should you bring for this hike?

The time of the year influences what you have to bring for this hike. I would recommend to use layers for your clothes, since you’re in the mountains and most of the year it’s quite chilly. I did this hike twice in August and although it was warm, when it was windy I needed my jacket.

I would recommend bringing the following for your hike:

• Water bottle or Camelbak
• Snacks and lunch: there is the Vihren Hut at the beginning and the Sinanitsa Hut where you can buy food and drinks. The rest of the hike you won’t have the option to buy anything, so bring enough snacks.
• Water- and windproof jacket
• Hiking shoes or comfortable shoes to walk
• Hiking poles to stabilize yourself on the big rocks (not necessary, but some people love it)
• Beanie to keep your head warm or a cap to keep the sun out of your face
• Sunglasses for a sunny day
• Sunscreen, since the sun can be quite intense in the mountains
• First Aid Kit, because you never know when you need it
• Camera gear, since the area of Sinanitsa is quite photogenic and you want to capture that beauty!

4. When is the best time to visit Sinanitsa in Pirin?

Technically you can do the hike to Sinanitsa all year round, but the best time is between early June and late October. Between November and May there is usually still snow in the mountains. Not only is it more dangerous with a chance of avalanches, but the snow will slow you down a lot as well. Only experienced hikers with equipment should do this hike in winter.

In my opinion June and September are the best months, since it is less busy in the mountains, but the weather is good and you have enough daylight to make this hike in a comfortable way.

5. What can I see & expect during this hike?

During this day hike you will see the diversity in Pirin National Park. The hike can be split up in different parts:

• Part 1: Vihren Hut (1950m) to Muratovo Lake (2230m)
• Part 2: Muratovo Lake (2230m) to Banderishka Porta (2501m)
• Part 3: Banderishka Porta (2501m) to Sinanishka Porta (2428m)
• Part 4: Sinanishka Porta (2428m) to Sinanitsa Hut (2197m)
• Part 5: Sinanitsa Hut (2197m) to Sinanitsa Peak (2516m)
• Part 6: Sinanitsa Peak (2516m) back to Vihren Hut (1950m)

Part 1: Vihren Hut (1950m) to Muratovo Lake (2230m)

From the Vihren Hut you will start climbing, but in a chill way to warm up your muscles. After 15-20 minutes you will reach the river, and you stay on the right side of it. It’s a beautiful part where you have a nice overview of the valley. You gradually climb up towards Muratovo Lake. While you’re climbing you don’t expect a lake, but then from one moment to another it is just around the corner. From here you have a view on the Muratov Peak, another one of my favourite hikes in Pirin!

Part 2: Muratovo Lake (2230m) to Banderishka Porta (2501m)

From the lake you’ll start climbing more uphill, towards Banderishka Porta. This is the crossing point where multiple trails come together. The first part of this trail is just a walking trail, the second half contains some boulders as well, so watch your step.

Once you reach Banderishka Porta you will continue straightforward, towards a nice plateau with some lakes. If you would go to the right you will climb up to Muratov Peak. If you would go to the left you follow the Donchovi Karauli ridge (very nice, but a bit more technical).

Part 3: Banderishka Porta (2501m) to Sinanishka Porta (2428m)

As you can see in the elevation we actually go downhill, although during this part you will go up and down a little bit. You barely feel the elevation on this part, so it’s nice to give your legs a break of climbing. It’s very common to see cows and mountain goats in this area, so keep an eye out for those if you are hiking with a dog. Since not many people hike on this part towards Sinanitsa you will maybe have this entire part to yourself!

Part 4: Sinanishka Porta (2428m) to Sinanitsa Hut (2197m)

Once you crossed the plateau you will reach some rocky area and get your first glimpse on the Sinanitsa ridge. From this side it looks so impressive and majestic! From here you can do a loop to the mountain hut and the peak. I would recommend to first go to the mountain hut, then to the Sinanitsa peak and then follow the ridge back to Sinanishka Porta. The trail from Sinanishka Porta to the mountain hut is very gradual and nice, going downhill. You have multiple nice viewpoints on both the Sinanitsa Lake and the ridge.

If you do it the other way around (Sinanishka Porta – Sinanitsa Peak – Sinanitsa Hut – Sinanishka Porta) you might struggle with the big boulders and going downhill.

Part 5: Sinanitsa Hut (2197m) to Sinanitsa Peak (2516m)

The Sinanitsa Hut is a cute, little mountain hut with a beautiful location right next to the Sinanitsa Lake. From here you see the big drop of the Sinanitsa ridge and that is quite impressive. Luckily the other side of the ridge is not so steep (you will see when you’re on the peak). So also people with fear of heights can do this hike.

The part from the Sinanitsa Hut to the peak is tricky, but not super technical. You just have to watch your step and climb some bigger boulders, so not everyone’s knees will love this part. Although it’s only 1 kilometer, it will take you 45 minutes to 1 hour to get up there. Don’t forget to stop and look back at the lake every now and then, the views are amazing along the way as well!

Part 6: Sinanitsa Peak (2516m) back to Vihren Hut (1950m)

There is a sign when you reach the Sinanitsa Peak at 2516 meters. If you started early, you can have your lunch break here as well. From here I would continue the loop back to Sinanishka Porta via the ridge. You’ll see that it is quite gradual and not as steep as it looks from the other side. From Sinanishka Porta you follow the same way back to Muratovo Lake and then to Vihren Hut.

6. How much time do I need for this hike?

I would recommend a full day for this hike. Sinanitsa is one of the peaks that is furthest away from the Vihren Hut. It takes 3 to 4 hours from the Vihren Hut to the Sinanitsa Hut. Here you can have a (lunch) break, before you start climbing to the Sinanitsa Peak. Even though the part from Sinanitsa Hut to the peak is only 1 kilometer, it will take you about 1 hour to climb up. From the peak I would suggest to continue over the ridge, back to the Vihren Hut. This is another 2,5 to 3,5 hours.

In total I would say this day hike to Sinanitsa is 8 to 10 hours (7-8 hours of walking and 1-2 hours of breaks).

7. Accommodation for this hike

Stay in a mountain hut

It is possible to sleep in the Vihren Hut, at the start of the hike to Sinanitsa. This is great if you don’t have your own transportation and you want to make the trip a bit more relaxed. Sleeping in the Vihren Hut is about 25 leva (€13) per person.

It is also possible to stay in the Sinanitsa Hut. I think it’s one of the more fairytale like locations in Pirin National Park. The mountain hut is quite small (maximum of 34 people can stay here) and has a lovely location next to a lake and the Sinanitsa ridge. It’s very basic, there is some electricity in the evening but I would recommend to bring a powerbank to charge your phone if you sleep here. They do have a restaurant where you can have some food and drinks. A bed is 25 leva (€13) per person.

Wild camping & camping

There is a designated camping area called Banderitsa Camping. The camping area is half way between Banderishka Polyana and Vihren Hut. You can camp here (or stay with a camper van). There are toilets, but no bathrooms. As far as I know there is no electricity, so make sure you bring a powerbank.

Although wild camping is not allowed in Pirin (since it’s a national park), I have seen numerous people camping close to Muratovo Lake. Always make sure you leave the place exactly how it is and bring your trash with you.

Staying in Bansko

Of course you can also stay in Bansko if you want to hike in Pirin National Park. A few recommendations when you want to stay in Bansko (accommodations that are open all year, not only in the winter season):

• Belvedere Holiday Club: nice hotel with spa facilities and a pool. I have seen multiple apartments in this complex and it always looks nice and clean. Just a few minutes walk to the gondola.
• Parklands Hotel & Pool: great value for money in this hotel in the gondola area. It has a good location and it has facilities like an indoor swimming pool, a sauna and a fitness area.
• Kempinski Hotel: if you want to splurge and indulge in some luxury, you should go for Kempinski, right next to the gondola. Most rooms have a lovely view on the ski road and the mountains. The shuttle bus to Vihren Hut stops right in front of the hotel and the spa facilities are amazing – great after a long day of hiking!

8. How difficult is the hike to Sinanitsa?

The hike from Vihren Hut to the Sinanitsa Hut is a medium hike. I would say you need some level of fitness, but there is nothing technical along the way. From the Sinanitsa Hut to the Sinanitsa Peak it’s also not super technical, but you need to be comfortable with climbing big boulders. There are a few steep parts, so that part is more tricky. But in general I would not say that this is a technical hike, you just need a decent level of fitness to avoid muscle pain the next day.

Also read: Hike To Vihren Peak For Sunrise (July Morning Tradition!)

This is everything you need to know about the hike to Sinanitsa (the peak and the mountain hut). Are you excited about this hike, but are you still missing essential information? Please let us know via the comments below or by emailing jessica@explorebulgarianow.com.

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