The Ribni Ezera hut is located in the Rila Mountains at an altitude of approximately 2,200 meters. It is a solid two-story building with accommodation for about 60 people. The first floor includes a dining hall, toilets, sinks with running water, and a bathroom. The hut is supplied with electricity from its own hydroelectric power plant, and heating is provided by wood stoves. The sleeping conditions are standard for Bulgarian mountain huts, and the sheets are clean. Camping outside the hut in a tent is also possible, subject to a fee.
The area around the Ribni Ezera hut offers many opportunities for interesting hikes. Nearby is Smradlivoto Lake, the largest glacial lake in the Balkans. The trail to the lake starts from the hut in a northwestern direction, marked with yellow markings, and covers approximately 100 meters of elevation gain before reaching the lake in about 45 minutes. If you are looking for a more challenging hike, from Smradlivoto Lake, you can continue west on an unmarked trail towards Rilets Peak and then return to the hut via Kyuravitsa Peak. Keep in mind that this route is suitable mainly for experienced mountaineers. For those who prefer a safer alternative, a way to avoid retracing your steps is to descend towards Tiha Rila and then continue back to Ribni Ezera.
Another interesting option for a day hike with beautiful views, but more elevation gain, is to follow the red-marked trail towards the "Macedonia" hut. On this route, in clear weather, you will enjoy many stunning views of the surrounding peaks and a panoramic view of the cirque with the two Ribni Lakes and the hut from above. The price for this experience is a steep climb during the first hour or so of the hike. After about that time, you will reach the junction between Kanarata Peak and Pavlev Peak. From here, follow the blue-marked trail to the left, heading east. Shortly after the junction, you will ascend Kanarata Peak—congratulations, because from here on, there is almost no more climbing; the rest of the hike is mostly downhill.
The Ribni Ezera hut is part of the international E-4 hiking route, which in Bulgaria runs from the "Aleko" hut in Vitosha through Verila, Rila, Pirin, and ends in the border mountain Slavyanka. You can learn more about this route here.
The starting point for a hike to the Ribni Ezera hut is Kirilova Polyana (located in the valley of the Manastirska River, about 7 km past the Rila Monastery). From here, there is an 8 km walk along a dirt road, which is not particularly pleasant for long trekking with heavy boots, but along the way, you will often come across beautiful views. To enjoy them, however, you will need to turn around, as the impressive southern slopes of Kupenite, Dvuglav, and Elenin Peak will be behind you. The dirt road ends at Tiha Rila, from where a marked trail leads to the hut in about an hour.
The Ribni Ezera hut can also be reached via a marked trail from CPSH "Malyovitsa" through the Kobylino Branishte shelter and Vodni Chal Peak (approximately 8–9 hours), as well as from Semkovo in about 5 hours.