The "Sinanitsa" hut is located on the shore of Sinanishko Lake, north of Peak Sinanitsa (2,516 m a.s.l.), in the Pirin Mountains. It is a two-story building with accommodation for 48 people, distributed in several rooms on the second floor and a dormitory next to the entrance. The building has a dining area, and the hut staff offer food such as tripe soup, beans, lentils, several types of salads, quick meals, fritters, and more.
Contact phone for the hut: 0888 010 666.
In the evening, until about 11 PM, a generator operates, allowing you to charge the batteries of your phone or camera. If you don't have a good signal near the hut itself, try heading to the barbed-wire enclosure and the Bulgarian flag (towards the toilets and about 50 meters to the left of the hut). From this location, there is a clear view of the entire valley around Kresna, better signal coverage, and fast internet. The toilets are external and located about 80 meters from the hut.
The "Sinanitsa" hut can be reached from the "Vihren" hut. The trail begins at the fountain near the parking lot (blue markings) and initially follows the Banderitsa River. After about a kilometer, the trail veers slightly to the right and starts ascending toward Muratovo Lake (2,230 m a.s.l.)—a beautiful spot for rest and picnics, reached in about 40-50 minutes. After the lake, a steep climb begins toward the Banderishka Porta (2,500 m a.s.l.). Upon reaching it, the more challenging part of the hike is over. The trail to Sinanitsa continues to the right along the Sinanishko Ridge (the left turn with yellow markings leads to the "Spano Pole" shelter). After about an hour of walking on an almost flat trail, you reach the Sinanishka Porta, and the hike to the "Sinanitsa" hut ends with a descent to the Sinanishko Lake, 200 meters below, where the hut is built.
A second option, which is more suitable for reaching the hut during winter due to significantly lower avalanche risk, starts from the "Peshterata" area. As of early 2016, it was possible to reach this area via a dirt road with a more capable vehicle. In the town of Kresna, turn at the fork for the village of Vlahi (a sign is present), and after about 5 km, the road splits—left goes to Vlahi, and right to the "Vrabite" area. Turn right (the correct direction is marked with a sign reading "H-l Sharalia"). Continue driving on a road with many turns and several rough sections. It would take too long to describe the correct direction with so many forks, but if you consistently follow what looks like the main road, you should reach the "Vrabite" area. From there, a dirt road leads to the "Peshterata" area. Whether you choose to risk damaging your car or prefer to park and walk a bit more to see more of the mountains is up to you :). From "Peshterata" to the "Sinanitsa" hut, you must walk. It’s mostly uphill, but there are not many truly steep sections. The distance takes about 2.5 hours at a normal pace.
You can also reach the "Peshterata" area from the village of Vlahi. I’ve traveled this road with my Vitara during summer and encountered a few difficult spots. Generally, it’s not suitable for cars, and it’s a much better idea to plan the hike with an overnight stay in Vlahi, perhaps on a Friday night, and dedicate a full day (7-8 hours) to hiking to the "Sinanitsa" hut.
An interesting hike from the "Sinanitsa" hut is to climb the nearby Peak Sinanitsa (2,516 m a.s.l.). The trail starts from the left shore of the lake and is marked with stone cairns (in some places, traces of an old green ribbon marking can be seen). The climb is steep, especially at the beginning, and takes between 40 minutes and over an hour, depending on your pace. From the summit, you can return or continue to the Sinanishka Porta via an unmarked trail following the ridge to the east. From the Sinanishka Porta, descend to the "Sinanitsa" hut along the trail coming from the "Vihren" hut (blue markings).
Important! If you lack mountain experience or are not confident in your ability to maintain balance, approach this route with caution or seek the company of a mountain guide or someone more experienced than you. Beyond Peak Sinanitsa, the slopes south of the trail are steep, with several spots where slipping, falling, and sustaining serious injury is possible.
Nearby tourist sites:
"Spano Pole" shelter – 1 hour and 45 minutes
"Begovitsa" hut - 4 hours and 30 minutes.
"Yane Sandanski" hut - 4 hours.
"Vihren" hut - 4 hours.
Georgiyski Circus - 2 hours and 30 minutes.