Highly recommended. We booked a private tour to the Seven Rila Lakes because it was getting off season and no group tours were going mid-week. It was a great decision. We left it to the last minute to book. Despite the short notice VTravel quickly confirmed a guide/drive. Pick-up and drop-off was at our AirBnB. Our guide Georgi was terrific. He was friendly and knowledgable, excellent English. We didn’t just get a hiking guide - we got a fascinating history and culture lesson. The hike itself can certainly be done without a guide. The trail is pretty well marked. However, having a guide really added to the experience. Instead of just walking by the pretty landscape we learned about the region. Georgi was alert to our interests and paced himself just right. nb A lot of blogs we read in advance implied that the Seven Lakes Hike is like a walk in the park. It is not. It is a mountain hike in high alpine. Though it is not technical and is well-marked, it still has lots of uphill and areas of rocky terrain. Having said that, we are in our sixties and only moderate fitness. We did it in four hours. If we can do it, most anybody can. If you have doubts about your fitness, talk about in advance with the company so the hike can be modified to fit your interests. Good footwear, appropriate clothing for mountain climates, some energy food and a bottle of water are musts, even with a guide.