Winter Activities
Bansko in recent years has benefited from a 50 million Euro investment and is now the most modern ski centre of all the Bulgarian Resorts. Bansko also provides some of the best value skiing and snowboarding in the world. The Pirin Mountain with 3 peaks towering above 2900m offers Alpine quality skiing at Bulgarian prices with diverse, newly renovated, wide tree-lined pistes that give you a variety of skiing for any level, coupled with the best Après-ski in Bulgaria.
Bansko Snow and Pistes
Bansko has the best snow record and the longest ski season (mid-December to mid-April) of all Bulgarian ski resorts. Bansko now boasts the amazing count of 160 snow cannon. Each unit is able to maintain around 400 line meters of piste, which is one of the best densities in Europe. In reality, there will be no single corner or fraction of a piste that cannot be covered by artificial snow. Bansko is well equipped for winter sports with 14 pistes totaling 70 km of perfectly groomed and efficiently secured ski runs offering the best opportunities for ski enthusiasts of all levels, from the absolute beginner to the extreme high performer. These include 4 blue, 11 red and 1 black run also a 5 km long cross country track. There are also a number of ski roads that wind their way through the mountains and the majority of the pistes run through alpine trees with long wide runs. The range of blue runs gives beginners a great place to learn. The red runs vary in difficultly a little so both intermediate and advanced skiers have somewhere to practice their stuff. The Alberto Tomba black run, so named after the legend that opened the resort, offers the advanced skiers something more challenging.
Difficulty scale distribution is as followed: 35% Beginners, 40% Itermediate and 25% Expert.
Bars and restaurants are located conveniently around the mountain.
Snow Boarding
Half Pipe: The half pipe was built for the first time for the 2005/06 ski season, which shows the ongoing commitment Bansko has as a resort to snowboarders. Approximately 90m long the half pipe offers snowboarders with passion for the extreme somewhere to practice their skills.
Fun Park: Bansko is home to the first fun park in the Balkans. This area is popular with those for a passion for the extreme. Skiers and Snowboarders alike can build their own jumps and kickers to practice on.
Night Skiing
Night skiing or boarding is available in Bansko throughout the season with 7km of floodlit piste open between 6.30pm and 9.30pm.
Bansko lifts
Bansko has a new, very modern and efficient lift system able to keep queues at the lifts to an absolute minimum. Bansko has around 26km of lifts in total. The lift system in Bansko includes a brand new Dopplemayer 8 person gondola. The gondola takes about 20 to 25 minutes and floats you up through alpine trees and stunning scenery to the Chalin Valog peak at 1467m, then on through yet more unforgettable views to the Bunderishka Polyana ski area at 1635m. From there a series of 3 and 4 seat chair lifts, the longest of which is over 2½ kilometers long, conveniently whisk you further up the mountain, to a total height of 2560m. Drag lifts then allow further access higher up the mountain.
Lessons
If you require lessons there are 3 main ski schools in Bansko. Email us for our discounted prices
Equipment Hire
We can arrange discounted equipment hire and there are several large rental shops close to the lift station that stock an abundance of top quality brand name equipment.
Après-ski
Bansko although steeped in tradition is a thriving modern resort. Reputably with over 120 traditional Bulgarian Taverns (locally known as mehanas) many of which have live music, finding somewhere to eat and drink in Bansko is simply not an issue!
Also to be found are English style pubs showing Sky Sports, Irish bars, discos and night clubs which stay open well into the early hours. Indeed The Lions Pub is open 24 hours a day!! * this is for your convenience and is not compulsory!!
Also to be found are two casinos.
Maybe best of all is the price; expect to pay around £1 for a large beer and around £5 for a nice meal.
Other Attractions we can book Include
- Paragliding in Bansko
- Heli-Skiing
- Snow Mobiles Hire
- Tobogganing
- Ice skating Rink
Summer Activities
Bansko, located within the boundaries of The Pirin National Park with its outstanding natural beauty is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. Surrounded by the Pirin, Rila and Rhodope mountains, Bansko is not only shaping up to be one of Europe's top ski destinations but people from all over Europe are now starting to flock to the area appreciating the year round attractions and new facilities of the area.
If you think you need sand and sea for an enjoyable summer holiday then after your visiting Bansko your opinion will be changed forever.
Rest & Relaxation - Trips & Excursions - Adrenaline & Adventure
Everyone has different ideas on what makes a memorable holiday. Bansko is guaranteed to have something for everyone.
Rest & Relaxation
Why not watch the world go by from one of the many pavement cafes located along the tree lined strip just off the main central square! You will be spoilt for choice by the numerous mehana's located on and around the cobbled streets of Bansko, many of which have delightful gardens. You must try 'The Hoe' with its very own stream running through its garden! Remember too it's so very cheap to eat and drink in Bansko , with a large beer or a glass of wine typically costing £1 and a 3 course meal with drinks will cost a little over fiver a head you will not be breaking the bank !! Tip- try the local Shopska Salad.
Dobrinishte is approx 4 miles from Bansko and takes around 10 minutes in a car to reach. There you will find a huge open air free form swimming pool with the temperature of the water between 30C and 43C, the pool is fed by mineral water and is said to have Healing Powers. Whilst there you may like to take advantage of the swim-up bar or lunch in the poolside snack bar. Entry is around £2 and that includes a sun bed and a parasol !!
Whatever you do you simply cannot visit Bansko without taking the Dobrinishte chair lift up the mountain. The 3.7 km ride, taking around 25 minutes takes you to an altitude of 2020m, it would be no exaggeration to say the scenery is simply breathtaking .This is a starting point for some of the hikes in the region which enable you to discover amazing crystal clear lakes, the first being Bezbog Lake, only a few strides from the lift arrival point. This is a very popular place for a picnic or a barbeque. The lift operates throughout the year and costs 10 levs for an adult with a discount for children.
There are over 120 cultural and historic monuments in and around Bansko including the world famous Rila monastery. Built in its present form between 1816 and 1846 the monastery was first created in the 10th century as a refuge for hermits.
For music lovers and especially jazz fans, the "Bansko International Jazz Festival", is the oldest and one of the most prestigious music events in Bulgaria. The 5 day festival is held annually and typically starts during the 2nd week in August. The festival brings together famous jazz performers from all over the world. Whether it be the large central stage in the town square, the nightclubs or bars, jazz seems to fill almost every corner of the town. Many of the performers, when not on stage can be found holding jamming sessions inside the local mehanas ! 2008 celebrated the 11th anniversary of the festival and its getting bigger every year. Best of all this is a free event !!
Also available in Bansko
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Trips & Excursions
Very popular for families is the Bear Park located around 30 miles from Bansko at Belitsa. The bear park is sponsored by the Brigitte Bardot Foundation and is home to 20 former dancing bears which have been rescued from their owners and moved into the sanctuary to live out the rest of their lives with dignity and respect. No entry charge is made although donations are appreciated.
Here are just a few ideas for consideration. We can help with booking these.
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Adrenaline & Adventure
The Pirin National Park and its surrounding mountains, Pirin, Rila and Rhodope offer something for everyone.
The Pirin mountain range with its lakes, waterfalls, caves and pine forests along with some 70 glacial lakes scattered throughout offer fantastic hiking trails to suit all levels of ability. Everyone, from the social walker enjoying the outdoors, to the most dedicated hiker will find a trail to suit their requirements , whether it be a couple of hours , a day or even a 5 day hike you will be guaranteed breathtaking views with the added bonus of breathing pristine mountain air.
Many of the marked trails start from either the Bezbog Chalet reached by the Dobrinishte chair lift or from the mountain road out of Bansko up to the Vihren Hut. You can make this journey by car or take the bus. If, when you arrive at the Vihren hut you decide you are not up to climbing peaks, you can visit the spectacular nearby lake, Okoto (The Eye). It is an approximate 50 minute hike from the hut and is easily accessible. Also you will have the opportunity to visit the oldest tree in Bulgaria, called thr Barkushevamura (White fur). It is over 3000 years old.
Mountain Biking is hugely popular with 100's km's of marked mountain trails, there are marked trails to suit all levels of ability, popular is transportation to the Vihren Hut and then you ride back down the mountain to Bansko.
Opportunities for fun in the mountains are endless; here are just a few of the activities to be found.
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Alternatively please do not hesitate to Contact Us if you require any further information