Bansko

Bansko is situated at an altitude of 925m on the river Glazane in the north-eastern foot of the beautiful tree lined Pirin mountains. The climate is transitional-continental which means the summer is usually quite sunny and fresh and the winter is snowy, mild, and continuous.

In recent years the town has developed into a favourite holiday destination, thanks to the excellent ski facilities combined with its unique architecture and historical significance.

Link to a map of Bansko    Link to the official Bansko site    Bansko Tourist Information

Bansko in Summer

In summer, Bansko has more to offer than you may think, boasting a wealth of exciting activities and day trips. The mountains are magnificent, the vistas are wonderful and you are in for a treat whether your holiday is walking or driving based.

Other activities and attractions include: A mountain Railway - Rila Monastery - Quad Bike Hire / Tours - Day trip to Greece - Mineral baths - National park visitors centre - Excursions - Extreme adventures - Rock climbing - Paintball - Paragliding - Cave exploring - White Water Rafting - Horseback riding - Mountain biking trips - Golf - Bear park (rescue centre) - Hiking tours. walking, horse riding, mountain biking and golf on one of the many courses in the district - and remember, the nearest Grecian beach is only three hours drive away! There is also a popular beer festival as well as a free international Jazz festival.

Last year we discovered what was for us a sublime holiday combination using our Bansko apartment as the base. We flew to Sofia, hired a car and drove south east of the capital to Koprivshtitsa [I still struggle to pronounce it] where we spent 3 nights in this small hill village and immersed ourselves in a traditional music and dance festival. It was a rustic, unique, unpretentious outdoor experience from beginning to end and something I have spent a lifetime in search of! Although the Koprivshtitsa International Festival is only held once every 5 years... next one 2015... 'Pirin Sings' is an equally exciting bi-annual folk festival at the end of July in the Pirin Mountains very close to Bansko.

We tore ourselves reluctantly away from the festival and drove south west to Bansko [approx 4 hours] through beautiful countryside where we spent the following 5 days walking in the wild and rugged mountains surrounded by alpine flowers and many inviting wild swimming opportunities in lakes and streams. The holiday culminated in a 3 hour drive south across the Greek border to the Mediterranean coast where we parked the car and borded the ferry [no advance booking necessary] to the unspoilt island of Thassos. It's cooler, greener and more beautiful than most of the other islands. We took the island bus which continuously circumnavigates the island and ended up in Aliki on the southeast coast. Another blissful 5 days of sunshine, swimming and relaxation. You really cant beat it!

Alternatively, it's possible to do all this by bus. It takes a little longer but has a richer cultural flavour. There are of course many other attractions available including the extensive mountain lakes, hot springs and rivers where white water rafting is available for the more adventurous among you.

By way of a further unique experience we have Bulgarian friends who run a small eco-tourist business in Skrebatno, a historic village in the hills behind Gotse Delchev an hours drive south of Bansko. They offer accommodation in cottages decked out in the old traditional Bulgarian style. Guests can sleep in authentic beds with hand woven blankets. Besides the rich exhibition of textiles and objects from the old way of life, you can learn to cook delicious Bulgarian recipes prepared from homegrown products in the open-air ovens. What's more, the owner is a very fine folk musician and you can request a recital. The walks in this area are spectacular and more gentle than in the Pirin Mountains. For details see: www.ognianvalev.com and click on the English translation button.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bansko

Bansko is situated at an altitude of 925m on the river Glazane in the north-eastern foot of the beautiful tree lined Pirin mountains. The climate is transitional-continental which means the summer is usually quite sunny and fresh and the winter is snowy, mild, and continuous.

In recent years the town has developed into a favourite holiday destination, thanks to the excellent ski facilities combined with its unique architecture and historical significance.

Link to a map of Bansko    Link to the official Bansko site    Bansko Tourist Information

Bansko in Winter

Bansko is without doubt Bulgaria's premier ski resort, having the best and most modern ski centre of all Bulgarian ski resorts. It also has the best snow record and the longest ski season (15 Dec - 15 April).

During recent years a multi-million euro investment in a brand new skiing area has made the resort suitable for all abilities which means there's something for everyone... from the expert who wants to perfect their style and technique on the black runs (there is English one-to-one tuition available to assist with this, as is race tuition - all at very friendly Bulgarian prices!)(Weblink), to the beginner and intermediate, especially if it's kilometre after kilometre of runs you are seeking.

All the pistes are well planned, with approximately 60 snow cannons covering many of the runs which ensures good skiing from mid December through until April.

Bansko village is some 1500m below the top ski area and is often bathed in the warm winter sunshine, but it is still possible to ski back to the gondola station... even at night as several of the runs are flood lit!

There is no need to carry your ski equipment backwards and forwards each day. If you rent at the Gondola station you can store your equipment there overnight free of charge. If you rent elsewhere or have your own equipment, you can rent secure storage for less than a £1 per day...everyone does this!

Snowboarding

If you are a snowboarder, or thinking about learning to snowboard, Bansko has a great park that includes a half pipe, as well as numerous on piste and off piste areas to explore. Many of the British who have taken up residence in the resort are snowboarders, so what better endorsement can you have?!

Ski School

There are several ski schools in Bansko. The Bansko ski school offers discounts on the lift price if you book lessons through them (20%), or lessons and ski equipment (25%). See:  www.banskoskischool.com

There is also the English run Method ski School which has a very good reputation. See:  www.methodsnowschool.com

If you are in any doubt about the skiing that Bansko has to offer, then look at the virtual ski tours from the official Bansko Ski website!

 

Dining

There are a number of places to eat on the mountain and if you are used to French or Swiss prices, you will certainly be pleasantly surprised.