Ski resorts in Bulgaria

Bulgaria is famous not only for its golden sands and the bluest sea, but also for the white peaks of its mountains, which make up a third of the country’s territory. Ski resorts in Bulgaria are rapidly developing and today offer their guests everything they need for an unforgettable winter holiday: abundant snow and gentle sunshine, first-class ski slopes and excellent hotels, and all this in the atmosphere of traditional Bulgarian hospitality and homeliness.

This country seems to have been created for skiing: mountain ranges, of which the most famous are Stara Planina, Rhodope, Rila and Pirin, occupy more than 30 per cent of the country. In many regions there is a snow cover of a density rarely found in Central Europe. The Bulgarian mountains have created all conditions for skiing in recent decades. Long pistes offer slopes of varying difficulty for skiers of all abilities. Numerous lifts take skiers to the mountain tops in all resorts. Ski centers offer ski equipment for hire. Ski schools have competent instructors, often fluent in many languages.

Despite the active development of the infrastructure of winter resorts, today Bulgaria is still one of the most inexpensive skiing countries. Russians who have fallen in love with local winter resorts are attracted, apart from the gentle prices, by the absence of a language barrier, geographical and mental proximity to Russia, a short flight, and the possibility to put children and beginners on skis quite inexpensively. And the choice of winter resorts in Bulgaria is also quite wide.

Borovets

This largest ski resort in Bulgaria is located 72 kilometers from Sofia and 126 kilometres from Plovdiv. The resort is situated at an altitude of 1350 meters amid centuries-old coniferous forest on the slopes of the Rila Mountains. In the century before last there was a hunting base of the Bulgarian kings. Today Borovets is the biggest ski center in Bulgaria in terms of length and possibilities of slopes. The ski season here lasts from December to April. The height of the snow cover in the resort reaches 1.5 meters. The surroundings of Borovets are characterized by a mild climate, plenty of sunshine and particularly clean, ozone-rich air.

There are three skiing areas in the resort. The Borovets ski centre (Sitnyakovo – Martinovi baraki) is located between 1337 and 1780 meters above sea level. Here you can find slopes for all tastes, from the steepest and most difficult to very gentle slopes for beginners: the center has 2 black, 4 red, 4 blue and 3 green slopes.

The Jastrebets ski center is situated at an altitude of 1340-2369 m above sea level and includes 3 pistes for more experienced skiers – here you will find 1 black, 3 red and 1 blue piste. Jastrebets also hosts competitions among professional skiers. The highest part of the resort, the Markudzic ski center, reaches an altitude of 2550 m above sea level in some places. Markudzik is also famous for having the most stable snow cover. There are five different pistes – 1 black, 2 red, 1 blue and 1 green. Since 2002, a 1240 meter high snowboarding piste with a 302 meter drop has been open here.

A total of seventeen lifts operate in Borovets. There is an excellent ski school with more than 200 experienced instructors. Young guests of the resort will not be neglected either: the children’s ski garden in Borovets helps young athletes to get up on skis easily.

The resort offers a wide range of hotels from two to four stars, some with swimming pools and saunas. There are also two villages with purpose-built wooden cottage-style lodges.

In addition to the usual nightclubs and discos, ski carnivals and folklore evenings are worth mentioning. Those who are particularly inquisitive can go on excursions to the residence of the Bulgarian king – Bystritsa, to the Rila Monastery, built in the 10th century, as well as to the picturesque ancient town of Melnik, famous all over the world for its wines.

Bansko

The youngest and most fashionable Bulgarian ski resort is located 160 kilometres from Sofia, on the slopes of the Pirin mountain range. Here you can enjoy a wonderful combination of unspoilt nature and the romantic atmosphere of an ancient town, declared a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. The resort is surrounded by 87 mountain peaks and 150 lakes. Winters are long but mild, with temperatures rarely dropping below 2-3 degrees Celsius in January. Heavy snowfalls are frequent in this area, so the snow cover here reaches two metres. The ski season lasts from mid-December to mid-April. The total length of the slopes of Bansko is 56 kilometers, including 2 black, 9 red and 4 blue pistes.

There is a free shuttle bus to the main skiing area – Shiligarniki, located 12 km from Bansko. Some hotels organise a direct shuttle service to the slopes. Another skiing area, Chalin Valog, is located 6 km from Bansko.

The resort also has a ski school, a ski kindergarten for children over 4 years old with a children’s lift, ski carousels and moving tracks.

Bansko has a large number of hotels of different price categories, and you can rent both elite-class flats and relatively inexpensive flats. Moreover, the housing stock is located both in Bansko and outside it.

The resort is remembered for its atmosphere of a European town, a lot of cozy machans – small national restaurants, numerous historical and cultural monuments. The lovers of antiquity who are holidaying in Bansko do not need to go far for a cultural program. The town itself is a living museum of Bulgarian Renaissance architecture. There are 140 monuments of culture and history here. From here you can also go to the nearby picturesque town of Melnik, as well as to the monasteries in the Bansko area.

Pamporovo

Pamporovo is the southernmost and sunniest ski resort in Bulgaria. It is located 260 km from Sofia and 72 km from Plovdiv airport. The resort is located at an altitude of 1450-1650 m, in a forested area in the heart of the Rhodope Mountains. Snezhanka Peak (1926 m) rises above it, on which a TV tower is installed. Its observation deck offers a wonderful view of the Rhodope Mountains and, in good weather, of the Aegean Sea. The proximity to the sea and the barrier of the Rhodope Mountains guarantees Pomporovo guests a mild winter with bright sunshine and abundant snow from December to mid-April. Pamporovo is also famous for being the birthplace of the mythical singer Orpheus.

The winter resort of Pamporovo is an ideal place for those who want to learn to ski. There are four pistes with gentle slopes, equipped especially for beginners and children. The resort’s excellent ski school is internationally renowned. Its programme is designed to provide the best possible training for beginners. However, Pamporovo’s well groomed and marked pistes are also perfect for intermediate skiers. Mt Snezhanka offers a wide range of wide and long pistes, ideal for improving skiing skills. The resort has pistes of all levels, from easy to the most difficult. Pamporovo has a well-developed lift infrastructure and excellent conditions for cross-country skiing.

The resort boasts excellent hotels to suit all tastes – from high-class five-star hotels to quite economical cosy hotels. The location of the resort and the presence of hot springs have led to the establishment of balneological centres in Pamporovo.

From Pamporovo tourists can go on excursions to the ancient center of Plovdiv and the ancient town of Chepelare, Smolyan, to the ethnographic village of Shiroka Lyka, to the ancient Bachkovo Monastery. All these interesting places are located near the resort. You can also take a guided hike to Mt Ruen, to the Smolyan Lakes or to any of the neighbouring picturesque villages.

Bulgarian resorts in figures

SKIING

Resort	Difference, metres	Tracks, % or kilometres				Lifts, number
		Total	Blue	Red	Black	Surface	Chairlift	Gondola
Bansko	936-2560	65 km	35%	40%	25%	7	7	1
Borovets	1323-2540	45 km	29 %	62 %	9 %	12	3	1
Pamporovo	1450-1926	20 km	73 %	18 %	9%	3	5	0

ЦЕНЫ

Курорт	Ски-пасс на 1/6 дней, евро		Прокат на 1/6 дней
			Горные лыжи		Сноуборд
	Взрослые	Дети	Взрослые	Дети	Взрослые	Дети
Банско	25/140	15/77	от 15/80	от 7/50	от 20/100	от 15/75
Боровец	25/139.5	20/102	от 13/58	от 9/40	от 15/62	от 11/43
Пампорово	18/70	13/48	от 14/65	от 10/44	от 16/70	от 12/45