New Kid on the Eastern Bloc – Ski In Bansko, Bulgaria!!

One of the newest destinations to hit the ski world, Bansko has emerged as Bulgaria’s premier ski resort! Slowly established over the past ten years, recent developments in the area have resulted in Bansko being the largest resort offering the variety of its alpine competitors for a fraction of the price.

Located near River Glazane at 925m above sea level, Bansko nestles beneath the shadows of the breathtaking Pirin Mountain whose summit rises above the area at an impressive 2, 914 meters.  Chalin Valog and Shiligarnika are the two main ski areas lying at 10km above the town with the new and efficient gondola lift transporting visitors to the slopes within a 25 minute ride.

Click here for Bansko Accommodation

Bansko is renowned for its fantastic weather conditions having the best snow record and in turn the longest ski season of all Bulgarian ski resorts, with visitors being able to hit the slopes from 15th Dec – 15th May.

Once on the slopes boarders and Skiers of all levels will not be disappointed as they are met by a variety of runs accommodating all skills.  For those amongst us wanting to push the adrenaline levels, the Bansko Ski Zone awaits with lots of adrenaline fuelled and exciting challenges for skiers and boarders alike to showcase their skills!  An added bonus for all is the ability to take part in magical night skis on a number of the pistes – a fantastic finale to any day up the mountain.

Click here for Bansko Accommodation

Due to the huge investments in the resort over previous years there is now accommodation a plenty, all of an exceptional and in many cases luxurious manner, without the price tag you would find in similar resorts within the Alps.  There are a vast amount of luxury hotels, including one 5 star hotel, high standard holiday apartments in good locations as well as an array of family run holiday accommodation to suit all budgets.

Bansko is an historical town full of charm and tradition which is demonstrated at its best when discovering its selection of Après ski.  After a hard day on the mountain visitors are able to recuperate in true Bulgarian style by visiting the Mehanas (traditional Bulgarian taverns), where you can enjoy delicious local cuisine and fantastic wines accompanied in many cases by the sounds of live folk music.  In addition the resort also offers a number of high standard restaurants, cafes and bars alongside discos and nightclubs for those wishing to exchange their snow boots for their dancing shoes!

All in all Bansko is a gem of a resort hidden away in the Eastern Bloc, awaiting to be discovered by those wishing to explore new mountain destinations and have their very own Eastern European adventure!

http://www.independentmountain.com/resorts/bansko/accommodation

New Resort – Bansko

We’ve just added Bansko to our list of resorts on Independent Mountain. With the prices being dramatically lower in Bulgaria you don’t have to let the credit crunch get in the way of your winter holiday, so why not give Bansko a try this winter so as not to miss out on your ski trip.

About Bansko:

Bansko, once mainly a stockbreeding and travelling merchant community, has nowadays become a center of winter and summer tourism. The mountain peaks near the town, the numerous lakes and the old pine woods make it a popular site for recreation. In recent years, the town has gained international popularity after the start of the annual Bansko Jazz Festival and consequently the annual Bansko pop-star concert featuring top pop stars. The nearby village of Banya, located only 5 km from the town, is known for its 27 thermal mineral springs.

A new gondola lift was built in 2003 to replace a minibus ride up to the ski slopes of Todorka. Several other gondolas and ski lifts are in the process of being built. These developments, along with the construction of extensive housing and recreational facilities around the gondola (which is on the southwest end of the town by the river), have made Bansko a popular and growing destination.

The town is served by a scenic narrow gauge railway from Septemvri to Dobrinishte.

View Bansko Accommodation