Ski Holidays

Great skiing and snowboarding to suit all abilities

Bansko is an excellent ski location, whatever your experience or ability, with 70km of pistes covering all degrees of difficulty.

The ski season typically runs from mid-December to mid-May, although of course this varies depending on weather conditions. There are 160 snow cannons and several slope maintenance vehicles to provide a perfect skiing experience when there is less snowfall than normal.

The pistes are approximately seven miles above the town on the northern slopes of Pirin Mountain and are easily accessible. It takes just 25 minutes to reach the main ski areas of Chalin Valog (1100-1600m) and Shiligarnika (1700-2500m). Before embarking you are able to check out conditions such as temperature and wind on the monitors at the lift station. Then climb aboard the gondola, which transports you 1700m skimming across alpine forest blanketed in thick snow, and enjoy the breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. Once on the mountain the fun starts, with 23 ski lifts to get you to your chosen slopes.

The slopes offer runs and tracks for all types of skiers and will suit both beginners and experts. (About 35% are blue, 40% red and 25% black.) For the more able there are slalom and giant slalom slopes and a three-mile cross-country track. Some of the pistes also offer wonderful conditions for night skiing, available from 18.30 until 21.30. There are additional snowboarding facilities at Balkans Fun Park, which offers bumps, jumps and a half-pipe. And if that’s not enough, how about taking a skidoo ride or trying out your ice skating skills?

The area is especially welcoming to families. There are great facilities for children, with ski-kindergartens for kids with new drags and a child-friendly ski run. There’s even a Junior Club with three baby drags and a Wonder Carpets baby track.

What you’ll notice about the area is that it’s a far cry from the tired, out-dated resorts that Europe is perhaps known for. Instead, it has a much more modern feel, similar to the excellent facilities that you find in North America. But you don’t pay American prices, either for the skiing (a six-day pass is approx 150 euros for adults and 75 euros for children) or at the mountain restaurants that are incredibly cheap by Alpine standards.

Après ski in Bansko

Bansko is about much more than skiing - it’s a living historical town as well as a ski resort. The traditional ‘Mehana’ taverns have great local character with traditional cuisine and a good selection of Bulgarian wines. Most of them also offer live folk music. Meanwhile there are many other cafes and bars to choose from, as well as great night life in the discos and night clubs that usually stay open well into the next morning. Bansko also boasts around 120 cultural and historical monuments, and souvenir shops offering the creations of local artists and smiths.

Out of town there are numerous rich historical sites, including the remains of ancient fortresses at Staroto Gradishte just 4km to the west. South of Bansko is a national park rich with lakes, waterfalls, caves and mineral springs. If you have time, it’s also worth taking trips to the famous Rila Monastery and the busy city of Sofia.

RVTours. For an even wider range of activities RVTours offer the following:

• Sphering
• Off-road mountain buggies
• Snow mobiles
• Excursions and transfers
• Guded tours of mountain tracks, lakes and local villages
• Horse riding - Trekking and hacks
• Go karting
• Microlight flights
• Airport transfers
• White water rafting
• Mountain biking
• Ski and snowboard hire and lessons (5% discount when booked with RVTours)

For further details regarding all the exciting activities that RVTours download the latest brochure.

You may have just found the perfect place for your next holiday, so please read on to find out more about what the chalet and the area has to offer . . .

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• Prices & availability
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