Bulgaria Villas

Great outdoors summer holidays in Bulgaria

For half the year Bansko is a ski resort: but for the rest of the time the area is a superb summer holiday location. You can enjoy a huge number of activities, including trekking, riding and white water rafting in outstanding natural beauty.

The town of Bansko is a unique mixture of old traditions and modern style. New-built hotels and apartment houses are separated from more than 100 years old ethnographic houses by just a tiny, stone-paved street. The town centre is a listed World Heritage Site and the clock tower has measured the time for over 150 years. With their famous hospitality and friendliness the people of Bansko make their guests remember the time spent here.

Pirin National Park is a World Heritage national park that covers most of the Pirin Mountains. It has an area of 274 km², much of which is forested with Macedonian Pine, Bosnian Pine and Bulgarian Fir. It’s a rich (but safe!) wildlife habitat with deer, capricorn, wolves and brown bear. Two nature reserves are located within the park, Bayuvi Dupki and Yulen, and you’ll find no less than 176 lakes.

Here’s a selection of what’s on offer in the national park:

Wildlife watching. Over 2,000 species of animals live in the park, including 300 rare species and 15 included on international endangered species lists. The number of bird species that can be seen in the park is particularly large — about 160, 40% of all the bird species in Bulgaria. The area is also known for its superb fishing.

Bike riding. The Bansko area offers hundreds of miles of superb mountain bike riding, from relaxing forest or valley trails to the adrenalin rush of the technically and physically demanding alpine rides. There are clearly-mapped routes across the area, from easy-going rides to the intense alpine trails.

Walking and hiking. The national park provides a huge variety of marked mountain walking routes. The scenery allows valley trips, forest walks, slight and sharp hill climbs and above-the-clouds thin air passages. The crystal clear air and magnificent scenery make walking a real pleasure, with several planned routes from gentle walks to more demanding all-day treks.

Horse riding. There are fantastic opportunities to ride in unspoilt scenery. A horse ride will lead you through a wide diversity of environments including lush green meadows, open pasture clearings, amazing rock formations and century-old pine forests. Horses are available for riders of all experience and abilities, with all the necessary gear for hire. You can also choose from guided riding, free range riding, private and group lessons, barbeque rides and village cart trips.

Rafting. If you love outdoor adventures and adrenaline rushes, or just a gentle time on the water, the Rivers Struma and Mesta are two great rafting locations. The Struma trip starts in peaceful waters but soon reaches the rapids of the Kresna Canyon for a true white water experience. The Mesta is calmer and gives you plenty of time to take in the picturesque surroundings. Local rafting clubs are fully licensed and staffed by skilled and experienced people with good foreign language skills.

Golf. There are two 18-hole courses in the area, including Ian Woosnam’s exclusive course at the Pirin Golf and Country Club just 1.5 miles from the complex. The Pirin Golf & Country Club is an international 5 stars resort and a team of professionals is in place, all taking care for each and every detail to ensure an enjoyable and memorable stay for your entire family. Note: The course currently is only available for use exclusively by owners of properties within the golfing complex

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.

Spas, mineral baths and swimming. The complex has its own spa and swimming pools, while the valley of the Mesta River is well known for its mineral water springs, including the mineral baths in the villages of Banya and Dobrinishte.

Beaches. A number of Greek beaches are just a couple of hours’ drive away.

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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