Winter resorts in Bulgaria

The Bulgarian winter resorts have gained international popularity for a short time thanks to the wonderful conditions for sports, modern facilities and magnificent mountain scenery. Many international competitions are held on the slopes of the Bulgarian resorts. There is a real paradise for skiers, snowboarders, fans of extreme winter sports and the beautiful mountains.

There are four large and world-renowned winter resorts in the country and several smaller ski areas that are rapidly developing and rightly attracting the attention of tourists. The total length of the slopes in Bulgaria exceeds 200 km. The highest runs begin at 2600 m above sea level, with the maximum displacement reaching 1630 m. All slopes are served by modern chair and cabin lifts. The modern facilities and the developed infrastructure guarantee good conditions for sport throughout the active winter season. Excellent conditions for practicing winter sports are from early December to April. Most large ski areas are equipped with snow facilities and guarantee the presence of quality snow cover.

Bansko

One of the largest winter resorts in Bulgaria is located at 925 meters above sea level, at the foot of Pirin Mountain - 150 km from Sofia and 96 km from Blagoevgrad. Bansko has gradually established itself as one of the leading winter ski resorts in the country and the region, attracting numerous Bulgarian and foreign tourists. There are 75 km ski tracks in Bansko, 35% of which for beginners, 40% for experienced skiers and 25% for professionals. 80% of tracks are equipped with facilities for the production of artificial snow. Elevation to the tracks is provided by modern elevators one cabin for 8 people, two 6-seater lifts, six 4-seater Dorrelmauer lifts, one 2-seat Poma lift, 6 drag lifts and 10 children's lifts.

The city has many museums and attractions, more than 130 architectural and historical cultural monuments, seven of which are of national importance.

Pamporovo

The winter resort of Pamporovo is located at the foot of the Snezhanka mountain (1926 m) in the Rhodope Mountains, 260 km from Sofia, 85 km from Plovdiv and 16 km from the town of Smolyan. The resort is located at an altitude of 1650 m above sea level. The average annual temperature is 5.5 degrees. Pamporovo is familiar to skiers from the 60s of the twentieth century. The main time tourists visit the resort is winter because of the excellent fitness of Pamporovo to ski sports. Almost all of Pamporovo's trails start from the top of Snezhanka Mountain. It stretches from 1926 m to 1400 m. The active tourist season begins in December and ends at the beginning of April. Due to beautiful natural sceneries and clean air, the resort is visited by tourists in summer.

Pamporovo has various types of accommodation - luxury hotels, family hotels and aparthotels. In restaurants and taverns, tourists can taste traditional dishes of local and European cuisine. Nightlife is also diverse - there are many discos bars, bowling halls and others. In large hotels there are SPA centers that offer a variety of treatments.

Chepelare

The town of Chepelare is located in the central part of the Rhodope Mountains, about 70 km from Plovdiv and 220 km from Sofia. The main road between Plovdiv and Smolyan passes through Chepelare. The resort is just 10 km from the resort of Pamporovo. In the immediate vicinity of Chepelare is located the area of ​​Mechi chal, which is the longest skiing track in the country. From 2007-2009, thanks to private investments, Chepelare resort began to develop as an independent ski resort.

To fans of skis and snowboard Chepelare offers 7 ski trails and 5 cross-country skiing trails, all located at the foot of the summit of Mechi chal. The trails are at an altitude from 1156 m to 1870 m, they all have different difficulty. The length of the longest is 5292 m. All tracks are equipped with facilities for artificial snow. Within 9 minutes you can reach the top of the Mechi Chal mountain using one of the comfortable lifts.

About 25 km from Chepelare is the architectural reserve "Shiroka Luka". The village is popular with its beautiful houses from the Bulgarian Renaissance period, which are located on steep mountain slopes. The city of Chepelare also offers a variety of accommodation - hotels located on the hills of the city and its center, guest houses and much more. In the city there are many restaurants where you can taste delicious Rhodope dishes.

Borovets

Borovets is one of the favorite mountain resorts in Bulgaria. It is located at an altitude of 1300 m above sea level on the northern slopes of the Rila Mountains, just 70 km from the capital city of Sofia, about 130 km from the city of Plovdiv and 10 km south of Samokov. The average temperature in January is about + 4.8 ° C. The resort was established at the end of the XIX century, and by the middle of the twentieth century it was known as Chamkoria. Here the most famous and rich people enjoyed the summer coolness, and in the winter, they enjoyed hunting. In the 1960s and 1970s the resort was developed, Alpine-style hotels, winter sports facilities were built and gradually Borovets became a modern winter resort. With its proximity to the capital and a favorable climate, cool in summer and in winter with lots of snow - the resort is an ideal place for fans of mountain entertainment. In the ski resort of Borovets there are ski slopes over 58 km long, cross-country skiing trails, biathlon, night lightening of some trails and children's winter park. The lifts are in general 12, they are all modern with excellent performance.

The resort has excellent conditions for a pleasant stay, you will not be deprived of amenities - there are shops, pharmacies, exchange offices, banks, ATMs, medical facilities.

Vitosha

The Vitosha Nature Park was established in 1934 and is the first of its kind in the Balkans.

In the park there are also two reserves - Bistrishko Branishche and Torfeno Branishche. Later Bistrishko Branishche receive the status of a biosphere reserve and is one of 16 biosphere reserves in Bulgaria.

Ski resort Vitosha attracts tourists with its excellent winter conditions for skiing. The proximity of Vitosha to Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, increases the resort's attendance and its accessibility. For all fans of skis and snowboarding there are 14 first-class tracks for the descent of a different kind of complexity and a cross-country skiing track. The trails are on the eastern and northern slopes of the mountain at an altitude of 1510 m to 2290 m.

In Vitosha, there are two independent ski centers Aleko and Konjarnika-Vetrala.

Lifting up to the track provides modern elevators and lifts. At the disposal of tourists are 1 cabin elevator, 4 elevators for seating, 5 different lifts and 2 children's lifts. The ski trail of Laleto provides the conditions for an evening skiing as well, it is fully lit from 18:30 to 22:30 hours. All routes are provided with facilities for artificial snow.