Facilities in Bansko and Around
Floodlit Ice Skating only 100 metres from Mountain Residence 3 apartments.
Baby sitting service
Ski School is excellent, affordable and English speaking. Book with us on book.banskoblog.com.
Eating Out means anything from sushi, pizza, italian, greek and the famous Bansko Mehanas (taverns)… try “sache” (grilled meats/vegetables) and the “shopska salad”.
Ask for guide to favourite value places in nearby Razlog, Banya, Dobrinishte and Dolna Draglishte where you pay around £4 per person. Great atmosphere with lively local band and dancing come for free.
Apres ski bars are just 200 metres away from Mountain Residence 3 with The Lion Pub with Sky Sports and Happy End Bar with live bands/music/big screen videos and Irish Pub, Bansko Royal Towers
Night Clubs try Zero Degrees Club for live bands (200 metres at Royal Bansko Towers) Brilliantine (Lion Hotel), Oxygen or Payner Club and Nai Club for frequent chalga concerts… click for Kamelia video.
Retro and Basecamp are others I have yet to try
Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena 5 star hotel (by the lift) and Bansko Royal Towers (300m from lift) with indoor and outdoor swimming pools and Spa centres – both just 250 metres away from Mountain Residence 3.
Skiing:
Highest Lift: 2560m
Km of Piste: 70km
Longest Run: 16km
Cross Country Trails: 9km
Beginner Slopes: 8 (Blue)
Intermediate Slopes: 13(Red)
Advanced Slopes: 1 (Black)
Mtn Restaurants: 10
Lifts: 16 (1 Gondola, 8 High Speed Chairs, 7 Drags)
Snow Canons
Auto read “SkiData”chip cards – no photo required. Avoids queues.
Bansko has the best snow record of all Bulgarian ski resorts as well as the best maintenance facilities. The runs are well groomed by 12 Kassbohrer piste maintenance vehicles.
The ski season officially starts 15th December but in 2007 opened beginning of December due to excellent snow falls. The season continues right until mid April.
Slalom and giant slalom runs are available in the Shiligarnika region. Bansko offers a cross-country track with a total length of 5 km at a height of 1530m above sea level at the Banderishka Polyana slope. The ski centre has over 70 km of marked ski runs.
For beginners and improvers there are many excellent English speaking instructors at the ski school.
Bansko awarded second best ski resort for beginners by the Guardian newspaper! For intermediates, the ski area inspires confidence with many well maintained wide tree-lined runs.
The advanced skier/rider can try the Alberto Tomba black run, and there is good off-piste available (a guide is recommended). Skiers and snowboarders are welcome to use the fun park on the Platoto.
At the end of the day ski back down to the resort on an easy blue run. On floodit nights this is an experience you will remember.
Snowboarders:
Long tree-lined runs and a new dedicated snowboarders area with a half pipe facility 90 metres long by 16 metres wide. Lots of off piste sections to explore.
Children:
Creche, English run, 6 months plus (advanced booking required)
Non-ski kindergarten for children (3 to 7 years).
Junior Ski Club (4 to 7 years) with 3 baby drags
Wonder Carpets baby track
Rotunda type Kinder carousel.
Bansko is a choice destination for families with children of all ages.
Golf:
Ian Woosnam 18 hole Championship golf course – 6km away. A true challenge in a stunning setting. Contact us for info on green fees and reservation.
Other:
Bear sanctuary watch video
Bird watching
Fishing
Hiking in Pirin and Rila Mountains
Horse riding
Mineral baths
Mountaineering/rock climbing
Mountain biking
Paintballing
Paragliding
Spa & wellness
Quad biking
White water rafting
Visit the famous spa and historical towns of:
Sandanski (1.25hrs), Velingrad (1.20hrs), Plovdiv (2.0 hrs), Sapareva Banya (1.5hrs), Kovachevitsa (1.0hr), Leshten (1 hr)
Wine Tasting and pyramid scenery: Melnik (1.5hrs)
Shopping: Razlog Monday market (0.25 hrs) Blagoevgrad (0.8hrs)
Nightlife and Shopping: Thessoloniki Greece (2.5hrs)
Famous Monastry: Rila Monastary (1.5hrs)
Mineral Baths: Banya (5 mins) & Dobrinishte (10 mins). Dobrinishte heated outdoor s/pool
As I have visited most of these places and have done many of these activities we advise you how to enjoy the region at the lowest prices. For example, quad biking will normally cost you 50 euros per hour – but we can show you where you can do this for 13 euros per hour. From markets to supermarkets, mountain guides to restaurants, personal ski lessons to tours, we can help ensure your holiday money goes the furthest.
Extreme Sports:
Paragliding off the Platoto (ski area) and in Gotse Delchev
Heli-skiing
Off road motor biking
White water rafting
Quad biking (just £11 per hour !)
Fishing
Fishing can be a great holiday activity, just pick yourself up a good rod and reel, head to the river and chill out while your wait for a bite.
General Info
Pirin, 2914 m. is the most rugged of all mountain ranges on the Balkans and provides the scenery of Bansko the summer resort with an amazing variety of terrains for hiking and mountaineering. The Pirin high peaks, ridges, and valleys will provide even the most demanding tourists with an unforgettable mountain holiday.
The rock sites of peak Vihren (2914 m) , Sinanitsa (2516 m), Georgiytsa (2589 m), Glavnishki Choukar (2670 m) and around peak Okaden (2475 m) offer various climbing courses of different difficulty for all mountaineers. If you are a beginner, then qualified instructors are available for you to learn the techniques of safe alpine rock climbing.
More than 100 km of marked alpine routes situated in the Pirin National Park will please even the most demanding mountain fans. The caves around Bansko with its beauty, underground rivers, stalactites and stalagmites are an opportunity not to miss.
Bansko has lots to offer throughout the year.
General:
Contact for more info on Bansko and neighbouring areas for activities to make your holiday special. Also for a guide on the best restaurants in local villages. You can pay just 60 pence for a pint of beer and a 3 course dinner for just £5. Bulgaria is the cheapest destination in Europe to holiday. Travelling around the country is hugely enjoyable – contact for suggestions on other regions to visit.
Insurance please remember to buy it. Try www.ski-insurance.co.uk.
Hospital is in nearby Razlog, Doctor located in base gondola ski station. Mountain rescue facilities. New Bansko hospital under construction.
We assist you both before and during your travels in Bulgaria.
Contact for more info:
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