Mountains in Bulgaria

Mountains

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Bulgaria has three mountain ranges. The Stara Planina stretches across the middle of the country from the Yugoslav border in the west to the Black Sea coast in the east. The highest mountains are to be found in the Rhodopi Planina and Pirin Planina in south-west Bulgaria.
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On this page you can read about Bulgaria's main ski centres: Borovets Bansko Pamporovo and Bulgaria's largest lake: Lake Iskar

Borovets

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Borovets is the oldest mountain resort in Bulgaria. It has often gathered the skiing elite of the world, and seen the rise of many a Bulgarian champion. Borovets and Sofia have submitted a bid to be the venue for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. The massive development plans, announced by the authorities in July 2004, should assure the position of Borovets as a world-class international winter and summer resort. Furthermore, a huge golf course is planned for 2007, just a short distance away.

Voted "Best for intermediates" by the Daily Mail, 13 November, 2004: "Adept marketing in recent years has given this Bulgarian destination the highest profile of all Eastern European resorts... Its 40km of pistes offer more challenge than any others in Bulgaria... Both main ski schools have a reputation for friendly instruction, and the standard of rental equipment has vastly improved in recent years."

At 1,350 metres (4,430 feet) above sea level on the northern slopes of Rila Mountain, among age-old pine woods, Borovets is located at the foot of Moussala peak (2,925 metres / 9,600 feet) — the highest on the Balkan Peninsula. Borovets is easily accessible, being at a distance of 73km (45 miles) from Sofia and 126km (79 miles) from Plovdiv, Bulgaria's second city. Although Borovets is not residential, the town of Samokov is only 10km (6 miles) along the road from the resort.

Established at the end of the 19th century as a hunting place for the Bulgarian kings, Borovets gradually developed into a modern ski resort of high-class and luxury hotels, haute-cuisine restaurants and an excellent network of ski runs and lifts along the slopes of Rila Mountain, providing excellent opportunities for the whole range of winter sports — from Alpine to cross-country skiing, ski jumps and biathlon. The resort twice hosted World Cup Alpine skiing rounds, while the biathlon track is one of the best in the world.

The ski runs are of various difficulty, and are suitable for all, be they beginners, intermediate, advanced or expert skiers. The slopes and runs are maintained in perfect condition, and are designed with international markings and multilingual signs. A snow machine is also used.

The Borovets ski school, with more than 200 ski instructors, enjoys international prestige and long-standing traditions. All of them are fluent in different languages, and many are former professional skiers. Skiing classes are at 5 levels of difficulty, from A to E — in groups or individually — 4 hours per day, for 6 or 12 days. Cross-country skiing classes are for 2 hours daily. All course graduates receive skiing certificates.

The Peter Popanguelov Ski School for Expert Skiing and its 10 highly qualified ski instructors are ready to offer their services to those who want to hone their skiing skills to world championship level.

Borovets has ten ski rental services, located next to the lift station around the ski runs. They offer 7,000 sets of skiing equipment from world famous companies, as well as toboggans, sledges, etc. Skiers can also leave their own quipment for safekeeping there.

A ski package is available, with a view towards saving time and money, and covers ski school classes, unlimited lift usage, ski and boot hire or storage of one's own skiing equipment.

The Ski Patrol, based at the first station of the cable lift, provides a round-the-clock emergency service. It is organised in four teams, fully equipped with all necessary equipment, including a helicopter, if needed.

The air in Borovets is crystal clear and totally free of any pollutants, while the average temperature during January, the coldest month, is -4.6ºC.

Toboggans, swimming pools, saunas, fitness centre, billiards, table tennis, bowling, sleigh rides and helicopter flights are some of the activities on offer. In 2007 golf should be added to this list.

During the summer, Borovets offers walks along scenic routes, including many ski-routes, in groups led by experience guides. Organised trips lead to picturesque spots in the Rila Mountains, such as Seven Rila Lakes, Malyovitsa peak, Moussala peak, etc. A photo safari and a visit to the Bulgarian kings' residence of Bistritsa are also organised regularly. Various trips to different tourist attractions throughout Bulgaria are offered as well. Melnik, with its unique pyramids and famous wines, Sofia, Plovdiv and Rila Monastery are among the most interesting ones.

Bulgarian folklore evenings, featuring lively centuries-old rhythms and dances, along with other night-life opportunities such as night-clubs, bars and discos, provide the entertainment, while typical Bulgarian cuisine and world famous Bulgarian wines satisfy the palate.

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Bansko more about Bansko...

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" The best-kept secret in Bulgaria." Bansko is the most rapidly developing mountain destination in Bulgaria. Situated between the Rhodopi Planina and Pirin Planina ranges, it is the only one of the country's three major skiing centres which offers a lively, traditional town as well as a ski resort. Bansko offers a wide variety of choices, such as old-style pubs and taverns, restaurants, disco clubs, coffee shops and Internet cafés in the old town. Even in the low season, just before winter, the town's bars and restaurants bustle with local people in an infectious atmosphere of conviviality and merriment!

Bansko is the newest Bulgarian winter resort, only recently discovered by foreign tourists. In the winter of both 2001 and 2002 the number of foreign holidaymakers was 14,000. By early November 2003 all hotel rooms were booked for the entire winter, and the eventual number of tourists for the winter season was 250,000! During the winter of 2004 this figure almost doubled to 400,000.

Bansko is only 160km (100 miles) from Sofia, and the same distance from the Mediterranean Sea. Once the new highway is finished (2005), access to either will be about 2 hours' drive.

The skiing conditions and amenities are excellent. The surrounding mountains have a predominantly Alpine character, with three peaks towering almost 3,000 metres (10,000 feet). It was the venue for the International Free Skiers Association Big Mountain Competition 12-15 February 2004, and the International snowboard extreme competition 13-16 February 2005.

The slopes offer runs and tracks for all grades of skiers, from novice to expert, and are maintained in excellent condition. A new 8-passenger gondola was opened on 13 December 2003, to complement the chair lifts and ski drags, along with new snow guns. Indeed, the First Investment Bank has already pumped $14 million into the amenities here. Total investment so far is about €40 million.

The Bansko ski school offers skiing classes at five levels of difficulty: from A to E - in groups or individually. Tuition is available in cross-country skiing at two levels of difficulty. All graduates receive skiing certificates.

The average temperature during January, the coldest month, is -1.9°C. Snow falls are abundant, providing a constant winter snow cover up to 2 metres thick. The skiing season lasts from mid-December to mid-April.

Of course, Bansko is ideal not only for winter holidays. Summer is warm and pleasant among this beautiful scenery, with temperatures of 25°C. The summer season lasts from June to October. During July and August it is warm enough to sleep outside, even up in the mountains. Here is the domain of the highest peaks, the venerable white firs, the edelweiss and the wild goats. Here are more than 180 lakes, where Nature has gathered half of Bulgaria's flora and fauna. The fishing is superb, and the trout are delicious, thanks to zero pollution. The sheer mountain faces, the high altitude slopes and vast lands are an excellent place for mountaineering, trekking and strolling. Golf aficionados will be pleased to know that an 18-hole golf course is planned for 2006. Spring and autumn are short, being May and November respectively.

The region is famous for its cuisine and colourful folklore, and offers many and varied entertainment opportunities. The town itself attracts visitors by its cultural monuments and museums, and the permanent ethnographic and Bansko school of icon painting exhibitions.

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Pamporovo

Pamporovo, the pearl of Bulgarian mountain tourism, is the sunniest high mountain resort in Bulgaria. It is located in the heart of the Rhodope Mountains, 260 kilometres from Sofia. Plovdiv is 85 kilometers to the north and Smolyan only 15 kilometres to the south. A fast, almost traffic-free, motorway joins Sofia and Plovdiv.

The resort enjoys more than 240 sunny days a year. Its climate is mild, and the influence of the Mediterranean is perceptible. The average annual temperature here is 8.5°C, and its blanket of snow in winter is between 140 and 150 cm.

Because snow stays between 150 and 200 days a year, Pamporovo is a paradise for all ski and snowboard fans. They can enjoy 17.5 kilometres of Alpine ski runs with different degrees of difficulty, 34 ski runs for cross-country skiing. The resort is equipped with 6 chair lifts and 13 ski drags with a total capacity of 9,500 people per hour.

The central part of the resort is 1,650m above sea level, and the nearest peak, Snezhanka, is 1,926 metres high.

Pamporovo has no avalanches, and no sudden changes in the weather, which guarantees its guests safe and pleasant holidays.

Pamporovo, being in the Rhodope Mountains, is a unique place, famous for its negative air ionisation – something extremely beneficial to the health. It is hardly surprising that most of the centenarians in Bulgaria are found in this area.

Ski runs have different level of difficulties, and going down them is an unforgettable experience for both beginners and adept skiers. Highly experienced ski instructors are at disposal of all who would like to experience the thrills of skiing. If you cannot ski – do not worry! Pamporovo ski-schools are among the best in Europe. Full ski suits in the latest designs, produced by the world's foremost companies, are available at the ski and equipment hire centres.

Lake Iskar

Lake Iskar is only 25km from Borovets, 15 km from Samokov, the region's largest town, and 60km from Sofia. It is located in the hilly part of Lozenska Mountain, and adjoins the south-west slopes of the Ihtiman Highland. Occupying an area of 4,000 hectares (10,000 acres), it is Bulgaria's largest lake.

Renowned for its water sports, Lake Iskar is popular with Bulgarians and foreign tourists alike. It's a favourite with locals from Sofia for long weekends.

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