Bansko is synonymous with the best skiing in Eastern Europe. It’s a bustling resort at the foot of the Pirin Mountains, but we’ll move past it and head into the backcountry to find terrific terrain and tons of untouched slopes. As locals who have been roaming these mountains for a long time, we created these 5-day Bansko ski holidays to tour some great mountains and scale high peaks. With Bansko as our base, we’ll get to experience a bit of local culture, getting to know the local community and trying out Bulgarian specialties. This trip blends amazing skiing with authentic experiences, and you’ll be planning your return before it’s over!
Join us for this 5-day itinerary of ski touring in the Pirin and Rila mountain ranges, all based out of Bansko. Being in the ski capital of Bulgaria will allow us to go out every day to different areas surrounding it. These Bansko ski holidays are ideal for skiers with off-piste experiences, as there will be options for intermediates and advanced skiers. Apart from the fact that you’ll have expert local guides by your side, who will take you to the area’s best-ofs and make sure you’re safe, a great thing about this trip is that all logistics are arranged for you. Transfers, food, hotel, even equipment rental is possible—you just show up and ski your heart out!
Following your arrival into Sofia Airport, you’ll get transferred to Bansko (3-hour drive). We’ll then settle into our hotel, where we’ll stay for four nights, and get to know each other over dinner, discuss the upcoming days, and get some rest for tomorrow.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Bansko
Today we’ll be ski touring in the Bezbog area. We’ll hop on the Bezbog lift that will give us a high start at 2,240 m (7,350 ft). There are a couple of peaks to climb today, including Bezbog, Polezan, Disilitsa, as well as options to ski down slopes, suitable for both intermediate and advanced skiers. It’s also possible to go skiing through the forests of Bezbog. We’ll end the day at the bottom lift station, which is 45 minutes away from Bansko.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Ski touring: 5-6 hours
Elevation: +600 or 1,000 m / -1,600 or -2,000 m (+1,970 or +3,280 ft / -5,250 or -6,560 ft)
Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Bansko
The Vihren valley is located southeast from the highest peak of Pirin and the jagged Marble Ridge. The most obvious objective for today is the Vihren peak itself, although it requires good endurance. A great and safe alternative to climbing it is the peak of Hvoynati—1,000 m (3,280 ft) of ascent from the starting point and a good choice of moderate lines to descend. Other options include the peaks of Muratov, Malka Todorka, and Donchovi Karauli. The starting point of these routes is the ski zone of Bansko.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Ski touring: 7 hours
Elevation: +1,000 m / -1,900 m (+3,280 ft / -6,235 ft)
Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Bansko
A one-hour drive takes us to the smaller and tranquil ski area of Semkovo, a huge contrast to the bustling Bansko area. It provides access to the main ridge of the Rila Mountains, with mostly mild terrain and beautiful conifer forests. Alternative options include the areas of Belmeken Lake in Rola or Yavorov Hut in Pirin—one of the best places for forest skiing in the area.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Ski touring: 6 hours
Elevation: +1,000 m / -1,000 m (+3,280 ft / -3,280 ft)
Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Bansko
Depending on your flight arrangements, we can fit half a day of ski touring near Bansko or the area of Kartala in Rila. Alternatively, upon your preference, we can also visit the Rila Monastery on the way to Sofia. If you’d like to stay longer and keep on exploring the area, just ask us for some recommendations!
Meals: Breakfast
We reserve the right to adjust the itinerary or locations based on weather and snow conditions. If necessary, changes will be made to maintain the quality of the entire tour.
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
Participants joining these Bansko ski holidays should be confident skiing on red/black runs and have decent off-piste skiing experience. Regarding the fitness level, participants should be able to tour for 6-7 hours in total per day.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring for your Bulgaria skiing holidays:
Indeed you can! Your guides offer both touring set rental (boots, skis, tech bindings, sticks) as well as avalanche gear rental for these Bansko ski holidays. You can add these upon checkout.
Accommodation
The base for your Bansko ski holidays will be a three-star family hotel in Bansko. You will stay in double/twin ensuite rooms.
Food
Breakfasts and dinners are included in the price of the tour. Breakfasts will be served in the hotel you’ll be staying in, while for dinner your guide will take you to local restaurants for two nights, while the other two dinners will be served in the hotel restaurant. This will be a great cultural experience as well! Keep in mind that special dietary requirements can be accommodated, but please let us know if you have any upon checkout.
Group sizes and pricing
Bulgaria skiing holidays can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements
To get to your Bansko ski holidays, fly into Sofia International Airport (SOF). That’s where you’ll meet up with your guides on Day 1 of the tour, and get transferred to Bansko.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance.
With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more. Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans.
We also expect you to respect local regulations and take measures to protect yourselves, your guides, and the communities you’re traveling to. If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!
Deposits
You can secure one of the set dates with a 30% deposit upon booking. The remaining 70% of the trip price is to be paid 90 days prior to departure, at the latest.
Cancellations
Booking fees are non-refundable in all cases. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options:
Basic
Flexible
Super Flexible
Our guide Lyuben is highly skilled and experienced in driving a team of freeriders/ski touring. He picks up the best sports in accordance with the weather conditions guaranteeing a great versality in the places we’ve been riding. Scenery destinations, gorgeous views, amazing after ski in thermal baths with top notch family hotels driven by local offering that extra additional local touch.
Lyuben is also experienced in other Balkans destinations and has a tremendous experience in Georgia. If you want to move out of the beaten tracks, you know who to contact. Enjoy it.