Bansko
The Largest Ski Resort in Bulgaria
Bansko is regularly voted the best value ski resort in Europe, with flights costing as little as £80 return to Sofia.
In the resort, prices are much lower than other European resorts, with a 2-course meal including wine costing around £15. A beer or hot chocolate on the slopes is around £2.50.
Unlike purpose-built ski resorts, Bansko is a charming town with plenty of history. The town and the mountain are World Heritage Sites protected by UNESCO.
Bansko has the best snow record in Bulgaria, and the winter season runs from mid-December to mid-April. With north-facing slopes and 80% snow-making coverage, Bansko attracts skiers and snowboarders of all abilities.
Ski Facts
- Advanced: Good
- Intermediate: Very Good
- Beginners: Good
- Highest Lift: 2560m
- Downhill Pistes: 75km
- Cross-country Tracks: 9km
- Longest Piste: 16km
- Ski Kindergarten: Yes, aged 4 years +
- Snow Park: Yes
- Off-Piste: Good and mainly easily accessible
Après Ski
Bansko offers the best après ski experience of all the Bulgarian ski resorts. There is something for everyone in either the modern bars, live music venues, restaurants and clubs or in the laid-back taverns in the rustic old town. The fantastic location of our chalets means that you are within easy walking distance to everything.
Our team will be pleased to book you in for the weekly Bansko Bar Crawl, which includes visits to the best bars and clubs in town. You can even bring fancy dress if you’d like a themed bar crawl!
Other Winter Activities
Thermal Spring Baths
The beautiful outdoor geo-thermal spring baths that are featured in some of the local villages are just a short drive away, the warm mineral water will soothe your aches and pains as you soak in the natural baths. There are also restaurants next to the pool if you wish to spend the evening there on your chalet hosts day off. Your chalet hosts will be able to organise the whole experience for you.
Back country ATV Tours
Get your adrenaline pumping on an exciting tour of the back country area on these powerful machines. ATV Tours in the Pirin mountain foothills can be organised once you arrive at the chalet.
Ice-Skating
Bansko has an outdoor ice-rink on the main street near the gondola. This is great fun for the whole family and we will be happy to drop you off and collect you again in our chalet minibus.
Air Soft Military Simulation Game
The ultimate military simulation game that offers an unparalleled level of realism. Players are divided into teams and engage in intense battles using fully realistic replicas of combat weapons. Equipped with 6mm plastic pellets, players must outsmart and outshoot their opponents to claim victory.
Pistes & Map
There are over 70 kilometres of piste-marked area and many techno alpine snow cannons cover the slopes to top up the snow and improve the ski season. Bansko offers runs and tracks for all types of skiers and snowboards and will suit beginners, intermediates and experts.
Advanced abilities can enjoy the black and red runs with difficult sections and the extremely steep Tomba race track, which regularly hosts events for the FIS World Cup. The resort’s range of red and blue runs are perfect for intermediate and family skiers wishing to cruise around the mountain whilst enjoying the exercise and fresh air.
Bansko welcomes beginners and has two areas dedicated to learners. At the top of the gondola the massive learner area has two gentle rope pulls and a button drag lift, which is complete with a children’s play area and creche. The second beginner slope is in the Chalin Valog area and also has its own dedicated button drag lift.
Snow Park & Off Piste
Located on the upper slopes and accessed via chairlift, the fun park is equipped with boxes, rails and kickers with varying levels of difficulty. For the expert skiers and boarders, a vast amount of off-piste area is begging to be explored, though we would always recommend taking a guide and the appropriate equipment. We are more than happy to organise this for you.
Getting to Bansko
It is possible to fly direct to Sofia airport from various UK and Ireland airports including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol, Edinburgh and Dublin. Plovdiv airport is another option, as well as Thessaloniki in Greece which often has cheaper flights.
Return flights with the low-cost carriers usually cost as little as £80. Peak season prices can be higher, and we recommend booking well in advance to secure the best deals.
For Bansko, flights from the UK to Sofia take around 3 hours. Airport shuttles (Sofia airport – lunchtime arrivals/departures are preferred) are included in our fully catered price, and the journey time to Bansko is around 2 hours.
If you choose to fly into Thessaloniki, the transfer time to Bansko is around 3 hours 10 minutes, and we ask you to pay the difference compared with a Sofia airport transfer. This is typically around £25 per person (each way) to cover the extra transfer.
Lift Passes, Equipment & Lessons Info
We are very happy to pre-book any lift passes, equipment and lessons for you prior to your holiday.
We will send you a form to complete a few weeks prior to your holiday with us. Estimates of prices can be found here as an approximate guide, and we are happy to discuss your options with you and offer advice.
On average, our guests have a 10% discount from walk-in rates in the resort for equipment hire and lessons.
Prices can depend on a variety of factors, but a 6-day lift pass starts from £240 (adults; £110 children), a 2-hour group lesson on those six days starts from £250 (£215 for children), and skis, poles & boots hire (and storage) for six days start from £60 (£40 for children).
Our Chalets in Bansko
Chalet Jora
Sleeps up to 14
Exclusive use
5 bedrooms
4 bathrooms
Large lounge with log fire
Great for families
Old town location
Chalet Mila
Sleeps 2 to 18
Room by room or Private use
8 bedrooms (all en-suite)
Large garden
Characterful dining room
Great central location
Great for friends or family
Chalet Garibaldi
Sleeps 2 to 20
8 bedrooms (all en-suite)
Dining room has amazing views
Private use or room-by-room
Perfect for a large group of family or friends
Old town location