| Roughly equidistant - at around 100 miles - from the | | | | "high-tech" approach to lift passes means that waiting, |
| major cities of Sofia, and Plovdiv, the region of Bansko | | | | and queuing, times are reduced to a minimum. |
| has a good local infrastructure, and is well served by | | | | Attractions |
| air, road and rail links. Bansko is home to many | | | | Visitors to Bansko will soon discover the meaning of |
| prestigious sporting events, including national | | | | the word "mehana" - local taverns - featuring |
| championships in snowboarding and Alpine skiing, during | | | | affordable food and drink, music and dancing, and |
| its winter season. | | | | providing the nucleus of après ski activity, which |
| Skiing | | | | does tend to be fairly low-key. |
| The terrain in the Bansko region is, perhaps, more | | | | Other attractions include the Holy Trinity Church, the |
| "Alpine" in character than elsewhere in Bulgaria, with | | | | Bansko Art School, and Velyanova House, |
| some peaks in excess of 8,000 feet. 17 runs, of | | | | reconstructed at the turn of the 19th century, by |
| varying difficulty, with a total length of over 40 miles, | | | | master craftsman, Velin Ognyanov. |
| mean that Bansko has something to offer skiers of all | | | | One of the more exciting events of the year takes |
| abilities. | | | | place on January 1st each year, when the "Koukeri" - |
| The gentler slopes of Todorin Vruh are suitable for | | | | the young, single men - don masks and bells, and roam |
| beginners, and expert tuition is available from a | | | | the streets, to frighten away evil spirits (and imbibe |
| multilingual ski school, while for more demanding, or | | | | vast quantities of "rakia", the locally-produced, and |
| experienced skiers, the run from Todorka Peak - itself, | | | | potent, plum liquor, into the bargain). |
| over 10 miles in length - or the higher altitude Shiligraniki | | | | To the south of Bansko, the Pirin National Park - a |
| Piste - of international competition standard, for giant | | | | UNESCO World Heritage Site - is a popular destination |
| slalom - offer sufficient variety, and level of difficulty. | | | | for tourists, featuring lakes, waterfalls, caves and |
| All of the runs in the Bansko region are, generally, | | | | fragrant pine forests. |
| well-maintained, and groomed regularly, and a | | | | |