A FEW REASONS TO CHOOSE BANSKO SKI RESORT FOR YOUR NEXT INCENTIVE TRIP
1. PERFECT COMBINATION OF ACTIVE STAY, SPA EXPERIENCE AND TRADITIONAL FOLKLORE
SHORT DISTANCE FROM EUROPE - REDUCED COSTS FOR TRANSPORTATION
NEAREST AIRPORT: SOFIA; TRANSFER TIME: MAX.2.5 HRS
AIRPORT FOR CHARTER FLIGHTS: PLOVDIV; TRANSFER TIME: MAX.2H
LOW COST CARRIERS –WIZZAIR, EASY JET, MY AIR, FLY BABOO, SKY EUROPE
Official name: Republic of Bulgaria - the newest member of EU
Population: 7,973,671 inhabitants /2005/
Capital: Sofia /appx. 2 million inhabitants/
Language: Bulgarian, but many people, and particularly young people, speak English, French or German.
Currency: Bulgarian Lev /BGN/, 1 euro = 1.96 BGN
Time: GMT + 2 hours (GMT + 3 hours during daylight savings time)
Visa: None required for EU, US, or Canadian citizens. For a detailed list of countries and visa requirements see http://www.mfa.bg/en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4794&Itemid=243
2. BANSKO IS A FEELING
- Discover still little known incentive destination...
- TOWN WITH AUTHENTIC BULGARIAN TRADITIONS AND LIFESTYLE.
- BANSKO IS KNOWN FOR ITS LIVELY TAVERNS OFFERING MUCH MORE THAN JUST ETHNIC BULGARIAN FOOD AND FOLKLORE MUSIC.
- 70 KM SKI RUNS AND A GREAT CHOICE OF APRES-SKI VENUES.
3. BANSKO – WINTER TIME
The ski runs are located just above the colourful town of Bansko, 12 km into the picturesque Pirin Mountain. They are stretching over 70 km. The resorts boasts of modern high-capacity lift infrastructure of 25 km.
The contemporary town of Bansko is a unique mixture of old traditions and modern style. Newly built hotels and apart-houses are separated from century-old houses by just a tiny, stone-paved street. The town clock tower is contemporary to London’s Big Ben measuring the time for over 150 years.
Skiing conditions:
The resort has slopes of varying inclination and degree of difficulty, equipped with all modern technical facilities. The high altitude guarantees long skiing season, even during the late spring.
Ski facts:
- Location: North-Eastern outskirts of the Pirin mountain, 160 km south of Sofia.
- Altitude of the resort: 936 m
- Altitude of ski slopes: 1100-2560 m
- Highest skiing point: 2560 m
- Marked skiing slopes: 70 km
- Slope exposure: North
- Cable-car: 1
- Chair lifts: 7
- Drag lifts: 16
- Longest skiing slope: 16 km
- Cross country skiing tracks
Difficulty scale distribution of the ski slopes: 30% Beginners, 45% Advanced and 35% Expert.
4. HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR WINTER VISIT
SNOW ACTIVITIES
Skiing, Snowboarding, Snowmobile’s riding, Ice skating.
GOOD FOOD & VARIETY OF LOCAL RESTAURANTS
It is extremely easy to eat well in Bansko. The local taverns are called ‘Mehanas’ and there are almost 100 in the area. Local dishes include the "Sache" which is a sizzling stone plate brought to your table with meat, vegetables and spices – often shared by two. Another specialties are "Kapama" and "Banski Starets". Meat is often pork but chicken is nearly always available too.
OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES
The big variety of snow disciplines will turn your participation in one unforgettable and unique experience.
5. BANSKO NIGHTLIFE
During the ski season, there is no shortage of "Apres Ski" for all tastes.
Traditional taverns
Restaurants
Bars
Night clubs, Discos
2 Casinos
10-Pin Bowling
Karaoke Bar
Piano Bar
6. SPA & WELLNESS
Renew your body and soul, remove the stress and restore your vitality.
7. HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR SUMMER VISIT
PICNIC LUNCH IN THE FOREST
The picnic takes place only 4 km. from Bansko, on a picturesque meadow in the foot of the mountain Pirin, in the middle of a beautiful old forest. The idyll is disturbed only by the murmur of the mountain rillets. Curious local customs /”Stealing a Bride”/ are represented to the guests, giving them better idea of the traditional culture of the local people. The pleasant emotions and unforgettable memories are guaranteed.
DANCING BEARS PARK
The Dancing Bears Park is situated in Rila Mountain, at 1200 meters above sea level, 33 km from Bansko ski resort. The region is reach in natural forests, valleys and water areas.
There are 21 bears living currently in the park – each of them has a name and its own story. All were rescued from their life in captivity. They were used to earn money for their owners by dancing on the street. The method for bear training was cruel: the babies were forced to step on hot metal plates under music accompaniment. The animals jump, while the same melody was being repeated on and on. After this training, every time the bears hear the music they automatically started dancing.
In the park every single bear has its own territory with access to water and plenty of space for climbing. The park has rich natural environment, so that the bears can turn back to their normal behaviour in nature. The food for the bears is purposely hidden at different places in the park, so that the bears find it themselves, just as if they are in a natural wild environment.
Guiding Tour Visits are organized every hour between:
- April - May: 10.00 am - 6.00 pm
- June - September: 10.00 am - 8.00 pm
- October - November: 10.00 am - 4.00 pm
- December - March: no tours
PAINTBALL
Classic paintballing in a forest. Participants are split into teams and get to play a variety of different war games.
ATV RIDE
Quad bikes safari is ideal opportunity to experience something out of the ordinary. Great views will captivate you during the trophy full of challenges.
RAFTING
Struma River offers a great variety of thrilling rivers, which in the spring and early summer are suitable for white-water rafting.
OTHER OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
- Mountain biking
- Golf
- Hiking/ Trekking
- Horse riding
EXCURSION TO RILA MONASTERY
The Monastery is declared a UNESCO site. It was founded in 10th century. In the Monastery complex you can visit: the Nativity of the Holy Virgin Church, the monastery kitchen (called Magernitsa), Hrelyo Tower, the Transfiguration Chapel, and the museum.
EXCURSION TO MELNIK + WINE TASTING
In the Southwest of the Pirin Mountain stand the Melnik Pyramids - sheer, strangely shaped sand and limestone rocks. And here amongst this breathtaking scenery you will find the smallest Bulgarian town - Melnik. Romantic place with taverns and timber propped whitewashed stone houses leading off to cobbled streets and courtyards where flowers and vines adorn the facades. The town has been popular as a wine-growing region since 1346.
AUTHENTIC BULGARIAN FOLKLORE
The village of Dobarsko is located 17 km. from Bansko between the mountains of Rila and Pirin. The main site is the church St.st. Teodor Tiron and Teodor Stratilat built in 1614 and included in the National Heritage list. The church is unique with its very well preserved frescoes and especially with the one showing Jesus Christ in a rocket.
“The Grannies of Dobarsko” – amateur female folklore ensemble is performing authentic songs, dances and traditional customs in the old church’s yard. Tasting local dishes: baniza (cheese pastry), homemade milk and cheese.
The folklore programs in Bansko are performed by male folklore ensemble.
TRAIN TRIP THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS
The 760mm narrow-gauge train railway was opened more than 100 years ago. It connects the village of Dobrinishte and the town of Septemvri. The line is long 106 km and passes through amazing mountain sections and more than 30 tunnels. This railroad is considered one of the most-beautiful in the world, still operating until today -the scenery is varied as well as beautiful, with a mixture of deciduous forests, conifers, and open pasture. The highest train-station on the Balkans is found here - Avramovi Kolibi located at 1267 meters above sea level. The tip takes about five hours. Upon request the train trip can be operated with original retro steam locomotive.
FISHING + LUNCH
Among the rich greenery and cozy atmosphere, in the heart of the Pirin Mountains, there are three lakes for sport fishing. The complex has a wide range of fishing equipment available to the guests. The three lakes are full with trout ranging from 250 to 500 gr. each. The catch is prepared by a master cook in front of you on the outside grill. Suitable for groups of max.50 persons.
BULGARIAN GASTRONOMY MASTER CLASS
Come and take part in a lively and interesting afternoon and learn from our chief the secrets of Bulgarian cuisine. Our master will help you discover your culinary talents and explain you basic cooking techniques – how to prepare typical pastry, how to stuff wine-leaves and many, many others. Afterwards, you’ll have the opportunity to use your newly found skills to impress family and friends.
DID YOU KNOW:
- Bulgaria is one of the oldest European countries and is the only one that hasn't changed its name ever since it was founded in 681 AC.
- In 716 AD, the Bulgarians saved EUROPE from islamization. In 716 AD, the Bulgarians under the command of Kanasubigi Tervel came forward at the gates of Constantinople to help the Byzantines against the Muslim threat. This blow put an end to the Muslim Arabs attempting to penetrate into the Old Continent through the Balkan Peninsula.
- The recognition of the autocephalous Bulgarian Patriarchate by the Patriarchate of Constantinople in 927 AD makes the Bulgarian Orthodox Church the oldest independent Slavic Orthodox Church in the world.
- Bulgaria and Denmark were the only European countries to save their Jews during the Holocaust.
- The oldest processed golden treasure in the world was found in Bulgaria near the town of Varna (In 294 graves were discovered more than 3000 golden objects dating back 6000 years).
- According to the statistics, Bulgaria ranks third in Europe only after Greece and Italy for the number of its valuable archaeological monuments.
- The Cyrillic alphabet - in the second half of the 9th century the brothers Cyril (Constantine the Philosopher) and Methodius created and disseminated the Cyrillic alphabet. From Bulgaria the Cyrillic script spread to other Slavic lands as well - present-day Serbia and Russia.
- With the accession of Bulgaria to the European Union on January 1, 2007, Cyrillic became the third official alphabet of the EU. ( Bulgaria is the second EU country, after Greece, that use a non-Latin alphabet and the first to use Cyrillic, which originated in the medieval Bulgarian Empire.)
- The Bulgarian Army is the only force in the world which has never lost a single flag , although it actively participated in all major wars in Europe since the end of the nineteenth century.
- The first air-dropped bomb in military history was developed by the Bulgarian Air Force during the First Balkan War, and used on 16 October 1912 by Lieuts. Radul Milkov and Prodan Tarakchiev.
- Rayna Kasabova was the first woman ever to take part in a combat air mission, accomplished on 30 October 1912.
- The first wrestler in the world with 1500 wins and only 2 lost matches is the Bulgarian -- Dan Kolov .
- World's first digital wristwatch was developed by the Bulgarian Peter Petroff.
- Bulgaria is second in the world in international IQ tests and SAT scores and fourth in the world in per capita university education after the U.S., Japan, and the United Kingdom.
- The only nations in the world that use the bagpipe as a typical national instrument are Bulgaria, Ireland and Scotland.
- As a Consultative Party to the Antarctic Treaty, Bulgaria takes part in the governing of Antarctica (since 1998 ).
- The 'Voyager I' spacecraft launched in the 1970s on a voyage to meet and communicate with other planets, carried a laser disc of ten songs believed to be representative of 'Earth'. One of these songs was the Bulgarian tune "Izlel e Deliu Haidutin" from the Rhodope region, performed by Valia Balkanska.
- The inventor of the first electronic computer John Vincent Atanassoff is of Bulgarian origin. Professor John Atanassoff, together with graduate student Clifford Berry, built the world's first electronic, digital, computer, at Iowa State University, between 1939 and 1942.
- Elias Canetti was born in Bulgaria. 1981 Nobel Laureate in Literature for writings marked by a broad outlook, a wealth of ideas and artistic power.
- The famous football player Hristo Stoichkov was born in Bulgaria. He was the man who led FC Barcelona to their first European Champions' Cup. Stoichkov is the first Bulgarian who has won the Golden Ball for best European football player.
- Rita Wilson - The American actress and wife of Tom Hanks is the daughter of a Bulgarian immigrant to USA.
- The renowned developer of the combined oral contraceptive pill Carl Djerassi, is of Bulgarian descent.
- On 1st March, every year, Bulgarians give each other 'martenitsas' - small figures made of white and red threads. These figures are believed to be a symbol of the awakening - of spring, health and happiness.
- Most importantly remember that shaking your head means "yes" and nodding means "no". It can cause great confusion and it is best always to say the word.
- Yoghurt - Lactobacillus Bulgaricus, the bacterium that is responsible for giving Bulgarian yoghurt its unique flavour and consistency, can only be found in Bulgarian air.
- Bulgaria produces half of the rose oil in the world. The famous Bulgarian rose-oil, produced in the region of Kazanlak is a component of French and other world-famous perfumes.
- Bulgaria has sent two astronauts into space. This happened in 1979 by sending the former military pilot, Georgi Ivanov, followed by Alexander Alexandrov in 1988. Thus Bulgaria became the sixth nation on the planet to send a man into a space.
