Winter vacation in Bansko. Skiing and snowboarding: lifts, pistes and ski-passes

Bansko is a popular ski resort, which receives a deserved attention from professional skiers and novices. There are trails of different difficulty levels, and their total length is nearly 65 kilometers. Even snowboarders will easily find suitable areas - they can hone their skills on ski slopes or visit the Fun Park. As many as 26 lifts serve guests of the resort, making their stay as comfortable as possible. In Bansko, there are three main ski areas, each of which has its own attractive features.

Chalin Valog is the "lowest” resort area. It focuses on beginners and families with children. Flat trails start at an altitude of 1600 meters, and their elevation is no more than 320 meters. In this area of the resort, beginners will feel very comfortable. There are great ski schools, equipment rental offices, and excellent sports grounds for training. One of the lifts is specially designed for children.

In this area, there are two main trails - Chalin Valog 1 and Chalin Valog 2. Both have almost the same length - 1.6km. Platter pulls serve these trails, the lower parts of which are recommended for beginners. As for the upper and middle parts, they are suitable for more experienced alpine skiers. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The Shiligarnika resort is more suitable for visitors, who have already mastered the basics of alpine skiing. The majority of trails at Shiligarnika are located at an altitude of 1700 – 2500m. A significant part of the trails is focused on mid-level skiers. Several trails are intended for slalom competitions, so there’s no wonder why this area attracts mostly experienced skiers. One of the best ski trails in Bulgaria, Tomba, is also located there. The length of the trail is 2.47km. It is a difficult trail that is not suitable for inexperienced skiers. Visitors can get to the top by using a chairlift.

Glade Banderishka remains one of the most attractive recreational areas. What’s more important – it provides excellent conditions for novices. There is a spacious, flat slope in the central part of the area, several platter pulls and a special lift for children. It has even a special ski carousel for young guests. To make the resort even for more comfortable for guests, there are cafes and restaurants nearby. It is a good place for novice snowboarders and tourists keen on cross-country skiing. The latter will be pleased with excellent trails, the total length of which is 5km.

The arrangement of ski areas is quite unusual in Bansko as there is only a conditional division of a complex network of trails and lifts into certain areas. The above-mentioned ski areas are located on the same slopes and visitors can reach them by simply going higher on a lift. Vacationers have an opportunity to reach the Todorin Top, which is located at a height of 2 560 meters. By skiing on trails, which are located close to each other, visitors can descend to Banderishka Glade, the height of which is 1 635 meters.

The longest trail of the resort shares the same name with the town - Bansko - and has the length of 10.2km. The upper part of the trail is the hardest, the medium is suitable for confident skiers, and the lower part is ideal for beginners. The funicular delivers skiers to the starting point of the trail. It is also important to note that local ski passes allow using all lifts and cableways. Experienced tourists recommend buying one ski pass that will be valid during the whole vacation.