Bansko is Bulgaria's number one ski resort. It has the best and most modern ski centre of all the Bulgarian ski resorts.

Bansko is not just for Christmas! In fact for seven months of the year you will not find any snow around. However the sun still shines and there are many great things to do. You can relax or make your summer holiday as active as you want it. Either way it will be unforgettable.

Bansko has undergone a multi-million pound investment which has seen it develop into a favourite ski and snowboard destination.

Bansko has the best snow record and boasts the longest ski season of all the Bulgarian ski resorts. It runs from the 15 Dec - 15 May

The town of Bansko is located at 925 metres above sea level and the skiing area is at 2000 - 2600 metres. The Pirin Mountain has a real alpine character and its highest peak in the area is Vihren at 2,914m.

The ski pistes are located in two main ski centres, Chalin Valog (1100-1600m) and Shiligarnika (1700m-2500m). They are approximately 10 kilometres above the northern slopes of Pirin and are easily accessible on the new gondola lift which starts from Bansko. The total length of the marked pistes is 75 kilometres.

Bansko boasts a brand new gondola and has had plans approved for another. Huge monitors showing pictures from the different pistes are based at the start of the Gondola.

This enables people to have more information about the wind, and temperature conditions before climbing up the slope. The lifts and pistes operator in Bansko ensures maximum comfort for the skier and snowboarders with the following facilities.

• The exclusive 8-seat gondola cable car by Dopplemayer
• Five 4-seat lift drags of the latest Dopplemayer models
• One 3-seat lift by Poma
• 7 drags and 10 baby drags

44 Technoalpine snow cannons cover most of the slopes and make the ski season last longer. The maximum pleasure from the various slopes is guaranteed by 12 Kassbohrer slope maintenance vehicles.

This enables the slopes to offer runs and tracks for all types of skiers and will suit both beginners and experts.