Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Although it's been overtaken by Bansko as Bulgaria's biggest ski resort, Borovets still
draws both locals and foreign package tourists. The improved road has cut driving time
from Sofia to about 40 minutes. However, at the time of research there was no traction on
the long-promised 'Super Borovets' project, which would increase the skiable terrain to
90km.
Borovets is among Bulgaria's oldest ski resorts, as the slightly faded and worn struc-
tures and lifts attest. However, unlike built-up and populated Bansko, Borovets is simply a
resort; most accommodation and services spill off the mountain. Out of ski season, when
the shuttered restaurants offer only last season's chalk-scrawled menus out the front, it can
feel eerily empty. However, the thick pine forests here are excellent for summer hikes, and
the mountain air is crisp and refreshing.
Activities
Skiing
Only 70km from Sofia, and accessed locally by the transport-hub town of Samokov,
Borovets sits under Mt Musala (2925m). It has twice hosted World Cup alpine skiing
rounds, and generally enjoys 1.5m of snow in winter. The 45km of ski runs, which include
Bulgaria's longest, occupy the main areas of Markudjika, Yastrebets and Sitnyakovo-
Martinovi Baraki. Four cross-country trails (totalling about 19km) start about 2km from
Borovets.
Shops here rent out ski equipment (50 lv to 60 lv per day). Well-qualified, multilingual
instructors provide training for 300 lv (four hours per day for six days, including a lift
pass and ski gear). Guests at the big hotels can get cheaper training from in-house in-
structors.
Borovets has three chairlifts, 10 draglifts and a gondola from the Borosports complex in
Borovets to Yastrebets, costing 10/15 lv one way/return. A one-day lift pass (60 lv) gets
you free minibus access to the slopes from the main hotels. Borovets also has decent
snowboarding - equipment runs about 50 lv per day, and lessons cost about 120 lv for six
hours.
