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Last winter, Bansko installed 2 additional new four-man chair lifts, a drag lift, 10km of marked ski runs, a snowboard half-pipe and fun-park area. In addition, the unique ski-run that allows you to ski all the way down to the outskirts of town has been floodlit making it perfect for night skiing and equipped with snow cannons. More improvements are planned all the time to the ski facilities, including new snow cannons, maintenance vehicles and safety net installations on the ski runs.
If you need to rest your weary body for a day a great alternative to a day on the slopes, is the Spa & Wellness centre located in Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena, next to the Gondola lift station. Its modern facilities, plus the health & beauty programmes can make a great gift for one’s body and spirit.
SKI KINDERGARTEN - CHILD CARE
Children aged 4 and up are welcome to join the Junior Ski Club that will help them to take their first steps in skiing amidst lots of fun and entertainment. Each child will get a ski-school diploma at the end of the week. Must be paid locally.
Conveniently located at the base station of the Gondola lift, the non-skiing Kindergarten welcomes children aged 3 – 7. Supervised activities, fun and games, and special entertainment take place Sundays through Fridays from 9 to 5. Please, note that reservations can be made only through your Balkan Holidays Representative locally. Prices from £14 per day and £70 per week, places will depend on availability.
SKI & SNOWBOARDING EQUIPMENT HIRE
If you do not have your own ski or snowboard gear, you can pre-book now from more than 2200 pairs of carving ski and more than 200 snowboards, all of which are the latest models by Atomic and Salomon.
SKI LIFT WORKING HOURS & SKI GUIDES
The well-maintained lift system works from 09:30 till 16:30 each day. Ski guide service is available for intermediate and advanced skiers. Full day guiding service is also available for snowboarders.
Night skiing allows skiers and snowboarders to relax after a hard day on the runs in one of the dining establishments in the Banderitsa area and then, after sunset, ski down the unique 7km floodlit ski run to town in the company of experienced ski and snowboard teachers. Night skiing, which is open to everyone on Saturday evening, can also be arranged on weekdays through your Balkan Holidays Representative locally.
Mountain rescue service, ambulance, clinic (with doctor and nurse) and first aid service is on hand on all ski slopes.
In almost all cases, medical services must be paid in cash locally. Credit/debit cards are not widely accepted. Receipts will be provided to enable you to claim back from your insurance company once you return to the UK. You should inform your Balkan Holidays Representative about all medical cases and they will be able to provide assistance.
Bansko, with its biathlon and cross-country trails, is also the choice of Irina Nikulchina and Nina Kadeva, two Bulgarian women that are among the world’s top ten biathlon racers.
There is an open air ice rink situated close to the Gondola station.
Balkan Holidays offers a number of excursions to nearby sites of interest, such as the Rila Monastery, as well as the more traditional pub-crawl of the local taverns of Bansko. All of these can be booked with the Balkan Holidays representatives locally.
At the end of the day, for a truly happy ending, the Happy End restaurant by the Gondola base station turns into the liveliest nightspot in Bansko, with regular live bands and resident DJ. The Amnesia disco in the centre of town is another popular venue. Other bars, such as Base Camp, close to the hotel Pirin, the Karaoke Bar in the hotel Bansko, and the SKY Sports bar in hotel Strazhite are popular. For something more traditional you can sample the local cuisine and music at any one of the traditional “mehans” throughout Bansko.
As Bansko is a small town and not just a resort area, there are plenty of shops. The old town is worth exploring for souvenirs. |
