Golf in Bansko, Bulgaria

Summer Holidays in Bansko, Bulgaria

Yes, Bansko is known for the its skiing. People flock to the area from all over Europe to enjoy the new facilities and the ideal ski conditions. But what about the summer? Well, summer holidaying in Bansko is also fun. There are plenty of things to do in the mountains and in the town itself to make it a worthwhile holiday destination.

Bansko is crowded in the winter. The taverns are filled with people and the slopes are crowded. Parking can be a problem. But, in the summer, the peace of the mountains and the beauty of the village make it an ideal location for your summer holiday.

The Taverns (Mehani)

If you’ve been to Bansko in the winter, you know that the mehani are filled with people. Finding a table is difficult. Parking your car is difficult. When all you want to do is relax after a day on the slopes, this can be frustrating.

Not so in the summer. The mehani are significantly less crowded. This means that you will be able to enjoy spending time with the people you are traveling with and can enjoy a few drinks without worrying about the noise or without waiting for a place to sit.

The Mountains

Bansko is an ideal place if you want to spend your vacation enjoying the surrounding mountains. Hiking is a popular activity, and so is picnicking. The surrounding Pirin Mountains, for example, are a popular destination and there are trails and picnic sites located by streams and in meadows. If you are interested in doing either of these activities, ask a local for advice or ask at your hotel.

The picnic sites are well used because it is a popular activity for the locals. They feature stone slabs that are designed for cooking and roasting. The locals prepare dishes such as pork chops and stuffed green peppers. If you do decide to cook using the stone slabs, smear it with bacon grease to prevent food from sticking.

A great hike to try is to climb Vihren, which is 2914 meters high. Vihren is a the highest mountain in the Pirin Mountain range. Since it is the highest peak, climbing it is quite an accomplishment. But, be careful. Vihren means “the gale” and the locals refer to it is “the peak of storms”.

Mountains tend to have their own weather patterns, especially when they are tall. The day could start off beautifully but halfway through your climb a storm could roll in. Just be careful and practice good judgment. Don’t be afraid to turn around. The mountain will always be there and you can try again some other time.

Other things to do

There are plenty of other things to do. You can watch the sunset near the micro dam, take a train ride, or soak in the mineral springs in Banya, a nearby town. The springs offer a great way to relax and rejuvenate after a stressful week, or even after a physical day climbing Pirin Mountain. There is also a golf course in Bansko.

Although the ski slopes are closed in the summer, it is still a great vacation destination, especially if you enjoy the outdoors. Stay in one of Bansko’s hotels or rent a vacation home or apartment. Once you get there you can enjoy activities such as golfing, hiking, soaking in the mineral springs, or picnicking.

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Summer Holidaying in Bulgaria Popularity Increases

It seems that going on your summer holidays to Bulgaria is becoming more of an option to 1000s of holiday makers from Britain, Ireland and further afield.

Holidays to Bulgaria
Market Day, by Peter Hartley, 10th October 2006 

A lot more people these days are choosing Bulgaria for their summer holiday. As more and more people are discovering Bulgaria as holiday destination the tour operators and flight companies are starting to expand their service into this country. There is still an awful lot for Bulgaria to do before they get accession into the EU (which is currently set for 2007).

Bulgaria has a lovely coastline and there are 2 main holiday destinations one in the north called Golden Sands and one in the south called Sunny Beach. These 2 destinations are where the main hotels accommodations are located.Large tour operators are based in these resorts the likes of First Choice. When having a holiday in Bulgaria there is two options to choose from. The first being the normal package holiday from travel agents which you will be staying in the normal hotel at half board or all inclusive. The second option would be a private villa or apartment booked directly with the villa or apartment owner. After that you will have to book your own flights to the country.

The second option of the private villa or apartment in Bulgaria is a very cost effective option. Lets have a look at the process.

There is a few websites offering villa or apartment Holidays to Bulgaria. Your first point of contact would be the internet to search for the options available to you. Now because the private rental market in Bulgaria is in its infancy the prices of villas or apartments are very reasonable. This would cost you a lot less than booking a private rental in the likes of Spain. Once you have chosen the property you are wanting to book you would contact the owner directly to either check availability or to book the property.

Flights is the harder bit there is a few companies that have just come on the market offering cheap flights to Bulgaria the likes of wizzair but with this company it is not a directly flight you usually have to stop off in Budapest. The main company is First Choice which offer the best deals I have seen on the internet to date. As Bulgaria gets more and more popular with British tourists then more of the cheap flight companies will introduce regular flights to the country making it an easier option for people. Generally a private rental Holiday done through the internet yourself should save you roughly about £100 - £150 per person.

Lets have a look at the destinations for Bulgaria. Golden Sands is the smallest of the 2 big resorts it is found about 20km outside Varna and is a beach resort to rival any of the european resorts and with the prices of things in Bulgaria it is likely that you would not spend as much on a holiday to Bulgaria as you would to other European resorts.

Sunny Beach is the southern resort and is 4 times as big as Golden Sands. Again Golden sands is a beach resort like any european resorts with a multitude of hotels apartments and villas for rent. The restaurants are delicious and the friendliness of the locals always make you feel at home.

There are other not so well known smaller resorts the likes of Albena, Kranevo, Sozopol, Sinemorets, Balchik that are worth visiting and all within easy reach of either a City the likes of Varna or Bourgas or one of the bigger resorts.

What is becoming more popular these days is the rural holidays to Bulgaria where people just want to get away from the hustle and bustle of normal life and want a more relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Staing in a rural area and experiencing the real Bulgarian way of life is a must. The locals are so friendly and are only too happy to invite yo to experience their way of life. Village life in Bulgaria is recommended if you are looking for relaxation or de-stressing as nothing is more calming than life in a real Bulgarian Village.

In Summary as Bulgaria gets more popular with british tourists there is an abundance of private rental property for holidaymakers to choose from. Bulgaria is a lovely country which is waiting to be explored. It is an unspoilt country with plenty to offer holidaymakers that are looking either for a busy nightlife or the peace and quiet rural life of the countryside. So why not have a look at what is on offer in Bulgaria and book your Holiday to Bulgaria now.

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SUMMER IN BANSKO Article by Christina Dimitrova, Sofia Echo

So you’ve been to Bansko in the winter. You’ve tried to walk its crowded streets and tried to find a parking space.

You’ve been skiing in the day and drinking in the mehani (taverns) at night - if you found a table - and you probably think there is nothing much to do in Bansko in the summer and it is nothing but a sleepy town.

Well, you are wrong. In the summer Bansko is very peaceful and quiet indeed. Unlike the ski season, when it gets very crowded and is booked for months in advance, in the summer the town is empty except for the locals who are always willing to rent rooms in their homes.All mehani are at your disposal and chances are you may be the only patron.In other words, it is the perfect vacation spot even for a weekend escape from summer in the city.

Apart from the more traditional entertainments and sleeping late and sitting in the cool mehani, there are quite a few things to do to avoid getting bored during a longer vacation.

The proximity of the Pirin Mountain and its easy accessibility by car makes it perfect for a picnic or a hike.

Residents have explored the suitable picnic sites and have constructed hearths covered by thick stone slabs on which you may roast anything that takes your fancy.

Usually the hearths are located at meadows or clearings near cold pure mountain streams or springs under the thick shadows of beeches and oaks.

Even though the water is not purified artificially, it is of the purest and coldest kind and is perfect for drinking or using to cool your drinks.

These barbeque sites are favourite places for the locals who load their cars with food and home made rakia and spend a day in the woods.

One of the “specialities” they prepare on the stone slabs, apart from the almost mandatory pork chops, is green peppers stuffed with white cheese and bacon and roasted on the slab, which is greased with bacon in advance.

If you do not fancy heavy meals in the woods, you could take a hike in the woods and feast on the abundant berries, which ripen in late July and August - although, beware of the nettle in which the most delicious berries conceal themselves.

Another thing to do while in Bansko is to climb the highest peak of the Pirin Mountain, Vihren (2914 m).

From Bansko you drive to the Vihren hut, which is at the foot of the peak, leave your car there and climb the peak.

Bear in mind, however, that it is not one of the easiest hikes, and quite often the weather changes suddenly.

The peak is known among avid hikers as the “peak of storms” as is evident from its name, which means “of the gale”. Sometimes even in the summer, a light rain can turn into sleet.
If, when you arrive at the Vihren hut you decide you are not up to climbing peaks, you can visit the nearby lake, Okoto (The Eye). It is a 40-minute to one-hour hike from the hut and is easily accessible.

Like the famous Rila Lakes, Okoto is of glacial origin and its water is very deep and extremely cold.

The view of the jagged peaks surrounding the lake and the nearby alpine meadows is truly amazing. If you are lucky, you will have a chance to pat the small mountain horses grazing in the meadow.

On your way down from the Vihren hut, you can take a small detour to visit the Baikusheva white fir. It is known as the oldest or the tallest tree in Bulgaria - or both. Either way, it is a very impressive sight because its wide deeply wrinkled trunk is wider than the embrace of six men with arms wide spread.

Back in Bansko, you can visit the nearby micro dam, to enjoy the sun setting behind the forest and the high peaks reflecting in the still water.

It is a half-hour pleasant walk from the northwestern edge of the town, but it is essential that you ask the locals for directions.

If you long for a soaking in the water, you could visit the nearby village Banya, which has an open-air swimming pool with hot mineral water or the pool in Dobrinishte, also with mineral water.

If you are a fan of train rides, you could catch the narrow gauge train from Bansko to Dobrinishte.

If you think this ride was short, board the train for a fun ride to the village of Avramovo in the Rhodope Mountains, the highest train-stop in Bulgaria. The ride takes about two hours and is one of the most picturesque in the country.

If you are an animal lover, you could visit the reserve for dancing bears in the town of Belitsa, sponsored by Austria’s Vier Pfoten Foundation and the Brigitte Bardot Foundation.

Belitsa is a 40-minute drive from Bansko and the reserve is a further 16 km away. The last few kilometres are on a winding steep dirt road, which tends to turn into a muddy slide after serious rain.

Currently the park hosts 13 dancing bears, which have been bought from their owners and moved into the park, which is designed to offer a near to-natural habitat for the bears.

The near future plans of the two foundations include to buy the remaining 12 bears from their owners and to put an end to the barbaric tradition of dragging wild animals in the city streets to make them dance for money.

Rent in Bansko

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