Bansko hiking tour

escorted trip (English,German, French,Spanish,Italian,Russian langages available)

price per person: 560 Euro / 1097 BGN (for a group of 6 people)

Book this trip:

Bansko is the best-known Bulgarian ski resort and centre of one of the FIS World Cup races. It is a small mountain town situated at the foot of the alpine Pirin Mountains. Bansko has an interesting old town with well-preserved typical houses from the 18-19^th century, museums and churches. A must visit place in Bansko would be one of its more than one hundred “mehanas” – traditional restaurants. There you will be welcomed with music and shown the steps of the local dance – “horo”. Delicious meals and full-bodied wines will be served. The old town is dotted with small family-run guesthouses and hotels where you will enjoy warm hospitality.

Joining this tour means that you will hike the most scenic paths around Bansko. All of the routes are in the Pirin Mountains and within easy reach from the town. More of a challenge is climbing the highest peak here – Mt. Vihren towering at 2914m. But absolutely rewarding! The route to Demianitsa has the most extended views and the route to Bezbog follows a path, which reaches the biggest lake in this mountain range – Lake Popovoto. We will make a one-day excursion to Rila Mountains to visit the Rila Monastery – Bulgaria’s biggest Orthodox sanctuary with a spectacular setting, fascinating history and splendid frescos and icons.

Towards the end of the trip we cross the Pirin Mountains during a hike from north to south. We will discover Melnik and learn the traditions of wine producing, which have a long history in this area. Our last hike sees us walk from Melnik to Rozhen Monastery set on top of sandstone cones, which look like fairytale pyramids.

Code: BANSKO 10

Duration: 8 days / 7 overnights

Best period: June-October

Trip style: hiking trip

Technical difficulty: strenuous (6-8 hours a day;up to 900 m of ascent/descent)

Route highlights:

Day 1: Transfer to Bansko

Day 2: Hike in the area of Bezbog hut

Day 3: Hiking through Banderitsa and Demianitsa valleys

Day 4: Hike to Vihren peak (2 914m)

Day 5: Transfer to Rila Monastery, walk to the cave of the founder St. Ivan Rilski

Day 6: Hike to the south part of Pirin, transfer to Melnik