Among the hoary coniferous forest at the foothill of the highest Balkan peak of Musala (2,925 m) there lies the oldest and the largest ski resort in Bulgaria - Borovets.
The resort was founded in 19th century as the area designated for hunting of Bulgarian tsars. Gradually the town expanded, and today it represents a modern ski resort with the perfectly developed infrastructure. In Borovets there are around 20 hotels and cottage complexes of different level, numerous entertainment and sports facilities. In Borovets the tourists have at their disposal all kinds of winter entertainment - mountain or classic skiing, snowboarding, skating, sledging, and riding a snowmobile. At the resort you can even organize a panoramic tour on a helicopter or a photo safari in the picturesque Rila Mountains. 190 lakes and 79 mountain peaks over 2,500 m high add to the particular charm of the mountains.
Borovets enjoys favorable location at the distance of 72 km from Sofia and 10 km from Plovdiv. This ski resort is well-known for its perfect climate: in January the temperature does not fall below -5 degrees centigrade, while the snow lies on the runs from December till late April. In Borovets there are three skiing zones connected with each other throught the system of lists and passages: Sitnyakov-Martinovi Baraki (1,300 to 1,790 m), Yastrebets (1,300 to 2,369 m), and Markudzhyk (2,208 to 2,543 m). Ski-runs stretching for 42 km are perfect for the beginners and the experienced professionals. Runs 3 to 10 km long were equipped if Borovets for those fond of race skiing. Here we can also find 18 separate runs for snowboarders stretching for 40 km. All the routes are very picturesque with many of them passing by the forest. And what a pleasure it is to ski in the air saturated with the aroma of pine forests!
Ski school of Borovets employs almost two hundreds of highly qualified instructors, including those who can speak Russian. The ski resort of Borovets is equipped with up-to-date systems of snowing.
Borovets offers its guests comfortable rooms in hotels of different level (2 to 4 star hotels), apartments, and small cottages. Tourists from the remote hotels can get to the lifts using free buses.
Lovers of night entertainment will not get bored in Borovets. At the resort there are numerous restaurants, bars, and disco clubs, many of them to be found in the very centre of the town. Small guests will also find things to do in Borovets. Many tourists enjoy visiting the evenings of Bulgarian folk art, where they dive into the atmosphere of peoples life and try out traditional dishes of the local quisine. Once a week one can participate in a ski carnival - skiing at night available for any tourist. Those who got tired of sports can enjoy an exciting excursion. There are many options: the capital of Bulgaria - Sofia, the ancient city of Plovdiv, or the main holy place of Bulgaria - the Monastery of Rila.
