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Resort Guide

Suitability	Resort height: 1300m
Families:		[Yes]
Glacier:		[No]
Beginners:		[4]
Intermediates:		[3]
Advanced:		[2]
Snowboarding:		[2]

For many years the leading ski resort in Bulgaria, Borovets has recently been challenged by Bansko (with which it launched an unsuccessful joint bid to host the 2014 Winter Olympics) for market dominance. However Borovets has been fighting back with its SuperBorovets project of expansion and modernisation. In common with all Eastern European ski resorts, Borovets is highly affordable at every level for British skiers.

One major advantage over its upstart competitor is Borovets proximity to the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, meaning transfers are short. This location is key to Borovets long history as a mountain resort, dating back at least to the nineteenth century when the Rila mountains were a hunting ground for the country’s nobility. The modern resort is dominated by two large hotel complexes, the Rila and Samokov, which are also home to many of the shops, bars and other facilities.

Borovets has a good snow record with the highest lifts reaching an impressive altitude above the resort, snow making and north facing slopes. Visitors are recommended to bring Sterling cash or their debit cards to withdraw money from cash machines in the resort rather than using travellers cheques or credit cards because of the high commission costs.

Beginners

Borovets is best suited to beginners and early intermediate ability skiers. The ski school has a very high reputation with English speaking instructors of the highest standard. There are gentle nursery slopes just outside the Rila complex, so a short hop from most accommodation. After mastering first turns beginners can then take the gondola lift up the mountain from which there are long very easy runs all the way back down. Tour operators will often offer a beginners package which includes lift ticket, tuition and rentals for about half the cost of buying these separately and a little over a third of the cost of the equivalent package in the Alps.

Intermediates

Quite a goods choice for early intermediates, the ski area is divided in to three areas of which Yastrebets, served by a six seater gondola, is the largest with long reds down through the forest and more than 1,000 metres of vertical. Another popular area is the wind-free basin beneath the Moussala peak. As with beginners, there are excellent ski school courses for intermediates with high value packages including tuition, lift tickets and rentals.

Advanced

There are limited opportunities for advanced skiers on the piste with four black runs including a World Cup piste. Off the piste there is more interesting free riding terrain, particularly in the wooded slopes of the steeper Yasrebets area. The ski school can take you to the best areas and advise on safety as well as technique. Be wary that the lifts close for half a day each week and one full day each month for safety checks.

Snowboarding

Snowboarding is concentrated on the Rotata piste which contains a long half pipe. The trail has a 320m vertical with elements for all ability levels and is served by its own drag lift. Learn to board packages are available from some tour operators (These are sometimes only available as adult packages) and offer excellent value for inclusive board rental, lift ticket and high quality tuition compared to buying these separately or in the Alps. Better boarders can use the gondola to access the steeper trails and tree runs of Yastrebets.

Other Activities and Facilities

Off the slopes you can enjoy horse drawn sleigh rides and snowmobiling. There is a bowling alley and billiards room in the Hotel Samokov and both the Samokov and Rila have swimming pools, sauna, the chance to have a massage and fitness centres. Excursions are regularly organised to Sofia (with the option of a night at the opera), wine region capital Plovdiv and to the Rila monastery.

Other facilities include a selection of shops and medical facilities (pre-payment in cash may be required for some medical treatment with a receipt issued to reclaim costs from your insurer upon your return to the UK).

Après Ski and Dining Out

Borovets has a reputation for a fun filled après ski scene, with lots of lively bars and restaurants to choose from. The Black Tiger and Buzz Bar are popular and there are night clubs open until 4am in the Rila and Samokov hotel complexes.
Quieter bars are also available and Bulgarian folk evenings are popular alternatives for those wishing to have an enjoyable immersion in the local culture.

The dining choices vary between traditional Bulgarian food and global favourites such as burgers and pizza. The Happy Duck and Franco’s Pizza are popular.

Families

Borovets has a strong reputation for families. There is a basic day nursery in the Rila complex for children aged 12 months to seven years, with some ski tuition for children over four included. At The Samokov there is a ski kindergarten for children aged four to seven which may be free-of-charge when parents book learn-to-ski packages (tuition, rentals and lift tickets) or similar for themselves (check before booking). Various child and family discounts are usually offered but these vary depending on the tour operator and packages booked.

Piste Map for Borovets

Accommodation in Borovets

• Bor Edelweiss - 3 star, half board
• Bor-edelweiss - 3 star, half board
• Breza - 3 star, half board
• Breza - 3 star, half board
• Chalets Rachel And Sofia - 4 star, self catering
• Chalets Yagoda - 2 star, self catering
• Ela - 3 star, half board
• Flora Apartment - 4 star, bed & breakfast
• Flora Residence - 4 star, bed & breakfast
• Flora Residence - 4 star, bed & breakfast
• Flora Studios - 4 star, bed & breakfast
• Hotel Bor - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Bor - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Bor & Edelweiss - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Edelweiss - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Edelweiss - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Ela - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Ela - 2 star, half board
• Hotel Flora - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Flora - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Flora - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Flora - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Flora - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Iceberg - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Iglika Palace - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Lion - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Lion - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Lion - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Lion - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Lion - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Lion - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Moura - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Mura - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Olymp - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Rila - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Rila - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Rila - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Royal - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Samokov - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Samokov - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Samokov - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Sokol - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Victoria - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Yanakiev - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Yanakiev - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Yastrebets - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Zodiac - 3 star, half board
• Hotel`ice Angels - 4 star, half board
• Ice Angels Hotel - 4 star, half board
• Iceberg Apartments - 4 star, bed & breakfast
• Iglika Villas - 3 star, self catering
• Iglika Villas - 3 star, self catering
• Malina Village - 3 star, self catering
• Malina Village - 3 star, half board
• Malina Villas - 3 star, self catering
• Rila Hotel - 4 star, half board
• Rila Hotel - 4 star, half board
• Rila Hotel - 4 star, half board
• Rila Hotel - 4 star, half board
• Rila Hotel - 4 star, half board
• Rila Hotel - 4 star, half board
• Rila Studios - 4 star, half board
• Rila Studios - 4 star, half board
• Rila Studios - 4 star, half board
• Rila Studios - 4 star, half board
• Rila Studios - 4 star, half board
• Rila Studios - 4 star, half board
• Rila Studios - 4 star, half board
• Rila Studios - 4 star, half board
• Rila Studios - 3 star, half board
• Samokov - 4 star, half board
• Samokov - 4 star, half board
• Samokov - 4 star, half board
• Samokov - 4 star, half board
• Villa Dwarf - 3 star, self catering
• Villa Park Apartments - 3 star, self catering
• Yagoda Village - 3 star, self catering
• Yagoda Villas - 3 star, self catering
• Yastrabets Villa - 4 star, self catering

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