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Skiing Opportunities in Bulgaria
By Garry P Pierrepont

When planning a skiing holiday in Europe it is doubtful that Bulgaria is the first destination that springs to mind. However, due to recent financial investment and development of the Bulgarian ski industry one might be surprised to learn that holidays are not only excellent value for money but also have a great deal to offer the whole family.

The most popular resort is Bansko, which boasts 70km of ski slopes, 23 lifts, over 300 new hotels and outstanding après-ski entertainment. Crucially, the resort is suitable for all abilities, with 30% of the slopes ideal for beginners, 45% for intermediates and 25% for the more advanced skier. The alpine trees dotted about the pistes add uniqueness to the slopes and guarantee skiing in all weather conditions, including fog, by removing the danger of disorientation. Borovets and Pamporovo are also popular Bulgarian resorts and, although slightly smaller than Bansko, offer snow from November to May as well as acclaimed ski schools, which make them popular with beginners.

Aside from Bulgaria's breathtaking scenery and new, often state of the art facilities, the resorts are far cheaper than more established resorts in Italy and France, and also offer more than simply ski-slopes. Extreme, cross-country and paragliding ski facilities offer new challenges to the more experienced and ice-rinks provide a calm alternative to a day of white-knuckled journeys down the slopes.

In addition to the 600,000 tourists that visited Bulgaria's ski resorts in the last season alone, Bansko has also played host to two prestigious sporting events. For the third consecutive year AMT, the biggest snowboarding competition in Europe for non-professionals, has been held at the resort and in March 2008 the Europa Cup's 'Downhill for Men' race was also held there. It is events such as these that are raising the profile of the area and helping to put Bulgaria firmly on the map as a top skiing destination in Europe.

Author: Garry Pierrepont

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