The Telegraph: Bulgaria offers luxury ski holidays at a fraction of the cost of the Alps

Mon 18 November 2019

hen it comes to ski holidays certain things are non-negotiable: great snow conditions and a variety of pistes, for example. Then there are those extras that can turn a good ski holiday into a great one. Bright sunny weather, beautiful accommodation perhaps, a pretty town and a variety of places where you can eat and enjoy a little après-ski.

Bulgaria offers the whole package and has long been attracting Britons looking for a ski holiday with a difference, one that combines adventure with culture, skiing and boarding with warm hospitality.

"Whether you’re looking for luxury or night life, tree-lined pistes or pretty mountain towns, Bulgaria has something for everyone"

Balkan Holidays offers ski holidays to three different resorts in Bulgaria, from the cobbled-street charm of Bansko, to Europe’s sunniest resort Pamporovo and lively Borovets, famed for its après-ski.

With lead-in prices starting from £277 per person for flights, transfers and seven nights’ accommodation, half board, and lift passes from £112 per person, it is easy to see why Bulgaria is so popular.

Take Bansko, for example. Set around a pretty centre of cobbled streets and surrounded by the Unesco-listed Pirin Mountains, it has been voted the best ski resort in Bulgaria in the World Ski Awards for the past five years and offers 75km (46 miles) of pistes, reliable snow conditions and all the charms of a historic town.

It has another title to its name as well. For two years in a row Bansko has been voted the best value ski resort in the world by the Post Office.

That’s not to say you won’t enjoy a holiday with a touch of luxury here. Opt for a five-star trip with Balkan Holidays and you have your choice of beautiful hotels, such as the Kempinski Hotel, where you’ll enjoy Alpine elegance and mountain views, a sumptuous spa and the ease of a gondola station right next door, or the Hotel Premier Mountain Resort, a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World.

In Borovets, the forested Rila mountains offer a completely different ski holiday style. Kings used to come here to hunt, but today you’re much more likely to be weaving your way along tree-lined runs, heading out on a Ski-Doo adventure or making the most of the buzzing après-ski scene, without the sky-high prices normally associated with ski resorts.

Here you can discover more about Bulgarian heritage with folklore evenings, and you have the chance to visit traditional restaurants, or you can simply stroll around the centre of what is Bulgaria’s oldest ski resort.

Pamporovo offers its own charms, set high in the Rhodope mountains and bathed in 270 days of sunshine a year, it combines good snow with bright weather and modern facilities. Beginner and intermediate skiers will love the 38km (24 miles) of slopes here, while you can also reach the nearby resort of Chepelare thanks to a free bus service, where you can explore the slopes, including black runs and the longest ski run in Bulgaria. 

In the evenings, dine on Rhodopi specialities and surprisingly good Bulgarian wine at local restaurants, then head out to enjoy the bars and nightlife.

When you book a ski holiday with Balkan Holidays everything is taken care of. Flights will be organised from the most convenient airport for you – there is even a new seasonal flight from Belfast running from 29 December to 1 March, making it easier to reach Bulgaria from Northern Ireland.

A 20kg luggage allowance is always included in your flight booking, deposits start from as low as £70 per person and there are free child places available. If you’ve booked with Balkan Holidays in the past two years, take advantage of the five per cent discount for repeat customers.

So whether you’re looking for luxury or night life, tree-lined pistes or pretty mountain towns, Bulgaria has something for everyone and offers great value for money.

To find out more visit balkanholidays.co.uk