Mountain/Ski Tourism

About 30% of the territory of Bulgaria is occupied by mountains. They are exceptionally diverse in relief and offer a great abundance of options for relaxation, sports and entertainment for tourists. In them there are wonderful conditions for tourism in winter, as well as in the summer. The duration of the ski season in the medium high and the alpine resorts is about 130 days. They offer excellent conditions for practicing winter sports and for relaxation in summer amidst the cool breeze of the centuries old forests. The hotels and the recreation places are numerous and provide accommodation options based on the taste and the preferences of the guests.

Through the country passes the final section (Kom - Emine) of the European tourist route E-3, the European tourist route Е-4 – Vitosha – Verila – Rila – Pirin, and the European tourist route E-8 – Rila - Rhodope.

The Balkan Mountain is the longest one of the Bulgarian mountains. It is also known as the “Balkan”, where the name of our peninsula comes. It divides the country into two parts – north and south part. The Balkan Mountain is famous for its multiple mountain routes. Its highest peak is Botev (2,376 meters above the sea level). In the Balkan Mountain excellent conditions for mountain, ski and/or spa tourism are offered in Berkovitsa, Ribaritsa, Belogradchik, Beklemeto, Uzana, Karandila, Chiprovtsi, Varshets, Troyan, Teteven, Apriltsi, Tryavna, Elena, Kotel, Zheravna, Bozhentsi, and many others. The monasteries, located in the mountain, provide options to tourists to reach the strongholds of the Bulgarian faith. In close proximity and parallel to the Balkan Mountain lies the second longest mountain range in Bulgaria – Sredna Gora.

The mountains Rila and Pirin have an alpine nature. They are characterized by steep ridges, high peaks, deep valleys and abysses. The highest peak in Bulgaria and on the Balkan Peninsula is located in Rila – mount Musala (2,925 m). Here is located one of Bulgaria’s landmarks – the seven glacial lakes, located on an altitude of 2,095 m to 2,535 m. The largest resort in Rila is Borovets. It possesses very good ski tracks and mountain hotels. Unique opportunities for combining mountain, ski and spa tourism are offered in Panichishte and Sapareva Banya. The ski centers of Malyovitsa, Semkovo and Govedartsi will fascinate tourists with their unique nature.

Excellent opportunities for mountain and ski tourism are offered in Pirin mountain with its natural beauties and resorts – Bansko, Dobrinishte, Predela, the chalet Popovi Livadi, the chalet Kamenitsa, and others. Bansko is a resort of European and global importance, and during the past few years it was a host of rounds of the world and cups in ski and biathlon. It is impressive with its ski tracks, hotels and the traditional Pirin cuisine. Dobrinishte and the holiday stations in the locality of Predela also offer opportunities for relaxation and multiple types of entertainment. The second highest peak in Bulgaria and the third on the Balkan Peninsula is also located in Pirin – mount Vihren (2,914 meters above the sea level). The national park Pirin is included in the UNESCO List.

The Rhodope mountain, also known as the mountain of Orpheus, is divided into alpine western park and low eastern part. The highest resort here is Pamporovo. It is located amidst a unique forest, and the tracks are on a world level. Other options for recreation are offered in Chepelare, Yundola, Belmeken, Batak and Byala Cherkva. Tourists can enjoy the unique architecture of Rhodope villages – Momchilovtsi, Gela, Dolen, Leshten, Kovachevitsa, Shiroka Laka and many others, and taste traditional Rhodope dishes. In the mountain there are multiple chalets which offer good conditions for relaxation. The highest peak is Golyam Perelik (2,191 meters above the sea level).

The Vitosha mountain is located in close proximity to the capital – Sofia. With its beautiful nature, the multiple routes and landmarks it is excellent for mountain ecological tourism. Within the borders of the mountain falls the oldest natural park on the Balkan Peninsula – Natural Park Vitosha. In the mountain there are also two ski zones, which offer wonderful conditions for skiing and snowboarding during the winter months – Aleko and Konyarnika. The highest peak is Cherni Vrah (2,290 meters above the sea level).

In the Osogovska mountain opportunities for ski are offered on the ski track “Lyudmil Yankov”, and in the north-eastern part of the mountain is the ski track “Valchi Dol”. The highest peak is Ruen (2,251 meters above the sea level).

The Belasitsa mountain offers excellent conditions for mountain hiking tourism. 2 chalets are available for tourists. The highest peak is Radomir (2,029 meters above the sea level).

Strandzha distinguishes from the other Bulgarian mountains with its lower relief and its milder climate. Here, however, nature is abundant in plant and animal species.

The mountains in Bulgaria are hospitable during all seasons of the year, but let’s not forget that in order to enjoy their beauties, people must be prepared, by obtaining information about the selected routes, the meteorological conditions, and they shall act responsibly and keep nature clean.

Balneology, SPA and Wellness

The tradition of using the power of mineral springs dates back to ancient times. Its roots come from the age of Thracians, who were famous as excellent healers. “The Holy Springs of Thrace” became famous in the entire Roman Empire.

There are a few countries in Europe, which can be rivals to Bulgaria in the area of SPA, balneological and wellness tourism. With its abundance and diversity of thermal mineral waters and curative mud deposits, it occupies one of the first places in this type of tourism. Our country is rich in mineral waters. More than 550 deposits with 1,600 springs with total capacity of 4,900 l/sec. have been researched. Predominant are the low mineralization waters – 66.7%, mineralized mineral waters – 14.4%, and carbonated waters – 17.9%. The cool mineral springs are scattered all over the country - Narechen (Asenovgrad region), Shipkovo (Troyan region), Ovcha Kupel (Sofia), Smochan, (Lovech region), Voneshta Voda (Gabrovo region), Merichleri (Simeonovgrad region), etc. The spring with the highest temperature is the one in Sapareva Banya, and this is the only geyser fountain (103ºС) in Bulgaria and Continental Europe. The most famous thermal springs in the Balkan Mountain are in the regions of Varshets, Barziya, Lakatnik, Opletnya; in the Sofia plain – Bankya, Gorna Banya, Knyazhevo, Ovcha Kupel, Sofia, Pancharevo, etc.; in the Srednogorie - Strelcha (40°С), Hisarya (49.5°С), Banya (51.1°С), Pavel Banya (54.6°С), Starozagorski Bani (45.8°С); along the valley of Struma river – Blagoevgrad, Simitli, Sandanski, Levunovo and Marikostinovo; along the valley of Mesta river – Banya (56оС), Dobrinishte (43°С) and the village of Eleshnitsa (56°С); in the Rhodope mountain – Devin, Velingrad, Banite. In Bulgaria the widest spread are the nitrogen thermal waters – the springs around Sapareva Banua, Simitli, Narechen, Momin Prohod, etc. Carbon acid is contained in the waters of the springs near Mihalkovo, Slivenski Mineralni Bani, Stefan Karadzhovo; hydrogen sulphide is contained in the thermal waters in the Sofia lowlands. Half of the thermal waters are with increased radioactivity, surpassing 15 eman/l – the Klisura spring (200 eman/l), Strelcha spring (250 eman/l), etc. Particularly high is also the radioactivity of the springs Momina Banya (560 eman/l), one of the Narechen springs (1,300 eman/l).

In the country there are also valuable deposits of curative firth mud and curative peat. Curative mud deposits are located in the region of Shabla Tuzla, Tuzlata, Varna Lake, Pomorie, Atanasovsko Lake and Mandra Dam; and peak deposits are located near Batak Dam (Rhodope Mountain), village of Baykalsko (Konyavska Mountain), town of Straldzha (middle Tundzha river valley), Varna Lake, village of Sadovo (Gornotrakiyska Lowland). Spring deposits of curative mud are located around the village of Marikostinovo (Sandanski-Petrich valley) and the town of Banya (Karlovo valley), and there are artificial peloids around Ovcha Kupel (Sofia City), town of Velingrad, Asenovgrad, Slivenski Bani, Starozagorski Bani, Haskovski Bani, town of Sapareva Banya, town of Blagoevgrad, town of Hisarya, town of Pavel Banya, town of Pomorie, town of Primorsko, resort complex Albena, resort complex Sunny Beach, city of Burgas, etc.

The climate in the country is exceptionally favorable in comparison to those in the traditional destinations for balneology tourism in Western Europe and the Mediterranean. The number of sunny days is about 20% more than that in Northern, North-west and Central Europe. The cloudiness along the Black Sea coast is with up to 30% lower than that along the Atlantic coast or in some parts of the Mediterranean. During the spring and summer months, rainfalls are lower.

Part of the mineral springs in the country are located in its southern part, where influence is felt by the Mediterranean climate; others are found in mountain regions with coniferous vegetation and crystal springs; and third – along the Black Sea coast. This, together with the presence of great diversity of herbs and plants for the needs of aroma- and phytotherapy provides opportunities for all-year-long visiting the country, effective treatment and prophylaxis of multiple diseases or simply creates excellent conditions for relaxation.

Republic of Bulgaria has 48 climatic mountain resorts, 15 climatic marine resorts, 38 balneological resorts. The most famous balneological, climatic and mud curative Black Sea resorts are the resort complexes Albena, Golden Sands, St. Konstantin and Helena, Sunny Day, Sunny Beach, Riviera, Balchik, Tuzlata, Varna Mud Curative Baths (Varnenski Kalolechebni Bani), Pomorie, Primorsko, Kiten, Sozopol, Ahtopol, etc. The most famous ones in the semi-mountain and mountain parts of the country are: Hisar, Velingrad (the spa capital of the Balkan Peninsula), Sandanski, Bankya, Kyustendil, Narechen, Pavel Banya, Kostenets, Varshets, Burgaski Mineralni Bani, Momin Prohod, Slivenski Mineralni Bani, Slivenski Mineralni Bani, Starozagorski Mineralni Bani, Haskovski Mineralni Bani, Sapareva Banya, Banya, Pamporovo, Borovets, Teteven, Tryavna, Apriltsi, Kotel, Elena, Govedartsi, Dryanovo, etc.

The country is famous for its high qualified personnel, the excellent accommodation options and the diverse programs and services, including: massages, baths with mineral water, pearl baths, reflex therapy, traditional needle therapy, medicinal exercises, acupuncture, laser therapy, acupressure, paraffin treatment, apitherapy, phytotherapy, mud treatment, aroma therapy, antistress programs, dieting programs and programs for losing weight, balneo-cosmetics, sauna, solarium, fitness, medical cosmetics, etc. All of this can be combined with various tourism programs, representing the cultural heritage, traditional cuisine or folklore and traditions of Bulgaria.