Borovets
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Borovets is a long-established ski resort situated in the atmospheric pine forests of the Rila mountains. It is very popular with British tourists who enjoy the good value and fun environment as well as the colourful local traditions that make skiing here a little more unique! The resort’s three easily accessible ski areas ensure plenty of variation and interest for all ski abilities. The Yastrebets area will test improvers whilst more able skiers can tackle the world cup run back to the village. Best served though are first-timer or novice skiers who progress under the care of the instructors. In the evening the colourful centre offers numerous typical and continental restaurants, bars and live music venues.
Borovets is the oldest Bulgarian winter resort with a history that dates back to 1896. Borovets was originally established at the end of the 19th Century as a hunting place for the Bulgarian Kings. Borovets gradually developed into a modern ski resort of budget and luxury hotels, restaurants and lively bars and an average (to be improved) network of ski runs and lifts along the slopes of the Rila Mountains, providing excellent opportunities for a whole range of winter sports. The resort has twice hosted World Cup Alpine Skiing rounds, while the Biathlon track is one of the best in the world.
Why not read a first hand account of what it's really like to have a winter ski holiday in Borovets? |
Winter Sports
The ski resort sits at an altitude of 1350 m. 58 km of marked pistes cover the generally north facing slopes up to an altitude of 2560 m, with many runs terminating near the village centre allowing skiers to ski almost to their hotel door. The longest run is a gentle 12 km return to the resort along the maintenance road.
Downhill Skiing
Ski run |
Difficulty |
Length [m] |
Inclination [m] |
|
| Sitnyakovo New ski track | Beginners | 6000 |
0 |
|
| Sitnyakovo 1a | light piste | 5800 |
400 |
|
| new! Martinovi Baraki 5 | Beginners | 5000 |
0 |
|
| Sitnyakovo 1b | medium | 4000 |
230 |
|
| Sitnyakovo 2 | medium | 4000 |
250 |
|
| Yastrebets 1 | difficult ski run | 3200 |
860 |
|
| Yastrebets 2 | medium | 3000 |
650 |
|
| Yastrebets 3 | medium | 2350 |
617 |
|
| Markujik 2A | medium | 1300 |
280 |
|
| Martinovi Baraki 3 | medium | 1260 |
320 |
|
| Markujik 3 | medium | 1240 |
390 |
|
| Martinovi Baraki 4 | difficult ski run | 1240 |
302 |
|
| Markujik 1 | medium | 1220 |
220 |
|
| Martinovi Baraki 1 | difficult ski run | 1160 |
340 |
|
| Martinovi Baraki 2 | medium | 1160 |
280 |
|
| Sitnyakovo 3 | medium | 1000 |
220 |
|
| Lavinata | difficult ski run | 830 |
0 |
|
| Yastrebets 0 | difficult ski run | 800 |
0 |
|
| Markujik 0 - beginners piste | Beginners | 600 |
0 |
|
| Borovets | cross country | 0 |
0 |
Borovets Piste Map
The ski runs of Borovets are located in three different regions. Cross-country and biathlon tracks are located 2 km away from the resort together with the cross-country tuition tracks. Borovets ski centre is serviced by a well organized lift system , including a gondola lift. 14 snow cannons for artificial snow are installed to guarantee snow cover if needed.
There are more than 200 ski instructors fluent in many foreign languages and some of them are former professional skiers.)
Borovets Weather & Snow Reports
Lifts
Ski runs |
Type |
Length [m] |
Height [m] |
| Borovets,Yastrebets 1 | Gondola | 4827 | 1046 |
| Yastrebets 0,Borovets | 4-seat | 2050 | 609 |
| Sitnyakovo 1a,Borovets | 4-seat | 1902 | 516 |
| Martinovi Baraki 1,Borovets | 4-seat | 1209 | 313 |
| Markujik 2A | Drag | 1086 | 308 |
| Markujik 3 | Drag | 1031 | 366 |
| Markujik 1 | Drag | 903 | 223 |
| Markujik 0 - beginners piste | Drag | 500 | 42 |
| Martinovi Baraki 3 | Drag | 200 | 50 |
| Martinovi Baraki 2 | Drag | 180 | 33 |
The lift infrastructure of the resort is very well developed by drag lifts, baby tows, seat chain lifts, plus a gondola lift. 1 six-seat Gondola lift, 2 High Speed Quad Chair lifts, 1 Fixed Grip Quad Chair lift, 10 Surface ski lifts and 9 tow lifts. The 6 person gondola lift takes you up to the Yastrebets peak (2363 m above sea level). The difference in altitude is approx. 1046 m and length of route is 4827 m. The gondola lift has a capacity of 1200 persons per hour. The journey takes around 20 minutes. The total capacity of all tow lifts of Borovets is 8150 persons per hour. A recently completed 200-meter carpet lift takes the skiers from ski center Markujik to the upper station of the gondola lift "Yastrebetz"; and the widened 10 km long Musala Pathway provides an easy way to return to the resort.
Typical prices (2008-2009 season)
SKIERS |
6 days | 6 days | 13 days | 13 days |
| Adult | Child | Adult | Child | |
| Skis and poles hire | 42 £ GBP | 30 £ GBP | 84 £ GBP | 60 £ GBP |
| Boots (skiing) hire | 27 £ GBP | 19 £ GBP | 55 £ GBP | 37 £ GBP |
| Lift pass only | 90 £ GBP | 60 £ GBP | 182 £ GBP | 120 £ GBP |
| Ski school group tuition (4 hrs per day) | 85 £ GBP | 56 £ GBP | 170 £ GBP | 110 £ GBP |
| FULL SKI
PACKAGE: Full ski equipment + ski school + lift pass |
156 £ GBP | 117 £ GBP | 312 £ GBP | 233 £ GBP |
SNOWBOARDERS |
6 days | 13 days | ||
| Adult | Adult | |||
| Snowboard hire | 47 £ GBP | h | 94 £ GBP | h |
| Boots hire | 34 £ GBP | h | 67 £ GBP | h |
| Lift pass only | 90 £ GBP | h | 182 £ GBP | h |
| Snowboard school (3 days/2 hrs) | 3 days/2hrs - 48 £ GBP | h | h | |
| FULL SNOWBOARD
PACKAGE: Snowboard + boots + school + lift pass |
156 £ GBP | h | h |
(Prices shown are in GB Pounds £ and may vary between hire shops)
Ski School
One of the major attractions of Bulgaria and especially Borovets is the high standard of instruction available at a much lower cost than is common in the ski resorts of western europe. The instruction is divided into 5 different levels according to the skill level of the individual. The lessons may be group or individual (subject to request) and the duration of the course is from anything from 3 to 12 days. There is also a ski kindergarten for the children aged 4 to 8 years which runs for the entire day.
Night skiing
For night skiing there is a special lift pass that has to be bought separately at the kiosks on the pistes. It is valid from 5 pm till 10 pm.
Cross-country skiing
35 km of cross country trails are designed according to the requirements of FIS (Federation Internationale de Ski), at minimum width of 6 m. The resort also offers biathlon facilities for training and competitions.
Other activities
Ski-doo - 2 person ski-doos are available for local rent in the resort. Tourists can be guided through the the local forests by an instructor.
Ski jumping
Every Wednesday the local ski and snowboarding instructors put on a Ski Jumping show on the slopes in front of the Hotel Rila. The show is free for all that attended ski school during the week but there is a charge for those who have not attended ski school. There are, however, many bars in the local area where you can sit and enjoy a drink whilst watching the show for free.