The joy of a skiing break...with almost noskiing
The best thing about a skiing holiday in Bansko is that you don’t have to ski much at all. There’s so much to do away from the slopes that my wife and I wondered how people found the time to put on their salopettes.
After a three-hour drive from Sofia airport through the Bulgarian countryside, we arrived at the four-star MPM Hotel Sport.
Our spacious accommodation included a kitchenette, settee and a veranda with wonderful views of the Pirin mountains.
The following morning we were measured for our skiwear but, still feeling tired after our journey, we decided to take it easy and explore the old town.
Bansko had changed a lot since our last visit in 2006, with many new developments but we were pleased to find that our favourite local restaurant in the main square was still there.
The next day, my birthday, we were ready to hit the heights. The gondola lift took us on a half-hour ride up to Banderishka Polyana, where ski lessons take place.
We messed about on our skis for most of the day and had just about got the hang of the snowplough before we headed back to the hotel.
The next morning, we set out for a mountain trek. Snow was falling heavily as we made our way into the thick forest. It was magical to stop and have our packed lunch sheltering at the base of a large pine. Apart from the cries of the odd bird, there was total silence.
The perfect contrast to hiking in thick snow is bathing in hot mineral springs, and we did that at the outdoor Izgreva thermal baths in nearby Banya. On our last day, we headed up to
Banderishka Polyana for another hike and, by the time we arrived back at base camp, we were ravenous. The variety of food was very good, with a mix of traditional Bulgarian and international dishes.
As we travelled back to the airport, we reflected that, although we still had a long way to go to make the Olympic skiing team, we had rediscovered a real winter wonderland.