The Balkans’ most modern resort was until the turn of the century an isolated snow field used by the Bulgarian military for training. Privatisation and government grants helped build the best lift system in the region and upgraded a provincial mountain village into a winter sports resort capable of competing with the Alps.

Bulgaria’s initial appeal is its prices, some 40 per cent lower than western Europe, but Bansko has a growing and loyal following who come year after year to enjoy Ottoman-inspired dishes, a large terrain, varied off-piste activities and excursions, the eccentricity of Balkan nightlife and affordable private ski and board tuitions.

Although the outskirts have suffered from overdevelopment, the centre of the town is a maze of cobbled streets peppered with great restaurants and bars with comfortingly low prices.

Bansko’s managers have some work to do in dealing with the morning gondola bottlenecks, but once on the mountain the riding is superb, with good beginners’ slopes framed by the woods of the Pirin national park and challenging blacks and off-piste under Todorka peak to satisfy the experienced.

Resort height 925m

Range 1100-2600m

Lifts 16

Total runs 70km

Longest run 16km

Best run Weather permitting, the full 16km descent from the top station through the Chalin woods. Stop halfway to treat yourself to a reinvigorating Rakia, before slowly drifting back into town.

Snowparks One

Season length Mid-December to April

Snow reliability ****


Who goes Growing middle-class snowhounds of Bulgaria, Macedonia, Serbia and Russia. College kids from Greece and Turkey. Bewildered Irish apartment owners and traditional first week learners from Ireland and Britain.

Value €€€€ The property overhang has kept accommodation prices low. Food and drink are great value and nourishing hearty Bulgarian four-course meals with local red wines can be had for less than €10 per head

Insider tips Intermediates finding it difficult to progress can hire private one-on-one lessons for less than half the price of Alpine resorts

Airports Sofia, Plovdiv

Tour operators Topflight, Directski, Crystal, Inghams, Panorama




Kitwatch

One of the distinct advantages of being a boarder is the footwear; lighter, more flexible and cooler than the clunky ski boot. This year the Burton label has pushed comfort out that little bit more with the Supreme range. This women’s line of boots have added internal portable heating keeping your toes extra toasty on those frosty mornings. Available from €249, stockists include Snow and Rock in Dundrum Shopping Centre and Onboard in Dún Laoghaire and off Dawson Street in Dublin 2. See onboard.ie, snowand rock.com.

Snow report

Another fantastic week of snow across Europe. France, Italy and Austria all had their good starts topped up with fresh stuff during the week.

The low lying Alpine valley resorts will always struggle this early, but very low temperatures have the snow cannons on overtime.

This week will see the opening of the majority of the ski resorts’ full terrain. The Pyrenees and Eastern Europe took a big early week blast and are well set for their busy Christmas clientele.

Next week is hopeful, with the cold snap set to continue and snow continuing to fall even at low altitudes

Snow-forecast.com provides free forecasts for over 2,200 resorts worldwide. Verify the snow status of some 250 popular resorts on skiclub.co.uk or have a peek at your mountain of choice on snoweye.com.

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