In & Around Bansko
- River & Lake Fishing (Trout & Carp)
- Mountain biking
- Horse riding (1hr to all day)
- Golf
- Walks in Pirin National Park (sunrise hikes)
- Rock Climbing
- Spa treatments
- Hot mineral springs in Banya
- Tennis courts
- Sightseeing in local towns (13th Century)
- Blagoevrad (shopping and cosmopolitan University City)
- Paraponting
- Bear Sanctuary (cared for, ex-dancing bears)
- Rila Monastery
- Two seated glider flights
- White water rafting & Kayaking ( Struma river & Cresna Gorge)
- Vineyard stop over at Melnik
Rila Monastery (90km - 1 ½ hours away) - All Day
Located high in the mountains rivers run through this area and it is said that the magnetism surrounding here gives energy to the body. You’ll need at least an hour to walk around the building but there is so much more to see you’ll need the whole day. Monks are living there and St.Evan Rilski’s (the monastery’s founding monk) spirit is said to live there today.
An old village surrounds the monastery with a path up to the mountain to walk through Evans Cave.
The oldest Bulgaria building is here with its tower dating circa 13th Century. To visit the website Click Here
Melnik (100km – 2 hours away) - Overnight Stay
Very Old City (smallest town in Bulgaria) population was 20,000 now only 300-400 people live there. This town is protected by the government due to the towns amazing architecture. Cherries are harvested here at the end of May.
Stay in a KORDOPULOVA KASHTA (house) each one of these houses has their own cellar and vineyard. Buy wine from the local villages ( 2Lv per Litre) not from the KASHTA’s (as they may water the wine down).
(Hire a car from 40Lv / Day from Intersport nr Fortuna)