Bansko is a town in southwestern Bulgaria. It is conveniently located near Mount Todorki, whose slopes offer numerous runs for snowboarders and skiers, including the challenging Tomba run.

The town is located at the foot of the Pirin Mountains, part of the national park of the same name. The mountains, crisscrossed with hiking trails, are home to bears and wolves. One of the park's most striking attractions is Vihren Peak (2,914 m), towering over vast forests and stunning glacial lakes.

In the mornings, the wait for the first lift can take up to an hour. The solution is to either come early, right before opening, or closer to lunch...

Map of the trails and the highest point I climbed...

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you how to get to Bansko! Well, it's simple, either by bus from Sofia (from the central bus station, which you can get to from the airport by metro, bus or taxi), or by taxi (which will be very expensive) or by transfer provided by some hotels (also not cheap).

The town is made up of mostly low-rise buildings, mainly hotels... I don't have any decent quality photos of the city itself, next time I'll definitely take more photos, but I do have photos from the mountain :-)

At the base, the weather may be dull and cloudy, but as you ride higher, the scenery changes dramatically!

And finally...

P.S. Along with my own photos, this article also includes some taken by my friend Alexander.