Have you dreamt of an amazing ski holiday despite having little to no experience? Learn how to ski while having an incredible holiday in the stunning ski resort of Bansko, Bulgaria.
Bansko rightly holds the title of Bulgaria’s top ski resort, known to be the largest with the region’s best lift system. The town is nestled at an altitude of 925m at the foot of the Pirin mountains, with skiable slopes reaching as high as 2600m.
Join us for a fun-filled winter holiday with unforgettable experiences tackling slopes and hiking up mountains in Pirin National Park, a stunningly beautiful UNESCO World nature heritage site.
Age: 18+
Cost: £920pp (shared room) , £1065 (single room).
Payment options: Pay in full or put down a £250 deposit and pay in 4 instalments.
Level of Fitness
The ski course is aimed for beginners however skiing is a moderate to high-intensity activity that requires balance, coordination and endurance. To be able to ski safely, it is important to have good cardiovascular fitness and strong leg muscles.
As for snowshoeing, this will be a route of moderate difficulty. We will be trekking on mountainous terrain with a few steep inclines for 4 to 5 hours.
A good base level of fitness will also help you to enjoy the activities more and reduce the risk of injury. However, it is always a good idea to consult with your doctor before engaging in any new physical activity, especially if you have any medical conditions or are recovering from an injury.
HIGHLIGHTS
SKI SCHOOL
Fun and progressive 4 hour lessons across 3 days providing all the basics to get you up and about on the snow.
SNOWSHOEING
Explore the beauty of nature amidst the magic of winter. A truly alpine adventure among the rugged peaks and glacial beauty of Pirin National Park. This tour will introduce you to snowshoeing – an enjoyable activity that anyone who can walk will quickly master.
RELAX & RECHARGE
Recover after winter skiing adventures & mountain walks with recreational amenities such as the sauna, steam room and an indoor pool heated to a temperature of 28 – 30°C.
What TO BRING
Outer layer: Ski jacket or windbreaker
Mid layers: long sleeve shirt or hoodie/jumper
Thermal base layers - leggings and top
Ski trousers (salopettes/ski pants)
Ski socks
Ski gloves/mitts
Neck warmer/balaclava
Goggles - changeable lenses for sunshine and low visibility are advised
Sunglasses - when you stop for breaks and are not wearing your goggles, sunglasses are great to help protect your eyes from the brightness of the sun reflecting off the snow
Day backpack - useful for carrying items such as pocket tissues, sun cream, goggles/ sunglasses, water, snacks
OTHER
Warm clothes - to wear when you are not skiing
Winter/Snow boots - to wear when you are not skiing
Hat, gloves and scarf
Underwear, sports bra + socks
Pyjamas
Toiletries
Active wear - if you plan to use the gym
Swimming costume & flip flops
High energy snacks - eg. energy bars/nuts
Travel plug adapter
What’s Included
AIRPORT TRANSFER - Airport pick up (from Sofia Airport) & drop off
ACCOMMODATION - 5 nights of accommodation at Casa Karina Hotel - twin shared rooms (single supplement available)
SPA & GYM FACILITIES - Use of indoor swimming pool, sauna, steam room & gym
MEALS - Half board: Breakfast and Dinner included
SKI SCHOOL - 3 day ski school taught by qualified instructors
LIFT PASS - Your ticket to the slopes giving you access to all the chairlifts, gondolas and cable cars on the mountain for 3 days
SNOWSHOEING - 1 Day guided snowshoeing trek in Pirin National Park
EQUIPMENT HIRE - 3 day hire of ski, boots & poles & 1 day hire of snowshoes + trekking poles
What’s nOT Included
FLIGHTS - International &/or domestic
VISA - Any personal visa which may be required for this trip
TRAVEL INSURANCE - Travel insurance is compulsory for this trip
EXTRA MEALS - Any extra food, meals or snacks
ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES - Any additional trips, visits or activities unless specified
HELMET - A Helmet is not required but advised. This can be hired for an additional fee of 8EUR for the 3 days
Flights and Airport Transfer
We will be flying into Sofia Airport (SOF).
Outbound Airport Transfer (Sofia Airport to Casa Karina Hotel) : Mon 8th Jan at 3pm & 5pm
We advise on booking inbound flights that arrive at Sofia Airport 2 hours before the airport transfer pick up time in case of any flight delays.
Inbound Airport Transfer (Casa Karina Hotel to Sofia Airport) - Sat 13th Jan at 7am & 12pm
As for return flights, it's a 2.5 hour journey from Casa Karina Hotel to Sofia Airport. Arrival to Sofia airport will be at 09:30 and 14:30 respectively. We advise to book return flights at least 2 hours after airport arrival, giving ample time to check-in.
CANCELLATION POLICY
If you cancel your booking
If you cancel your reservation, you will not be eligible for a refund unless we find someone to take your space. If we are unable to fill the space then we will not refund any of the money paid up to that point.
If we cancel your booking
We would not expect to have to make any changes to or cancel your booking, but sometimes problems out of our control may occur. If this does happen, we will contact you as soon as is reasonably practical and inform you of the cancellation or the change to your booking. If we cancel your Booking, we will refund you any fees you have already paid to us. However, we will not be liable to refund you for any fees you may have paid to any third party in connection with your holiday eg. fees for travel
CAN I COME TO BLACK GIRLS HIKE?
As the name suggests, this is a safe space for Black/Mixed Race cis and trans women and non-binary people of Black African and / or Caribbean descent who are comfortable in a space that centres the experiences of Black women. We are not a BAME, POC, BIPOC, WOC, Politically Black or Ally organisation.