Overview
Borovets is a town on the northern slopes of Bulgaria’s Rila Mountains. It’s the gateway to numerous ski and snowboard runs on Rila National Park’s craggy Musala Ridge. Cycle routes crisscross the alpine landscape.
Description
Footpaths lead through rocky outcrops and valleys to the 7 high-altitude Musala Lakes, including glacial Icy Lake. Just north, kayaks and other leisure boats ply the Iskar Reservoir’s calm waters. Though overshadowed by the more glamorous Bansko ski resort in the Pirin Mountains, Borovets claims 58km of pistes and a thumping après-ski culture that draws local and foreign visitors in droves between mid-December and early April. Just 72km southwest of Sofia, crouching beneath Mt Musala (2925m), this purpose-built ski resort is the oldest in Bulgaria. So perhaps it’s no surprise that lifts are on the creaky side and infrastructure could do with a polish; but these are small quibbles against Borovets’ crisp, pine-freshened air, tree-fringed ski runs and merry nightlife.
Kocherinovo Kyustendil
Bulgaria
URL:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/bulgaria/rila-and-pirin-mountains/borovets