Borovets is the oldest and the biggest mountain resort in Bulgaria. Situated at 1350 m above sea level on the northern slopes of Rila mountain among magnificent pine woods, Borovets is located at the foot of the highest peak on Balkan Peninsula Moussala (2925 m). Established at the end of the 19th century as a hunting place for the Bulgarian tsars, BOROVETS gradually developed into a modern ski resort of high class and luxury hotels, haute - cuisine restaurants and varied leisure - time entertainment opportunities besides an excellent network of ski runs and lifts along the slopes of the Rile Mountain.
Borovets is the Alpine resort among Bulgarian winter resort, providing excellent opportunities for the whole range of winter sports - from the Alpine sports to cross - country skiing, ski - jumps and biathlon. The resort has twice hosted World Cup Alpine skiing rounds, while its biathlon track is one of the best in the world. The ski runs of various difficulty are suitable for all, be they beginners, intermediate, advanced or expert skiers. The sunny slopes and runs are maintained in perfect condition all season and are designated with international markings and multilingual signs. A snow machine is also available. Permanent snow cover (1.5m thick) can be found at Borovets from November to May. Cross - country and biathlon tracks are located 2 km away from the resort together with the cross - country tuition tracks. Borovets ski centre is serviced by well organized lift system, inclusive Gondola lift. The 18 pistes (covering 42kms) at Borovets resort are divided into 15 per cent for beginners, 75 per cent intermediate, and 10 per cent for advanced and expert skiers. The longest run is 5.8 kms. The runs are impeccably prepared with modern machines and one snow cannon is also present. Lighting and sound systems provide skiers with night skiing (17:00 to 22:00). Borovets nightlife covers a spectrum from refined restaurants and clubs to raucous pubs and night clubs. Its been catering for foreign tourists for many years now, the staff are known to be friendly and professional.
From Sofia to Borovets by car, take E80 for 16kms to where road 82 takes you a further 48kms to Samokov; then turn left on to road 82 and continue for a further 10kms to the resort (74kms; 1 hour, 5 minutes). Sofia International Airport is located 10kms from Sofia and receives many flights from European cities on carriers such as British Airways and Air France. Buses and minibuses leave Sofia for Samokov every 30 minutes. From Samokov, a van to the resort leaves every 15 minutes, stopping at the Hotel Samokov (1 hour, 15 minutes). On the way back, the van leaves from in front of the Hotel Ela.
