The town of Bansko is situated at the Glazne river at the northeastern bottom of the Pirin Mountains, 160 km south of Sofia, 60 km southeast of Blagoevgrad. Bansko is one of the biggest mountain resorts in Bulgaria with a long winter to take advantage of its modern, well developed skiing and sport facilities. The skiing conditions in Bansko are excellent. The Pirin mountain has a predominately Alpine character with three peaks towering above 2900 m. However the slopes offer runs and tracks for all types of skiers, from novice to the experts, while the ski runs are maintained in excellent condition. It is also the main starting point for hiking in the UNESCO protected Pirin National Park - the largest in Bulgaria where the most interesting tree species such as the black fir can be found. Having been a birth place to many national intellectuals and a witness of dramatic history during the centuries, Bansko is of special architectural and cultural value. There are several  landmarks which are of great interest: Sveta Troitsa (The Holy Trinity) Church, the Monument of Paissii Hilendarski, the Neofit Rilski House Museum.

   Pamporovo, the second major Bulgarian mountain resort, is located 1650 m above sea level in the Western Rhodopes, 16km from Smolyan, among evergreen spruce forests, picturesque meadows, strange rock formations and beautiful mountain peaks. Due to the Mediterranean influence, the climate is mild with bracing air and the good snow-cover provides excellent skiing conditions from mid-December to mid-April. The area is abundant in natural slopes with a range of alpine ski tracks of different difficulty and sophisticated ski facilities and equipment, suitable for beginners to experts. The TV tower on Mount Snezhanka, starting point of many of the ski runs, has a cafe and an observation gallery giving a marvelous view of the Rhodope mountains and makes an important landmark for hikers. The hotels and restaurants lure with the authentic for this region hospitality and superb traditional Rhodope dishes.