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Borovets (Боровец), known as Chamkoriya (Чамкория) until the middle of the 20th century, is a popular Bulgarian mountain resort situated in Sofia Province, on the northern slopes of Rila, at an altitude of 1350 m. Borovets is 10 km from Samokov, 73 km from Sofia and 125 km from Plovdiv. Today the resort is a modern ski centre with luxury hotels and an extensive ski course network and has twice been a host of Alpine skiing World Cup competitions. History is one of the strong sides of Bulgaria with its more than 1300 years of existence and the Borovets ski resort, situated in Rila mountain, 1300 meters above the sea level, is the real proof for that. Borovets is the oldest Bulgarian winter resort, with a history dating back to 1896. Today Borovets is one of the biggest and most modern resorts in the country, offering the full list of services typical for a world-standard winter resort. The name Borovets comes from the Bulgarian word for pine-tree “bor”, which perfectly fits in the notion what a winter resort is supposed to be. Thousands of age-old pine-trees surround the hotels and the ski runs. The shadow of mount Musala (2925 m), the highest peak on the Balkans, adds to the unique atmosphere, for a full-scale winter experience. Atmosphere is a great benefit, but in the modern age what also really matter are accessibility, accommodation, entertainment and last but not least, the ski facilities and snow. Borovets takes pride in offering all of these to visitors. Easy accessibility is what makes Borovets a preferable resort when compared to the other two main winter Bulgarian resorts, Bansko and Pamporovo. The distance between Borovets and Sofia’s international airport is just 72 km of good quality road. Regular bus transport every 30 minutes takes you to the nearby town of Samokov, only 12 km from the ski runs. Bulgaria’s second-largest city, Plovdiv, is only 126 km from Borovets, which helps make the resort easily accessible from all parts of Bulgaria. The world famous Rila Monastery is a good option for a visit if you need a day of rest from skiing. The monastery is only an hour and a half from Borovets and trips are organised every day by the resort. Ski runs The ski season in Borovets offers a mild winter and loads of snow. The average temperature during the coldest month January goes up to 4.8C. Usually the ski runs in the resort are covered with snow from mid-December till April, which gives skiers a five-month long season. The air in Borovets is clear, free of any pollutants and with its healthy climate, the resort is a good place for people looking for spa services. With its total of 45 km of ski runs varying in difficulty and length, Borovets attracts thousands of ski and snowboard fans. There are ski runs for every taste, starting from beginners, intermediates and advanced skiers, designed with international markings and multilingual signs. Borovets has three ski centres: The Central Borovets ski centre - starting from 1337 m altitude up to 1780 m. The Yastrebets ski centre - from 1340 m up to 2369 m, and the Markudjik ski centre - from 2340 m up to 2550 m. The ski runs from the Yastrebets ski centre are considered the best and competitions at the resort are held there. Alpine skiing, cross-country, and snowboarding are some of the options that Borovets provides. The resort has twice hosted World Cup competitions in Alpine skiing, and those tempted by this extreme skiing can enjoy 58 km of marked ski runs. The cross-country tracks are 35 km long, designed according to international standards at minimum width of six metres. In 1993 Borovets hosted the World Biathlon Championship and the legacy from these times today is the world-class biathlon track. For those keen on extreme experiences, the ski jumping facility in Central Borovets ski centre is a perfect opportunity. Source: Wikipedia
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