Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Hey Victoria

We had been in Samokov severals time. It's like a burndown village, but a whole lot of different from Borovets, so go there are no problem

You take a taxi from the gondola, but check the prices. You make an appointment
with the driver, then he piq you up from Samokov - and you first paid him when you arrives to Borovets again. - No problem at all - We get used to be there about
3 hours, getting around an eating in a restaurant - it's very cheap compared with
Borovets

We are a group af danes, who are going to Bansko in february, we have been
there the last two year. Before that we had been in Borovets 7 year and one
time in Pamporvo - You should also try Bansko. It's very different from Borovets, but not so "tivolised"


Enjoy your stay - greeting from Morten

Hi Victoria
we've a house in Dospei which is 3 km from Samokov and 15 minutes from Borovets (available to rent by the way!!. Samokov is quite big and has a bustling street market each day and a bigger monday market as well. It is a shoppers paradise with designer label goods and clothing at ludicrous prices (my wife bought high fashion pointy calf length leather boots by Cross for £8.00!) fake Gucci watches etc. Places to visit? The old Roman ruins at Plovdiv are 1 1/2 hrs drive and the Rila monastery is hugely impressive and about same distance. Sofia itself is considered to be the new 'Prague' and is 70 km from Samokov. samokov is old and very pretty in most parts but in the southern area there is a number of ugly tower blocks which rather ruin it!
I hope the info is useful to you. I don't know too much more coz we've only been there once ourselves. But it was great fun!!
David

Hi David,

Thanks in particular for your message. I am also going to take the opportunity to look at purchasing property whilst out there. I was thinking about Samokov because it is a town and the travel links would be better. Furthermore, if I just shoot over there on my own in the summer/autumn for walking it would be more vibrant than in a small village.

As to skiing - there are quite a few threads on this forum talking about how expensive ski passes are if you do not take a package holiday from somewhere - what is your experience? Do you just buy in Borovets?

Thanks.
Victoria

Hey Victoria,
you doesn't need a Taxi to go to Samokov there is a regular bus line runed by minibuses, cost 1 lev. Brings you to the centre of Samokov, back they start at the bus station in Samokov every 30' to 17:30. From the bus station you can ride nearby everythere in medium distance from Samokov Sofiua cost you 3 lev. But be careful at the station.
There are some nice shops selling handcraft things like kettles and things like this. Even you can buy good wine, hard to find in Borovez and cost minimum twice.

The best Restaurant to go in Samokov is The Starata Kashta, really cheap old bulgarian house with great cuisine and wines, try it with your friends. In the evening you need a reservation especially at weekend, because then people from everythere come to see the live misic.

Ask me for more information if you need.
Borovez is even good for some hiking trips.

Sune

Hi Sune,
Thanks for your email. I'm both a skier in winter and a hill walker in the summer, so the area really appeals to me. Sounds like you are very familiar with the area - do you live there? I noticed that Samokov has a population of around 30,000 - do you know what it is like as a town? Does it have a friendly atmosphere? I've been having a look on the internet and saw a couple of interest - one is 200m from the centre of the town (slightly north). What else is there to do in the evening in Samokov? Hopefully you might be able to answer some of these questions! Thanks for any info and advice in advance,
Victoria

Hey Victoria,
no I'm not living in Bulgaria. I'm from germany, but stayed 4 times in Borovez and never skied. I'm there for recreation, trips in central Bulgaria and snowhiking. There are some nice day trips to walk. Check the pics I will post here and you will may be understand.

Samokov is not so interessting is good for selling wine, high quality fresh food as homemade cheese or eating out and using the Internet much cheaper and faster as in Borovez.

I prefer in hiking around Borovez the Mussala Hut and the Hut Chakar Voivoda, you can see the pics both a walk from 3 to 3,5 hour up and to 3 hours down, different in the height of the snow...
May be I can load up more pics in the next time, from later trips...

Sune