Bulgaria · SKIING
Good ski days fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Pick up skis, poles, boots, or a snowboard from Ski and Board Traventuria in Bansko. Choose from nearly 1,000 sets by Head, Rossignol, Burton, and other major brands, then use the equipment all day. Storage, helmets, clothing, insurance, and lift passes cost extra.
Meet your English-speaking instructor in Borovets for about two hours of private coaching tailored to your level. Instructors such as Phil, Neil, Lexi, Yuri, and Alexei have helped beginners, families, and skiers needing extra support. Equipment and lift passes cost extra.
“It was a lovely experience! Highly recommended! Ivan the store manager was really kind to give our group a private instructor over just a call- helping us with all our doubts as first timers! Phil the ski instructor was so patient and fun to learn from! Great ski lessons- fun to talk to- really funny and supportive- helped us learn so much in such little time. The people at the ski depot were also very kind and helpful- helping us and joking around the whole time! Overall a lovely experience- 10/10 recommended. The best ski service in Borovets hands down!”
Meet at Snowshoe Ski School & Rental beside The Black Cat in Borovets for two hours of private ski or snowboard tuition. Your licensed English-speaking instructor may include Ivan, Dobrin, Dobrimir, Dobri, or Gery. Keep your group at one ability level and arrange equipment and lift passes separately.
“Brilliant experience, the staff were very friendly and helpful. Dobrin helped us to organise everything and made sure we found the place easily and the staff was already waiting for us. Alex the guy from the rental place was very friendly and helpful same as Ivan the instructor. Very professional and with a good English knowledge, easy to understand commands and professional demonstrations. Highly recommend”
Book five days of ski hire at Alpin Rent on Borovets’ Rila slope. Collect skis, poles, and boots near the lifts, with fitting help from staff. Children’s helmets, snowboard gear, lessons, storage, and goggles cost extra. Staff such as Kalina, Maria, and George also teach at the school.
“Kalina was our instructor for 2 days. She’s was patient and very knowledgeable. Our trip was enhanced by her tuition. Thoroughly recommend.”
Pick up skis, a snowboard, boots, and other winter gear at 360 Ski Bansko, just a short walk from Bansko’s gondola. Staff can adjust or change equipment, store it overnight for free, and help with fitting. Ski classes are also available with instructors including Dmitry.
“We have rented our gear from 360 Ski Bansko second year now. We are extremely happy with a service. Our son lost part of the snowboard shoe lock and we were told to do not worry and enjoy our holiday. The whole team is very friendly and helpful. We would highly recommend renting your ski/snowboard gear from 360 Ski Bansko!!! Thank you!”
Pick up skis, poles, boots, or a snowboard from Ski & Board Traventuria Royal in Borovets at 10:00 am. You receive first-season equipment from well-known brands, serviced after every rental. Keep it at your accommodation, but bring your own helmet, goggles, ski clothes, insurance, and lift pass.
“The whole point on going on holiday and spending your hard earned money is to get away from the horrible people you have to be around everyday day. If I knew I was going to be surrounded by them here also I wouldn’t have bothered coming”
Travel from Sofia to Borovets with Balkanity Travel, led by local support staff such as Nikolay. You get skis or a snowboard, clothing, helmet, goggles, gloves, boots, and an all-mountain lift pass, with about eight hours at Bulgaria’s biggest ski resort.
“The trip was lovely, the tour guide was well informed, we met lovely people in our tour.”
Bring your own skis or snowboard, or equipment rented elsewhere, to Ski & Board Traventuria in Bansko for base repair, hot waxing, polishing, and edge sharpening. Drop equipment after 6 pm and collect it when the shop opens. The service runs daily from 9 am to 6 pm.
“Terrible experience. We used Traventuria for many years, this time we were a big group we paid more than 5k euros, we had some new snowboards and skiers, the staff was arrogant they didn’t help anybody, our friend was given 3 size bigger boots, the guy with the glasses was never friendly and start laughing in our face, that is horrible service honestly, we all paid for premium and we were give the same basic equipment like last year. please please don’t book with them are much better options and with friendly staff like TSAKIRS . Safe trip and enjoy the mountain”
Pick up skis, poles, and boots at Alpin Ski & Snowboard in central Borovets, next to the Rila slope. You can arrange gear before arrival or visit the evening before. Staff include instructors such as George, Georgi, Maria, Ivan, and Jimmy.
“The ski hire was perfect and came with a locker which stored everything for our entire stay. The ski instructor George was amazing, very patient and brilliant with our 9yo son. Highly recommend”
Pick up skis, poles, and boots from Alpin Rent on Borovets Rila slope, between two chair lifts. You can collect gear before your first ski day, receive help with fitting and sizing, and return to the same ski-in, ski-out shop. Lessons with instructors such as Maria, George, Ivan, and Boris are separate.
“Great location. Staff were very helpful. Special mention for Boris who was professional, attentive and fun. Nothing was too much bother for him making it a very pleasant experience.”
Rent skis and poles for six days at Alpin Ski & Snowboard in Borovets. You can collect and return your equipment at the slope-side shop, open daily from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Private lessons with instructors such as Maria, Kalina, or Vladimir may also be arranged separately.
“We pre-booked ski hire and 2 hour private ski lessons with Kalina for my 4 year old and myself. I highly recommend Alpin for their service, ease of booking and quality equipment. Kalina was wonderful with my son. I cannot thank her enough and highly recommend the lessons she provided. At the end of 5 days, my son is confident skiing, excited, and wants to be Kalina's ski instructor.”
Meet your instructor at the Front Ice Angel restaurant or the six-person chairlift for a private two-hour lesson in Borovets. English, Bulgarian, and Russian instruction is available. Niko, Tsetso, and Tsvetomir have helped beginners build skills and confidence, but you must bring or rent your own equipment and buy a lift pass if needed.
“Tsvetomir is one of the best teachers we’ve ever had the pleasure to learn from! He didn’t only teach us the basics but boosted our confidence by sharing best practices and the psychology of overcoming our fears. Just in 2 days we’ve managed to ski on the roads! Thank you so much for the great attitude and teaching style!”
Meet your private instructor at Banderishka Meadow for a focused two-hour lesson in Pirin National Park. Twins Ski School matches coaching to your level, from first turns to red runs, with instructors including Martin, Donny, Chris, Teddy, Nikolaus, and Tsetso.
“We have just returned from Bansko with our 9 and 5 year old and booked with Twin Ski school and communication was excellent and easy through what’s app! We booked 2 hour session for 6 days fo both boys and they absolutely loved it! Teddy, their instructor was excellent with them and they couldn’t wait for their lessons everyday! They hadn’t really been skiing before and by the second day they were skiing on the ski road and their confidence and skills were improving with each session!! When we return we will definitely be booking with Twin Ski School again! Thank you Teddy! Gareth, Ffion, Alffi and Tomi.”
Collect skis, poles, and boots from Alpin Ski & Snowboard on Borovets’ Rila slope, between two chair lifts. The shop sits within walking distance of many hotels, so you can arrange your gear before skiing and return to the same point. Helmets, goggles, clothing, lift passes, storage, and insurance cost extra.
“Great kit! Got fitted early and was very easy to extend.”
At 360 Ski Bansko, choose from 350 pairs of skis, snowboards, touring skis, snow blades, and twin-tip skis. Friendly English-speaking staff with 18 years of local experience fit your gear near the gondola, with free overnight storage for a simpler ski day.
“people there helped and explained us how to go there and told us everything we needed to know . They were very polite”
Pick a monastery, a ridge, a cellar or a beach.
