Pirin National Park

The gateway to the famous Pirin National Park is located only 1.8km from Bansko, and open access is available all year round to this, the largest park in Bulgaria. It was placed on UNESCO's list of World Heritage sites in 1983 to protect its varied and unique landscapes, and there are over 1100 species of flora and fauna. There are many hiking trails across the mountains which link to a number of huts and shelters throughout the park. In recent years mountain biking has become extremely popular and this makes for adventurous explorations in the warmer months.

Bansko

The town of Bansko has both historical and tourist value. The town expanded on its present location around 9-10th centuries after the formation of the adjacent quarters of Bansko. In the middle of the 18th century Bansko was a big and rich settlement developing crafts and trade. The specific atmosphere of the Bulgarian National Revival, the rich cultural-historic heritage, the preserved folklore and crafts, the original cuisine, the cosy, small traditional hotels and taverns, combined with the picturesque nature of Pirin and the thermal mineral springs in the adjacent Dobrinishte, makes Bansko an unique tourist centre where the number of the summer visitors grows every year.

The Rila Monastery and Bear Park are excellent places to visit within less than one hour's drive. The Rila Monastery lies in the Rila mountains, at 1,147 meters above sea level. It is one of the most popular tourist sites among all monasteries in Bulgaria equally for its size, natural surroundings, architecture, wall paintings and ancient history. The monastery offers a great view to the surrounding peaks of the mountain and represents a developed tourist site with all the accompanying facilities such as souvenir shops, restaurants and inns.

The Dancing Bears Park is situated in Rila Mountain, at 1200 meters above sea level, and 33 kilometres from the famous Bansko ski resort. The region is spread with natural forests, valleys and areas of water. The Dancing Bears Centre is a favourite spot for young and old alike. The park is located in a forest area with natural water sources and is home to the wild brown bear. Every single bear has its own territory with access to water and plenty of space for climbing. The food for the bears is purposely hidden at different places in the park, so that the bears find it themselves, just as if they are in a natural wild environment.

The Dancing Bears Park is an international project of the "Four Paws" Foundation. It is a non- profit organization which is financed mainly by charity.

A local village worth a visit to observe the preservation of cultural traditions and hot water springs is Banya.

The Greek coast is a mere 3 hours away which could appeal to those wanting a 2 centre holiday or could be explored as a 2 ?day organised excursion with visits to Thassos island and Kavala in the warmer months. In the surrounding area there are many interesting places to visit including some historic and fascinating churches.