SKI HORS PISTE DANS LE MASSIF DU PIRIN
Our tours are all about off piste skiing in Rila and Pirin Mountains.
Freedom – you have credit of vertical meters of descents, you choose where and when to use them.
Storm chasing – if there is deep powder in the area, we will bring you there.
The tours have been made stressing on freedom and a close touch with nature.  
Freedom means you can choose from great number of routes and share vast and very diverse powder terrain with your friends!
A close touch with nature means that you will be out in the wild. Bulgaria is wild – that’s for sure!
You will be able to choose from numerous routes with different length and difficulty. Whether you would like to make a short or a more challenging tour we can always suggest the most appropriate one. Thanks to our thorough knowledge of the local conditions and slopes we will always be able to select a safe route with the best snow for the day.
 
See the pictures made by Mitko Berov, the ski artist!
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Dates and Prices
Dates
 
Any date at your convenience from beginning of January to end of April.
 
Prices for 2010:
 
We offer two sample tours
 
1. Off Piste Skiing Tour in Pirin "Explorer-Discovery”
380 EUR (valid for a group of 4 people)
 
2. Off Piste Skiing Tour in Pirin “Vertical-Expedition”
570 EUR (valid for a group of 4 people)
 
All prices indicated are per person in a double room
Prices are lower for bigger groups.
Maximum group size is 10 people, which are led by two guides/ski instructors.
 
Prices Include
Guarantee of vertical meters of descents depending on the terrain;
Up to 7 hours skiing out of the bounds every day;
Accommodation for 4 nights in Bansko in a family run hotel;
4 breakfasts;
English-speaking guide/ski instructor;
Two guides/ski instructors for the “Vertical-Expedition” Tour;
Transfer from Sofia to Bansko;
Transfer from Bansko to Sofia.
 
Prices Exclude
Flight and taxes;
Ski pass for Bansko Resort (all chair lifts and the gondola lift): approx. 35 EUR per day;
Equipment: avalanche beacon, avalanche shovel & avalanche probe: these can be hired from us: 30 EUR per day for all three items;
Failing meals;
Alcoholic and soft drinks.
Trip Profiles
"Explorer-Discovery”
 
  • Pirin Mountains, northern slopes above Bansko
  • 500 – 700 vertical meters of downhill skiing out of the bounds every day
  • Diversity of slopes and terrains, some ridges and easy couloirs
  • Use of chair lifts to gain altitude; some walking too
This ski tour can be enjoyed by anyone who leads a reasonably active life and has some skiing experience. We use chair lifts to gain altitude. During the trip your guide will also teach you some basic winter mountain skills. Most of them are for your own safety and none of our ski tours begin before accomplishing these lessons. Have in mind that some of the tours require some walking – to approach these untracked slopes that are tempting!   
For the “Discovery” tours previous skiing experience is desirable and they can be described as moderate. The risk level is still low.
 
At the end of the trip you will know:
 
  • How to choose terrain and lines
  • How to evaluate the avalanche risk
  • How to use avalanche beacon
  • Free ride techniques and good practices to ski down out of bounds.
At the end of the trip you will experience:
 
  • Several days riding in forests, open slopes and/or easy couloirs
  • At least one simulation of avalanche rescue
  • At least one entire day dedicated to a summit ascent
“Vertical-Expedition”
 
  • Pirin Mountains, northern slopes above Bansko. Also the Rila Mountains.
  • 1000 vertical meters of downhill out of the bounds every day
  • Diversity of slopes and terrains, mainly long and difficult couloirs
  • Use of chair lifts to gain altitude; some longer walks too
  • Avalanche rescue equipment required
The tours are longer and more strenuous than the ones described as "Explorer-Discovery”. There are long ascents and descents. Skiing experience and reasonably high standard of fitness are essential for enjoying such tours.
For the “Expedition” tours you need to be also familiar with mountain walking and ski touring. There are very steep ascents and long technical descents. We sometimes use alpine rope techniques, ice axes and crampons .
 
At the end of the trip you will experience:
 
  • What it is to RIDE THE UNTOUCHED! This is all about going deep in the heart of the Mountain, exploring its beautiful valleys and enjoying the endless silence and beauty of Nature.
  • Several days skiing in the wild; the ski resorts are far away…
  • Several days dedicated to summit ascent above 2000 m
  • Ascents: mostly using chair lifts; some of the ascents in the ”Expeditions” tours require special equipment
  • Descents: from 500 to 3000 meters a day out of the bounds
Essential Info
Mountain guides
We are proud to work with some of the best guides/ski instructors in the country!
Our guides are chosen for their ability to provide you with an exciting and memorable ski/snowboard vacation, while caring for your safety and comfort at all times. They are leaders and mountaineers. Most ofthem are members of the Bulgarian Extreme and Freestyle Ski Association (BEFSA). All of them are expert skiers and snowboarders with great experience and strong communication skills. They possess thorough knowledge of the local mountains and weather conditions. Our guides will be glad to help you find untracked slopes and reveal you the great beauty of the Bulgarian mountains. In addition to being qualified ski and snowboard guides, they are also instructors, able to devote their knowledge and expertise to make your skiing/snowboarding a learning experience.
 
Skiing Ability
You don’t have to be an expert skier or snowboarder to explore the mountains with us. You just have to be a strong intermediate rider, feeling comfortable in a variety of snow conditions to enjoy fully the runs. Our programs are suitable for people of allages. 

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