About Us
A 4-night, 5-day ski tour departing from Istanbul by bus, including a 3-night stay in Bansko, Bulgaria’s ski resort.
Tour program
- Day 1
Istanbul – Kapıkule (Wednesday)
We pick up our guests from the following locations: in front of the Kadıköy Marriage Office parking lot (10:00 PM), in front of the Mecidiyeköy Ziraat Bank, and at the İncirli Ömür Plaza bus stops (11:00 PM), and then set off. We travel via Selimpaşa and Silivri on the E80 highway to the Kapıkule Border Crossing; after completing passport and customs formalities, we continue our journey overnight.
- Day 2
Bansko – Skiing (Thursday)
We arrive in Bansko in the morning; you can have breakfast as directed by our guide. Until check-in time at the hotel, we’ll head to our partner ski lodge, where—with guidance from our guide—we’ll complete the rental of ski equipment, purchase of ski passes, and currency exchange. Check-in and settling into your rooms.
Bansko features a total of 72 km of slopes ranging from easy to intermediate to advanced; the slopes were also certified for the 2014 Winter Olympics. You can enjoy a full day of skiing on slopes starting at 2,600 meters, including the Tomba slope—named after and skied by world champion Alberto Tomba. Overnight stay in Bansko. - Day 3
Bansko – Day Off (Friday)
After breakfast, the day is yours to enjoy. You can go skiing on the slopes, explore the old town, or watch the skiers while sipping a hot drink. Guests who wish to do so can join an optional Sofia city tour or an open-air thermal pool tour. For dinner, we recommend making reservations through our guide at restaurants where you can also sample game meats. Overnight stay in Bansko.
- Day 4
Bansko – Day Off (Saturday)
After breakfast, the day is yours to enjoy. You can go skiing on the slopes, explore the old town, or watch the skiers while sipping a hot drink. Guests who wish to do so can participate in the extra activities organized by our guide. For dinner, we recommend making reservations at restaurants—suggested by our guide—where you can also sample game meats. Overnight stay in Bansko.
- Day 5
Bansko – Istanbul (Sunday)
After breakfast, we’ll meet in the lobby at the time specified by our guide and begin our return journey. We’ll travel via the Plovdiv–Haskovo highway to the Kapıkule Border Crossing; after completing passport and customs formalities, we’ll return to Istanbul and drop off our guests at their respective pickup points.
Flight times and hotels are subject to change depending on the date; specific details will be provided in the written quote.
Optional extra tours
- Sofia City TourPrices are listed in the price guide
- Open-air thermal pool tourPrices are listed in the price guide
Optional tours are not mandatory; prices are per person and are organized by the local guide.
Hotel options and prices
Important Information
3-night stay. Transportation by luxury coach, accommodations based on the selected hotel or guesthouse type (room only, room and breakfast, or half-board), Turkish-speaking guide, and complimentary water on the bus are included in the price. City and hotel taxes (10 € per person) are paid to the guide on the bus. A Schengen visa is not included (no visa required for green passports); breakfast on the first day while traveling is not included.
Regional Information
Bulgaria
- Capital
- Sofia
- Language
- Bulgarian
- Currency
- Lev
- Time Difference
- 0
- Electrical Voltage
- 230 V
- Area Code
- +359
- Taxes
- A 20% tax applies. Tax refunds are available on purchases.
- Tips
- A 10% tip is generally expected at restaurants and cafes.
BanskoBulgaria
Be sure to check it out
- Pirin National Park
- Trinity Church
- Vihren Peak
Be sure to try it
- Kachamaka
- Sezoni
- Kamenitza
- Zakuska
- Kifla
Explore the tour route on the mapView the 3-stop itinerary step by step on the map. Show on mapClose the map
- Istanbul
- Kapıkule
- Bansko
Included in the package
- Round-trip transportation by luxury bus
- 3-night stay based on the selected hotel or guesthouse type
- Mandatory professional liability insurance
- Professional Turkish-language tour guiding
- Limited water service on board
Exclusions
- Exit tax for international travel
- Museum and historical site admissions
- Overseas Travel Health Insurance
- City and hotel taxes (10 € per person; paid to the guide in the vehicle)
- Optional tours, ski equipment, and ski passes; personal expenses
- Breakfast on the road on the first day
- Schengen visa (not required for holders of green passports)
Visa
A Schengen visa is required for Bulgaria. Paxlin handles the consulate’s document list, forms, and appointment tracking. We recommend applying at least 3–4 months before your tour date. No visa is required for holders of green passports.
Apply for a visa →
