Pirin National Park
UNESCO Listed - Pirin National Park
With an area of over 27,400ha, Pirin National Park is a spectacular Balkan example of nature at its best. With expansive glacial lakes, cascading waterfalls, dark caves and rugged pine forests located in the heart of the Pirin Mountains, the park ranges in altitude from 950 - 2,915m above sea level. The rugged terrain is home to a wide range of endemic and rare plant and animal species including Macedonian pine Pinus peuce, Pirin poppy Papaver pirinica , the jackal Canis aureus, and the brown bear Ursus arctos. Approximately 50 species of animals located in the park are unique to Bulgaria.
Nature Reserves
The park has is home to two nature reserves - Bayuvi Doupki - Dzhindzhiritsa Biosphere Reserve covers an area of 2873 hectares and Yulen Reserve covers an area of 3156.2 hectares. The national park has both natural sites as well as cultural-historic attractions.
Huts & shelter for hikers
The park has a number of huts and shelters for hikers wanting to experience the splendor of the area for more than one day. Well planned routes are laid out throughout the park and huts with and without amenities are located along all the routes. Tourist information maps are available to help plan your route. A number of guide companies also specialize in trips and excursions through Pirin National Park.
UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site
Pirin National Park has been listed as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Natural World Heritage Site since 1983. The park offers visitors a variety of opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing and wine-tasting tours and the main park headquarters are located in Bansko. For outdoor enthusiasts, this valuable Bulgarian natural resource is a definite must-see.
Bansko - Lake Country
Bansko - Lake Country
The mountainous area around Bansko is said to have between 150 and 250 glacial lakes. This is a summer water wonderland perfect for summer hikes and camping. In fact, the backcountry around Bansko is a maze of trails and routes especially designed with recreational hikers in mind. While day trips can be custom planned for hikers of all skill levels wishing to get away for a shorter trip, the landscape around Bansko is dotted with back-country huts for those planning trips longer than a day... Ask at the park headquarters for special maps and routes for hikers. But remember, never set out into Bansko backcountry or anywhere else, without telling someone the route you plan to take and when you expect to return.
Guided tours
A number of outfitters and companies in the Bansko area provide guided day trips as well as longer excursions into the mountain ranges of the Bansko area. More information about these options is available from the Pirin National Park headquarters in Bansko. Camp under the stars, picnic in a beautiful mountain meadow, take pictures of alpine flowers, horseback into some of the wilder back country, or fish the icy clean glacial lakes of Pirin National Park. All these options and many more are available to those looking for an unforgettable Bansko summer adventure!
Scenic, wild and breathtaking!
Two of the largest lakes in the area - Popova and Otoko - are popular tourist destinations. Both lakes are impressive in terms of their size and depth. At altitudes above 2000 metres, both lakes offer amazing views and great photo opportunities for professionals and amateur photographers alike. Popovo Lake (2234m) is the deepest lake in the Pirin area with a maximum depth of almost 30 metres! It covers an expanse of more than 12 hectares and for this reason is often referred to as the "Pirin Sea." In comparison, Okoto Lake (2200m) (Eye Lake) is the deepest in the Rila Mountain range and is said to have a depth up to 39 metres! Both of these lakes are said to be great places for trout fishing.