Piste maps · Pirin Mountains · Bulgaria
You reach Bansko's ski area from the town by gondola; the gondola goes up to Banderishka Polyana, which is also home to the beginner area. From there, chairlifts spread you out to the Shiligarnika, Plato and Todorka areas and to Chalin Valog lower down. According to the operator's list, there are 14 lifts and 17 numbered runs (two of them ski roads back to town). Most runs are blue and red; the black run is Tomba, which hosts the World Cup.
You reach Bansko's ski area from the town by gondola; the gondola goes up to Banderishka Polyana, which is also home to the beginner area. From there, chairlifts spread you out to the Shiligarnika, Plato and Todorka areas and to Chalin Valog lower down. According to the operator's list, there are 14 lifts and 17 numbered runs (two of them ski roads back to town). Most runs are blue and red; the black run is Tomba, which hosts the World Cup.
Data note: The lift and run list is taken from the official website of the operator (Bansko Ski); the official site does not publish run lengths or altitudes. The total length of the runs is not given, because independent sources put it anywhere between 48 and 75 km.
Last updated: · Sources at the end of the page
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors
Bansko, Blagoevgrad, Pirin Mountains, Bulgaria
41.7899° N, 23.4527° E
In Bansko you go up to the ski area from the town and return to the town on ski roads. Read the map in this order:
The centre of the ski area and the beginner zone.
Lifts: Gondola top station; Kolarski (6-seater), Banderitsa 1 and 2 chairlifts; drag lifts
Suited to: Beginners, meeting point
The highest part of the ski area.
Lifts: Plato and Todorka (6-seater) chairlifts
Suited to: Intermediate and advanced
The area of wide blue runs.
Lifts: Shiligarnik and Mosta chairlifts
Suited to: Moving from beginner to intermediate
Lower area with runs through the forest.
Lifts: Chalin Valog chairlift and drag lift
Suited to: Intermediate
| Lift | Type | Area | Bottom – top | Length | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bansko gondola | Gondola | Town – Banderishka Polyana | 601 m vertical | 6,233 m | 2,000 people/hour |
| Kolarski | Chairlift (6-seater) | Banderishka Polyana | 316 m vertical | 774 m | 3,000 people/hour |
| Mosta | Chairlift (4-seater) | Shiligarnika | 581 m vertical | 2,606 m | 1,940 people/hour |
| Banderitsa 1 | Chairlift (4-seater) | Banderishka Polyana | 630 m vertical | 1,745 m | 2,000 people/hour |
| Banderitsa 2 | Chairlift (4-seater) | Banderishka – Plato | 301 m vertical | 972 m | 2,000 people/hour |
| Shiligarnik | Chairlift (4-seater) | Shiligarnika | 483 m vertical | 2,042 m | 2,000 people/hour |
| Chalin Valog | Chairlift (4-seater) | Chalin Valog | 325 m vertical | 1,099 m | 1,965 people/hour |
| Plato | Chairlift (4-seater) | Plato | 381 m vertical | 1,513 m | 2,200 people/hour |
| Todorka | Chairlift (6-seater) | Todorka | 700 m vertical | 2,298 m | 2,000 people/hour |
| Tsarna Mogila | Chairlift (2-seater) | Tsarna Mogila | 740 m vertical | 2,420 m | 700 people/hour · Closed, together with run 14 |
| Stara Kotva | Drag lift | Banderishka Polyana | 188 m vertical | 802 m | 954 people/hour |
| Detska Kotva | Drag lift | Banderishka Polyana | 145 m vertical | 540 m | 629 people/hour |
| Chalin drag lift | Drag lift | Chalin Valog | 87 m vertical | 649 m | 902 people/hour |
| Panitsa B | Drag lift | Banderishka Polyana | 52 m vertical | 412 m | 678 people/hour |
There are also short magic carpets and drag lifts for children at Banderishka Polyana. Which runs each lift serves is shown in the operator's table.
Easy: 6Intermediate: 11Difficult: 2Ski road: 2
| Run | Difficulty | Length | Start – finish | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Kolarski | Easy | — | — | Lift: Kolarski |
| 7 · Stara Pista | Intermediate | — | — | Lift: Kolarski, Stara Kotva |
| 8 · Yulen | Intermediate | — | — | Lift: Kolarski, Detska Kotva |
| 9 · Tomba | Difficult | — | — | Lift: Kolarski, Banderitsa 1 and 2 · World Cup run |
| 9a · Tomba link | Difficult | — | — | — |
| Run | Difficulty | Length | Start – finish | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 · Banderitsa | Intermediate | — | — | Lift: Todorka, Plato, Banderitsa 2 |
| 3 · Plato 1 | Easy | — | — | Lift: Todorka, Plato, Banderitsa 2 |
| 4 · Balkaniada | Intermediate | — | — | Lift: Todorka, Plato, Banderitsa 1 and 2 |
| 4a · Link to Todorka | Intermediate | — | — | — |
| 6 · Todorka | Intermediate | — | — | Lift: Banderitsa 1 and 2 |
| 11 · Plato 2 | Intermediate | — | — | Lift: Plato, Banderitsa 2 |
| Run | Difficulty | Length | Start – finish | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 · Shiligarnik 1 | Easy | — | — | Lift: Shiligarnik, Mosta |
| 5a · Link to Shiligarnik 2 | Easy | — | — | — |
| 10 · Shiligarnik 2 | Easy | — | — | Lift: Shiligarnik, Mosta |
| 10a · Link to Shiligarnik 1 | Easy | — | — | — |
| 12 · Strazhite | Intermediate | — | — | Lift: Shiligarnik, Mosta |
| Run | Difficulty | Length | Start – finish | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 · Tsarna Mogila | Intermediate | — | — | Closed |
| Run | Difficulty | Length | Start – finish | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 · Chalin Valog 2 | Intermediate | — | — | Lift: Chalin Valog |
| 16 · Chalin Valog 1 | Intermediate | — | — | Lift: Chalin Valog, Chalin drag lift |
| Run | Difficulty | Length | Start – finish | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 · Ski road 1 | Ski road | — | — | — |
| 18 · Ski road 2 | Ski road | — | — | — |
Run names and colours are from the operator's list (Bulgarian names are written in Latin script); 4a, 5a, 9a and 10a are connecting links. The official list does not include run lengths.
| Level | Where to start? | Runs |
|---|---|---|
| First day | Gondola up to Banderishka Polyana | Beginner area, children's magic carpets and drag lifts |
| Beginner | Kolarski chairlift | 1 Kolarski |
| Easy–intermediate | Shiligarnik, Plato | 5, 10 (Shiligarnika), 3 Plato 1 |
| Intermediate | Todorka, Plato, Chalin Valog | 2, 4, 6, 11, 12, 15, 16 |
| Advanced | Banderishka Polyana | 9 Tomba (World Cup run) |
According to the operator's list, there are 14 lifts (1 gondola, 9 chairlifts, 4 drag lifts) and 17 numbered runs, including two ski roads; run 14, Tsarna Mogila, and its chairlift are closed.
Yes. Banderishka Polyana, at the gondola's top station, has a beginner area, children's magic carpets and short drag lifts; after that you move on to 1 Kolarski and the blue runs of Shiligarnika.
If there is enough snow, you can ski back to town on the two ski roads marked in orange. If snow is scarce the roads may close; in that case you ride the gondola down.
BeginnerLearningSkiing · KIS-001
You start skiing with a beginner lesson with an instructor, rental equipment and easy (beginner) slopes. On day one you put on your skis, glide on flat ground, learn to stop with the snowplough and ride the magic carpet; on day two you come down an easy slope under control with snowplough turns. For an adult who has never skied, this stage usually takes 2 days.
Read the guide →BeginnerLearningSnowboarding · KIS-021
You start snowboarding by finding your stance (regular or goofy), with a beginner lesson with an instructor and with rental equipment. On day one you learn to push with one foot and to side-slip on your heel edge (heelside) and your toe edge (toeside); then you change direction with the falling leaf, and usually on day 2–3 you make your first linked turns.
Read the guide →GeneralSafetyWinter Sports · KIS-081
The FIS 10 rules for conduct are the rules of behaviour set by the International Ski Federation for skiers and snowboarders: respect for others, control of speed, choice of route, overtaking, entering the piste, stopping, climbing and descending on foot, respecting signs, assistance and identification. They are not law; however, around the world they are used as a benchmark when assessing liability in skiing accidents.
Read the guide →Doğadayız social adventure holiday
Doğadayız runs a ski and snowboard activity holiday to Bansko: accommodation, ski pass and ski or snowboard equipment are included in the package. Course packages include basic lessons with instructors affiliated with the Turkish Ski Federation; on experience packages you practise on the slopes at your own level. For other resorts, see the winter activity holidays page.
What makes the programme different is the group: sharing the slopes with people at a similar level, dinners and nights out together, and a group leader by your side at all times. Solo travellers become part of this social adventure holiday from day one. That is why we describe our programmes as a social adventure holiday.
Bursa2,322 m
43 runs · 22 lifts + cable car
Uludağ, 36 km from Bursa, is Türkiye’s longest-established ski resort. The runs are split into two zones: the 1st Development Zone (Hotels Area), where the cable car arrives, and the 2nd Development Zone, which has the longer runs. According to the Uludağ information site there are 43 runs (including link paths) and 22 lifts; according to the development agency the runs total ~25 km. Most of the lifts belong to the hotels. The longest descents are from the Tutyeli (1,300 m), Kuşaklıkaya (1,500 m) and Maden chairlifts. You can go up from Bursa by cable car (Teferrüç – Sarıalan – Oteller).
Piste guide →İzmir
3 lifts · ~110 km from İzmir
Bozdağ Ski Resort lies in the Ödemiş district of İzmir, on the northern slope of Bozdağ (2,157 m), the highest mountain within the province; it is about 110 km from İzmir and 26 km from Ödemiş. The resort starts at around 1,530 m. According to sources there is one chairlift, two drag lifts and a baby lift; the short drag lift suits beginners and intermediates. Closed in 2017 because of avalanche risk, the resort reopened after avalanche protection works by the General Directorate of Forestry (OGM). Operations depend on snowfall and are geared to day trips.
Piste guide →Kocaeli
~21 km of runs · 5 lifts · ~135 km from Istanbul
At about 135 km from Istanbul (~1 hr 15 min by car), Kartepe is the closest ski resort to Istanbul; it lies in Kocaeli's Kartepe district, on the slopes of the 1,602 m summit of the Samanlı Mountains. According to the development agency's report, there are 3 chairlifts (Kartepe, Geyik Alanı, Kadı Konağı) and 2 drag lifts (Kadı Konağı, Karlıktepe); from the Kartepe chairlift you can ski an uninterrupted 3.2 km descent. Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality's Derbent – Kuzuyayla cable car makes getting up the mountain easier. The lifts have historically belonged to the The Green Park Kartepe hotel.
Piste guide →
