Adventure week - A high alpine & party lap combo
A well rounded package of all the best bits you would expect from a proper MTB holiday. We balance big mountain adventures and enduro trail shredding to create the perfect mix of high alpine travel and purpose built descending.
Using our guesthouse as basecamp, each day we head into a different corner of the mountains, using a mixture of van, chairlifts and 4x4s to help us access the good stuff.
Hike a bike to over 2500 meters, cross ridge lines, rivers and valleys, descend for hours at a time. Then spend the ‘chill’ days riding national level enduro tracks.
Plenty of downtime to rest and recover, have a beer and enjoy what the town has to offer.
Overview
Great balance of adventure and quality riding
Authentic base location in mountain town
75% uplift with up to 4000m descending per day
Eat in mountain huts with amazing vistas
Natural mineral hot springs and traditional restaurants
Good fitness and strong bike level required
BANSKO BACKCOUNTRY
Our home Mountain. Uplifted and almost endless descent.
Alpine day from this week. Scenery and descending worth the effort.
Bansko Backcountry
7 Nights
July, August, September
5 days guiding
14000m descending, 4000m climbing
Airport Transfers
Breakfasts
2 Dinners (first and last)
Mid Week BBQ/Lunch
£595 Per Person
Trails
This week includes a mixture of natural and purpose built trails. Be prepared for a wide variety of terrain and very long descents. Expect all conditions: rocks, roots, loam, jumps, berms, drops, speed and tech. Riding in the alpine means we there will be some exposure and altitude. Some trails are very much off-piste and anticipation of hidden bumps, branches and boulders will be beneficial. Be aware when travelling through the mountains on bikes, there will be sections not designed for Bikes, it might be required to dismount or ride through awkward sections.
Skill level: Moderate to high. This trip seeks adventure in the high alpine meaning rough tracks in difficult terrain. The riding and the environment are extremely rewarding to those confident on the bike. Make sure you are confident riding techy, rocky terrain, even when a little fatigued. Speed is of no concern, just strong bike handling and a positive attitude. Ability to confidently ride UK red trails and above is essential for this trip. Ability to confidently ride black trails and experience off the beaten track recommended highly.
The days away from the big peaks are spent ripping enduro trails, single track and off-piste trails so expect rocks, roots, jumps and drops. All committed features are avoidable and we have trails to suit all styles and abilities.
Fitness level: Moderate level of bike fitness. Big mountain days require a decent level of fitness. Depending on the group, these days can be 8h+ and include pedaling, pushing and some hike-a-bike. Ability to make good progress in tough terrain carrying all personal equipment for the day.
Enduro days are much more relaxed where you can go at your own pace and even sit out a lap if you need an extra coffee. Short pedals may be required to reach the trail head. Endurance required for long laps of ~1000m of descending.
We head straight from the airport to Bansko (approx 2h transfer), a historical town and modern ski resort all rolled into one.
We spend the first day riding the local Enduro trails, the van provides the majority of the uplift with some pedaling required to reach trail heads. There is a trail here for everyone. With forests similar to B.C. there is some epic riding on offer. Apart from the huge descents we also enjoy some fun playful trails in the lower section of the mountain, stopping for a beer (or two) and enjoying the scenery.
Day 2 and a short transfer takes us to the Rila Mountains. Total climbing for the day is around 950m, mainly pedaling, with a few short hike-a-bike sections (broken up by food and drinks at amazing mountain huts). We are rewarded with some of the purest trails you will ever ride. Big mountain chunk is followed by almost endless loam and singletrack. We traverse a long ridge and finish with an amazing descent finishing at a bear sanctuary. A beautiful area. Hot springs often follow.
Day 3 we head to the Rhodope mountains for some huge laps that you can cruise, race or shred to your hearts content. Whatever, you will spend a long time pointing downhill on this one. The terrain is massively different to the first two days, but still expect multiple 1000m descents, super long trails and beautiful scenery.
A rest day is scheduled in the middle of the week. Plenty of pools or other activities on offer. Keen riders with plenty in the tank can opt for gondola laps or Ebike hire.
Day 5 takes us back up to the alpine. Or neighbouring town has a funky old chairlift that accesses a few lower enduro trails that are steep, loose and barely touched. The lift then drops us off at a mountain hut (at almost 2500m) for a big feed and then a massive afternoon of descending.
Day 6 gives options to explore deeper into some of the groups favourite locations or hit some new spots including some finely crafted endruo areas a short transfer away
*Timetable subject to change depending on the weather. We will always have some epic options no matter what the conditions. Most days expect around 300-400m pedaling, with one bigger day alpine day around 950m climbing at some point over the week.
7 nights in our mountain base
Price shown based on sharing a room
Single supplement possible
Please contact for other options, groups have option for separate private annex or alpine chalet
One of the oldest buildings in town with easy access to local restaurants and entertainment. Huge outdoor courtyard and mountain views. Fresh, clean mountain spring water at our door.
All the accommodation has secure bike storage, Wifi and a small communal kitchen. We also keep on hand bike tools and proper cleaning kit so we can keep everything rolling smoothly.
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Sure, there is plenty here to keep any non-riders entertained. Drop us a message for more details and prices.
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All major airlines include a bike bag/box for an additional fee of around £60 (Ryanair)
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Yes. Due to the nature of modern bikes, most components are not interchangeable. We try to keep in as much kit as possible to keep you moving one way or another but personal kit is highly recommended. Think: pads, derailleurs, mech hangers, spokes etc..
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Yes please!
We can also organise fantastic vegan/vegetarian food.
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There is a huge amount to do here, attracting tourists all year round. Traditional restaurants and bars are a must. We also have natural hot springs, luxurious spas, outdoor pools and museums.
Need a day away from the bike? Book yourself onto an ATV tour or an all day session at a winery. There is plenty of relaxation and mischief to be had.
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Bulgarian Leva. Its pegged to the euro so you wont get ripped off getting some cash before you leave. We reccomend a travel card (Revolut, Monzo, etc) and just grabbing some carh here (We will tell you where).
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Usually hot and dry during the summer. We have months of predictable and stable weather. Obviously these are big mountains and the weather can turn but this is usually in the form of very brief rainstorms. Expect 25-35 degrees C.
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Yes!
On top of normal travel insurance we recommend additional mountain sports insurance. This is one of the ones we use:
https://www.alpenverein.at/britannia/membership/Membership.php
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Not at all. Traditional food is full of familiar veggies, meats and fish. There are some more out there dishes too for the adventurous types. Bansko has plenty of westernised restaurants providing a proper global spread. We are also super close to Turkey and Greece so kebabs and Gyros are top notch.
Mountain huts have limited variety but will always have soups, salads, omelets, cheeses and meats.
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A number of reasons:
1) Not many people come here yet. This is the up and coming destination. Get in while its cheap and the dirt is fresh.
2) The locals use the cyrilic alphabet so you probably wont find their content.
3) Nobody wants to give away the really good locations..
