Bansko Bike Park

Bansko is best known for winter skiing, but in summer its gondola carries riders and bikes from the edge of town up to Banderishka Polyana. The Banderitsa chairlifts take you higher still, and long descents of more than 1,000 vertical metres lead back down through pine forest to the valley.

The resort has a network of waymarked mountain bike routes, from gentle forest loops to demanding high-mountain rides, and riders have mapped plenty of rocky, technical enduro lines and flowing descents. A daily downhill pass covers repeat gondola laps, and you can rent mountain bikes, e-bikes and helmets on site. Guided e-bike tours to mountain huts and nearby villages are available too.

The trails sit on the edge of Pirin National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After riding, you can explore Bansko’s cobbled old town with its stone houses and traditional taverns. Bansko is about 160 km south of Sofia, roughly two and a half hours by car.