Bansko Sight Seeing and Bansko Tours
Rila Monastery
The best known of Bulgaria’s monasteries, justly famed for both its architecture and mountainous setting. Although you may wish to visit the monastery on a packaged day trip it is perfectly possible to get here independently and the abundance of trails leading off into the densely forested hills make an extended stay more than worthwhile. Though the monastery gates are open daily to visitors from dawn till dusk, some of the sites within the complex keep more restricted hours.
If you want to see a service, morning prayers start at 7 or 8am, evening prayers at 4 or 5pm. Services are preceded by monks hammering on wooden panels in the monastery courtyard, a ritual designed to remind the congregation of Christ’s nailing to the cross. The start of the Saturday evening service is usually announced by a monk ringing a carillon of bells from hrelyos tower. While the Thursday morning service is traditionally dedicated to St. John and features sacril chanting through to date the 15th century. Apart from Easter, the two main religious festivals celebrated here are the birthday August 18th and feast day October 19th of St. John of Rila.
Natural Spas & hot spring
The spa resort is situated in a mountainous area at some 550m above sea level and close to the Mesta river. The area is rich in mineral water springs, which had already been used during Roman times. The remains of Roman spa facilities have since been transformed into the village`s public bath. Ognyanovo offers perfect conditions for recreation and spa treatment all year round with its mild Mediterranean climate. The mineral water temperature here is 43 degrees and is used for the treatment of a number of illnesses.
The Dancing Bears Rehabilitation Park
The park is located in a forest area with natural water resources and home to the wild brown bear. Each bear has its own territory with access to water and plenty of space for climbing. The food for the bears is deliberately hidden at different places in the park, so that they find it themselves, just as they would in a natural wild environment. The Dancing Bears Park is an international project of “Four Paws” Foundation, a non- profit organization and financed mainly by charity. Guided tour visits are available between April and November
Yagodinska cave
The Yagodinska Cave is the “pearl in the crown” of the Rhodope Mountains. It is situated near Buynovska River, 3 km from the village of Yagodina. The cave is a part of the unique Karst of Buynovsko Gorge. It is 10 km long, and 5 stories high, with many labyrinths and abysses inside. Visitors enter the cave through an artificially dug opening, while the natural entrance is 30 m above. A special path through the cave offers the opportunity to see the wonderful underground world formed in the course of millions of years. Atmospheric lighting illuminates the mysterious formations. Draperies, pipe-like stalactites, cave pearls, “leopard’s skin” and hanging stalactite visible along with many others. Some of the formations inside resemble the well- known Santa Claus, Snow-White and The Seven Dwarfs, Virgin Mary and her newborn child, the Elephant, the Crocodiles and hundreds more.
Train journey – Bansko to Velingrad
Why not take the Mountain train to Belitsa or Velingrad. The narrow-gauge railway winds through the mountains with the most spectacular scenery. There are organised trips taking tourists from Bansko to Velingrad or Belitsa, where you can visit the bear park as mentioned earlier. The organised tours include return transfer and a traditional Bulgarian lunch.
Greek Border
The Greek border is approximately 70km (1hr 15mins) from Bansko along the E79 just south of Goce Delcev.