Autumn

The warm autumn in Bansko is the perfect excuse to visit and enjoy the abundance of interesting sights and places in the region. You can completely trust the highly-qualified and experienced local guides who will acquaint you with the rich history of the town and will accompany you on memorable trips.

Day trips can be made to Rila, Bulgaria's oldest and most famous monastery, Sofia for a day's shopping or  Melnik to the south. 

Rila Monastery which is situated in a spectacular narrow forested valley was founded by Ivan Rilski in 927 as a colony of hermits. The monastery was moved 3km to its present location in 1335. Hrelyu's Tower, the clocktower beside the church, remains from this early period. Plundered in the 15th century, Rila was restored in 1469 after the relics of Ivan Rilski were brought here. Under difficult conditions Rila Monastery helped to keep Bulgaria culture alive during Turkish rule. In 1833 a fire destroyed the monastery but it was rebuilt shortly afterward on an even grander scale in the National Revival style.

Melnik, only 20km north of the Greek border, is situated in a narrow sandstone valley in the heart of Pirin Macedonia. The area was first settled by the Thracian Medi tribe, to which the legendary Spartacus belonged. The town came to prominence in the early 13th century as the regional seat of a powerful noble who built several monasteries and a large fortress, the remains of which can be seen today.

The autumn temperatures are ideal for enjoying the area's golf or hiking, horse riding and mountain biking in the Pirin national park.