Pirin get in · How to get in Pirin
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How to get in Pirin
How to get in Pirin
Bansko, the popular ski resort, is an important entry gate for the Pirin range.
Another popular entry point is via Sandanski, about which this article is lacking. Please update if you know information about this!
A cheap way to arrive to Bansko is by train, and coming from Plovdiv or Sofia you will have to transfer first at Septemvri station. From either city, the train should cost about 10 lv for the whole trip. It takes a couple of hours to get from either city to Septemvri, and from Septemvri expect about 5 more hours. From Septemvri, there are around four connection every day to Bankso, two in the morning and two in the afternoon. The views are beautiful and you can easily pass time just enjoying the breeze from the train car door and taking in the mountains. Check the schedule of trains before setting out.
In order to reach the Banderitsa or Vihren huts/chalets (base camp to hike in the area) from Bansko, at least in the non-ski season, you will either have to hire a taxi (~$15), go with a tour, or hitchhike. In summer (until 18 Sep) 2011 there is a minibus from Bansko to Vihren hut at 0830, 1420 and 1500 up; 0930, 1500 and 1800 down. Cost 6lv. Starts from the bridge near the bus and train stations, calls at Strazhite Hotel, but should stop anywhere on request.
The best option to reach Pirin from Bansko for independent traveler(s) on a budget is to hitchhike, which is particularly easy during the summer with a good amount of domestic tourists heading up to either of the camps. To do so, walk south (gently uphill) from the train or bus stations though town until you reach the entrance to the Pirin National Park, indicated by a small house for information about the park. From there, the only cars going will be into the park.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Pirin
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Pirin - updated May 2024
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Pirin Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.