Bulgaria offers plenty of different venues for an alternative holiday destination abroad. And one of the most popular is Varna.

You’ll find Varna on the eastern coast of Bulgaria, and many previous visitors refer to it as a gem. This is probably largely because it has a lot to offer to all visitors. For example a visit to the Petrified Forest is well worth it. The Pobiti Kamani reserve is filled with limestone columns which look very much like a forest of trees. They weren’t actually trees however; they are simply the remains of an ancient seabed and what was left behind after it disappeared.

Elsewhere in Varna you can visit the beach. This is quite simply a stunning beach and once you have descended the Primorski Park steps to reach it you can spend the day enjoying everything it has to offer. For example why not take a dip in the sea, or perhaps enjoy one of the mineral water pools you will also find there?

The good thing about Varna is that it has a lot to offer all year. The summer is particularly popular of course because there are more hours of sunlight to soak up. But no matter when you visit you will find plenty to see and do.

Primorski Park itself is worth a look when you are heading down to the beach or coming back from it. It has been there for over a century and it provides another place to sit and relax and watch the world go by in Bulgaria. You can’t miss the Aquarium either as this is in the same place, so if you want to get inside and out of the sun for a while you should definitely give it a try.

This only really touches the surface of the myriad of events, locations and venues you can explore in Varna. But you will see that it offers a wide range of activities and things to see and do while you are there. If you want a holiday that can offer you a bit of everything and nice weather as well, Varna certainly delivers.

It’s that time of year where many people start thinking about going on a skiing holiday to blow away those Christmas cobwebs.

But wherever you might be thinking of going, there is a good chance that Bulgaria won’t have been somewhere that would have sprung to mind. That could change now though, because you are about to find out a bit about a place known as Bansko.

This is the top ski resort in the country, and it attracts plenty of visitors. The city of Bansko is very picturesque so you’ll have plenty to explore when you aren’t out on the slopes seeing how good (or not!) your skiing skills really are.

If extreme skiing and snowboarding is your thing you’ll certainly find some great trails and opportunities to test your mettle here. Pirin Mountain is where all the action can be found and enjoyed, and you’ve got a good choice of two main centres too. These are Shiligarnika and Chalin Valog. Either way you’ll get a great break and a great chance to experience the slopes of Pirin Mountain for yourself.

As far as ski resorts go this is quite a new one. But with that said it isn’t lacking in all the things you would hope to find in a top resort. It says a lot for the location that it has risen to be the most popular resort in Bulgaria, so bear that in mind when you come to book your holiday here.

And of course no matter what kind of budget you have there are lots of choices when it comes to your accommodation too. If you love the idea of putting your sore and aching feet up in luxurious surroundings once you’ve finished on the slopes for the day, you’ll find something worthwhile here. And those on tighter budgets can find some great bargains too.

If you have never been skiing before don’t worry – Bansko is one of the best places to go to get started on the right foot. And you’ll get to see some of the best parts of Bulgaria too. What could be better?

Do you love mountainous regions of the world? If you do you’ll love what the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia, has to show you.

This is where you will find the mountain called Vitosha. But this isn’t the kind of mountain you will view from afar and take pictures of as it towers over the capital. It is the kind of mountain that can provide you with an active holiday and plenty to explore. It’s more than just accessible – it is a beacon that draws in tourists from a long way away.

Part of the mountain is now a national park, giving you the opportunity to enjoy summer walks and hikes around the area. Be prepared to see a lot of wildlife too if you can keep reasonably quiet!

But of course when it comes to the snowy season this mountain transforms into one of the best known skiing resorts in Bulgaria. It is highly desirable as a place to ski for two main reasons:

• Sofia is just a stone’s throw away, giving you the best of the capital while still providing good ski conditions nearby.
• It is the highest Bulgarian resort there is, providing plenty of opportunities to make sure you get the best of the snow and the slopes.

If you like popular resorts then head for the best one on Vitosha Mountain – Aleko. This resort is ideally set up for skiing regardless of whether this is your first time or you are a seasoned expert. And with views of the Bulgarian capital below, you are never far from the more built up parts of Bulgaria either.

As such the mountain provides activities for everyone to try their hand at. You don’t like skiing? It’s not a problem – head for the national park instead and enjoy all that it has to offer. This is why Sofia and the Vitosha Mountain area is such a popular one for holidaymakers to head to. There aren’t many mountain regions that are good for people who don’t go skiing – but this one certainly does fit the bill.

20 August 2007

The largest ancient water reservoir on the Balkan Peninsula was uncovered in the Thracian town of Perperikon in Bulgaria.

The reservoir is 12m long, six metres wide and six metres deep and has a capacity of 270 000 litres, archaeologist Nikolai Ovcharov said, as quoted by netinfo.bg. The structure was carved in the rocks on the top of Perperikon.

Perperikon had two other reservoirs, which, together with the new discovery, make archaeologists believe that tens of thousands of people lived in the town.

In mid-August 2007, archaeologists also found four huge earthen jars, 1.2m in depth, with a storage capacity of 200 litres. The inhabitants of the town probably stored wine in them.

A display area would be made for the jars and they would become one of the attractions at Perperikon, Ovcharov said.

According to Ovcharov, Perperikon had magnificent planning, strong fortress walls and tens of two-stored houses of stone.

8 August 2007

easyJet has announced an expansion to its network that includes its first route to Bulgaria.

Flights from London Gatwick to the Bulgarian capital Sofia will begin on November 6, and new connections from Liverpool to Lisbon (from November 2) and Innsbruck (from January 8) will also be offered.

The three-times weekly flights to Sofia will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with prices beginning at £50.98 return, including taxes.

Sofia was founded 7,000 years ago and is one of Europe's oldest cities. Its attractions include the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the National History Museum, and the city's vibrant café culture.

The new Liverpool to Lisbon route will operate four times per week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with fares available from £38.98 return.

Flights from Liverpool to Innsbruck will depart three times per week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, costing from £45.98 return.

The new routes are part of a wider European expansion from easyJet that also includes flights to Marrakech from Geneva, Basel and Milan.

Separately, on August 3 the airline announced a new carbon offsetting scheme allowing passengers to invest in United Nations-certified environmental projects.

9 July 2007

The Bulgarian town of Varshets will boast a large spa and balneology complex, to be completed by August 2009.

The complex will cover 5000 sq m with a total built-up area of nearly 15 000 sq m, Pari daily reported.

The plan envisions a five-star hotel and a holiday apartment complex. It will also have entertainment attractions, a multi-functional congress centre and various business facilities.

The region of Varshets is attractive in terms of location and nature, Stascommerce Invest head Dragomir Gatev said.

Varshets is in northwestern Bulgaria and is famous for its healing mineral springs.

A neat village in a small valley, Bozhentsi lies 16 km east of Gabrovo. Having preserved the spirit and atmosphere of the Bulgarian National Revival, it produced remarkable master masons, potters, farriers, and weavers that had made it known far and wide for its beauty.

One can see here preserved and restored houses of inimitable Revival Period architecture. Featuring among its landmarks are: the old coffee house, the Church of Prophet Elijah (1839), the school from 1872, the museum. Of great interest is also the richly illustrated exhibition with the logo “Remembered in history are the mad heads and generous donors”.

Most of the restored houses provide good accommodations and conditions for holidaymaking.

Every year, the Autumn in Bozhentsi plein aire is held early in September, while from June to September there is an exhibition and bazaar of works of art.

For more information visit www.bulgariatravel.org