It lies in the northern part of the Rila Mountains at an altitude of 1350 meters, 70 kilometers southeast of Sofia. Its climate and air are pure and clean a true delight for nature lovers and vacationers from urban centers. The resort was founded 100 years ago by the Bulgarian kings who built a palace and hunting lodges there. Borovets, named after the a romantic pines which grow in a National Forest there, enjoys 150 days of snow cover per year. For downhill skiers, Borovets offers 17 well kept and lift equipped ski runs totaling 40 kilometers in length, descending from a high point of 2543 meters above sea level. There are 3, 5 and 10 kilometer tracks for cross country and biathlon. Ski jumping, snowmobiling and sleigh rides are also available.

In the spring, summer and autumn, Borovets is the starting point for many hiking tours, including the ascent of Mount Moussala, which at 2925 meters is the Balkan Peninsula’s highest peak. In spring and summer, there are carpets of wild flowers, one of which, the Rilska Primrose, is unique to this area. There are also may species of birds and wild animals.

In addition to resort based activities like horseback riding, tennis, swimming and bowling, there is a water sports complex at Lake Iskar, Bulgaria’s largest, located 20 kilometers away, which has water skiing, sailing and windsurfing.