Pirin National Park

Pirin National Park, originally named Vihren National Park, covers the larger part of the Pirin Mountains in south-western Bulgaria. It was established in 1962, expanded several times since, and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. It lies in Blagoevgrad Province, on the territory of seven municipalities, among them Bansko, Razlog and Sandanski, and no settlements lie within it. It includes the summit of Vihren, the second highest in Bulgaria and the third highest in the Balkans, and two nature reserves. The Pirin Lakes group lies within the park.

Visiting Pirin

There is generally no entrance fee, and chairlift tickets are extra. The Vihren hut is 16 km uphill from Bansko on a paved road, with a summer shuttle from the Bansko bus station (about 8:30, 13:20 and 17:00). The Vihren hut–Vihren peak loop is the most popular route, and the summit and ridge routes need fitness, experience and proper gear. Start early to avoid afternoon thunderstorms and full car parks. The best season is mid-June to mid-September, with May and September for fewer crowds, and April and October still having snow on the high trails. Marked trails lead to the ancient Bosnian pine forests of Bayuvi Dupki and Dzhindzhiritsa. The glacial Banderitsa lakes are described on their own page.