Everyone knows the popular mountain resorts of Bulgaria, just to name Bansko, Borovets and Pamporovo. The country has some other resorts that offer opportunities for the practice of winter sports away from the noise of the mass skiing destinations.
The capital city of Sofia is situated in the foot of Vitosha Mountain. Only minutes away from the city center, you can find a quiet place where you can have a picnic or practice mountain biking, skiing and hiking.
Aleko is a mountain area located at an altitude of 1800 m. Its tourism center is formed of a cabin, fast food spots, ski tracks and the needed facilities like lifts.
Tourists can reach Aleko walking or using the lift. Though the lift is quite old, prices for using the facility can be seen as very low.
During the summer, you can walk up to Aleko and have a lazy picnic on one of the many meadows located nearby. In case you prefer a bit of an urban touch, visit one of he restaurants that offer grilled meat, sandwiches and beer.
Shtastlivetsa cabin is located in the area. The cabin carries the nickname of the Bulgarian writer Aleko Konstatinov. A number of eco paths start from there. Along the mountain paths you can pick some herbs or enjoy complete solitude in the Vitosha forests.
Aleko has several ski tracks, equipped with artificial snow machines. The conditions in the center are also suitable for night-time skiing. Beginners can benefit from the services of the Aleko ski school. The center has several lifts. The Romanski chain lift takes tourists to the area directly below Cherni Vruh peak. Other facilities lead to Vitosha tracks and popular areas. From Aleko, hiking enthusiasts can reach the village of Bistritsa and Dragalevtsi.