bansko safari

We were picked up from our hotel by Philip in his Russian ex-army jeep. He was accompanied by John who was learning the ropes to run the safari when Philip was elsewhere. It was raining a little so we were given waterproofs. Before we set off Philip gave us the rules for the day " Hang on to the jeep at all times and don't jump out unless you see me jump out". Once on the road Philip began to give us information about the surrounding area and then we turned off the road and into the mountains. We definitely had to hang on to the jeep as we went up and down hills bouncing out of our seats. What a laugh ! Our first stop was at a reservoir where we saw the chef from a nearby restaurant picking carp and trout fresh from the water. We then went uphill to the church of St Nicolay and an ancient settlement which was subject of an archeological dig. Philips local knowledge was fascinating. He then took us to the top of the mountain which felt like the top of the world and also to the top of a partly frozen waterfall. Not for the fainthearted. We then stopped for a spot of lunch in a small village restaurant where Philip ordered in Bulgarian. The food was delicious and cost about £6 for my wife and I. We then did more off roading before the jeep broke down. We were stuck in a field miles from anywhere. Philip got under the jeep and discovered a problem with the clutch. He tried to fix it without success. Along came a Bulgarian gypsy with a cart and 2 horses. He unsuccessfully tried to pull us out of the mud. Just as we were preparing to walk to the nearest civilisation Philip managed to get it going but only in 1st gear. We set off and had almost reached the road when we hit a boulder. John and I managed to roll it out of the way whilst standing in shin deep mud. We got going again but only in a couple of gears and managed to get back to Bansko. Despite being covered in mud and having various sore bits the next day we had a ball. It was a fantastic, hilarious, scary, interesting and unforgettable day made all the better by two absolutely lovely gentlemen Philip and John. Do not miss this experience !!!!!

We had a fantastic day with Bankso Safari. It was really fun and Philip was a great guide - friendly, informative and most importantly we felt safe in his hands. It was interesting to find out a lot of information about Bulgarian history and culture. I definitely recommend standing up in the back as it is comfier than sitting! I was scared to do this but it's actually pretty easy. Beautiful scenery, a fun bumpy ride! We also stopped in 2 places for a drink and lunch. I recommend this to almost everyone, although probably not a good idea for those with back problems. It was an ideal way to start our holiday and would also provide an exhilarating break from snowboarding or skiing and a chance to experience a bit more of Bulgaria.

We had such a great time during our trip out! This a a great alternative to skiing! And we could see a lot of people from all age, friends family having fun.

If you want to see the real views of Bulgaria it is a must to go on this trip, and even to taste such a good bulgarian food with Philip! Highly recommend it, it was an amazing experience and even Philip was great!

Such a fun day out to see the beauty of the area. We were lucky enough to have the snow which made it a picture perfect experience. What a great host and a genuine nice guy! It was my first time here and I enjoyed myself more doing this than skiing. Thanks for a fun day!! :)

A great tour with Philip, great views over looking the Bansko vally. taking in dobers, banya and bansko. Visiting the lakes and the forest. the tracks are unreal and will have you on the edge of your seat. this was one of the best off road trips I have done.

Forget bus tours, THIS is the real way to see the countryside of South West Bulgaria. Taking in the land surrounding Bansko, Dobrinishte and Banya, this was 7 hours of fun and adventure. I booked with my partner via the Bansko Safari facebook page a couple of days in advance; we were told we were the first clients of the season (beginning of October). Picked up by charismatic ex-pat Phillip in his AWESOME open-top vintage Russian military jeep, we were immediately made to feel like we were venturing out with a friend rather than a tour guide. I'm not going to outline exactly what the tour entailed; aside from the fact I get the feeling that no two trips are the same, part of the fun was not knowing what was coming next. A good grip, trust in Phillip's capabilities and an open mind, however, are essential! My top tips for those thinking of booking the Safari: 1. Don't say 'no' to anything - I did and saw things I never expected, we ate local dishes that I never thought I'd try. I may have come away with a few bruises and a mozzy bite, but I'm rather proud of them..! 2. Make sure you have sturdy walking boots and warm clothes. It did rain when we were on the tour, and there is no shelter (we were given the opportunity to stop at a logger cabin until it eased, but why waste the time?)!3. Stand, don't sit! The view is better and actually, it's a lot less bumpy than trying to balance on a bench. But watch out for those trees..!4. Whilst the trip can take up to 6 people, the cost is not per person. We went as a couple and were able to stand side-by-side, there were no space issues etc. Phillip mentioned he's taken a family (young child and gran included) out previously, but I would think packing people in would be a rather wasted opportunity for a unique personal experience. 5. Phillip offers a 3.5 hour and 7 hour experience - GO FOR THE 7!! It's not much more expensive (400 Leva - £160 roughly as oppose to 250 leva (£110?)) and, in my opinion, the best part of the tour was the bit that's missed off the shorter trip. That's when you really see what Phillip can do, that's when you really get off the beaten path.Would I recommend this trip? HELL YES! I'm planning on returning to Bansko in the future and will definitely be looking Phillip up as a priority. However, if a bit of mud, adrenalin rushes, bruises and achey muscles are not your thing, you need not apply. This is NOT a luxury experience in the comfort sense, but it is pure luxury for your senses.

Аmazing adventure! I'm from this area and found that there are so many interesting places which I had never seen before. Also be prepared for full program which includes mud all over you hair and jeans :). Аt the end, we stopped to dip in the thermal waters of the outdoor pool in Banya village. What more can I say....must try Bansko safari if you are in the area!

Took this trip when we couldn't get any skiing in, brilliant fun ploughing through the snow. That jeep thing can climb anything, unstoppable. It's makes a really different day out when you've had enough of the slopes for a bit. Give it a try.

A Russian army UAZ jeep and a likeable and funny ex-pat guide who is very knowledgable about the area, combine to make an interesting and sometimes thrilling day out. We visited many beautiful off the beaten track places, had lunch and drinks in some great local eateries, and enjoyed a fun filled day. Highly recommend .

Put on your Russian bear hat, zip up your jacket and hold on tight, because this excursion will thrill your senses and rock your brains out. Philip's dry sense of humour and slightly sadistic driving style made this the highlight of our Bansko ski trip. Plenty of fun facts, beautiful panoramic photo opportunities and a sprinkling of mud to keep you on your toes. The refreshments stops along the way were welcome, and the recommendations always typically Bulgarian, which added to the cultural experience. Highly recommended.

A fun, thrilling and stunning setting for a jeep safari! My fiancé and I shared laughter, coverstation and photographs to the hundreds on this excursion with Phillip. Warm company, knowledge and culture to be seen in the real Bansko. A trip suitable for all, we even got to have a go driving the jeep! We chose the day excursion which included: driving up and around mountains, rural villages, forests and open country space with lakes and scenery only seen in postcards. We had a sunny winters day on our trip which made everything look crisp, calm, with still a little white snowy magic, yet I can imagine this trip being beautiful and exciting in any season. Having stayed mainly in the resort side of Bansko it's defiantly worth taking a day out to see what else this beautiful place has to offer. I would recommend it to anyone!

Quintessentially English in a Russian jeep ! Great fun experience and a good way to see the beautiful countryside with all the family in areas the car won't go. Philip was an expert driver and tour guide, and a nice lunch stop too. Kids and adults want more !

We went out on the jeep safari in March and had a fantastic time charging through the snow, it was sunny enough to have the top down although we had to wrap up warm!Phillip was the most enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide and really made the day special.We went to some stunning viewpoints that only someone who knows the local area would know how to find and the off-roading was bumpy and brilliant.I would recommend this to everyone who wants to experience a different side of Bansko.

We've tried off-road safaris elsewhere, but the ride with Philip was over the top. Not just driving around with the go-anywhere vintage UAZ jeep that beats modern 4x4's hands down (they are also available, but why bother), but the attitude and knowledge of the places makes the real difference. We had the right adrenaline-filled moments, but also a nice drink in Dobrinischte, visit to an ancient Roman excavation site (on top of a steep hill, of course) and a trout lunch before the final 45-degree hill ride. Warmly recommended to get the excitement and a good overview of the Bansko region.