Winter Alpine Ascent of Dzhamdzhiev Ridge, Mount Vihren, Bulgaria

The Pirin Mountains in Bulgaria are a great place for ski touring and mountaineering and on this full-day trip I’d like to guide you to Mt Vihren, the highest point in the range.

The trip starts from Bansko which is a small mountain town that operates as a ski resort during the winter months. It is a fantastic gateway to an abundance of top-notch ski touring and splitboarding locations in the Pirin Mountains. Full of lifts and hiking trails to various spots, you can rest assured that based on your skill level, weather conditions, and your personal preferences, we will find the perfect one for you.

Average difficulty level. You need to be in good physical condition. The altitude gain for the day is around 1300 m. Basic winter mountaineering experience is an advantage. The route requires walking in crampons and an ice axe, using a rope. Do not hesitate to ask in case you have doubts.

We will meet in Bansko to do a briefing for the next day. We will check and adjust your equipment if necessary.

We will have a very early start from Bansko and drive up to the ski area. Our approach to the climb starts here. From the car to the summit it should take us between 4 and 6 hours. Coming back down is another 3-4 hours, so that sums up to a 7-10 hour day. We should be back in the car by early afternoon.

Contact me if you want to enjoy one of the most spectacular routes to the summit of the highest peak in Pirin – Mt Vihren (2914 m). I'll be happy to guide you!