If there's one event you should attend, it's Horizon.
When is it?
March 12 - 17, 2016.
Where?
Bansko Ski Resort, Bulgaria.
How much are tickets?
This is another great one for winter sports fans who are trying to stick to a budget - you can book accommodation and a festival ticket from just £175.
If you’d like to book everything in one go and get your holiday sorted super-fast, there are a range of optional extras, including lift passes, a shuttle bus to the festival, ski and snowboarding equipment hire, lessons with an instructor and the famous Bansko Banquet, which is held on March 17.
What else do I need to know?
In terms of imaginative entertainment, Horizon will push your limits. Even if you’re not a skier or snowboarder, there are plenty of activities to keep you busy. Abandoned hotel raves, forest paintball wars and ‘good old fashioned snowball fun’ (their words, not ours) are all on the agenda.
It’s fair to say that Horizon is a festival for everyone - if you want to ski hard and party all night, that’s fine. If you’d like to explore lots of different outdoor pursuits and start each day with a swim and a trip to the steam room, go for it.
It’s easy to get to the festival; there are plenty of cheap flights to Horizon’s closest airports - you have four to choose from. Sofia Airport and Plovdiv Airport in Bulgaria, Thessaloniki Airport in Greece, and Skopje Airport in Macedonia. Londoners will find it easiest to fly from Gatwick. Horizon teams will be providing transfers to and from the airport - you can find the schedules on their website.
Even though the festival is on from March 12 - 17, you can choose to start your stay from March 9, in order to get some extra skiing in. There are parties lined up, so don’t worry, you won’t be bored, and coming sooner may allow you to book a cheaper flight. The same applies to staying later - there are lots of after-parties, so if you’re not ready to go home, just stay and party on.
It’ll be a thrilling week, and you’ll spend a lot of time running around on the mountain, having the time of your life. We know that skiing’s an exciting sport, and with all this high-octane fun, every now and then your snowplough can magically turn into a fall. Oof. And if that’s the case, we’re here to get you back on your feet...
Columbus Direct ski holiday insurance can help give you peace of mind - you can make the most of your time in the snow, knowing that we’re at the end of the phone if you need us. We can help out if you take a tumble, if you lose your equipment, or even if the piste is shut.
What about this year’s line up?
Oh, you’re in for a treat. This year, there are a huge array of electronic and dubstep stars just waiting to entertain you until the early hours. Big names include Goldie, Nina Kraviz, John Talabot and Congo Natty, and Gerd Janson. Keep an eye out for Doc Scott, Swindle and DJ Format - they’ve garnered quite the following and big things are expected for them from 2016 onwards.
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