Akademik Training Base – NSA

The Akademik Training Base of the National Sports Academy (NSA) is located on Vitosha, at the foot of Golyam Kupen peak, at 1847 m above sea level. It is also known as "Kupena" and "Fizkulturnik", and today it also bears the name Prof. Ivan Staykov High-Mountain Educational and Sports Base. It is a three-storey building, built in 1972 on the initiative of Ivan Staykov, then rector of the NSA. It has 150 beds, a canteen and a kitchen block.

The base is among the few Vitosha sites located far from the Zlatnite Mostove area. Hikes lead from it to Cherni Vrah shelter (about 1 h), Aleko Hut (about 2 h) and Zheleznitsa village (about 2 h 20 min). It is used for the needs of the NSA and operates year-round, serving in winter as a centre for beginner ski training.