pamporovo
Pamporovo, acclaimed as the sunniest Bulgarian ski resort is situated 1650 m above sea level, at the foot of peak Snejanka (1926 m), in the Rhodopi Mountains. It is in a region famous for its unique folklore and traditions.
Pamporovo is within 260 km of Sofia and 85 km of Bulgaria's second-largest city, Plovdiv. In Plovdiv there is an international airport that provides an easy link to this most popular of the Bulgarian Ski resort in the winter season.
From November 2008 EASYJET will be providing low cost flights from the UK to Sofia. Pamporovo is located in a picturesque mountain region with a climate influenced by the Mediterranean. Pamporovo has excellent ski runs of varying difficulty that transform into delightful meadows, dotted with herbs and berries in late spring and summer.
Pamporovo offers wonderful skiing opportunies with an abundance of snow and sunshine and luxurious accommodation in top class hotels of an original Rhodopi style. The town provides a variety of entertainment and nightlife opportunities.The climate of Pamporovo is unique in Bulgaria, featuring mild winters with an average of 120 sunny days and ample snow with average winter bases of 1.40 meters.
The climate of Pamporovo is influenced significantly by the Aegean Sea and has predictably good skiing from mid-December to mid-April. Pamporovo is a ski-centre for all categories of skiers, it is recommended by experienced skiers as a good place for both beginners and for experienced skiers. Although difficult slopes are certainly available, the gently rounded form of the mountain is friendly, even to children.
Pamporovo even has a racing ski run for giant slalom competition, as well as a first class well developed ski lift system. The ski runs of Pamporovo come in all difficulty levels. They are located between 1926 and 1450m above sea level on the northern, eastern and western slopes of Snejanka peak with most ski runs actually starting at the top of the peak. There are also three trails for cross-country skiing at Pamporovo.
The mountain rescue service works 24 hours a day, taking care of the security and safety of the skiers. The resort offers a "ski-kindergarden" that is open from 8.30 am to 5.00 pm every day.
Pamporovo offers scores of scenic opportunities for viewing the Rhodopi Mountains on foot as well as opportunities to visit other interesting tourist attractions such as a pedestrian route to the top of Rojen and the Smolyan Lakes, trips to the Stoikite village and the picturesque rocks of Orpheus, visits to the ancient town of Chepelare and the only Speleological Museum in Bulgaria, site seeing to Smolyan and the Shiroka Laka architectural, ethnographic and folklore reservation, trips to the Bachkovo Monastery and to history-rich Plovdiv, founded millennia ago by Philip Makedonski, trips to Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria and to the Rila Monastery - the most impressive monument of the Bulgarian Renaissance, trips to Veliko Turnovo - the city of the Bulgarian Tzars, and much, much more.