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• Resort Guide

Resort Height: 1600m

Pamporovo is a medium sized ski-resort of rather large modern hotels in the Rhodope Mountains of Southern Bulgaria, an area that is reputed to have once been home to Orpheus. He was king of the Thracian tribe of Cicones and son of the Thracian river god Oiagros and the Muse Calliope. Guests today may be more interested in the area’s reputation claim to be the sunniest ski resort in Europe (a claim a few other ski areas, notably St. Moritz, also make), with 270 sunny days a year on average. Fortunately that still leaves some days for snow to fall and the north facing slopes help keep it in shape.

The ski area is quite small and low with a small vertical compared to most resorts you will find in the Alps. Most slopes are below the tree line and are predominantly suited to beginners and early intermediates. In common with other Bulgarian ski areas Pamporovo is seeing heavy investment in improved facilities and many of the hotels have good leisure facilities. Prices are generally much lower than in the Alps for skiing and après ski.

A few issues to be aware of when booking a trip to Pamporovo are the airport transfer times, which are two hours from Plovdiv but can be four hours from Sofia, and the possible need to pay for medical services in advance if you are unfortunate enough to need them. In such circumstances you would receive a receipt for payment and reclaim this from your insurance company upon your return to the UK. Lifts are closed for half a day a week and one day a month for technical checks.

Beginners

Of all the Bulgarian ski areas, Pamporovo has marginally the strongest reputation for beginners, perhaps in part because it has less to offer intermediate and advanced skiers compared to Bansko or Borovets, so has a very beginner-friendly atmosphere. However a bigger factor is the excellence of the English-speaking ski school with normally friendly, patient, expert instructors. The terrain is largely made up of gently rolling trails cut through the trees and two thirds of the runs are easy with many small separate drag lifts serving a couple of beginner slopes on each side. We can offer exceptionally good value ‘learn to ski’ packages which include tuition, ski rentals and lift pass for much less than the cost of a six-day lift ticket alone in the Alps or North America. These can also be purchased in resort, but the costs are usually higher. The only two minor drawbacks with learning to ski in Pamporovo is that you may have a short bus journey at the beginning and end of the ski day to the nearby Malina slopes where beginner lessons take place and you will need to master the drag lift once you have mastered basic turns. This was always the case in the good old days, but today most resorts in the Alps and North America offer easier to use conveyor lifts, chairlifts or gondolas to get you up the nursery slopes.

Intermediates

Early intermediates should find enough to keep them entertained for a largely unchallenging week. The 20km (12 miles) of ski runs include four graded red, which include long trails (up to 2.5km, 1.5 miles) from the summit of the ski area at Snezhanka (1926m) back down to the resort. More advanced intermediates may find it harder to maintain interest for a week. We can offer ‘Improver’ ski packages which include tuition, rentals and lift ticket for an exceptionally good price – generally around a third of the comparable cost in the Alps.

Advanced

There are two black runs and advanced skiers have limited challenges. There is a steep mogul run, The Wall, which is a kilometer (two thirds of a mile) long and is accessed by a drag lift up the centre of the ski area. The run descends back down beside the lift. There is also an internationally graded slalom course.

Snowboarding

A good choice for learning to board in many respects, Pamporovo’s easy cruising trails are great for perfecting turns. There’s no regular terrain park but an 80m half pipe is built when there’s adequate snow for construction. You can sign up for beginner or intermediate level boarding school and we can offer high value packages which include equipment rental and lift tickets.

Other Activities and Facilities

Pamporovo has some good facilities and they keep getting better. The new Hotel Perelik has a superb swimming pool and there are also good pools in most other larger accommodations including the Hotel Pamorovo, the Grand Hotel Mourgavets, the Orlovetz and several others. Other activities available include saunas, a bowling alley and there’s a moderate selection of shops where you can find good value souvenirs and skiwear.

You can also try cross country skiing (38km) divided in to 4, 16 and 18km tracks.

Excursions are organised to wine capital Plovdiv, the Bachkovo monastery and the local town of Smolyan.

Après Ski and Dining Out

Pamporovo has excellent après ski with the bonus of low prices. Popular venues include the White Hart Pub and Dack’s Bar. Bulgarian folklore evenings, washed down with local wines are also popular and there’s a night club in the Hotel Perelik.

There are ten restaurants serving Bulgarian of Greek cuisine. A local speciality is spit-roast lamb served at the Chervemeto restaurant.

Families

Many hotels are well equipped for families with children’s play rooms, swimming pools and other facilities. The ski area itself is unintimidating and family friendly, if not as wholly convenient with the need to take a short bus ride. Value for families is also high with children up to age eight skiing free-of-charge when accompanied by an adult (one of the most generous offers you are likely to find in skiing anywhere in the world). There is a non-ski childcare facility in the Hotel Perelik and ski kindergarten for children aged five to eight. We can offer child ski packages which include rentals, lift ticket and tuition, but please note that these are for children aged eight to 12 for skiing and 13 or older for snowboarding – these are older age ranges than at most other ski resorts.

Ski/Board Suitability Guide

Suitable for families:	[Yes]
Suitable for beginners:	[5]
Suitable for intermediate skiers:	[3]
Suitable for advanced skiers:	[1]
Suitable for boarders skiers:	[2]

Piste Map for Pamporovo

Accommodation in Pamporovo

• Dafovska - 3 star,
• Evridika Hotel - 3 star, half board
• Finlandia Hotel - 3 star, half board
• Grand Hotel Mourgavets - 4 star, half board
• Grand Hotel Murgavets - 3 star, half board
• Grand Hotel Murgavets - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Belmont - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Bor - 2 star, half board
• Hotel Elina - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Evridika - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Finlandia - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Markony - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Murgavets - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Orlovets - 5 star, half board
• Hotel Orlovetz - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Orlovetz - 5 star, half board
• Hotel Orlovetz - 5 star, half board
• Hotel Pamporovo - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Pamporovo - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Panorama - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Perelik - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Perelik - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Prespa - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Prespa - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Prespa - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Rhodopi Home - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Snezhanka - 3 star, half board
• Laplandia Apartments - 3 star, self catering
• Laplandia Studios - 3 star, self catering
• Malina Residence Apartments - 3 star, half board
• Malina Village - 3 star, bed & breakfast
• Malina Villas - 3 star, self catering
• Monastery Apartments - 3 star, self catering
• Monastery Apartments - 3 star, self catering
• Murgavets - 4 star, half board
• Murgavets - 4 star, half board
• Murgavets Apartments - 4 star, self catering
• Orlovetz Hotel - 4 star, half board
• Orlovetz Hotel - 4 star, half board
• Pamporovo - 4 star, half board
• Pamporovo - 4 star, half board
• Pamporovo Hotel - 4 star, half board
• Perelik - 4 star, half board
• Perelik - 4 star, half board
• Perelik Hotel - 3 star, half board
• Royal House Apartments - 4 star, self catering
• Royal Lodge Apartments - 5 star, self catering
• Royal Lodge Apartments - 5 star, self catering
• Royal Lodge Studio - 5 star, self catering
• Snezanka - 3 star, half board
• Snezanka - 3 star, half board
• Snezhanka - 3 star, half board
• Snezhanka Apartments - 3 star, half board
• Snezhanka Apartments - 3 star, self catering
• Snezhanka Apartments - 3 star, self catering
• The Castle Apartments - 3 star, self catering
• The Castle Apartments - 3 star, self catering
• The Castle Studio Apartments - 3 star, self catering
• Villas Malina - 3 star, half board
• Zora Hotel - 3 star, half board

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