About Pamporovo in BulgariaThe name ‘Pamporovo’ comes from the Turkish word for ‘train’ (pampor), when a local trader - Raicho Belev - carried goods by mules train convoys in this area. Another man from nearby Chepelare - Chichovski - built the first tourist lodgings here in 1933, which then became the resort as we know it today.
Known as ‘The Gem of the Rhodopes’, Pamporovo is a purpose-built modern ski resort located in the south eastern Rhodope Mountain Range near to the Greek border. It is the sunniest mountain resort in Bulgaria and the most southern ski resort in Europe, with a skiing season running from mid-December to mid-April. With an average of 120 sunny days throughout the season it is easy to acquire a tan, while the amount of snow ensures near-perfect snow cover on the many and varied ski slopes. The climate (considered mild as the temperature doesn’t usually fall below –7*) does not change abruptly, and consequently there is little danger of avalanche, making the resort safe and tranquil. The resort is mostly scattered over the lower slopes of Mount Snezhanka (1926m), which has a rounded profile making it particularly suitable for families and ski beginners.
All the ski runs are safe and well maintained, with a range that caters from the absolute beginner to the most experienced skier. There are 25 ski slopes including ‘The Giant Slalom’ and ‘The Wall’ for the most skilled, as well as 3 long-distance cross-country runs. Nearly all the tracks start from the Snezhanka peak and run down the northern, eastern and western sides, and with instruction even a beginner should be able to ski from top to bottom by the end of a weeks’ holiday. There are 5 chairlifts and 13 tow lifts with a capacity of over 8500 people per hour. There are also over 100 qualified instructors with various language skills available to teach both beginners and intermediates, as well as snowboarding. The ski-kindergarten is fun, using not only skis but sledges too. Pamporovo is considered to have one of the best ski schools in the world for those who want to learn quickly and easily without costing a fortune, providing your holiday is booked as a package deal. Ski gear can be rented from outlets near the ski runs, lift stations and bus station, and whether hired or owned, there is provision to store equipment in lockers near the slopes so that it doesn’t have to be carried back and fore each day. All the ski slopes have first aid, ambulance and medical clinics available, and both the Emergency Ski Patrol and Mountain Rescue Services are on call 24hrs a day. Although there are some wonderful areas for off-piste skiing and snowboarding, the use of a local guide is recommended. Bell-sellers can become annoying with their persistence, but the slopes wouldn’t be the same without the sound of ‘jingle bells’ ringing out everywhere!
Plenty of buses ferry visitors between the slopes and the hotels, and there are regular services to all the main towns in the region. Also there is a regular service to Sofia, 250km away, (by road 3 - 4hrs.), and to Bulgaria’s 2nd largest city, Plovdiv, a distance of 85km. Plovdiv also has the nearest airport, but although popularly used for package holidays, has yet to open up to the general flight market. Facilities at the airport are basic, with no proper shopping or food facilities, only snacks and drinks. Flight times to the UK are approximately 3½ hrs.
Most of the hotels and facilities are spread out over a large area. The more outlying hotels have stunning views in spectacular settings but can feel a little isolated, and a taxi is recommended to travel to centre of the resort for the busier nightlife. There are many shops, including pharmacies, and the main shopping area is located near the centrally-based Perelik and Murgavets hotels, where there is also a bowling alley, games room with a pool table, swimming pool, bars and clubs. The newly refurbished Prespa Hotel is also here. Although invariably the staff (and locals) are friendly and helpful, hotel facilities can vary greatly. Food has been rated from ‘basic’ to ‘superb’; hot water is sometimes a little stretched in the peak hours of between 6 – 7.00pm; and some rooms can feel slightly cramped. However, all are at the very least ‘adequate’, modern, and have restaurants and bars. There is also a variety of restaurants and eateries outside the hotels, and the traditional Rhodope cuisine includes Lamb Kebab (cheverme), Stuffed Vine Leaves (sarmi), white Bean Stew (smolenski bob), and a local variation of the traditional Bulgarian cheese banitsa. All worth a try! A point worth noting, though, is that the cost of food and drink at eateries on the slopes can be as much as 4 times as expensive as in the hotels, although this is still cheaper than the UK equivalent.
Apart from skiing, other winter activities include snowboarding, tobogganing, husky dog-sleds, and an unmissable ski show. Pamporovo is becoming more popular in summer, too, being marketed as a ‘mountains-and-lakes’ resort, when guided walking and cycling tours are on offer, mountain bikes can be hired, and tennis courts, horse riding and hiking are all available. The central area around the Perelik Hotel remains open all year, and some chairlifts continue to operate to take visitors to the top of the Snezhanka peak. Here the TV Tower presides over the whole resort, with a café and observation gallery giving views not only over the Central Rhodopes and the Thracian Plain, but also, on a clear day, to parts of the Rila and Pirin mountain ranges, and even to Greece. 20 minutes walk from here will bring you to the Orpheus Rocks (Orfeevi skali) – supposedly this mythical singers’ birthplace – where the view overlooking the Smolyan Valley with its surrounding mountains is spectacular.
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