Pamporovo is a popular ski resort in Bulgaria, which is annually visited by thousands of tourists from Europe, Russia, and the CIS countries. It is located in the central Rhodope region at an altitude of 1650 m above sea level. Professional skiing competitions are held here annually.
Pamporovo has everything for a great vacation: heavy snowfalls (snow cover can reach two meters), lifts, two dozen trails for beginners and pros, rental centers, more than 15 hotels, clubs, restaurants, cafes and even machines for charging smartphones right on the snow slopes. Little tourists will not be bored either, for whom, among other things, dog sledding trips are organized.
Description of the resort
A resort with all facilities for beginners and professional skiers / snowboarders. Therefore, the main influx of tourists to Pamporovo is in winter. In summer, tourists also come here, but already for hiking and dirt jumping. Therefore, some lifts work even then.
In 2016, the Mechi Chal ski resort, which is 7.5 km to the north, became part of the Pamporovo complex. Their union increased the competitiveness of the ski resort and opened up the opportunity to host prestigious sports competitions here. Despite the distance between Pamporovo and Mechi Chal, both resorts operate on the same transport and ski pass system. Buying a ski pass at one of the two resorts, vacationers have access to all the ski slopes in Pamporovo and Mechi Chal. This made it possible to organize a convenient, uninterrupted tourist transfer between the resorts. There is a bus in both directions.
The most recognizable symbol of Pamporovo is located on Mount Snezhanka - a 156-meter tower built in 1973. Today, there is a cafe at the very top, an observation deck with a 360 ° view is equipped, which can be reached by an elevator. In clear weather, the top of the tower offers spectacular views of the landscape.
Within the ski area there are 14 ski schools, and in the center there is a sports and entertainment complex. Inexperienced skiers and snowboarders are trained by a team of 100 qualified Russian-English speaking instructors. Rescue teams are on duty around the clock on the ski slopes of Pamporovo.
Have you arrived in Pamporovo with your children, but cannot safely ride the slopes? For such cases, the resort offers a kindergarten, where, under the supervision of qualified educators, children have fun and learn to ski.
Pamporovo slopes and lifts
The slopes of the complex are equipped with 20 tracks with a total length of about 33 kilometers and 15 lifts.
| Pamporovo slopes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Track name | Complexity | Number / color on the card | Height, m |
|
Bypass - malkata wall
|
Easy
|
1A / green
|
604
|
|
Ski pt Pamporovo - Tourist
|
Easy
|
6 / green
|
3943
|
|
Orlovets
|
Average
|
7 / blue
|
1054
|
|
Bypass Pamporovo
|
Average
|
6A / blue
|
417
|
|
Perelik - South
|
Average
|
8 / blue
|
876
|
|
Smolyanski ezera
|
Average
|
9 * / blue
|
2405
|
|
Delovo dere - Damska
|
Average
|
10 / blue
|
907
|
|
Stand 1
|
Average
|
12 / blue
|
3638
|
|
Stand 2
|
Average
|
12A / blue
|
3591
|
|
Fun Slope
|
Average
|
13 * / blue
|
346
|
|
Yazovira
|
Complex
|
1 / red
|
857
|
|
Snezhanka 4A
|
Complex
|
4A / red
|
1258
|
|
Raspberries
|
Complex
|
5 / red
|
2799
|
|
Bypass Raspberry
|
Complex
|
5A / red
|
1196
|
|
Delovo dere - Damska
|
Complex
|
10A / red
|
547
|
|
Kartola
|
Complex
|
1 / red
|
967
|
|
Stenata
|
Pro
|
2 / black
|
1258
|
|
Arch.
Petar Petrov - Evropeyska
|
Pro
|
3 / black
|
1766
|
|
Snezhanka
|
Pro
|
4 / black
|
1342
|
| Swords chal track | |||
|
Chal swords
|
Complex
|
11 / red
|
2930
|
From 5 pm to 10 pm night skiing starts on the Snezhinka track (you need a night ski pass). The track is illuminated by lanterns, which adds a romantic atmosphere.
| Lifts Pamporovo | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Type / number of seats | Capacity person / hour | Length, m | Height, m |
|
Ski center 1 - Studenets *
|
Chair / 4-seater
|
2,000
|
734
|
208
|
|
Studenets - vrah Snezhanka *
|
Chair / 4-seater
|
2,400
|
1,100
|
264
|
|
Raspberry - Studenets **
|
Chair / 1-seater
|
475
|
350
|
180
|
|
Smolyanski ezera - vrah Snezhanka **
|
Chair / 2-seater
|
365
|
1,550
|
340
|
|
Raspberry - vrah Snezhanka **
|
Chair / 3-seater
|
1,800
|
2,140
|
280
|
|
Stop - vrah Snezhanka **
|
Chair / 6-seater
|
2,400
|
2.992
|
453
|
|
Arch.
Petar Petrov - vrah Snezhanka **
|
Chair / 4-seater
|
2,000
|
1,300
|
377
|
|
Ski attracted - Stenata **
|
Drag
|
240
|
600
|
twenty
|
|
Ski attracted - Yazovira **
|
Drag
|
380
|
800
|
130
|
|
Mini attracted - Snezhanka **
|
Drag
|
200
|
150
|
twenty
|
|
Mini attracted - Raspberry **
|
Drag
|
200
|
150
|
10
|
|
Ski attracted - Academician **
|
Drag
|
280
|
700
|
160
|
|
Transport ski pteka Malina **
|
Tape
|
200
|
thirty
|
eight
|
| Lifts Swords Chal | ||||
|
Elevator Swords chal *
|
Chair / 4-seater
|
2,000
|
2,700
|
717
|
|
Mini attracted - Swords chal **
|
Drag
|
150
|
150
|
twenty
|
For snowboarders and extreme skiers, Pamporovo has a freeride zone and a freestyle park with a half-pipe at an altitude of 1,750 m above the sea. For cross-country skiing, the resort has two tracks ~ 34 km long.
Prices for ski passes / equipment 2021/22
| Ski passes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | 1 day | 2 days | Seasonal ski pass (from 8:45 am to 4:30 pm every day | |
|
18-65 years old
|
36 € / 3,051 ₽
|
72 € / 5,975 ₽
|
1185 € / 98,321 ₽
|
|
|
12-17 years old
|
29 € / 2,415 ₽
|
57 € / 4,746 ₽
|
948 € / 78,657 ₽
|
|
|
7-11 years old
|
21 € / 1,822 ₽
|
42 € / 3,517 ₽
|
710 € / 58,950 ₽
|
|
| Ski equipment | ||||
| For adults | For kids | |||
|
Full set
|
9 € / 762 ₽
|
6 € / 508 ₽
|
||
|
Skis
|
5 € / 423 ₽
|
4 € / 339 ₽
|
||
|
Boots
|
4.5 € / 372 ₽
|
4.5 € / 372 ₽
|
||
|
Sticks
|
2,8 € / 237 ₽
|
2 € / 169 ₽
|
||
|
Helmet
|
3 € / 271 ₽
|
3 € / 271 ₽
|
||
| Snowboarding equipment | ||||
|
Full set
|
14 € / 1,186 ₽
|
11.5 € / 949 ₽
|
||
|
Snowboard
|
10 € / 847 ₽
|
7 € / 593 ₽
|
||
|
Boots
|
4.5 € / 372 ₽
|
4.5 € / 372 ₽
|
||
Additional equipment
|
Helmet
|
3 € / 271 ₽
|
|
Gloves
|
2,5 € / 208 ₽
|
|
Glasses
|
2,5 € / 208 ₽
|
|
Ski pants
|
5 € / 416 ₽
|
|
Ski jacket
|
5 € / 416 ₽
|
|
Pants + jacket
|
7,7 € / 641 ₽
|
Buying ski passes for three or more days, you get a night lift ticket as a bonus. For visitors over 65 years old, ski passes and equipment at a discount.
Weather
Pamporovo is one of the sunniest ski resorts in the Balkans. Due to the climatic features, there are heavy snowfalls in the area of the ski resort. Snow, 1.5-2 meters thick, remains throughout the winter.
Temperature in Pamporovo
| Month | Average ° t of air day / night |
|---|---|
|
December
|
1 ° / -5 °
|
|
January
|
0 ° / -7 °
|
|
February
|
0 ° / -7 °
|
|
March
|
3 ° / -4 °
|
|
April
|
6 ° / -1 °
|
Lodging
Pamporovo is perfectly prepared to receive any kind of tourists. Residential complexes with cozy apartments are available to guests, where a company can accommodate from 2 to 8 people. The apartments are equipped with amenities (check when renting):
- furniture (wardrobes, beds, sofas, etc.);
- household appliances + TV, Wi-Fi;
- safe for personal belongings;
- shower (bath), etc.
Many hotels have a swimming pool, playground, saunas, jacuzzi, etc. Please note: the closer to the ski slopes, the more expensive the cost of booking. Prices start at 10 € / night per person and go up to 100-110 € depending on the hotel.
What to see near Pamporovo
The trip is not limited to skiing on the snowy slopes. There is something to admire in the vicinity of the resort.
Shiroka-Lyka Architectural Reserve
The village appeared in the distant XII century. It is located in the northwest, 14 km from Pamporovo. Today Shiroka Laka is one of the most popular places in the region for ecological tourism. There is untouched nature, fresh mountain air and age-old pines all around.
The architecture of the Renaissance is still preserved here. The Shirokoleshka river passes through the village, along the banks of which there are beautiful, authentic houses. Probably the most popular objects in the village are the Ethnographic Museum "Sgurovskoe shelter" and the chapel "Assumption of the Virgin" in 1834. The second was built by the villagers in just 38 days. The village has a center where you can find out detailed information about the culture and sights of Shiroka-Lyk.
Yagodinskaya cave near the village of Yagodina
The cave is about 10 km long, located 47 km west of the resort. It is included in the TOP-100 national tourist sites in Bulgaria. An ancient dwelling of master potters was discovered in it, the estimated age of which is about 6 thousand years. The cave is three-tiered, but only the lowest one is equipped for tourists (its length is more than 1000 meters).
Inside, the abundance of cave pearls, stalactites, stalagmites and other deposits is striking. The most intrepid visitors can walk along the unsettled cave route in the company of guides. But this requires special equipment, and good physical shape does not hurt.
Smolyan
The town is 15 km south of Pamporovo. List of local places recommended to visit:
The largest planetarium in the country with an astronomical observatory . Since 1995 he has been a member of the Planetary Society based in California. Inside the planetarium there is a round stellar hall with a diameter of more than 12 meters for 130 seats. Here you can see all the details of the starry sky: the movement of astronomical objects and various cosmic phenomena.
Historical Museum in the center of Smolyan . It houses a unique exposition of 150,000 exhibits of everyday life, culture and history of the region.
Alibeyev Konak - an architectural monument of the Renaissance, a residential complex of the 18th century. One of the largest mansions of the rulers of the Middle Rhodopes, which has survived to this day.
How to get there?
The nearest airports to Pamporovo are located in Plovdiv (72 km) and Sofia (230 km). Regular flights to Sofia from Russian cities (Moscow, St. Petersburg, etc.). The flight from Moscow to the capital of Bulgaria lasts ~ 3 hours. From St. Petersburg fly from ~ 6 hours.
Flights from Moscow to Plovdiv are unprofitable: there are no direct flights (at least 3 transfers), the flight takes from 20 to 50 hours.
Bus schedule Sofia (central bus station) → Pamporovo (Pamporovo bus station):
- 12:00 → 16:43;
- 13:10 → 17:22;
- 15:00 → 19:22;
- 16:00 → 20:06;
- 18:00 → 22:06.
Bus tickets cost from 9 € / 753 ₽ to 12.5 € / 1050 ₽. Average travel time ~ 4 hours.
Several times a day a bus goes from Plovdiv (from the Rhodope bus station) to the mountain resort to the Pamporovo bus station. Flight duration ~ 2 hours. Ticket price ~ 5 €.
By car, you can get from Sofia to Pamporovo according to the following scheme: 132 km along the A1 “Trakia” highway → 20 km along the road 805 (to the fork between the villages of Radinovo and Benkovski) → 86 km along the 86 motorway to the village of Progled → 4.4 km along the 864 highway to Pamporovo.
