PAMPOROVO & THE RHODOPE MOUNTAINS

Bulgaria's mountain regions offer an excellent opportunity for either nature-oriented or activity holidays. Although maybe lacking the height and excitement of Mount Everest, the vastness of the Grand Canyon and the impenetrable unknown of the Amazon jungle, they have their own special charm: tailor-made for today's tourist who looks for that little bit more from a holiday.

The sparkling lakes, awesome caves and spectacular landscapes and the ever-surprising flora and fauna make hiking through these regions an experience of a lifetime, especially when the whole region is so closely linked with the traditions of yesteryear, and be cultures that have survived the test of time.

While the nature lover has more than enough opportunities to explore the region to his heart's content, the more adventurous visitor will be amazed at what Bulgaria's mountains have to offer, and will certainly find that he simply won't have the time to try all that is on offer.

	Pamporovo - Known as the most exclusive ski resort in Bulgaria. Being the most southerly ski resort in Europe it prides itself in its climate. Skiing runs from mid-December through to mid-April. Click here for information on ski runs, skill levels and map
	Smolyan - 10km from village. Cost in a taxi - £5. Large town with many shops, restaurants, pedestranised zone with cafes. Designer shops - you’ll be surprised by the prices
	Chepelare - 15km from village. Town with shops and restaurants. The only ski factory in Bulgaria is located here. Ski slopes. One of the longest ski-runs in Bulgaria
	Mechi Chal - There are also plans new ski resort for over EUR 50 M will be built close to the town of Chepelare in Bulgaria's Rhodoppe Mountain.
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The ski resort of Pamporovo is dominated by the magestic Snezhanka Tower. From here you can also arrange skiing lessons and hire ski equipment, ski-doos and book husky sledge rides. There are also several restaurants & shops in Pamporovo Town. Pamporovo has an exclusive climate, featuring a mild winter with about 120 sunny days during the skiing period.

The skiing season starts from mid December and lasts until mid April. The average air temperature is -3 ° C. The gentle profile of the mountain with its rounded slopes and summits makes Pamporovo particularly suitable for beginners. But there are also difficult ski runs like the Giant Slalom run which offers a challenge even for the expert skier.

The ski runs are maintained to a high standard and there are more than 100 highly qualified ski instructors, fluent in different languages to teach both beginners and intermediate skiers and snowboarders alike.Summer Activities for the whole family to enjoy. These activiites and excursions include nature activity and rambles, trekking, paintballing, horse riding, Hot springs spa therapy, Trigrad and the Devil’s Cave, trips to the Observatory, The Seven Wonderful Bridges and many more (see our Sun & Snow Activities page)

The Rhodopes

The Rhodope mountain range is located in the south-eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula; its highest summit is Mount Perelik (2192 m).

Over 83% of the mountain stands on bulgarian territory and the rest is in Greece. The Rhodopes are among the earliest formed mountain ranges on the Balkans.

The nice climate coupled with other factors is favourable for the development of tourism. The microclimate thus established enables a thick snow cover to be preserved for a long period of time – a veritable paradise for skiers.