Pamporovo is a modern ski resort in the heart of the Rhodopi mountain, the mountain of the mythical singer Orpheus. It is the most southern skiing resort in Europe. It is the sunniest Bulgarian mountain resort with wonderful snow throughout the whole season. Pamporovo is situated on 1650 m above the sea level at the foot of peak Snejanka (1926 m). It is 240 km far from Sofia and 85 km from Plovdiv.
A major motorway construction is underway from Smolyan to nearby Greece (just 30 km), which is expected to boost tourist inflow from Greece. The road is expected to be completed by the end of 2010, which can ease a nice 2 hour trip to the nice Aegean Sea in Greece.

Pamporovo has an exclusive climate featuring a soft winter with about 120 sunny days during the skiing period and 270 sunny days during the whole year. The significant influence of The Aegean Sea appears here and the skiing season starts from mid - December to mid - April. The average air temperature is - 3 oc. 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 is an excellent exercise for every skiing expert.

Investments in Pamporovo

Pamporovo is one of the tree major Bulgarian ski resorts. Most important is that the resort will undergo significant improvements in the next few years. The new city plan of the resort was recently approved by the authorities. The number of accommodation beds will rise from about 5,000 beds to 20,000 beds with 10,000 chairs in the pubs, restaurants and cafes. Most important is that the resort will not be overcrowded, as it is situated in wide spread area, and the new plan permits small intensity of buildings - this means that the building footstep have to be less than 30% of the plot, and max 4 floors. As opposite, the permitted building footstep in Bansko is 60%. Another major change is in the ski facilities. Local municipality and the corresponding ministry approved the plan of developing of new ski facilities in the highest peak in the mountains - Perelik. It is situated about 10 kilometers from the existing ski facilities. It will double the ski slopes and lifts and will extend the season as in the Perelik peak snow stays longer. This project covers only ski slopes and lifts. Facilities for sleep and entertainment will remain the same as they are approved in the new city plan.

There are ski facilities also in the near town of Chepelare, called Mechi Chall. They are not so big as in Pamporovo, but will be connected with them with lifts and the tree ski facilities /Pamporovo, Mechi Chall and new Perelik/ will be become one big resort as it is in the Alps.

Perelik Project

A grand project, called Perelik, plans to connect the Perelik peak in Pamporovo with the Mechi Chal peak near Chepelare. According to the mayor of Smolyan, the realization of the project will form Rodopi Mountain as a tourism centre with three main tourism bodies - Mechi Chal, Pamporovo and Perelik. The territorial plan of the new resort is ready.

The Perelik project is stressing on the building of ski pistes and equipment for around 55 million Euro and the construction of hotels in Smolyanski ezera and Raikovski livadi sites. At the moment Pamporovo resort has almost 18 kilometres of ski pistes and 4,920 beds. The plan is additional 29.8 kilometres ski pistes and the equipment, to be constructed and the number of beds to increase with 8000.
Main data for the project
The project plans the construction and exploitation of sport- tourism centre including:

• 28 km ski pistes, situated in accordance to the requirements of TUP and OBOC
  
• A system for construction and exploitation of ski lifts and drags (22 ski- pistes with a total length of 8000 skiers per hour, 3 cabin lifts, 4 wire lined and 5 drag lifts)
  
• Restaurants and tea rooms
  
• Construction of new, reconstruction of the already existing and renewing of the infrastructure equipment, transport bases, water conducts and electricity net, drainage, telecommunications and other equipment of infrastructural character.
  

The territory of the investment project will take a total area of 2191,3 hectares and takes parts of the mountain, located around Perelik and Kozuiatok peaks, situated Northwest of Smolyan. Land plots from the resort villages- Gela, Stikel, Stoikite and Mugla will also be included in the project.

The main goal for the local authorities is to convert the resort in four seasons one with many new attractions and better infrastructure. Every year several traditional festivals are organized in the summer, the biggest one being on the 12 of August, and it is usually attended by around 10,000 people.