Set at 1650m among stunning pine forests in the Rhodope Mountains of Bulgaria, Pamporovo is one of the new breed of Eastern European ski resorts. With only 18 lifts and 25km of pisted runs this is not an extensive resort. The lift queues, unsurprisingly, can be long and there are frequent break-downs. The pistes cater primarily for beginner and intermediate skiers – experts could soon tire of the resort's sole black run, “the wall”.
But skiers who book flights to Pamporovo are primarily families looking for a cheap resort in which to learn to ski, and in this respect Pamporovo excels. Its ski school is superb – the instructors fluent in many languages and well-renowned for their teaching skills. And Pamporovo offers excellent value for money. Cheap flights to Pamporovo arrive at nearby Sofia Airport and, once in the resort, there is plenty of budget accommodation. On top of this, the cost of living, lift passes, ski hire and lessons are all substantially lower than that of the more traditional European resorts. Pamporovo may not have the extensive pistes and glitzy shops found in the older resorts in the Alps, but it offers Eastern European skiing at its best: unpretentious, perfect for beginners and without making a serious dent on the wallet.
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