Pamporovo is a purpose-built village, in a pretty woodland area a short shuttle-bus ride from its easy slopes. The resort has traditionally appealed to beginners and unadventurous intermediates looking for a quiet time on a tight budget. Keen intermediates and better will the find area too limited and lacking in challenges. For novices however, the quiet, sheltered slopes and highly praised ski school make it worth considering. The 37km of slopes are pretty and sheltered, with pistes cutting through pine forest.Like other Bulgarian resorts, there are grand plans for redevelopment, including ongoing plans to develop links to the neighboring Mechi Chal resort. When completed, this would make the largest ski area in the Balkans
From 2015/16 a new quad replaced a draglift beside the black No 3 run and will serve about 80% of the slopes. There's a half-pipe and a terrain park. Snow reliability is poor, but snowmaking covers 90% of the slopes. There are plenty of mountain huts, though they are not necessarily enticing.
As is often the case in Bulgaria, the ski school is praised, with many guests remarking on the friendliness of the staff as well as the excellent value. There are 25km of cross-country trails.
A purpose-built resort of mainly hotels (including a newish five-star), attractively set in woodland a short bus ride from the slopes. A past reporter recommends the hotel Finlandia.
