Travel to Pamporovo

Pamporovo is situated in the Rhodope mountains, approx 260km east of Sofia and just 85km south of Plovdiv (Bulgaria's second largest city)

Flights are available into both Sofia and Plovdiv from many UK airports. The following prices are for guidance and budgetting only;

Flight start at £149 each to Plovdiv. Flights to Sofia can be much cheaper depending on when you travel.

The following airlines fly to Bulgaria. If you click on the name of the airline it will take you to their page where you can obtain prices and dates for travel

EasyJet - flights to Sofia

Wizzair - flights from Luton to Sofia

Lufthansa

Balkan Holidays charter flights to Plovdiv and Sofia

www.charterflights.co.uk charter flights from Gatwich and East Midlands

Transfers

There are a number of firms offering transfers between the airports and Pamporovo. Transfer time from Sofia is around 3 hours. Transfer from Plovdiv is around 1 hour.

Transfers Bulgaria (formerly Befriend in Bulgaria) - can't recommend this firm enough. Very safe driver - lovely car, very reasonable prices and provides seats for the children if you request them. Thoroughly honest and friendly chap who will help you with any of your needs whilst in Bulgaria.

2008/2009 transfer price for a family of 5 with ski luggage from Sofia to Pamporovo is 490 BGN (approx 207 euros or £173) return journey including car seats, all fuel etc

Car Hire

If however you prefer the freedom of your own transport you can book budget car hire at Bulgariacarrent from as little as £11 per day all in!

PS rent a car Ltd - are a new company based in Smolyan. They offer a a service whereby they will pick you up at the airport, drive you to Pamporovo (or surrounding Smolyan/Rhodope area), arrange a hire car for the duration of your stay and then pick you up and drive you back to the airport when you leave. This saves you having to drive as soon as you get off the plane or if you are unfamiliar with the route or nervous about BG drivers. Click on the title link to send them an e-mail.

www.e-sixt.co.uk offer a week's rental from 300 Euros (£205)

Public Transport

It is possible to get a bus from the central bus station, Sofia to Pamporovo and the bus time table can be found here ( I wouldn't bother with the trains, they are not very reliable)

The central bus station is only 10 minutes in a taxi from the airport (which shouldn't cost more than 10 lev, 5 euro) and the buses to Pamporovo leave 5 times daily; 8am, 12am, 1pm, 4pm and 6pm. Price is 20 lev (10 euro) each way. The bus drops you in the centre of Pamporovo.

Bus Timetable

The buses cost 20 Lev each way and run daily. There are 6 buses per day.