We can offer: 

• An excellent and affordable place to Ski.
• An excellent and affordable place to enjoy a summer break walking, cycling, fishing, riding, hunting or just general sight seeing.
• Help with sourcing your flights with www.wizzair.com , www.easyjet.com www.justtheflight.co.uk & others.
• Advice & help sourcing car hire www.economycarhire.com  www.economycarrentals.com and transfers
• An excellent range of Ski runs to suit all levels of Skiers
• Luxury nicely appointed comfortable one bedroom apartment.
• No 17 is one of only 28 apartments in Pine Lodge and not overlooked 
• Well equipped with everything you would need for a self catering Skiing or Summer leisure holiday.
• Sleeps up to 4 persons, larger parties up to 8 persons catered for by arrangement.
• Rear balcony with views over the Pine Forests.
• Front balcony, across the corridor, with stunning views 
• Bed Linen & Towels provided.
• Affordable tariff.
• Welcome folder with all you need to know about the area to assist you.
• 500 meters to No4 Ski lift.
• 50 metres to a fantastic family run traditional restaurant.
• Sensibly priced Ski hire & lift passes available without queue's.
• Ski-doos & Snow Boards for hire.
• Secure Ski Locker.
• On site Luxurious Spa Centre. (Available later in 2008)
• Spectacular Mountain Views.
• 1.25 hours from Plovdiv airport 3 hours from Sofia airport.
• Airport collection / delivery advice.
• Administration staff available on site to assist.
• Lounge Bar on ground floor, with open fire selling drinks & snacks.
• On site parking at the rear.
• Rear garden for kids to play & adults to relax with a barbeque 

 On the doorstep:

Pine Lodge:

It's location, in a wonderfully peaceful setting, only 500 metres from the No4 Ski lift is unique. There are no other buildings around Pine Lodge encroaching on us except for our fantastic family run restaurant 50 metres away. Any other buildings are further away than this. Pine Lodge is a modern new smart build well suited to the cold winters and the hot summers that prevail up in this region of the Rhodope Mountains. The stairwells, marble stepped and entered from each floor by separate doors and corridors to the apartment are heated for your comfort in the winter. They are floor tiled, and spacious. The stair wells on each level have windows revealing spectacular views up to The Snejanka & No4 Ski lift along with access door balconies revealing similar views along with the heavily ionised air, an advantagous benefit to the Position of Pine Lodge. On the ground floor we have a reception area and a very nice bar / lounge area serving drinks and snacks for your pleasure. in the basement are the ski lockers and a spa centre where you can enjoy the usual Gym facilities along with a Jaccuzi, Sauna & Steam rooms. Everything you will need after a long day on the Piste.

The location of Pine Lodge makes access to it very easy. On the main route up from Smolyan to the No4 Ski lift, Pine Lodge is on the right, in sight with a pull in off the road right by the entrance doors for convenience of unloading your luggage. When unloaded, parking facilities are to the rear of the building where we also have a nicely landscaped garden. In the summer this is great for picnics and barbeques whilst children can happily play in the sandpit, on the swing & generally amuse themselves. The family run restaurant can be seen from the garden area.

Our Local Restaurant:

Just up the road, a short walk away, is our local Mexaha, serving great food, called Mexaha‘ORFEEBHCKLNH’Here you can stroll up and have a beer and a meal in the summertime outside under a sun brolly surrounded by some absolutely stunning scenery. In the winter, snuggle up and do the same in front of the traditional log fire inside. You would be welcomed by a truly wonderful friendly family. Here Sonia, her husband Emil, sons Dido & Veselin & his wife Emilia & their daughter Denitza will make you really welcome. Their home cooked food and the local Rakia is not to be missed - Nasdrava! (cheers). Dido plays the local bagpipes and boy does he play them!The views from dining outside are quite stunning and interesting, right from stunning scenery to local country life. Probably more suited to summertime. Try the Patatnik & have some traditional meatballs with it. The trout is to die for especially when accompanied with a plate of Cheese on chips.  

Another Restaurant:  

Just up up the road a little is another restaurant at the Smolyanski Ezera Chalet. Very much more basic but serving good food & well worth a try. The menu is likely to be verbal by asking what they have to offer that day! You won't be disappointed.

 Lakes:

Around Pine Lodge is an abundance of lakes, quite famous for the Smolyan region. Two of these lakes are within easy alking distance of Pine lodge. Great for a bit of ice skating in the winter & good for a bit of fishing or having a picnic by in the summer. A very pretty church sits by the side of one of the lakes near us in a beautiful setting with spectacular scenery.

 The Rhodope Mountain region:

The hospitable Rhodope Mountains. Since ancient times they have been a source of legends and stories told through the centuries. This is the cradle of the mythical singer Orpheus. Here was born the song which, together with Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, flies through space, looking for contact with alien intelligence.

Magnificient pine forests, green meadows and mountain peaks bathed in sunlight – these are the incredible Rhodope Mountains you will never forget. Nor will you forget the the Rhodope people – their hospitality and the delicious dishes they will make especially for you. The mountain people will meet you with open arms, will sing you the songs they grew up with, and will say goodbye to you as though you were their best friend.

“ The one that sings bears no evil” is an old Bulgarian proverb. And all the Rhodope’s people sing – that is why goodness, peace and tranquility is in their souls.

Pamporovo, the pearl of the Bulgarian mountain resorts, nests in the heart of the Rhodopes, 260 km from the capital Sofia, and 85 km south of the city of Plovdiv.

Pamporovo area:

Above Pine Lodge, to the north, Pamporovo is situated high up in the Rhodope mountains. On and around Mount Snejanka is where it all happens. The map below shows the general Ski area and the approx location of Pine Lodge marked as a green diamond marked 1 & only 500 metres from the No4 Ski lift. Ideal for beginners and intermediates. The Ski runs are located between 1926 and 1450 m above sea level on the northern, eastern, southern and western slopes of the Snejanka peak. The long greens and blues, as well as the nursery slopes down in the village are ideal for learning and progressing on. Ski instruction is of an extremely high standard and,because Bulgaria is so easy on the wallet, individual tuition can be very affordable. Many of the instructors also speak English fluently. Beginner skiers and Snow Boarders who want to learn and progress can do so easily here. Confident intermediates and advanced skiers will find a World Cup run and some interesting through-the-trees off piste. It is best to use a local guide when going off-piste. The most difficult ski piste is "The Wall". All major Ski runs start from the peak of the mountain, where the TV tower is located. All Ski runs are well maintained; four snow-levelling machines and six snow cannons guarantee skiers comfortable and enjoyable downhill rides all season long.

The après ski on ski holidays in Pamporovo is quite lively and confined mainly to the hotel bars. The most popular bars are BJ's (inside Hotel Perelik) and Spider Night Club (inside Hotel Murgavets). Both of these hotels are connected by an under ground passage, which makes pub crawls that must easier. For those looking for a good night out on the town during their ski holidays in Pamporovo, then a Balkan Pub Crawl night will definitely appeal to you. Other activities that you can enjoy on ski holidays in Pamporovo include bowling,historical excursions, swimming and shopping.

Below Pine Lodge, to the south, is the town of Smolyan: (33 153 inhabitants, 850 to 1050 m above sea level) is picturesquely scattered in the narrow gorge of Cherna River (Black River), in the most beautiful part of the Rhodope Mountains. It is about 260 km south-east of Sofia, 103 km south of Plovdiv, 87 km west of Kurdzhali, 46 km south-east of Devin and 16 km south of Pamporovo Resort. This is one of the most beautiful Bulgarian towns. A regional administrative centre.

 How to get here:
 

STOP PRESS: THIS ARTICLE RECENTLY APPEARED IN "SOFIA ECHO NEWS":
"Easy Jet has announced the introduction of flights from the northwest of England to Sofia in Bulgaria following increasing demand. The new route will start operating on December 11 2008, with a frequency of three times per week from Manchester. Fares cost just £29.99 one way and £33.99 return. This is an addition to the already existing Easyjet service between Gatwick and Sofia, which operates daily".
AND:
Bulgaria is one of the nine new UK and European routes unveiled by Irish budget air carrier Aer Lingus, on October 29 2008. The carrier announced it will fly to Sofia every Thursday and Saturday, starting October 28.

Fly to Sofia international airport (all year round)
Fly to Plovdiv airport (during ski season)
For flights from all UK airports - check out : 
www.wizzair.com   www.easyjet.com   www.aerlingus.com   www.cheapflights.co.uk  www.charterflight.co.uk  www.justtheflight.co.uk   www.britishairways.com www.maritravel.co.uk   www.lastminute.com   www.travel.kelkoo.co.uk
www.skyscanner.co.uk  www.expedia.co.uk  www.justtheflight.co.uk

WE CAN RECOMMEND WIZZAIR & EASYJET FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
17 Pine Lodge is approx 3 hours by car from Sofia airport & 1.5 hours by car from Plovdiv airport (only usually available throughout the Ski season).

We can put you in touch with transfer companies and will ultimately be able to arrange this for you at sensible cost payable upon arrival at Pine Lodge.
We can also put you in touch with car hire companies including a local car hire contact if you prefer having already transferred.
Taxis are also available at the airport if you prefer but are often more expensive than organised transfers.

email: pinelodgebulgaria@uwclub.net