zondag 9 mei 2010

Kopaonik Ski Pass

Kopaonik Ski Pass

















KOPAONIK SKI RESORT
RATES  FOR SKI PASS TICKETS IN KOPAONIK-WINTER SEASON 2010/2011.

Please mail us info@welcomereservations.com  if you are interested to see the ski pass prices/rates for Kopaonik.
They'll then sent you an overview of the individual and family package prices.

vrijdag 7 mei 2010

Hotel Angella Kopaonik ****

Hotel Angella is situated at 1,860 metres above sea level with views over Kopaonik, 100 metres from the ski lift. The hotel has a modern interior and up to date facilities.
Hotel Angella enjoys a prime location in the very heart of the tourist center of Kopaonik with shopping, dining and entertainment venues right at the doorstep.

Hotel Angella features 123 modern designed rooms overlooking the ski slopes and the central Square.

Rooms and suites are furnished by the highest world standards:

• Wi Fi • LCD TV, with a great choice of domestic and foreign channels • DVD player • Safe • Telephone • Mini bar • Hairdryer • Bathrobe

The hotel offers pure comfort and coziness. In addition to the restaurant, as a guest you can enjoy the benefits of complimentary use of Hotel Grand's Oasis Spa & Wellness center. Located at 1.800 m² with an indoor swimming pool 18 x 9 m, fitting room (locker, bathrobe, slippers, towel), hydro - thermo bath (extra charge), relax zone, Sauna world – infrared sauna, Finnish sauna, Russian bath, tropical rain, hammam, amphitheater sauna, aroma - steam bath, ice caves and kneipp, as well as the use of the modern fitness center with extensive range of cardio and weight-training technogym equipment at Hotel Grand.

Due to its closeness to the ski slopes, Hotel Angella represents one of the very few hotels at Kopaonik with the possibility for ski in and ski out.

Hotel Angella**** disposes with Convention center at 1000 m² with 5 multifunctional conference halls, offering high professional services for all type of conference and event venues. The latest technology, audio and video equipment, wireless internet, monitoring, projectors and flip charts are available in each of the halls.

Hotel Grand Kopaonik ****

Hotel Grand Kopaonik ****
Kopaonik's most luxurious hotel.
The modern and comfortable Hotel Grand is situated at 1,860 metres above sea level at the very slopes of Mount Kopaonik with amazing views, and only a 5-minute walk from the town centre.

Hotel Grand is approximately a 100 metres from the main ski lift in Kopaonik. It has modern and spacious rooms. After a day on the slopes you can visit the hotel's spa centre with various types of massages, an indoor swimming pool as well as a sauna and a jacuzzi.
They also have a multi-purpose sports hall with tennis, basketball and handball courts, a bowling centre and an ice-skating rink.

The restaurant at Hotel Grand serves mouth-watering dishes and at the aperitif bar you can have your favourite cocktails while relaxing in leather couches. The Havana Bar offers a wide selection of wine and cigars.

dinsdag 4 mei 2010

Kopaonik Hiking & Mountaineering

200 sunny days and many well ordered trekking trails and mountaineering routes provide great opportunities to enjoy the nature and landscapes of Kopaonik National park.

Kopaonik Mountain, the biggest mountain range in Serbia, spreads some 80km from the northwest to the southeast. With its 200 sunny days a year, Kopaonik was dubbed the "Sunny Mountain." The highest peak is Pancicev Vrh (2017m). Because of its stunning natural beauty, Kopaonik was declared a national park in 1981.

Kopaonik national park offers different guided hiking tours.

Routes:
From the management building to two different viewpoints: Karaman Greben (1900m) 5km and Pancicev Vrh (2017m); ranging from 1700m to 1900m and 2017m above sea level; the route is about 10km long

Tour of Markov Kamen; 1700m above sea level; the route is about 4km long

Tour of Kukavica viewpoint and Kozja Stena reserve; ranging from 1700m to 1600m above sea level; the route is about 14km long

Tour of Metodje reserve; ranging from 1700m to 1600m above sea level; the route is about 10km long

Tour of Semetesko lake; ranging from 1700m to 800m above sea level; the route is about 20km long

Tour of Jelovarnik waterfall; ranging from 1700m to 1200m above sea level; the route is about 24km long

Tour of Ostri Krs reserve; ranging from 1700m to 1600m above sea level; the route is about 4km long

Tour of Crkvine archeological site; ranging from 1700m to 1800m above sea level; the route is about 10km long

Kopaonik National Park

Serbia's tallest mountain, Kopaonik, was designated a national park in 1981. The park covers roughly 12,000 hectares and has its park management offices in Raska. The range of mountains in the area, wooded slopes and picturesque valleys, rivers and streams, are all home to many species of protected flora and fauna. The middle of this national park, the Suvo Rudiste plateau, cut by the Samokovska River, stretches between peaks and slopes.

The flora is characterized by a large number of autochthonous plant species (the Balkan beech, fir, spurce, yew, several kinds of maple, pine and oak). The fauna is also diverse but its concentration varies, depending on the quality of the habitat.

The vast wilderness of the park offers many opportunities for hiking and exploring, as well as hiding the warm waters of the Josanicka Banja spa, highly attended for its curative properties.

Well-developed facilities for tourists are located at the Kopaonik ski resort, including an information center in the resort village. The following links will take you to a list of Kopaonik hotels and Kopaonik apartments and villa's. Kopaonik lies near the main transportation routes in Serbia. The closest airport is in Nis.

The national park also has a website for more information, however its all in Serbian.
Don't let it stop you from visiting their great video and photo footage.
Check it out on their website: http://www.npkopaonik.com/

Map Kopaonik

Map of Kopaonik

Here's a link to a map of the centre of Kopaonik.
If you click on the map it will enlarge.
Kopaonik Map

The following link shows a page with maps of ski area's Kopaonik, Stara Planina, Zlatibor and Divcibare.
If you click on Kopanik's map you will be able to see all the blue, red and black pistes/routes.
If you click on them (bottom left) you can have a look at just the blue routes for example.
Map Serbia Kopaonik

The following link will give more information on How to Get to Kopaonik

5 Reason's to visit Kopaonik

  1. Cheap
    A six-day ski pass in Kopaonik is the cheapest in Europe, at £50.
    Source: http://www.onthesnow.com/news/a/11118/skiers-look-to-pistes-in-the-east
    If you don't mind a bit of outdated accommodations you'r very lucky, but even some of the more budget and cheap accommodations in Kopaonik are quite modern.
    And for those seeking more glamour and luxury try out Kopaonik's most luxurious hotel, Hotel Grand Kopaonik.
  2. All is within easy reach                                                                                                                    For starters, the fact that everything is on your doorstep. There's no mucking about with shuttle buses to get to the slopes; everything is a short stroll away. This is just as well, given the long distance from the Serbian capital. Arriving here after a four-hour transfer from Belgrade (some take five hours), many visitors are relieved to find that it only takes a few minutes to drop your bags at the hotel and get started.
  3. A beginners paradise
    There are 23 lifts here, which give you access to a good spread of easy blues and cruisy reds - all of which will have most beginners and intermediates smiling. Plus there are English speaking instructors.
  4. Kopaonik's Climate
    The Sunny Mountain is a name given rightfully to Kopaonik due to the fact that there are about 200 sunny days per year. It is covered with snow starting from the end of November until May. The ski centre has over 40 km long tracks for alpine skiing and about 20 km long tracks for nordic skiing. For fans of night skiing, there is a well-lit track „Malo Jezero“. In case of bad weather, there is a possibility of covering a part of the tracks with artificial snow. All tracks are well connected with a ski lift system with over 27 500 skiers an hour capacity.
    Kopaonik Paraglading: because of a highly jagged terrain, there are ideal conditions for paragliding.
  5. Serbian nightlife
    Kopaonik can hold its own when it comes to nightlife, too. One of the more interesting bars,Kortina Ski Club, where sweat dripped from the ceiling as Serbia's bright and beautiful strutted their stuff to a selection of Euro-pop "classics". If flailing elbows are not your thing you could try the more understated Royal Bar, where you're more likely to get a seat (and a drink).

Kopaonik Ski School

Ski School Kopaonik


La Scuola Di Schi - Kopaonik 
Under the leadership of Mr. Predrag Lukac,  well experienced and licensed ski teacher with a ISIA-DEMO portfolio.
All our ski instructors have the official licence.
Ski school and ski pass direction: Hotel Grand ski store– Kopaonik



For complete beginners, as well as those looking to brush up on technique, ski schools offer invaluable instruction and an excellent way to enter into this adventurous and exciting, yet unfamiliar sport. Practically all of the major ski resorts in the world offer tuition at their various ski schools, with the majority boasting a range of lessons and courses, from basic skiing skills to advanced techniques such as off-piste and racing.

Ski School - Ideal for beginners, learn in a group environment
Offering professional instruction, ski schools aim to teach the basics of learning to ski, including techniques such as stopping, turning and skiing with controlled speed. Ski lessons are offered for any age and level, with convivial group lessons being the most common and cost effective way to learn, although more expensive private tuition is widely available. Ski schools run specific classes for children, which tend to be extremely popular, taking ages from 3 years and up, and offering fun age-appropriate tuition in specially-themed areas. Children learn in a safe, yet playful environment, expertly taught by trained and experienced instructors, with ski schools providing games and activities, as well as lunch and refreshments. Most children’s' ski schools get booked up in advance, especially during school holidays, so it is advisable to inquire about availability at the time of booking your ski trip. As well as teaching children the basics, ski schools serve the invaluable purpose of allowing parents time to go off and enjoy the slopes on their own, safe in the knowledge that their children are being taken care of.



SKI LESSONS & SKI TECHNIQUES
Basic techniques
Snowplough
Parallel turns
Advanced techniques
Carving turns
Skiing moguls (bumps on the slopes)

LESSONS
Individual lessons
Group lessons

SCHOOL PROGRAME
School programe includes a 4,3,2 day lessons, 4 hours per day.
Homogeneous groups, formed in accordance with the age and the skiing level 

PROCESS OF TRAINING
- Initial phase is the most important phase in the process of teaching (first contact with the snow on skis)
 - One of the preconditions for overcoming the fear of the firt contact with the skis is to choose the good terrain for teaching the first steps as well as to performe the first ride slowely, on an easy slope. 
- Application of methodological approaches according to the basic methodological principles:
   - easy to dificult, 
   - familiar to unknown
   - slower to faster 
-Pedagogical and didactic approach in teaching, using the following principles:
   - step by step teaching
   - clearness
   - systematic approach
   - variations
   - fun and entertainment 
- Well done demonstration and rational approach in teaching, make skiing fun and provide great enjoyment to everyone.



Things To Do in Kopaonik

Outdoor Activities
Tobogganing
Cross-country skiing
Night skiing
Ice skating
Snowmobiling
Sleigh rides
Winter walks

Indoor Activities
Swimming
Tennis
Bowling
Gym
Jacuzzi
Games room/arcade

Most of the facilities are found in the many hotels in the resort. Kopaonik is a small compact resort, with a central pedestrianised square which houses most of the accommodation, shops, bars and restaurants. Non-skiers can ride the cable-car up to the highest point, Pancics' Peak at 2,100m to enjoy the spectacular views and peaceful atmosphere. The surrounding area is simply stunning, full of picturesque forests, natural hot springs and deep gorges. There are plenty of medieval monuments to visit, such as churches, fortresses and monasteries, and Roman ruins.

Skiing
The main appeal of Kopaonik is that snow is on your doorstep. Ski season generally runs from late November to late March or early April.
Beginners have a choice of 15 easy runs, with the nursery slopes and their 4 lifts situated very close to the centre of Kopaonik and the ski school, where there is a range of good English-speaking instruction available, and a wide variety of classes for different abilities and ages. The lessons in Kopaonik are significantly cheaper than elsewhere in western Europe, with a family pass costing about a quarter of what it would do in Austria or France. Intermediate and advanced skiers have 8 and 6 runs respectively, the longest being 3.5km, and Kopaonik is home to 3 FIS runs. These International Ski Federation standard runs, incorporating both downhill and slalom and giant slalom trails, are well utilised when Kopaonik plays hosts to some frequent competitions for both skiing and snowboarding. Guides are available to skiers who wish to explore the off-piste areas and the cross-country terrain, which consists of 20km of trails.


Après Ski And Dining in Kopaonik
The bars can get lively during peak season, and the hotels offer various forms of entertainment such as Serbian folk evenings.

Most of the après-ski entertainment is located around the main square in Kopaonik, and the compact nature of the village creates a cosy welcoming atmosphere. Some of the bars can get fairly lively and most offer live music, with some favourites being Prestige and Club Hardy. Also try a Serbian Folk Evening as Serbian's know how to party. The food in Kopaonik is a mixture of international and Serbian cuisine, with the hotels offering convenient buffets, and in general eating and drinking, like the skiing, is incredibly good value for money.

Serbian specialties include plenty of meats, stuffed peppers and cabbage, goulash, sausages, hams and cheeses. Drinks include local beers, regional wines and brandy (rakija).

Kopaonik Resort Facilities

Ski School
The resorts' ski school offers English instruction in everything from basic skiing and boarding to tobogganing and monoskiing, at very good prices. Learn to ski packages are available, including lift pass, equipment hire and tuition.

Childcare
Children have their own programmes full of lessons and games, and are divided by age and experience level. Daycare services are available in the resort.

Shopping
The compact town has a few shops in the central square selling skiwear, clothing, jewellery and souvenirs, and there is a supermarket for food and essentials, as well as a bakery and newsagents.

Dining
Plenty of opportunity to sample hearty Serbian cuisine and international fare in 10 local restaurants, located in the resort and the hotels, as well as cafes and smaller outlets offering snack food. There are a few options for on-mountain dining.

Après Ski
The bars and pubs are mainly situated in one convenient complex, with themed entertainment and folklore evenings common, and a couple of discos in the resort. Drink prices are generally cheap.

Town Services
Include a post office and bank, with a cash machine in the resort, internet cafes, a police station and petrol station. Credit cards are accepted in hotels and shops.

Medical Facilities
An ambulance is always located near the lift station, and there is a mountain rescue squad on hand.

Kopaonik Piste Information

Kopaonik is a great value-for-money ski resort, set in a wonderful setting with breathtaking scenery. The skiing takes place on the highest mountain in Serbia, and the terrain is ideal for families and beginners.

Ski Area
Total terrain -57km
Number of runs - 29
Longest run - 4km

Altitude
Resort altitude - 1,770m
Highest lift - 2,017m

Suitability
Beginners - Very Good - 65% total runs
Intermediates - Good - 25% total runs runs
Advanced - Fair - 10% total runs
Snowboarding - Good

Lifts
Total lifts - 23
Chairlifts - 12
Drag lifts - 11
Uphill capacity - 27,500 skiers per hour

Lift Pass
Adult 6-day pass - 81 Euros
Child 6-day pass (2-14) - 54 Euros
Night time pass - 8 Euros
Under 5's ski free

Kopaonik, Budget Skiing in a Family Friendly Resort

The resort has earned a reputation for its warm, friendly atmosphere and is particularly popular with families seeking a cheaper alternative to resorts in France, Austria, and Switzerland. Kopaonik, Serbia's Winter playground
It's long been a hotspot ski destination for Belgrade's elite. Now Kopaonik is welcoming more nationalities.

Kopaonik is the biggest ski center in Serbia and one of the most beautiful centers in this part of Europe. Apart from being one of the most attractive mountains in Serbia, Kopaonik has about 200 sunny days and is about 160 days per year covered with snow. During whole year It offers perfect conditions for an active rest and is said to be the biggest and the most renowned ski center in Serbia. It's highest peak is Pancic's peak (2017 m).

Serbia's prime ski resort is great for people who want a ski-holiday without the glamour and prices to match.
Its a pleasant base for hiking and, with your own wheels, an adventurous base for monastery buffs.

Orientation and Information
The resort sits 1770m above sea level. The smaller and closest subvillage Brzece is 14km below and linked to it with a ski lift.
In the centre of the of the resort are a couple of ATM's, a post office, mini-supermarkets, restaurants, clothin shops and a bookshop.
Many places open arbitrarily or close completely out of season, but prices plummet.

Serbian Ski Resorts

Skiing in Serbia allows you to enjoy a no-frills ski experience in a completely different culture. The main ski resorts of Serbia are Kopaonik, Brezovica, Tara,Zlatibor, Stara Planina and Divcibar.

Serbia's main Ski Resort
It is Kopaonik, or “Kop” as it was affectionately known back in its’ heyday, that puts Serbia on the map for the international visitors. More information on Getting to Kopaonik.
With skiing in Kopaonik offering mainly gentle slopes ideal for beginners, good English-speaking tuition and a purpose-built village offering lively après-ski, the resort is regaining its’ popularity with families and those looking for a cheaper alternative to the slopes of France, Switzerland and Austria.
Skiing in Kopaonik covers 60 kilometres of terrain reaching a height of 1770 metres and includes 29 runs: 15 runs for beginners and intermediates and 14 for the more accomplished skier. including 3 FIS standard runs. Two new four-person chairlifts were recently added to its stock of 21 chair and drag lifts.
It is known for its gentle beginner slopes, English-speaking instructors, and family-friendly atmosphere.
Kopaonik has good snow coverage between November and May.
There are around 2500 beds in the area, including hotels, apartments, and pensions, many with ski-in/ski-out facilities.
Kopaonik offers a lively après ski scene with most of the entertainment set in or around the main square.
Relax over a glass of rakija (traditional fruit brandy) after a tiring day on the mountain, and enjoy the live music played in many of the bars in the square. Other winter activities include sleigh rides and tobogganing.

Situated in the Sterpce municipality of southwest Kosovo, Brezovica is a popular mountain resort boasting peaks up to 2500 metres.
Its 14 ski slopes stretch over 16 kilometres and have a capacity for 50,000 skiers.
The average length of its ski runs measure 3000 metres.
Brezovica has FIS slopes (meeting international racing standards) for slalom, giant slalom, downhill, and Super G.

Tara lies on the western edge of Serbia.
This ski resort is surrounded by some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in the country.

Stara Planina in Eastern Serbia is home to one of the most beautiful and highest mountains in the country.
Its highest peak is Midzor at 2169 metres followed by Babin zub at 1780 metres. The 100 kilometres of piste can accommodate 14,000 skiers.
You’ll also be delighted to find lift passes that are about half the price of those in Kraljevo.

Zlatibor, the most accustomed tourist resort in Serbia, is located in the South-West part of the country, 220 km far from Belgrade. Average altitude of this mountain highland is 1,000 m, surrounded by peaks Tornik (1,496 m), Cigota (1,422 m) and many others.
Due to a moderate continental climate and Mediterranean air streams, Zlatibor is declared an air health resort.
Zlatibor has developed into a famous ski resort with the longest tradition in Serbia due to its vast glades, golden pines even under snow, clean air, great number of sunny days in the year and beautiful ski runs.
Ski resort “Tornik” is located at altitude between 1,110 m and 1,490 m, 9 km far away from the tourist center of the resort.


Serbian Après Ski
Amenities are ever-developing. The facilities and après-ski entertainment is much like the skiing, cheap and fairly limited. Much of the ski accommodation is quite basic here a mixture of slopeside apartments and hotels. The entertainment is often centred around the hotels, but the main square of Kopaonik is home to some bars and restaurants, with live music on offer most nights. Many tourists make the most of the half-board options within the hotels, with both international and local fare appearing on the menus. Serbian cuisine is influenced by Turkey, Greece and Hungary, with an emphasis on meats and fruit, and the national drink Slivovitz, a concoction distilled from plums, is available everywhere.


Cheap, family friendly, beginner's slopes, stunning nature, and even après ski, I say we GO!

Serbia, Europe's Cheapest Skiing Destination

Serbia, the former federal state of Yugoslavia, is situated in the central part of the Balkans, in southeastern Europe.
Serbia is a great choice for budget skiing holidays. The Serbian war and political unrest of the last twenty years ended the countrys’ enjoyable run as a value ski destination during the 1970’s and ‘80’s, but now Serbia, is attempting to put Eastern Europe firmly back into the budget skiing marketplace.

Serbia offers value for money, basic family skiing with developing facilities, set in beautiful scenic mountains, with traditional Serbian hospitality.
The skiing is mainly best for beginners to intermediates, families and budgetseekers.
Serbian Ski Resorts offer cheap skiing holidays far more often than to be found on a traditional Western European ski holiday.
The beautiful mountains are home to good snow coverage throughout the countrys’ long cold winter, and they provide a stunning backdrop to the slopes.

This once war-torn country is emerging as a popular year-round tourist destination.
Serbia is making a name for itself as a cheap, no-frills ski destination.