Smolyan, the main town in the Rhodopes, is about 220 kilometres from Sofia. Direct buses from Sofia's Central Bus Station to Smolyan take around 3.5 to 4 hours. From Plovdiv (70 km north), buses to Smolyan take about 1.5 hours and depart frequently.
Having a car is strongly recommended for exploring the Rhodopes beyond Smolyan — public transport between the villages and gorges is sparse and infrequent. Car hire is available in Plovdiv and Sofia. The roads in the Rhodopes are generally in good condition, though some mountain roads are narrow and winding.
The nearest airports are Plovdiv Airport (for charter flights from Western Europe) and Sofia Airport (the main international hub). Ryanair and Wizz Air serve both; Sofia has the broadest choice of connections.
Pamporovo (18 km from Smolyan) is served by shuttle buses from both Plovdiv and Sofia during ski season. Several UK-based ski operators include it in their programme.