Experience Bjelasica – Kolašin Ski Resorts Becoming One
Miodrag Spahić - Jan 15, 2022
5 min
At an altitude of nearly a thousand metres above sea level, set between the mountain ranges of Bjelasica, Lake Biograd, and the last surviving virgin forest in Europe, stands the town of Kolašin. The town is home to only nine thousand inhabitants, but is visited by more than fifty thousand tourists a year.
Kolašin is a town that is a perfect year-round destination – in the summer, the Biogradska Gora National Park is particularly attractive, located just outside Kolašin, as are the mountaineering or hiking tours on the peaks of Mount Bjelasica. In the wintertime, Kolašin turns into a ski centre. It has two ski resorts that were named after the altitudes they were built at. Ski Center Kolašin 1450, with 19 kilometres of slopes, is just the first stop on your trip. At an altitude of 1600 metres above sea level sits Ski Centre Kolašin 1600, which currently offers 20 kilometres of active slopes, and as of the 2021/2022 season, these two ski centres will be connected and skiers will have about 40km of ski slopes.
Photo Courtesy of Ski Resort Kolašin 1600
It is planned to connect the two Kolašin Ski Centers with the Jelovica – Berane Ski Center in the coming years, which when combined, will provide more than 125 kilometres of accessible slopes. Over the next 10 years, three more ski resorts will be developed and connected on Mount Bjelasica: Žarski in Mojkovac, and Cmiljača and Torine in Bijelo Polje, with around 120 km of additional slopes; this will result in combined total accessible slopes of more than 250 km on Mount Bjelasica.
All of this, along with continuous investment in infrastructure and the development of new amenities and attractions will make Bjelasica and Kolašin highly ranked on the map of European skiing destinations. The attractiveness of the resorts is further enhanced by the fact that these locations have been recording more than one hundred skiing days annually for the past several years. The rapid development of Bjelasica and Kolašin started with the development of the master-plan for the entire mountain resort planned on Bjelasica, which was created by the renowned Canadian company Ecosign.
Photo Courtesy of Ski Resort Kolašin 1600
Ecosign Mountain Resort Planners Ltd (“ecological design”) is one of the most innovative and experienced companies that plan mountain resorts all over the world that has worked on more than 400 different mountain resort projects in 42 countries around the globe and they have a reputation of being successful in the design of new resorts and redesign and renovation of some of the oldest and best-known ski resorts in Europe such as Zermatt in Switzerland; Courchevel in France, and St. Anton in Austria.
The purpose of this study was to identify and evaluate all the potential locations for the development of year-round mountain resorts, and to stimulate investment by strengthening and preserving the unique character of the area. And this was a success. With the construction of new hotels and luxury resorts in Kolašin, offering accommodation provided by existing and world-renowned brands, we believe that the demand for skiing in this part of Europe will be significantly boosted.
Photo Courtesy of Ski Resort Kolašin 1600
And with development of infrastructure, and opening of section of hightway between Kolašin and Podgorica by beginning of 2022, the resorts in Kolašin will become the nearest ski resorts in Europe to an international airport, since Podgorica Airport will be reachable by car in just 35 minutes, instead of the current 90 minutes. X`We are certain that a significant share of the market, which used to be focused on other mountain centres, will therefore turn its attention to Kolašin.
Ski Centre K1450
Ski Centre Kolašin 1450 is the first developed ski centre in Montenegro and offers a broad range of services including the latest ski lifts, ski rental services, a ski depot, a skiing school, and so on. The ski center, named after the altitude of its base station (1450 m above sea level), is just 15 minutes away from the centre of Kolašin. Thanks to its altitude, the ski center area is considered to be a clean air spa and a remarkable year-round holiday destination. In Kolašin 1450, it is envisaged to build five hotels, five residential buildings with apartments, 45 family villas, along with restaurants, maintenance facilities, rental of ski equipment, etc. and by 2023, it is planned to open 3 hotels and 4 family villas.
Grand Chalet
Grand Chalet Hotel with its Annex will be a 4* hotel, located right next to the ski slope, with a total capacity of 116 accommodation units. It is expected that the construction of this condo hotel will be completed by the summer of 2023.
In accordance with Montenegrin law, the units which are part of a condo hotel could be sold to individuals and investors. In addition to the accommodation capacities, the hotel will feature a restaurant, two commercial areas, an aperitif bar, ski rental services, and other amenities. The hotel will also be suitable for the organisation of various MICE events. The main hotel building will have 65 accommodation units, with surface areas ranging from 37.36 sqm to 83.92sqm, whereas the annex will consist of 51 accommodation units, ranging from 31.43sqm to 143.25sqm.
Considering the hotel’s natural surroundings, special attention has been paid to its appearance and the materials used in its construction, focusing on blending the exterior in with the natural environment. The investor is still negotiating with a renowned hotel group about the choice of the appropriate hotel brand for this hotel. The construction of the hotel is progressing according to plan. It is our pleasure to announce that sales are going well, and that many accommodation units have already been sold. With the selection of the hotel operator, our goal is to an impact not only the promotion of our hotel, but to put Kolašin and Bjelasica on the map of ski centres and luxury destinations in the region and in Europe as a whole, says the Director of Ski Resort Kolašin 1450, Milica Šćepanović.
For more info contact us +382 68 586 650
or visit www.development.kolasin1450.com
Ski Resort Kolašin 1600
Ski Resort Kolašin 1600 will be located across the northern part of Mount Bjelasica, in the heart of an unspoilt wilderness, at 1600 metres above sea level. The resort will include 10 facilities with a total of 951 units, and 28 family villas, with construction being implemented in four stages.
SWISSÔTEL RESORT KOLAŠIN set to open in winter 2022, will be located at the highest settlement on Bjelasica. The newly built facility will offer 116 modern, outstanding and comfortable rooms providing a truly astonishing experience. Guests will be able to enjoy the sophisticated restaurant, the aperitif bar, a spa area, a business space and a ski room. Located at 1600m above sea level, right next to the ski slope, Swissôtel Resort Kolasin will perfectly blend in with the spectacular surrounding landscape. The hotel’s design completely integrates it into the natural environment, ensuring the luxurious atmosphere of the resort and demonstrating the essence of Swissotel’s natural vitality.
The hotel will welcome its first guests by the end of 2022.
South East Europe is full of hidden tourist gems and natural treasures that we are proud to help unveil to international tourists from all over the world. Thanks to this great partnership, we are delighted to bring our premium Swissôtel brand to the fairy-tale destination of Montenegro. Swissôtel Resort Kolašin will provide guests with a truly premium experience thanks to its location, luxurious design, and its commitment to its spectacular natural environment. The mountains will define the hotel’s experience and its design, enabling guest to embrace the natural vitality of Swissôtel – says Dilek Sezer, Development Director – South Eastern Europe Accor.
Due to the great interest and sale of the first hotel, we started with the construction of a new facility, the annex of this hotel, which will have 85 units. The construction of this facility started in October 2021, and is expected to be finalised in time for the 2023/24 season. Hotel Q will feature a set of amenities that will contribute to a higher occupancy rate and the successful positioning of the hotel on the market, while providing different opportunities to the hotel guests, so as to make their stay here comfortable and the experience in the hotel as pleasant as possible.
The hotel will also follow the condo model, and the sale of units has already started. The available units include studios, one bedroom, and two bedroom apartments with surface areas of between 27.40 sqm and 65.35 sqm.
The most interesting aspect of the hotels is their premium location – staying at 1600 metres above sea level, next to the ski slope, which is a rare opportunity. Guests will be able to get to the ski slope in just a few minutes and join other skiers or to simply enjoy the view from their balconies.
For more info contact us via [email protected] and +382 67 712 333
or visit www.k16resort.com
