Top 10 ski resorts in Turkey

Active recreation in winter brings us not only entertainment, but also clear health benefits. This means that the main task of the tourist is to find a budget alternative to the European Alps. One of the options for such a replacement could be the ski resorts of Turkey. The nature of the natural relief of this country on a large territory is mountainous. The height of the Asia Minor Highlands, which occupies almost the entire peninsula of Asia Minor, in some places reaches 2,000 meters.

Along the southern coast, the most beautiful Taurus Mountains stretch with peaks that rise to the sky for almost 3000 meters. In the east of the country are scattered cones of extinct volcanoes. In the colder months, from November to April, the mountainous terrain is covered with a three-meter snow cap. But the ski season, like other winter resorts in Europe, Turkey opens later in December and closes in March. During this period, the snow cover is more stable, and skiing on mountain slopes becomes safe.

Uludag

Uludag is considered to be one of the popular winter resorts in Turkey. Like all ski slopes, this place is located far from major cities. Having made a flight to Istanbul, tourists will have to overcome another 180 km by land transport.

Therefore, ordering a transfer to the hotel will be the best solution. But you can do this way yourself. Either choose to fly to Bursa with local airlines, or cover this distance by bus in 4 hours. From Bursa to the resort itself, 35 km will remain. It is easier and cheaper to take a taxi here.

Translated from Turkish, the name of Mount Uludag sounds like "a huge mountain", which for a sophisticated tourist is not entirely confirmed in reality. The height of the mountain is about 2300 meters, but there are no steep and sheer walls here. 17 km of ski slopes are located on a relatively gentle slope of the mountain and are surrounded by a coniferous forest. This is an absolute guarantee that vacationers will get not only sporty, but also aesthetic pleasure from skiing.

The length of the skiing season is very dependent on weather conditions, so you need to focus on the period from the last decade of December to the end of March. The Uludag slopes are suitable for both experienced and novice snowboarders and skiers. It is dominated by "green" (10) and "blue" (8) tracks for beginners, there are 6 "red" tracks for intermediate skiers and only one "black" track located outside the forest.

When choosing a hotel for rest in Uludag, one should take into account that there are practically no small villas and apartments here. Hotels only. Moreover, there are no very cheap hotels either. Tourists can count on budget seats (from $ 65 per night), mid-price seats (from $ 120) and expensive rooms (from $ 700). Hotels located near the slopes have their own lifts.

They can be used by all guests, as the service is included in the price. If tourists are accommodated at a remote distance from the ski base, then in this case they have to use the lifts of neighboring hotels, and already for an additional fee. The price for equipment rental here ranges from $ 20 to $ 35 per day, and a lesson with an instructor costs $ 40 per hour.

Some tourists in the season prefer to stop to stay in Bursa, and just ride on the slope. This option significantly saves the travel budget, but forces you to spend more energy on moving to the very track.

Palandoken

In Palandoken, tourists are expected not only by Turkish hospitality, but also by beautiful landscapes, modern infrastructure of the resort, excellent equipment of ski slopes aimed at athletes with different levels of training.

The youngest of the ski resorts in Turkey is located in the north-east of the country, 4 km from the ancient city of Erzurum. It can only be reached by local airlines from Istanbul, Antalya or Ankara. For guests purchasing a tour package, hotels offer a transfer from the airport. Independent travelers, as a rule, get to hotels by buses (public transport in Turkey is of a decent level) or by taxi.

As in all Turkish resorts, in Palandoken the most stable snow lasts from mid-December to March, and the thickness of the snow cover grows up to 2 meters during the winter. On the slopes of the mountain there are trails of the most varied complexity, the total length of which is 30 km. Experienced instructors (there are also Russian-speaking ones) offer step-by-step training for beginners, and classes are held in specially designated "corridors", away from general skiing. An hour of skiing with an instructor costs $ 30.

The attention of extreme athletes and freeriders will be attracted by the "black" slopes with untouched, untouched surface of the slopes. Equipment rental for skiers costs from $ 15 to $ 30, and for snowboarders from $ 25 to $ 30. The ski slopes of the Palandoken resort are laid in the corridor of heights from 2200 m to 3175 m. The ascent to the start is provided by 4 chair lifts and 3 drag lifts. The cost of the lift for hotel guests is already included in the price of the stay.

In addition to the standard resort entertainment, vacationers in Palandoken are offered excursions to the nearby cities of Erzurum and Trabzon, where history has preserved many attractions.

Kartalkaya

The small town of Kartalkaya is located in the western part of the Black Sea region of Turkey. You can get here either from Istanbul (6 hours) or from Ankara (4 hours) by scheduled buses. The name Kartalkaya includes two ski resorts - Kartal and Doruk. Both offer great slopes for both skiers and snowboarders.

In terms of the length of trails, about 40 km, the resort is in the lead. The landscapes of the mountain slopes of Koroglu National Park have allowed organizers to create many intricate cross-country skiing routes. It is here, with the participation of Austrian engineers, that the only "Snowpark" and a children's ski center in Turkey have been created so far. All tracks occupy a height corridor from 1800 m to 2300 m and are equipped with 11 lifts (6 drag lifts, 2 chair lifts and 3 special lifts for children). The total capacity of the lifts is up to 6,000 people per hour.

According to the qualification of the complexity of the slopes of the resort are very democratic. "Black" and "blue" two, and most "red" (6) and "green" (5). Tourists have the opportunity to rent equipment (from $ 20 to $ 40 per day), work out with an instructor (cost per hour from $ 80 to $ 120) and purchase a ski pass for a day for approximately $ 20 - $ 30.

Accommodation options at the resort are not very diverse. The slope was divided by two large hotels (5 * and 4 *). Of course, you cannot call them budgetary, but both have an “all-inclusive” system. Many tourists prefer to stay in Bolu (54 km from the slope), where you can find a room and take cheaper equipment. In their free time, tourists are offered excursions to the nearest town of Bolu, to the neighboring Edigoller National Park and trips to the Kaplicalari hot spring.

Sarikamysh

For the quality of the snow, the resort town of Sarikamish received the name of the Turkish Innsbruck. It is located in the province of Kars, in the northeastern region of the country, at an altitude of 2700 m. Sunny weather and almost no wind in this region allow the snow cover to last for about 5 months.The most convenient way to get to this remote region is by plane of local airlines to Kars from Istanbul or Ankara. Further transfers from Kars to the resort itself (54 km) are provided by all hotels, and, as a rule, they are already included in the tour price.

The resort offers tourists skiing from the slope of Jibiltepe Mountain on 9 tracks. Difficulty levels are different. There are 3 "black" slopes declared, but according to the criterion of complexity they are clearly inferior to the Alpine slopes. Basically, there are gentle slopes for lovers of calm skiing and beginners. Snowboarders have a separate 200-meter corridor, and cross-country skiers will find a 50-kilometer Cross-Country ski track.

Athletes are brought to the beginning of the tracks by 3 lifts. The service of purchasing a ski pass for hotel guests is already included in the cost of living, and for guests it is paid additionally.

Compared to others, Sarikamysh occupies a much smaller area. The total length of the prepared tracks is a little more than 16 kilometers. The only place you can go for an excursion or shopping is Kars. There are few additional entertainments. When planning a trip to Sarikamis, you need to determine exactly how many days of rest you can devote only to sports.

Today, the tourist business in this country can safely guarantee a high level of rest not only on the coast in the summer season, but also in winter, in hotels located in the mountains. Alpine skiing is a relatively new direction for the Turkish tourism business, but it is progressing just by leaps and bounds. On the mountain slopes, active construction of new modern hotels is underway, the infrastructure of "apress-ski" entertainment is rapidly expanding, new safe lifts appear, and modern European equipment is used to improve the quality of ski tracks.

Turks are actively adopting the experience of their Austrian, French and Italian colleagues. They buy ski equipment and equipment for trail maintenance in Europe, as well as build snow amusement parks based on European analogues, such as a snowboard park in Kartalkaya.

Today, the main trump card of the winter resorts in Turkey is the ratio of quality and price. The service fully meets European standards, and the Turkish price is tempting and affordable. Almost all winter hotels are pleasantly surprised by the "all-inclusive" system, which takes into account not only the meals of the guests, but also the ski passes, and sometimes equipment.

I must say right away that Turkish mountain slopes will not attract the attention of professional skiers, since there are very few high-difficulty tracks here. Most of them are not comparable to the tracks in Austria or France. But for those who take their first steps or lovers of calm skiing without overcoming difficulties, the Turkish slopes will appeal to their liking. These resorts are especially good for families with children.

The instructors, quite tolerably speaking Russian, will conduct full-fledged riding lessons not only for children, but also for adults who have decided to hone their skills. In addition to the basic services of the winter resort - ski rental, equipment and lessons with instructors - hotel guests are offered many additional "pleasures". There is a wide choice of them: swimming pools, baths and saunas, gyms and fitness rooms, bathing in thermal springs, evening entertainment shows and discos.

Erciyes

In the southeastern territory of the Anatolian plateau, there is a modern ski center with a developed infrastructure - Erciyes. A small tourist town spreads on the slopes of the hill of the same name (3,916 m). Erciyes summit is an extinct volcano. The optimal depth of the snow cover guarantees the amateurs of active pastime an exciting skiing on a variety of tracks. Excellent conditions for winter recreation have been created here.

At guests' service there are hotels of various star categories, restaurants, shops, sports equipment rentals and health centers. Tourists can get to Erciyes by bus from Kayseri airport. The distance between settlements is about 30 kilometers. The lower station of the chairlifts and eight-seat gondolas is located at an altitude of 2,200 meters. Vacationers have the opportunity to climb up to 3,400 meters.

The absence of dense vegetation gives the area excellent visibility of the surrounding landscapes. The length of the trails is over 40 kilometers. Experienced skiers prefer high-speed red and black slopes with winding curves. Wide and gently sloping sections are intended for beginner athletes. Activities in Erciyes include rock climbing, cross-country skiing and snowboarding.

Saklikent

This is a unique village offering guests to change the sunny sandy beach to the snow-capped slopes of the Bakyrlydag mountain range. It is located 50 kilometers from Antalya at an altitude of 2,500 meters. The magic of a winter fairy tale lasts here from December to April. During this period, there is a sufficient amount of stable snowfalls that provide safe and comfortable skiing on well-organized tracks. Pensions and private villas offer their guests decent apartments.

Bars, cafeterias and ski schools are open for holidaymakers. The hotels have a children's room, swimming pool, gym. Saklikent is ideal for both professional athletes and those who are planning to ski or snowboard for the first time. The ski area consists of blue, red and black routes with gentle and steep descents. The tracks are equipped with two funiculars with a total capacity of about 1200 people per hour.

Kartepe

The rapidly developing alpine city of Kartepe covers an area of ​​3,500 square kilometers. This largest Turkish ski center is located among picturesque forests and majestic mountain ranges at an altitude of 1,950 meters. The slopes offer a breathtaking panoramic view of Salanja Lake and Kocaeli Bay. Kartepe consists of luxury hotel complexes and recreational facilities.

To get to the resort village, travelers should use a taxi service or rent a car, since public transport does not run in Kartepe. The nearest international airport is in Istanbul (115 km). The variety of snow-covered routes will satisfy the tastes of experienced and novice athletes. For those who like winter active recreation, twelve ski slopes are organized. Their total length is 48 kilometers. Depending on their skill level, tourists can choose light, gentle green and wide blue sections, or winding red and high-speed black slopes.

Kartepe offers a wide range of entertainment. Sledding, snowmobiling, swimming in a pool with medicinal algae, taking mud baths in the spa and mountaineering will deliver a charge of positive energy.

Zigana

At the foot of the Zigan mountain peak, there is a small village of the same name, which is included in the list of attractive Turkish places. The pine valley, snow-capped slopes and the purest air create the perfect relaxing atmosphere. The relatively young town, formed in 2006, has limited infrastructure. A hotel complex has been erected on its territory, consisting of one multi-storey building and several cottage houses.

The hotel has a restaurant, cafe and sports equipment rental. The best way to get to the Zigan Ski Center is by public transport from Trabzon Airport (60 km). Zigana offers its guests the opportunity to enjoy skiing at an altitude of 1,900-2,500 meters. Athletes will find two tracks, which are served by a modern chain of chair lifts.

Wide, gentle and well-worn slopes are suitable for beginner skiers. Fans of extreme high-speed tracks will be bored and uninteresting here. Adults and children alike can enjoy sledding, snowmobiling or snowboarding. A walk through the snow-covered forest will leave pleasant impressions.

Davraz

The high-mountainous settlement Davraz hospitably welcomes fans of active winter sports. It occupies the northern slopes of the mountain range of the same name, directed up to 2,635 meters. Picturesque nature, stable snow cover and a first-class level of infrastructure - all this is the reason that Davraz has recently become one of the most popular resort destinations in Turkey. The city is surrounded by three lakes with crystal clear emerald waters that attract lovers of the beauty of mountain landscapes.

A cozy corner is located an hour and a half bus ride from Antalya airport. To services of tourists are provided hotel complexes operating on the "All inclusive" system. Swimming pools, gyms, sports grounds, spas, entertainment venues and restaurants are able to brighten up the busy everyday life of vacationers. Well-equipped trails are laid at an altitude of 1,500 to 2,500 meters. They are divided into green, blue, red and black sections, corresponding to the skill level of the skiers. The slopes are served by chairlifts and drag lifts.

Basically, slopes of average difficulty prevail. Admirers of extreme high-speed skiing will appreciate the two routes where the vertical drop reaches more than 500 meters. A wide variety of entertainment is provided for guests. Along with skiing hobbies, you can ride sleds, inflatable cheesecakes and snowmobiles here.

Bitlis

In the Taurus Mountains area there is a cozy little ski center Bitlis. The unique natural landscape is formed by the channels of the mountain rivers Khosrov and Avehu merging with each other. The winter season, which lasts from December to April, pleases tourists with abundant snowfalls. A dense forest area fills the region with a fresh coniferous scent. Numerous pensions and recreation centers provide guests of Bitlis with comfortable apartments. In addition to hotels, cafes, restaurants and shops await their visitors.

The territory of the village consists of several areas, each of which offers an acceptable level of service and well-groomed trails. Athletes of all skill levels will find the perfect descent for themselves. Skiers have access to both difficult steep slopes and simple gentle slopes. To get to Bitlis, you need to fly from Istanbul to the city of Van. Regular buses run to the ski center. The journey takes about 3 hours.

Ski resorts in Turkey on the map