Category: Ski Resorts

Saklikent, 50 km from Antalya, is an ideal winter sports resort on the northern slopes of Bakirli Mountain at an altitude of 1,750 to 1,900 meters. In March and April you can ski in the morning, eat a delicious lunch of fresh fish at Antalya’s marina and sunbathe, swim or windsurf in the afternoon. High in the mountains above Fethiye rushing torrents cut a narrow gorge through the mountains, creating Saklikent (Hidden City).

A cool refuge on hot summer days, Saklikent is a favourite picnic spot, with rustic restaurants serving delectable fresh trout. The wildlife, deer and mountain goat in Duzlercami Park, north of Antalya are under a conservation program. On the way, you can stop at the astonishing 115 meter deep Guver Canyon.

Arrival: The resort can be reached from the centre of Antalya by bus, taxi or a hotel service vehicle in one hour.

Geography: The altitude for the skiing areas is between 2000-2400m, with a snow depth between 0.5-1m and a short season.

Facilities: There is a pension with 14 beds, a restaurant, café and local coffee-houses. There are two T-bars, and two ski runs at easy/moderate level.

Erciyes Ski center has suitable conditions for summer skiing, ski touring and heli skiing and is equipped with 2 chair lifts and 2 T-bars. Qualified skiing instructors and equipment for hire are available. The Resort has first aid facilities and a rural clinic. Erciyes Ski Center is located on the extinct volcanic mountain of Erciyes, which is east of Cappadocia and south of the town of Kayseri.

The distance from the center to Kayseri is 25 km and takes 30 minutes by car. The nearest airport is a 45-minute drive away. The duration of the skiing season is 150 days a year. The altitude in the skiing area of Erciyes is 2200 3100 m and the most suitable skiing conditions are between 20 November and 20 April. The average snowfall is 2 m in normal winter conditions. The type of snow is generally “powdery ” This center has suitable conditions for summer skiing, ski touring and heli skiing and is equipment with 2 chairlifts and 2 T-bars.

Qualified skiing instructors and equipment for hire are available. The Resort has first aid facilities and a rural clinic. The slopes and mechanical equipment are under surveillance of experts throughout the season. Accommodations can be booked directly
Note: In foggy conditions it is essential especially for amateur skiers not to wander outside the marked slopes.

Sarikamis ski center is located near Sarikamis, 60 km, from Kars in Eastern Turkey The nearest airport is 50 km away. The duration of the skiing sea son is 120 days a year. The altitude in the skiing area of Sarikamis is 2200 2634 m and covered by pine forest. The most suitable skiing conditions are between 20 December and 20 March. The average snowfall is 1.5 m in normal winter conditions. Sarikamis and the surrounding area have suitable conditions for Alpine skiing, ski touring and cross country skiing.

This center is equipped with 2 chairlifts and I T bar. Qualified skiing instructors and equipment for hire are avail- able. The center has first aid facilities and medical facilities. The slopes and mechanical equipment are under surveillance of experts. Accommodations can be booked directly.

In the Eastern Anatolia Region and 55km southwest of Kars, the Sarikamis Ski Resort is on the Camurlu mountain at an altitude of 2634m, and is renowned for its good quality of snow. The Cibiltepe, with an altitude of 2500m, is an area of wonderful natural beauty and has five ski runs, the longest of which is 12 km long. It is covered with crystallised snow and therefore is very challenging.

Arrival: Sarikamis Ski Resort is 60km south-west of the centre of Kars, and 50km from the airport. It is also accessible from Erzurum airport, southwest. There are direct buses to the ski resort from Kars airport (40 mins) and Erzurum airport (90 mins). From the centre of Kars, there are no public vehicles.

Geography: The skiing area is between the altitudes of 2100 – 2634m, within the pine forests. There is an average depth of 1.5m and is quite typical of Alpine conditions, and the best ski season is between 20 December – 20 March. It has a terrestrial climate, with a dominant south-westerly wind direction.

Facilities: There are two government guest-houses, and other private accommodation. Ski instructors and equipment is available for rent, and there is first aid, security and health services available, more hotels and hospital in the Sarikamis area. There is a military zone which can be used for helicopter landings. There are two chairlifts and one T-bar, plus two 4-seater T-bars.

This center has a sufficient number of suitable skiing slopes for Alpine skiing, ski touring, cross country and heli skiing. Guides are available for these activities. Located on the northern slopes of the Palandoken Mountain in the Eastern Anatolia Region, southwest of the town of Erzurum. The distance between the center and Erzurum is 5 km and takes 10 minutes by car. The nearest airport is 20 minutes away. The duration of the skiing season is 150 days a year. The altitude in the skiing area of Palandoken is 2200 – 3176 m and the most suitable skiing conditions are between 10 December and 10 May.

The average snowfall is 2-3 m in normal winter conditions. Due to the climate, the quality of the snow is “powdery” all through the season. Palandoken Ski Center is equipped with 3 chairlifts, 1 T bar and a tele cabin (3 km). Qualified skiing instructors and equipment for hire are available. The center has first aid facilities and a rural clinic. The slopes and mechanical equipment are under surveillance of experts. Accommodations can be booked directly. Palandoken mountain has an altitude of 3185 m, and is south of Erzurum.

This was the area of the first extensive study in the country looking at a master plan for tourism potential, which concluded that the area has the necessary potential and qualities to be a major international resort. Given the right facilities, it is estimated that 32,000 people could ski per day and could be the venue of international competitions and even Winter Olympics, giving job opportunities to around 6000 people.

Arrival: There are daily flights from Ankara and Istanbul to Erzurum. The ski resort is 5km from the city centre, and 10 minutes from the airport. During the winter season, there are public buses from the ski resort to the city centre.

Geography: Erzurum is one of the highest and coldest cities of Turkey, with a harsh terrestrial climate and covered with snow 150 days of a year, and an average annual snowfall of 2-3m. The dominant wind direction is southerly and westerly. The skiing area is at an altitude of 2200m – 3176m, and best time to ski is between 10 December – 10 May.

Facilities: There are 4- and 5-star hotels with restaurants, and ski instruction and equipment rental services are available. The slopes here are among the longest and steepest in the world, each one up to 12km, giving a total length of around 28 km. With the altitude difference of 1000 metres between the start and finish line, Palandoken has two registered tracks for competitions of Slalom and grand Slalom. (Ejder Track and Kapikaya Track). There are five chair-lifts, one T-bar, two baby lifts and a gondola lift.

The Elmadag Ski Resort, which is on the northern slopes of Elmadag mountain range, is a few kilometres south-east of the centre of Ankara, which has made it more popular.

Arrival: It is just 18km from the city, and close to the airport, there are many private vehicles going to the resort.

Geography: The resort is on the northern slopes of Elmadag between the altitudes of 1500-1850m. The area is treeless and covered with alpine meadows. The season runs between January and March, with a terrestrial climate, and snow thickness between 30-60cm.

Facilities: There are government-owned ski lodges, plus two restaurants, an indoor swimming pool, sauna, disco and restaurants. The T-bar has a 548m route, and the ski run is at an easy/medium level.

The Kartalkaya Skiing Resort is located in the Western Black Sea Region, southeast of the town of Bolu in the picturesque pine forests of the Koroglu Mountains. The mountain has appropriate conditions for Alpine and cross-country skiing. The Ankara Highway is a 45 minute drive from this center, which is about 220 km from the airport in Ankara, and about 275 km from the airport in Istanbul. The duration of the skiing season is 120 days a year. The skiing area of Kartalkaya is 1800-2221 m high and the most suitable skiing conditions are between 20 December and 20 March. The average snowfall is 3 m in normal winter conditions.

At the beginning of the season the type of snow is “powdery-snow” and at the end of the season the snow characteristic is slightly “slushy snow.” This center has suitable conditions for Alpine skiing, ski touring, and cross-country skiing and it is equipped with 3 chairlifts and 7 T-bars.

Qualified skiing instructors and equipment for hire are available. The slopes and mechanical equipment are under surveillance of experts. All hotels have first aid facilities and medically trained personnel. Note: In foggy conditions it is essential not to wander outside the marked slopes. Accommodations can be booked directly.

Arrival: The distance from Bolu city centre is 54km, and 28m to the Ankara highway. It takes around 45 minutes by road from the city centre and in addition to public buses and minibuses, most of the hotels organise this service for visitors.

Geography: The ski area is at an altitude of 1850-2200m, and the region has semi-temperate climate. Kartalkaya and surroundings are covered with forests, and has a dominant wind direction of west/north-west. The best season for skiing is from late December and late March, with an average 3m snowfall. The snow at the beginning of the season is powdery, getting increasingly slushy towards the end.

Facilities: There are two hotels with a total bed capacity of 1005, plus restaurants, swimming pools, discos and bars. Ski equipment and instruction is available. There are two chair-lifts, six T-bars and three baby lifts, with 12 ski runs around 20km long.

– Yesil (green) Lift (Chairlift – 700 m)
– Camcukuru Lift (Chairlift – 650 m)
– Inekcayiri 1-2 (Ski-Lift – 900 m)
– Resuldede 1-2 (Ski-Lift – 600 m)
– Kazankaya (Ski-Lift – 650 m)
– Koroglu Lift (Ski-Lift – 1200 m)
– 2 Baby-Lift