A popular summer holiday destination, Turkey also offers skiing in provinces across the country, attracting more and more domestic and foreign visitors during the winter months.
Uludağ
Uludağ is the fabled Mount Olympus of Mysia. It is known in mythology as the place where the gods watched the Trojan war. It is a western extension of the Pontic mountain ranges. Its name means ‘Big mountain’ – the highest mountain in Western Anatolia, culminating at Kara Tepe (2543m).
The ski centre, in the Uludağ National Park, is 36km south of Bursa. The skiing at Uludağ is mostly intermediate on lightly forested slopes that are usually open from December until late March. There are 27 hotels, 15 of which are privately owned, providing over 3000 beds at present. Further development is underway
Visitors to Uludağ can also heli-ski, snowboard, ice-skate or tour the area on snow bikes.
Perhaps surprisingly, the Mediterranean resort city of Antalya, already a major destination with its stunning beaches and sunny skies, now attracts winter visitors to its ski resort at Saklıkent.
The ski centre, considered to be the closest available ski resort to the Mediterranean, is situated on the northern side of Bakırlıdağ, part of the Taurus Mountains. It can be reached by car as well as by cable car from sea level with its breathtaking view of Antalya and the Taurus Mountains.
Offering a nonstop ski experience to its guests, the Palandöken Ski Centre on Palandöken Mountain in Erzurum province has become one of the best winter tourist attractions in the world.
Palandöken is one of Turkey’s most easily accessible ski resorts, located approximately 15 kilometres from Erzurum Airport. It is an hour from the capital Ankara by plane and nearly 1.5 hours by plane from Istanbul and İzmir.
With a capacity for 12,000 skiers at once, the centre has 24 trails, which are among the longest and steepest in the world. While beginners can enjoy eight easy and mid-level tracks, for enthusiasts who want to push the limits, there are three advanced-level tracks – one of them being the world’s third longest track and Turkey’s longest.
Also in eastern Turkey, Sarıkamış is a rapidly developing resort 50 kilometres from the centre of Kars. The resort features 14 kilometres of slopes and four ski lifts with an elevation of between 2,100 and 2,600 meters. The altitude and distance of Sarıkamış from the coast make this a fairly snowsure resort.
Though short by Alpine standards, the pistes at Sarıkamış are among the longest in Turkey.
The ski season in Sarıkamış Ski Centre is from December to April and the thickness of the snow in Sarıkamış reaches up to 50-200cm.
Located 270km from Istanbul at the peak of the Köroğlu Mountains, 38 kilometres from Bolu, Kartalkaya is a beautiful ski resort and popular destination for a winter holiday break.
Surrounded by picturesque pine trees, the area is the ultimate centre for Turkey’s attractive ski hotels and centres.
Kartakalya has much to offer skiers and snowboarders with its 12 ski pistes and off-piste available until April. Snow depth can sometimes be three meters.
Visitors can choose from a range of luxury and affordable ski hotels. You can rent snowboards, skis and sledges from almost all hotels.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Davraz, İsparta: A bit off the beaten path from the well-known ski resorts in Turkey is the Davraz Ski Resort, considered a hidden ski haven for winter adventure lovers that is suitable for both amateur and professional skiers. (AA PHOTO)
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Saklıkent, Antalya: Antalya is not only for summer but for winter as well! Around 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the tourist hot spot, Saklıkent has four ski tracks operating from mid-December to the beginning of April. (DHA PHOTO)
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Palandöken, Erzurum: The Palandöken Ski Resort is one of the best-known places to hit the snow in Turkey. Rightfully so at almost 2,000 meters (6,560 feet) above sea level, the ski center is a place where you can ski for up to four months a year. (AA PHOTO)
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Merga Bütan, Hakkari: With a total of six months and four kilometers on three different slopes, this ski resort is most definitely a hidden gem. (SABAH PHOTO)
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Salda, Burdur: The Salda Ski Resort offers both a beautiful view of the eponymous lake and five different slopes to test your skills. (AA PHOTO)
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Zigana, Gümüşhane: Starting in November and usually up to mid-April this ski resort offers wide slopes to enjoy the Black Sea charm. (IHA PHOTO)
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Küpkıran, Ağrı: While it has rather shorter tracks for the skiing lovers out there, the resort is especially family-friendly. (AA PHOTO)
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Ilgaz, Kastamonu: The ski season starts in December and continues until April, offering ski lovers an opportunity to enjoy the Black Sea slopes for a longer period. The ski resort features two tracks with a total length of 2.8 kilometers. (AA PHOTO)
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Kartepe, İzmit: Kartepe Ski Center rests more than 1,650 meters high on Mount Kartepe. There are 14 natural tracks in Kartepe. (TAKVIM PHOTO)
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Kartalkaya, Bolu: Kartalkaya ski resort, with a total area of 70 kilometers and 25 different tracks, lies in the Köroğlu Mountains. (IHA PHOTO)
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Karacadağ, Şanlıurfa: This ski resort is considered the “Uludağ of the Southeast” as many tourists flock to the slopes from the surrounding provinces. (AA PHOTO)
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Yıldızdağ, Sivas: If you want a wide variety of activities you can head to Yıldızdağ, where in addition to the classic skiing and snowboarding you can also take a horse to explore the breathtaking nature surrounding the resort. (IHA)
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Erciyes, Kayseri: The ski center, which sits on a nearly 25-square-kilometer area, with its modern chairlifts and latest technology cable car system, allows tourists to enjoy skiing in different spots with its 18 mechanical facilities that are 21,300 meters in length and can carry 25,500 people per hour. (AA PHOTO)
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Uludağ, Bursa: One of the best-known resorts, Uludağ offers various activities, including skiing, snowboarding, sledding and snow bikes. With 20 ski tracks spread over 300 kilometers, it has a lot to show. (IHA PHOTO)
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Sarıkamış, Kars: With three chairlifts and ski runs spanning 12 kilometers, the Sarıkamış Ski Center is not just for professional skiers, but it is equally enjoyable for those looking for a winter holiday with a historic atmosphere. Sarıkamış is also a perfect spot for skiing lessons for beginners. (AA PHOTO)
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Ergan, Erzincan: The Ergan Ski Resort offers the longest slope of all and is preferred by many tourists because it is a mere 12-minute ride from the airport. (IHA PHOTO)
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Hazarbaba, Elazığ: With eight slopes, around three kilometers long, this one is for the more experienced and is considered Turkey’s hardest slope to hit. (IHA PHOTO)
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Atabarı, Artvin: A rather small resort with a slope of 800 meters but nestled in the beautiful mountains of Artvin. The cafe and restaurant is open year-round, offering a breathtaking view. (AA PHOTO)
Getting here
Many flight operators don’t offer flights to Turkey during the winter however, there are still international and domestic connecting flights via Istanbul Ataturk airport and Sabiha Gökçen airport. Dalaman airport is also open in the winter and there are flights into Antalya and İzmir.
