Skiing in Turkey
Winter sports resorts in Turkey are generally located in forested mountains of average height. The following ski centers are easily accessible by road or by Turkish Airlines domestic flights.
Bursa - Ulud
ag: This ski center 36 km south of Bursa is accessible along a good asphalt road or by cable-car. The ski area lies between 1800-1900 m and the best season is from December to April. A wide range of accommodation is available in hotels, in family chalets and apres ski facilities. At the resort there are chair-lifts, three ski-lifts, slalom and giant slalom courses, beginner's slopes and a small hospital. Skis, equipment, and instructors are available for hire. Total bed capacity is over 4,000. Antalya - Saklikent: Situated north east of Bakirli dagi the Beydag mountain range, 50 km north west of Antalya, at a height of 2000 m. Accommodation is available in guest house/chalets and there are restaurants, shops and a supermarket. The best season is from January to April. The special attraction of this centre is that in March and April one can ski in the mornings then drive down to the coast and swim in the warm waters of the Mediterranean in the afternoons. Bolu - Kartalkaya: This resort situated on the Istanbul - Ankara highway 50 km from Bolu is surrounded by pinewoods, the ski area lying between 1500 and 2200 m. Kartal Hotel 1 and 2 with a total 743 bed capacity have a swimming pool, ski-lift and equipment for hire, and ski instructors are available. Erzurum - Palandöken: This center is 6 km from Erzurum along a good road, lying at an altitude of 2200 to 3100 meters with some of the longest and most difficult courses and best snow conditions in Turkey, making it an ideal location for international ski competitions. Accommodation is available at a 140 bed centrally heated ski lodge with telephone, restaurant, chair-lift and ski instructors and equipment are available for hire. Lately many big hotels are built in the area. Also there are a number of hotels in Erzurum. December to April is the most suitable season. According to the development plans of the Government, Palandöken will soon reach at 87,000 people per hour capacity on its tracks. Erzincan - Bolkar: Situated at 40 kilometers to Erzincan city center, there is a 1100 meters long and 200 meters wide medium-hard track, with a 1200 people per hour capacity teleski and a baby-lift. Best season is between December and April. Mountaineering is also possible here. Kars - Sarikamis: Situated near Kars at 2250 m, this ski center also has good courses and ideal snow conditions, the area is also noted for its hunting. One can stay in the town itself or at the 60 bed capacity centrally heated ski lodge with ski-lift and ski instructors available. Best season is December to April. Agri - Bubi: It is 18 kms to Agri city center but it isn't developed much as a big resort yet. It's season is between December and April and it gets approximately 1-2 meters of snow. There is a 1227 meters long teleski with a capacity of 600 persons per hour. Another skiing area is 4 kms to Eleskirt district with 1650 meters long and 1000 people per hour capacity detachable chair telesiege. Skiing track is 1,200 meters long and 250 meters wide. Kayseri - Erciyes: This ski centre lies at 2150 m on the eastern face of Erciyes Dagi, Tekir Yaylasi (plateau), 25 km from Kayseri. The season is from November to May and there is a 135 bed capacity ski lodge and good courses, a ski-lift and baby-lift, ski instructors and equipment are available. Mountaineering is also possible here. Ankara - Elmadag: This is a lovely place to relax, 23 km out of Ankara, to get fresh air and to dine far away from the chaos and air pollution of the city. There is a 10 room (33 beds) hotel, chalets (130 beds), a pleasantly decorated a-la-carte restaurant, a snack bar/discotheque, and parking. Best season is between January and March. Skiing track is 900 meters long and 250 meters wide, with a 548 meters long teleski having a capacity of 720 people per hour. llgaz Mountain: Situated between Kastamonu and Cankiri at the junction of the Istanbul - Kastamonu, Ankara - Kastamonu roads. In the Ilgaz National Park amidst beautiful woodlands the slopes lie at 1820-2000m. There are picnic facilities, chalets (50 beds) and good hunting in the area. Bingöl - Kurucadag: Situated at Yolcati district of Bingöl, is a small skiing area approximately 25 kms to the city center. The season is between February and March where skiers stay in mountain chalet's. On 1,000 meters long skiing track there is a 925 meters long telesiege with a capacity of 500 people per hour. It's easily reachable by road with buses as well. Zigana - Gumushane: This center is 30 km from Gumushane, and lies at an altitude of 1870 m above a pine forested valley. There is a ski-lift, cafeteria and a restaurant. The season is from December to the end of April.
