By Justin Mays:
Calling all snow bunnies! Turkey has 356 kilometers of ski slopes and 155 ski lifts. So, when temperatures drop, locals and foreigners head towards the mountain resorts throughout the country. Slopes for all levels are available with some top-class resorts offering commodious apres-ski spots for relaxing with a warm drink by a cozy fireplace.
To experience the classic local favorite
Uludag - one of the best-known resorts which is located 200 km from Istanbul and 10 km from Bursa. Also, home to a national park, Mount Uludag boasts Turkey’s largest ski resort known for its lively nightlife filled with concerts and apres-ski parties. Alpine skiing, snowboarding, and ice skating will fill your days as you explore the 20 ski tracks.
For those seeking a challenge
Fly to Erzurum to hit up Palandoken, one of Turkey’s most popular winter resorts located 2000 meters above sea level, they have a longer season with excellent conditions for four months of the year. Advanced skiers love the challenging slopes while the bunny slopes are children friendly. The resort features lights for night skiing and a zipline, an ice wall, and a giant swing for non-skiers.
For a day trip from Istanbul
Head up to Kartepe in Izmit for a fun day trip from Istanbul. At this smaller resort, you will find a couple of hotels and you can combine your trip with a weekend visit to Lake Sapanca. There are good slopes for beginner and intermediate skiers available.
Ski an internationally recognized resort
In the Central Anatolian region, go to Erciyes Mountain in Kayseri which is a modern resort sitting on a 25 square kilometer area. The resort is located on top of a 4000-meter extinct volcano, the resort has received accolades abroad for being a top European skiing destination. If you still have a day to spare, you can go on to Cappadocia or explore the city of Kayseri.
For a trip to a nature-rich area
Kartalkaya ski resort in Bolu has some fantastic luxury resorts and is very popular with visitors from Istanbul and the Middle East. Just south of the Black Sea, you will find a vast array of accommodations and ski runs that span over 20 kilometers.
Visit Turkey for the most adventurous vacation of your life. For an authentic experience explore cities like Uludag - Bursa, Kartalkaya - Bolu, Palandoken - Erzurum, Erciyes - Kayseri and Kartepe - Kocaeli, in winter. So go on, book your flight and pack your bags for the next flight to Turkey, the ski slopes await.
