In recent years, the international recognition of Turkey’s skiing resorts has grown, despite the fact that winter is outside of the regular tourist season. In addition, many foreign homeowners in Turkey increasingly come during the winter months as well as the traditional spring, summer, and fall seasons. If you’re looking for a vacation property in Turkey that’s near a ski resort, you’ll have plenty of options. Despite the fact that Turkish resorts can’t compete with the French Alps, there is a lot of room for growth. Let’s take a look at this winter sport in Turkey, where it’s popular, and what you can expect to see and do in the country.
Eight of Turkey’s Top Ski Resorts
Turkey’s Uludag, located in Bursa
More than a decade ago, the Bursa real estate market began attracting Middle Eastern homebuyers who were eager to experience Turkey’s diverse array of cultural and recreational opportunities. Along with the city’s center, Bursa is located 36 kilometers from Uludag mountain, which is considered to be where the gods observed the Trojan wars in legend. The skiing region is situated between 1800 and 2500 meters above sea level and receives a good amount of snowfall from the end of December to the beginning of April, making it one of Turkey’s oldest ski resorts.
Ski resort in Bursa Uludag, Turkey
It is also a popular winter destination for residents of Istanbul, who make the short trip to Uludag for a night’s rest. There are 24 lifts that provide access to 28 kilometers of snow if you go on New Year’s Eve. Ice skating and snow riding are two other choices. (Turkey’s Bursa area is mentioned here.)
Kayseri’s Mount Erciyes
While in Anatolia, Mount Erciyes is a popular stop for young travelers. The 3915-meter elevation makes this one of Turkey’s oldest resorts a fantastic ski resort with a lot of potential. A total of 102 kilometers of slopes, ranging from beginner to expert, may be accessed through twenty lifts.
Accommodations atop Mount Erciyes are available for visitors, although the city of Kayseri, which lies close, is where most visitors stay. Among the 34 runs, 34 percent were directed at blue, 52 percent were aimed at red, and 14 percent were aimed at black. First-time skiers may rent basic equipment from rental shops, which open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays.
Skiing and Snowboarding at Palandoken in Erzurum, Turkey
Palandoken near Erzurum, Turkey, is well-known among skiers as one of the country’s major ski resorts. All hotels and services adhere to strict standards of excellence and professionalism at all times. This isn’t a kid’s toy, either. Hotels in Erzurum, Turkey’s second-largest city, are the most popular choice for travellers.
Palandoken
Upon its debut in 2011, Palandoken quickly gained a reputation as a top-notch snowboarding destination for college athletes. A gondola lift and five chairs serve 22 slopes on 1100 acres at altitudes ranging from 2200 meters to 3176 meters. From the beginning of November until the end of April, you can go skiing at the Olympic-sized Kapikaya and Ejder slopes, which are popular with visitors keen to try slalom skiing in Turkey.
Sarikamis, a small town in eastern Turkey, near Kars
Sarikamis’s skiing season runs from late December to late March, and guests may expect an average of 1.5 meters of snowfall. Many people compare the snow’s crystal-like texture to that of the French alps, rather than the powder seen in the Colorado Rockies. It is located at an altitude of 2100 meters and has a few of low-cost hotels, although many tourists choose to stay in Kars and visit the resort on a single day excursion.
Sarikamis, a popular alpine, Nordic, and tour ski destination, is another popular snowboarding destination. The longest run is 3500 meters, with a total distance of 12 kilometers. There is also a 45-mile cross-country course available. The resort has two chairlifts and one ski lift. Check out Lake Cilder while you’re in the area, and take a horse-drawn carriage ride across the frozen surface.
In the vicinity of Bolu is Kartalkaya
Kartalkaya is a popular weekend escape for Istanbul residents because of the heavy snowfall, which may reach up to 3 meters. Kartalkaya, a snowboarding and skiing resort at 2250 meters in the Bolu Pine Forest, with 20 kilometers of slopes and 18 ski lifts. Hotels abound, and the city of Bolu is only 54 kilometers away if you want to stay there instead. Visiting on a weekday after residents have left for the day will help you avoid crowds.
The well-known Ilgaz Ski Resort
Ilgaz ski resort, located at a high elevation of 2850 meters in the Ilgaz National Park, is frequently shrouded in fog and has ideal skiing conditions for both beginners and experts. The moderate slopes make it an especially good choice for first-time skiers.
As a result, it doesn’t get nearly as much attention as some of the other ski resorts. There are two runs totaling 2.8 kilometers that are served by a chairlift, a ski lift, and a walkway, but the skiers have it good. Late December to late March is the best time to visit for the best snowfall conditions. The nearest airport to the ski resorts in Turkey is Kastamonu, which is around 40 kilometers distant.
Located on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, Saklikent Ski Resort has become a popular winter destination.
There are around 500 chalets and ski facilities erected on the Bakirlidagi slope of the Taurus Mountains range in the Antalya district of Turkey’s southern Mediterranean coast. Saklikent ski resort stands out with the slogan “Ski in the daytime, sea in the afternoon” because skiers descend the mountain and swim in the Mediterranean; thanks to warm winter temperatures at lower altitudes. Saklikent ski resort offers 120 days of quality skiing from late December to early April.
Saklikent
Although the typical snowfall is between one and two meters, the top has received four meters on occasion. The mountain’s apex is reached by 800 skiers every hour using the Karakaya chair lift. See the sights from the top of the mountain while you’re at it. The T-Bar lifts 200 people an hour, while the Babylift lifts 100 people every hour to the learning slopes for novices. Find out more about the Antalya Region by reading this guide.
Kartepe, Turkey’s Nearest Beachside Resort
The Kartepe ski resort, located at a height of 1650 meters above sea level, is a popular destination for Istanbul residents. 2 meters of snowfall is common on Kocaeli plateau of the Samanli mountains during a good season. The resort has runs ranging in length from 400 meters to 3500 meters, making it suitable for skiers of all skill levels.
12 pistes, ranging from blue to black, are serviced by three ski lifts and a chairlift, making this a great place to ski. Visit from the end of December to the beginning of March for the best weather. Stay in Izmit, which is 15 kilometers away, or get a room at the ski resort’s lone five-star hotel, which has an indoor pool. However, due to its proximity to Istanbul, many residents of that city come for a day trip. Learn more about the Izmir Center by reading on.
Turkey.
Turkish metropolises may be found all around the country, making it easy for foreigners to discover new places to visit and perhaps settle down for a while. 81 recognized cities make up Turkey’s 37th-largest country, and more are added each year as towns grow in population and Turks move here to find job and live. Nevertheless, although certain Turkish cities remain mostly unknown to tourists and expats alike, others stand out as some of the country’s greatest and most popular attractions. The best places to visit and live are discussed in this piece. Contact us today to buy or sell ski property in Turkey
