Winter is just around the corner, and do you know what the best part about this beautiful season is? The snow, building snowmen, and of course, skiing!
Therefore, if you’re looking for places in the Middle East for skiing, we suggest planning a trip to Turkey, as it has some of the best ski resorts that offer plenty of features for the whole family to enjoy.
The snow-covered mountains of Palandöken, the slopes of Sarıkamış, and the foresty peaks of Uludağ await you this winter to take in the incredible views from atop the hills.
So, rejuvenate yourself with clean, pollution-free air while enjoying delicious food and comfortable accommodations in some of the best ski resorts in Turkey!
When is Ski Season in Turkey?
While Turkey is mainly known for beautiful sandy beaches and temperatures just right to enjoy outdoor activities, it also has its share of snowfall.
Turkey is open for skiing from mid-December till late March and sometimes May. And even though, from March onwards, you might find snow at a higher altitude, there are ski resorts located high up in the mountains that offer skiing till the end of the season.
With that sorted, let’s look at some of Turkey’s best and biggest ski resorts.
Best Ski Resorts in Turkey
Turkey has over 30 places where you can go skiing; however, we have narrowed them down to the seven best ski resorts in Turkey for families, with details on how to get there.
1. Ejder 3200 World Ski Resort
The Ejder 3200 World Ski Resort is located in the eastern Anatolia region, divided between the Palandöken and Konakli mountains.
The resort has 19 ski lifts, including 17 vintage chairs and two gondolas. The ski trails are 65 km long, with 45% of the trails marked for advanced skiers. The slopes have a skiable area of 1 km, with the longest ski run of almost 10 km.
The Ejder Ski Resort starts operating from late November till mid-April, and the timings for skiing and snowboarding are between 9 am to 4:30 pm. And, if you’re looking for accommodation near the resort, you can book a hotel at the base of the ski resort or near the city centre. In both cases, the ski resort is easily accessible via chairlifts.
How to Get There?
The quickest and most convenient way of getting to Edjer 3200 World Ski Resort is to take a flight to the Erzurum airport (ERZ), from where it’s a 30-minute drive to get to the resort.
2. Isparta-Davraz Mountain Resort
If you want to experience the best skiing in Turkey, go to the Isparta-Davraz Mountain Resort.
The resort is situated in the Mediterranean region of Turkey, between the Egirdir and Kovada lakes. It has five ski lifts, including two baby lifts, two chair lifts, and 1 T bar. As for the trails, there’s a total of 19 km of skiable slopes available, out of which 8 to 10 km are for advanced skiers. Beginners and intermediate skiers can enjoy the less slopey and more natural terrain.
Isparta-Davraz Mountain Resort offers skiing between December and April and is a great place to go skiing and snowboarding with your whole family.
How to Get There?
The closest city to the Isparta-Davraz Mountain Resort is Antalya; get a flight to the city (AYT), and you can reach the resort after a drive of under 3 hours.
3. Erciyes Ski Resort
Erciyes Ski Resort is another ski resort in Turkey, located in the centre of the Anatolia region.
It is considered one of the biggest ski resorts in Turkey, as it has a whopping 55 km of skiing slopes, with 12 km for advanced skiers. Plus, there are 14 ski lifts, including two gondolas, 11 chairlifts, one baby lift, two people movers, and 3 SunKid moving carpets. The resort also offers ski training to kids and newbies; therefore, it is quite family-friendly.
Erciyes Ski Resort starts its operations in early December and till late April, and skiing hours are from 9 am to 4 pm.
The resort is located near the towns of Kayseri and Hacilar; therefore, finding accommodation won’t be an issue.
The best part is that many children’s playrooms are located just at the gates of the resort. Therefore, while you ski freely, your little ones can enjoy playing in the warm and comfortable play areas in a safe and secure environment.
How to Get There?
Due to its central location, getting to Erciyes Ski Resort is a breeze! Simply fly to the Kayseri-Erkilet Airport (ASR), and take a 30-minute drive to the resort.
4. Sarikamis Ski Resort
The Sarikamis Ski Resort is located east of the Anatolia region and is one of the best places to ski in Turkey with family.
The resort has almost 21 km of skiing slopes, with 5.2 km for advanced skiers, 8.2 km for intermediate skiers, and 7.9 km for beginners, making it an ideal skiing resort for the whole family, as everyone can ski according to their skill level.
Sarikamis Ski Resort is located at an altitude of 2,130 m and 2,635 m and is listed as one of Turkey’s highest-elevated ski resorts. It is open from December to March, and skiing hours start from 8:30 am till 4 pm.
It is an excellent place for adults and kids to enjoy skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, and other winter sports.
How to Get There?
Sarikamis Ski Resort is located between the towns of Kars and Erzurum; however, the best way to get there is via Kars Airport (KSY), as it is just 45 minutes away from the resort. But, if you decide to come from Erzurum Airport, you’ll have to drive for almost 2 hours to get there.
5. Zigana Ski Resort
The Zigana Ski Resort is located in the eastern Black Sea Region in the Torul district of Gümüşhane.
It is a relatively small resort, with only three ski lifts, and is an ideal weekend getaway. The resort is family-friendly and offers snowmobile and sled rides alongside skiing, which can be a great fun activity for the kids. And, if you’re new to skiing, you can take skiing lessons from a private teacher too!
The skitrack is 650 meters long, so it won’t be much of a challenge for expert-level skiers; however, beginners can have a great time. The resort opens from December to April and offers skiing facilities from 8 am to 4 pm.
How to Get There?
The nearest city to Zigana Ski Resort is Gümüşhane; therefore, if you fly into Gümüşhane Airport (Opening date still TBC), you can take a 40-minute drive to reach the resort. Alternatively, you are about 60 kilometres south of Trabzon Airport (TZX).
6. Uludag Ski Resort
If you’re looking for the best place to ski in Turkey, the Uludag Ski Resort is one of the best options.
The resort is located in the Marmara region of Bursa and offers various winter sports for the whole family to enjoy. It has 24 lifts, including two gondolas, nine chairlifts, and 13 T-bar lifts, and 30 km of ski tracks. The tracks are ideal for intermediate skiers as there’s 15 km of a skiable slope; however, advanced skiers only get 3 km of the difficult ski track.
Uludag Ski Resort is situated at an altitude of more than 2000 meters, so you can expect lots of soft snow to ski and snowboard.
How to Get There?
The best way to get to Uludag Ski Resort is via Istanbul. Book a flight to Istanbul (IST), where you can hire a taxi or rent a car and get to the resort in almost 3 hours.
7. Kartepe Ski Resort
One of the best and biggest ski resorts in Turkey is Kartepe Ski Resort. Not only does it offer various winter sports to visitors, but it also offers beautiful views of the pine forests surrounding it.
It is located in the Kocaeli-Izmit area and is quite close to Istanbul; therefore, you can easily plan a day trip to this resort while staying in the heart of Turkey.
The resort has four ski lifts, including three chairlifts and 1 T-bar lift, with 21 km of skiing tracks. The ski slopes are ideal for intermediate skiers, while there are separate tracks for beginners and expert skiers as well. Therefore, whether you have a kid who’s just getting the hang of skiing, or someone who’s a national champion, the tracks cater to everyone’s needs. Also, if you don’t have ski equipment or clothes, the resort offers rentals also.
The Kartepe Ski Resort is operational during the months of December through February and offers skiing and snowboarding from 9 am to 6 pm.
How to Get There?
As we mentioned earlier, Istanbul is the closest city to Kartepe Ski Resort, so taking a flight to Istanbul is the easiest way to get to the resort, with a 2-hour drive.
Best Skiing In Turkey
The best part about winter adventures is skiing; therefore, if you’re looking for the best ski resorts in Turkey, we have mentioned seven places that offer top-notch skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, and other winter sports for the whole family.
Turkey can be a great country to explore in the cooler winter months, so why not also try:
- Discover the Magic of Istanbul in Winter
- How to explore Cappadocia with Kids in the Winter
- How to dress for Turkey in all seasons
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The Family Travel in the Middle East team of travel writers are all based in the Middle East, sharing first hand experiences and reviews from across the region to help you plan your next adventure.
