Heavy snowstorms throughout Turkey, especially in the northwestern provinces, have blanketed streets, blocked traffic and closed schools this week. After fighting against the truly adverse weather conditions and struggling to reach homes, schools and workplaces in freezing weather, everyone's in need of a nice, entertaining winter holiday this weekend where we can begin to enjoy the good side of pure white snow. The country doesn't always witness harsh weather conditions during the winter, and in fact, it actually very rare for the northwestern provinces to see this much snow twice in the winter. Since the snow is not common, visitors usually think that Turkey is only suitable for summer holidays with its blue waters and hot sunny days. However, I must insist that this is not true. There are many skiing resorts around the country that you can find both adrenaline-filled skiing adventures and quite and warm winter nights where you can enjoy a gorgeous mountain view. With its spectacular mountains, a great variety of resorts from luxurious ones to boutiques and affordable prices, winter tourism in Turkey is increasing among tourists by the day. If you are among those who want to move a little bit away from the "travelling to Turkey in summer" tradition and see the pure white side of Turkey, the country awaits you with all its beauty. In general, winter tourism in Turkey starts in November and ends at the beginning of March. As the winter holiday is about to say goodbye until next year and the snow reminds us of how beautiful a winter holiday can be, it is time to pack your ski jackets and pants, hit the road for Turkish mountains and visit one of the five suggestions we've compiled below.
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Kartalkaya in the northwestern city of Bolu
Kartalkaya is accepted as today's increasing hot spot for winter travel due to its proximity to Turkey's commercial capital, Istanbul. Once a quiet, developing winter holiday destination, Kartalkaya is now where young skiers and many tourists visit for a weekend getaway. Kartalkaya is a favorite for snowboarders with its experts-only off-track slopes. The discipline of this skiing resort resembles those in the Alps and it is very convenient for tour skiing. Kartalkaya sits at more than 2,200-meters high in the Köroğlu Mountains and the surrounding area is covered with pine forests. The suitable season for skiing here is between December and March, and the snow depth can reach 3 meters. There are six hotels operating in this popular skiing destination, they are generally completely full over the weekend and reach 85 percent capacity with weekday reservations in the winter as well. That is why you must make reservations ahead of time before visiting the mountain. When you think of skiing and weekend holidays, I assure you that Kartalkaya is the first place that comes into the mind. In Kartalkaya, there is no vivid nightlife for travelers; the nights that you will spend there are mostly for relaxation and resting. So, if you are a professional skier or what you are looking for is not a skiing adventure but a tranquil weekend getaway near Istanbul, Kartalkaya should be at the top of your list.
Kartalkaya is a perfect spot for good skiers or for those who are looking for a serene place to enjoy the winter.
How to go: The skiing and snowboarding center in Kartalkaya is only 38 kilometers away from the Bolu city center and only 28 kilometers away from the Ankara-Istanbul highway. The Bolu city center to Kartalkaya only takes approximately 45 minutes and there are shuttles that operate on the route. The road between these two routes is carefully opened to traffic, but in case of a harsh weather conditions, you must put safety chains on your tires. There are also taxis at all times between the two destinations.
Where to stay: One of the best resorts to enjoy your stay in Kartalkaya is Kaya Palazzo Mountain Ski & Resort. Located at the most popular ski center in Kartalkaya, Kaya offers skiing and snowboarding fans a winter holiday dream with its distinct architecture and outstanding quality of service. It offers 1.5 million square meters of ski slopes, seven lifts – one of which is a frontal protection Leitner lift being used in Turkey for the first time – and 11 tracks with various difficulty levels as well as its design, which facilitates direct access to the chairlifts.
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Kartepe in northwestern city of İzmit
İzmit's Kartepe Ski Center rests more than 1,650 meters high on Mount Kartepe. Formally known as Keltepe, this destination has instead adopted a more suitable name for the winter holiday, as Kartepe means "snow hill" in Turkish. The skiing season in Kartepe is between the end of December and the end of February, so it is a perfect time to see the beauty of Kartepe before the season ends. There are 14 natural tracks, 3 telesiej and chair lifts and two teleski in Kartepe. Normally the snow thickness varies from 80 cm to 200 cm as well. Even though Kartepe has a ski center and it is a close destination for which travelers can enjoy skiing adventures, there are many types of visitors you can see there who visit only to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life and enjoy the forest view with hazelnut, oak and chestnut trees. For those who are not looking for skiing facilities, there are nice and quiet walking routes, Maşukiye fishing farms and wooden houses; Sapanca Lake is also around Kartepe. Tranquility is a key aspect of the experience Kartepe has to offer, and families mostly prefer it for a weekend holiday around Istanbul. However, if you do not have a weekend to spend on Mount Kartepe, there are daily ski tours from Istanbul to Kartepe that depart from Istanbul at around 6:00 a.m. and return at 10:00 p.m.
Kartepe is a perfect spot for those who are looking for a weekend getaway around Istanbul and a holiday filled with snow and natural beauties. It is not suitable for experts looking for a real skiing adventure, but more to experience a taste of skiing in a limited time with tranquil winter nights.
How to go: Kartepe is a close destination to reach from Istanbul, as it is only a one-hour drive from the city. If you fly from your country to Istanbul, Kartepe is only 45 minutes away from Turkey's Sabiha Gökçen Airport located on the Asian side of Istanbul by car.
Where to stay: There is only one five star hotel in Kartepe, which is the Green Park Hotel. With the spectacular view of Sapanca Lake on one side and the Gulf of İzmit on the other, the hotel is suitable for beginner and professional skiers with its 17 tracks as well as those looking for a relaxing weekend, which is easy to do at the hotel's 2,560-square meter spa.
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Uludağ in the northwestern city of Bursa
Although winter holidays and sports are only recently becoming popular across the country, Uludağ (Great Mountain), located in the northwestern province of Bursa, is the oldest winter holiday resort in Turkey. Despite its age, it is still the most popular and crowded resort during the winter. There are two main skiing zones and 14 lifts around its hills. The pistes in Uludağ Ski Center are about 20 km long and have separate areas for snowboarding and heli skiing. What makes Uludağ popular is both its proximity to Istanbul and its vivid nightlife on harsh winter nights. It is where many of Istanbul's young glitterati choose to spend their winter days as well. The best time to go skiing in Uludağ begins at the end of December and ends in late March. If you intend to see Turkey's oldest, biggest and most popular ski resort, you should keep in mind that it is nearly impossible to find a room to stay, especially on the weekends, without advance booking. In this respect, we can say that Uludağ is also the most problematic winter holiday resort in Turkey. There are many hotels in Uludağ and most of them are closed during the summer, but it does not mean that life in Uludağ is over when the winter ends. It also has the characteristic of being the only winter destination that deserves a visit all year round.
Uludağ is a perfect spot for those who are looking for a huge skiing center with many facilities, and also a vivid nightlife with many networking opportunities. Its proximity to Istanbul is also another feature that makes here perfect destination for a weekend getaway.
How to go: Uludağ is only 140 km away from Istanbul and only 36 km south of the Bursa city center. You can use ferries from Istanbul's Yenikapı and Pendik districts to reach Bursa and can go either by bus or telpher to Uludağ.
Where to stay: Hotel Monte Baia will offer you a luxurious and cozy atmosphere to spend your days in Uludağ. It is one of the most preferred among the many hotels in Uludağ, but to find a room is nearly impossible before booking far in advance. Alkoçlar is also a nice and suitable hotel to stay in, which offers hamam spa facilities.
Sarıkamış in the northeastern city of Kars
Renowned for rarely seen crystal snow on its tracks, Sarıkamış is located in northeastern Turkey and is a perfect skiing destination surrounded by yellow pine forests that hinder the wind. The period to ski in Sarıkamış starts in December and lasts until April, which makes it the longest period for skiing in Turkey. Sarıkamış is sunny most of the days of the year but there is no avalanche risk, so it is the first choice for snowboarding as well as cross-country skiing. There are also three state-of-the art chairlifts and pistes spanning 12 kilometers. Professional skiers and those who are looking for a winter holiday with a historical atmosphere generally prefer the Sarıkamış Ski Center. The ski centers in Sarıkamış are 2,100-2,634 meters above sea level and snow can reach two meters high. Sarıkamış is also a perfect spot for skiing lessons for beginners.
With its high quality snow, Sarıkamış is a perfect spot for both those who are professional skiers and those who want to learn to ski. There is no vivid nightlife in Sarıkamış and it is mostly preferred by families; so, if what you are looking for is getting away from western Turkey and to see the east, Sarıkamış should be your first choice.
How to go: The Sarıkamış Ski Center is 45 km away from Kars and 110 km away from Erzurum. The most suitable way to reach Sarıkamış is by plane since it's far from the major population centers of Istanbul and Ankara. You can also choose to road trip, but you should keep in mind that it will be a long journey.
Where to stay: There are two hotels in the Sarıkamış Ski Center: The Çamkar and Toprak hotels. These are both cozy hotels to stay in with good services, but they do not have luxurious facilities such as a spa or hamam.
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Palandöken in eastern city of Erzurum
Located in the eastern Anatolian city of Erzurum, Mount Palandöken, where the Palandöken skiing center is situated, is Turkey's highest peak sitting at 3,125 meters high. With its light powder snow and cold weather conditions, Palandöken is the best skiing destination for skilled skiers with its steep slopes, 12 kilometer-long trails and two or three meter-high snow. The ski center in Palandöken has the longest and most perpendicular tracks in Turkey. There are 22 tracks in Palandöken Ski Center, including eight easy tracks, eight intermediate tracks, two advanced tracks and four road tracks. Additionally, two of those tracks are registered as "Olympic tracks." With its lifts and tracks, the Palandöken Ski Center is accepted as one of the best ski resorts in Turkey and it hosts many international winter sport championships and competitions.
If you are a professional skier who is eager to experience a real skiing adventure, Palandöken is the best choice for you.
How to go: There are flights from Ankara's Esenboğa Airport or Istanbul's airports to the Erzurum Airport on a daily basis. The ski center in Palandöken is only 5 km away from the Erzurum city center and only 10 minutes away from the airport.
Where to stay: Since winter tourism is highly developed in Palandöken due to international competitions, you can find many high quality hotels to stay at during your visit. Polat Renaissance Hotel and Dedeman Ski Lodge Resort are two of the best places to stay in Palandöken.
