Ski resorts in Turkey

To Turkey for snow and mountain skiing! 
Most vacationers consider Turkey as an option for recreation only for the summer season. The sea, the sun, the beach and the fruit - that is what attracts us to the Solar Republic. And a little who knows that Turkey is famous for its ski resorts, because a huge part of the country is majestic mountains, and in the central part of the Republic during the winter months snow falls, and sometimes it marks rather big snowdrifts. 
Therefore, Turkey should not be considered only as a country for a beach and sightseeing holiday. This country can also be attractive for lovers of extreme sports: skiing and snowboarding. 
So where are the most popular "snow" resorts in the South of the country, and are they really as good as they are told?

Uludag is a competitor to Alpine ski resorts
150 kilometers from Istanbul and just 35 kilometers from Bursa, at an altitude of almost 2,000 meters, is the most fashionable resort in the country - Uludag, which can easily compete with Alpine skiers. In addition, in the western part of Turkey it is the largest ski center. 
Snow falls here in mid-December and lies on the slopes until the end of March. There are no severe frosts here - temperatures are kept in the area from - 2 to - 10 degrees. But sometimes it is quite windy here. 
The lower point of skiing on Uludag is 1,750 meters, the upper one is 2,543 meters. The slopes of the mountains are covered with chestnut and coniferous trees. Uludag is not only a ski resort, but also a national park, the nature of which is protected by the state.
The trails in Uludag are mostly flat and wide, so they are ideal for those who only master skiing or snowboarding. 
Hotels here are located right at the foot of the snow trails. Therefore, to the lifts - at hand. By the way, from the city to the top of the mountain, the cable car with comfortable gondolas lifts to the ski areas. 
Despite the fact that in Turkey, Uludag is considered a fashionable resort, prices are much lower here than in Europe, for example, Austria or Italy. 
An interesting fact is that Uludag in the Middle Ages was a place of solitude of Byzantine monks. And in ancient times, the mountain was a refuge of the Gods and was known as the Mizian Olympus. From here the gods were watching the battles during the Trojan War.

Palandoken - a resort for adrenaline lovers
There are resorts for extreme sports in Turkey. One of them is Palandoken, which is located 6 kilometers from the city of Erzurum, practically on the border with Armenia. This resort is located high in the mountains. The lowest point is 2,200 meters, and the highest altitude, where the trails begin, is 3176 meters. 
At this resort almost 40 kilometers of tracks, most of them red - 8 of them, there are even 2 black. But this does not mean that the newcomers on Palandoken have nothing to do, because there are also seven blue tracks on which you can hone skiing skills. 
By the way, unlike Uludag, on Palandoken there are also routes for skiing in virgin soil. So, if you like Free Ride - welcome! 
And in Palandoken there are Sky parks and Halfpipes.
By the way, despite the fact that the resort is high in the mountains, there is no frost here, and the average daytime temperatures of -5 are 10 degrees. 
An interesting fact is that it is on Palandokene that the national skiing team of the country is training. 
Another important feature is that the hotels here are working on the All İnclusive system. And most of them have a spa center and a swimming pool.

Saklykent is the closest resort to Antalya.
If you come to Antalya or Alanya for a winter vacation, do not miss the chance to go skiing or snowboarding. Just 45 kilometers from the Mediterranean capital is located the wonderful resort of Saklykent. 
Ski slopes are equipped on the mountain Bakyrlydag, which rises at an altitude of 2558 meters above sea level. 
The resort itself is small, but it can be an ideal addition to relaxing by the sea. 
The season starts here at the end of December and ends in mid-April. There are only 6 kilometers of tracks and 2 lifts. The tracks are mostly blue and red, but there are a couple of black ones, so both beginners and experienced katalschiki can find slopes to their liking.
The minimum height at which the slopes are located is 2,000 meters, the maximum is -2,400. And the snow cover, despite its proximity to the Mediterranean Sea, can reach 100 centimeters here. 
Another resort, located near Antalya - Davraz. It is located just 26 kilometers from the famous city of Isparta and 164 kilometers from the beach of Antalya. Here the ski season begins in late December and ends in March. But despite the short winter, the snow depth sometimes reaches two meters. 
There are few trails here - only nine, but the slopes are of different levels of difficulty, ranging from green to beginners to black, and increased difficulty.
There is also a large hotel on the top of the mountain, so you can easily come to Davraz overnight, for example, on weekends and plenty to roll, especially since the prices here are quite reasonable.

Alpine skiing in the country of Fay
Not far from the famous for its "fairy chimneys" Cappadocia, there is another excellent ski resort, called Erciyes. 
The season here, as in most ski resorts in Turkey, lasts from December to April. A ski area is located at an altitude of 2 100 - 3 360 meters. 
There are 18 tracks of different levels of difficulty, there is even a children's park and, of course, a ski school. 
All the tracks in Erdzhiyas are quite wide - from 30 to 60 meters, and the height of snow cover in winter reaches two meters. 
By the way, Erdzhiyas is suitable not only for lovers and beginners, but also for those who like to "extreme", because there are black tracks located at the top of the mountain.
An interesting fact is that Erciyas is not just a mountain, it is an extinct volcano that the resourceful Turks turned into an excellent ski resort. And to beautiful Cappadocia from here a stone's throw away - only 60 kilometers. So you can easily combine business with pleasure - go skiing or snowboarding and visit one of the most beautiful places in Turkey.

Karatepe - a snow hill near Istanbul
At 115 kilometers from Istanbul’s beloved tourist destination, there is another ski resort, Karatepe. Unlike all previous routes, the roads here were low, only at an altitude of 1,600 meters above sea level. But after all, the resort is called Karatepe, which translates as a snow hill. 
The uniqueness of this resort is in the beauty of nature, because Sapanca Lake and Kocaeli Bay are next to it. 
In Karatepe, skiers and snowboarders will be able to find 14 tracks of different levels of difficulty, and the total length of skiing areas is 48 kilometers. The tracks here are blue and red, so those who want to “drive” on virgin soil or “check themselves” on the black slopes may get a little bored.

In Alanya, too, will ski, the
ski resort will soon appear near sunny Alanya. It will be located on the mountain Akdag, so in the coming years, Alanya will become attractive not only for those who love the sea and the sun, but also for lovers of winter holidays.

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