SIN Skis Turkey
In the words on Monty Python, “And now for something completely different”
Skiing in Turkiye. OK, not a destination that might first come to mind for winter sports as one tends to think of Turkiye as purely a summer idyll of sun kissed beaches and soaring temperatures, however, having just tasted some of what Turkiye has to offer the winter sports enthusiast, Snow Industry News can wholeheartedly recommend it for a truly unforgettable experience. Signed up by Indy Pass just before the 2025/26 season began, SIN took the opportunity to travel to Erciyes (Turkiye's largest resort), and share some of what it has to offer.
Erciyes Ski Center is on Mount Erciyes (3,916 m), the highest summit of Anatolia, in the south Erciyes Province. Mount Erciyes is a young extinct volcano, presenting visitors with several visible volcanic cones. The higher points of Mount Erciyes are covered in snow throughout the year while on its north side there is an iceberg. A crater was formed by external effects and several steep hillocks appeared. At the summit of Mount Erciyes, among the rock columns, there is a cave that was used by Byzantine monks for religious ceremonies. On the northern slope there is a 700-meter-high mountain glacier, and on the eastern slope at an elevation of 2,100-2,900 meters, the Tekir plateau hosts a winter sports center. The hike from the ski lift to the campsite at Cobaninine takes about 2.5-3 hours in winter. The climb from Cobaninine to Mola Tasi, at the headwaters of Şeytan Creek (Devil’s Creek), takes an hour, and climbing on cross-country skis is popular. From here, it takes about 2-3 hours to reach the summit of the smaller peak. In winter, there is a danger of avalanches at Şeytan Creek and in the spring (May - June), it is necessary to wear a helmet because of the falling rocks.
Erciyes is the world’s most centralized ski resort by virtue of its geographical position: it is possible to access one-third of the world with a 4-hour flight. There are 15 daily scheduled flights from İstanbul to nearby Kayseri. The one-hour flight distance between Erciyes and İstanbul makes Erciyes Ski Resort attractive for both local and foreign tourists. Meanwhile, Erciyes Ski Resort is just 25 minutes to Kayseri Airport, 20 minutes to Kayseri city center, and 60 minutes to Cappadocia. Kayseri city center and Erciyes are connected via a two-line highway. The ski resort has double , high speed , detachable chairlifts with a carriage capacity of 26,750 people per hour equipped with the latest technology in compliance with international standards. While on the chairlifts you will have the chance of experiencing an unbelievable panorama and observing the endemic plants of Mount Erciyes. At Hacılar Kapı and Tekir Kapı gates, a comfortable journey awaits you and your family on the gondola lifts, and hot drinks will revive you at the local facilities.
Actually, Turkiye has a total of 41 ski resorts but Erciyes is the biggest boasting 41 different pistes with a total length of 112 km. and served by a modern Doppelmayr and Leitner lift system. All the skiing and snowboarding takes place above the tree-line from a base altitude of 2200 m., extending to the top lift station at 3,400 m., and is all on the extinct volcano Erciyes, or silver mountain, which has a total height of 3917 m.. There are four base stations, Develi, Tekir, Hisarcik and Hacilar, with the more challenging runs accessed by the Tekir and Hisacik stations. Some of the best snow conditions were found on the Hacilar side which tends to be more sheltered from the prevailing winds. With all four base station uplifts being fully linked by chair or gondola, and with vast freeride and ski touring areas between and above the pistes, the resort is easy to navigate and offers something for everyone. Indeed, all the base stations have beginner areas with modern magic carpet areas.
Erciyes is unique in Turkey with the ski area being owned and run by the Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality. This entity was set up as recently as
2011 to manage the resort throughout the seasons and promote it to a wider domestic and international audience. Thousands of Turkish youngsters have benefitted by being introduced to snow sports through the organization’s Snow Academia and the region as a whole benefits from the revenue raised through the company’s activities. High altitude summer camps, offer swimming in an Olympic size pool, soccer training, mountain trekking, and climbing with the ancient chapels and temples on the mountains highest peaks sometimes being used by climbers for shelter.
There is a good variety of hotels ranging in price from around £75 to £250 per room per night for two people, but these will normally include half board and in some cases full board. The majority of hotels are based around the Develi and Tekir base stations, although the KAF hotel at Hacilar station, is a good option if you prefer a more secluded on-the-mountain option. If you prefer a city location then Kayseri offers a huge variety and a huge price range. Situated just 30-40 minutes by car from the ski area, Kayseri is the main city in the region with a population of 1.4 million and has an international airport with connecting flights to Istanbul, Amsterdam, Munich, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Cologne-Bonn and Prague, to name but a few. SIN understands that direct flights from the UK will operate this summer and it is hoped that the route continues for the winter season.
Kayseri itself is well worth a visit. Kayseri experienced three golden ages. The first, dating to 2000 BC, was when the city formed a trade post between the Assyrians and the Hittites. The second came under Roman rule from the 1st to the 11th centuries. The third golden age was during the reign of the Seljuks (1178–1243), when the city was the second capital of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum. In the main square the Christian castle sits alongside the city Mosque and the local museum reflects the fact that Kayseri was part of a major trade route which saw it experience many cultural changes and makes it a truly cosmopolitan city today.
Undoubtedly, the best way to maximize any trip would be to take in what the region has to offer, and, therefore, this means thinking of it as more than just another ski trip. Decide on how many days you want to be on the mountain, take a day to visit Kayseri, but without doubt, make sure to include a trip to Cappadocia.
Just over one hour from the ski resort or Kayseri, Cappadocia is known for its distinctive “fairy chimneys,” tall, cone-shaped rock formations clustered in Monks Valley, Göreme and elsewhere. Other notables sites include Bronze Age homes carved into valley walls by troglodytes (cave dwellers) and later used as refuges by early Christians. The 100m-deep Ihlara Canyon houses numerous rock-face churches. Apart from visiting the rock dwellings and chapels on foot, there are one or two options not to be missed.
Well before the Byzantine era, Cappadocia was famous for its horses. So much so, in fact, that the name Cappadocia may be traced to the ancient Persian Katpaktukya, meaning 'land of beautiful horses'. There are numerous operators offering guided horseback trips through the region but for those of you that want to experience what the region has become world famous for, take a balloon flight and get a birds eye view. Every day around 150 balloons take to the air and fly over some of the most amazing scenery you will experience. It is no wonder the region has been called the 8th wonder of the world. Go early and see the sunrise for an experience one will never forget.
So, although not necessarily on top of your ‘to do’ list, check it all out on-line and see what you are missing.
