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It's that time of year again, ski slopes across the nation open up for the winter season.
In fact, many had started up back in mid-December. The season will generally run up until mid-March, all weather dependent, of course.
For some, heading to the slopes is a New Year's tradition. As a local living here in Istanbul, it's difficult to find a single website that has updated information on schedules, lift and equipment rental pricing for all if not most of the major ski resorts across the country.
You have to individually search out ski resorts online or call-in to find the most up-to-date info.
Türkiye's ski resorts: Uludag, Erciyes, Palandoken
Ask most anyone and these would be the top three resorts around. Uludag Ski Resort being the closest to Istanbul and Palandoken Ski Resort being the furthest away out in Erzurum.
The largest resort, with the longest runs and most lifts would be Erciyes Ski Resort located in Kayseri, with 41 slopes running a total of 112 km.
It also offers a night-skiing option down slope #13 this year.
What does this stuff cost?
Now this isn't the elite world-class slopes of the Swiss or French Alps, or the Whistler-Blackcomb Resort in Canada, nor are the prices, but it isn't bad for being a stone's throw away from part of the 'cradle of civilization.'
Regarding the Erciyes Ski Resort, lift tickets are priced per run, so everytime you get up to the top on a chair-lift and ski all the way down, that's one ticket. One run is TL 90 ($2.50), 14 is TL 700 ($20), and 30 runs go for TL 1,400 ($40).
They can be used on any given day and do not all have to be used up in one single day. Ski equipment rentals go for TL 800 - 1,500+/day ($23 - $43).
If you can, it's best to show up with all your winter clothing, jacket, snow pants, gloves and all, and just rent the boots, goggles, and skis. Hotels in the town center will start around TL 900 - 1,500/night ($25 - $43).
As you can imagine, the sky's-the-limit when it comes to hotel pricing, so let's not even bother with that. Out of Istanbul, a return flight for 5 days to Kayseri leaving tomorrow out of Sabiha Gokcen Airport goes for TL 2,357 ($67). Another discount airlines offers the same dates for TL 2,300 ($65).
That's it, plan ahead, take it easy, ski according to your skill level, and have fun.
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