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Thanks for those links Lorraine, good to get all the facts on the Turkish Ski Scene on one Site.
Although there are 13 or so resorts in Turkey, the reason is that they have little interest for UK Skiers is based simply on size and a lack of any sort of challenging terrain.
Even the largest resort at Uludag (40 sq km) is a 'tiddler' by European standards and offers very little in the way of challeging skiing. Uludag has some 13 lifts, most of which are short drag and chair lifts and this resort is easily skiable in an afternoon.

Compare this to some of the resorts across France, Italy, Austria and Switzerland which have up to an incredible 800 sq km, numerous gondola and chair lifts opening up enough skiing for the whole week without going down the same run twice.

This is why you will struggle to find many UK companies providing ski holiday's to a turkish resorts. I have seen Uluday and also Erzurum Palandoken in a couple of UK brochures in the past couple of years. However the cost has not been favourable compared to european costs. So why should someone in the UK pay quite a bit more for a lot less sking potential.
The resort at Erzurum Palandoken on the Eastern side of Turkey is the one currently being developed and probably has the potential to become Turkeys premiere Ski Resort in a few years time with a major airport less than 30 minutes away. It already boosts the longest ski run in Turkey at 12km and the longest ski season of all the resorts. However, on the downside is the bitter cold which is quite usual there.

Although, if someone wanted a ski holiday with a difference, then the 2 resorts mentioned above are well worth a visit, perhaps for its exotic curiosity value, cultural interests, warm and friendly people, and for the experience of taking a Turkish bath after a gruelling days skiing!!

However, I think the other resorts, including Saklikent canot be considered seriously for a ski holiday, as most of them only have 1 or 2 lifts and perhaps 6 or so different runs. However, if you are ever in these area's during the ski season, then they are definetly worth spending a day on the slopes there.

17th August 2005, 23:09	#3
GarryP Senior Member	Re: sking resorts. Thanks for those links Lorraine, good to get all the facts on the Turkish Ski Scene on one Site. Although there are 13 or so resorts in Turkey, the reason is that they have little interest for UK Skiers is based simply on size and a lack of any sort of challenging terrain. Even the largest resort at Uludag (40 sq km) is a 'tiddler' by European standards and offers very little in the way of challeging skiing. Uludag has some 13 lifts, most of which are short drag and chair lifts and this resort is easily skiable in an afternoon. Compare this to some of the resorts across France, Italy, Austria and Switzerland which have up to an incredible 800 sq km, numerous gondola and chair lifts opening up enough skiing for the whole week without going down the same run twice. This is why you will struggle to find many UK companies providing ski holiday's to a turkish resorts. I have seen Uluday and also Erzurum Palandoken in a couple of UK brochures in the past couple of years. However the cost has not been favourable compared to european costs. So why should someone in the UK pay quite a bit more for a lot less sking potential. The resort at Erzurum Palandoken on the Eastern side of Turkey is the one currently being developed and probably has the potential to become Turkeys premiere Ski Resort in a few years time with a major airport less than 30 minutes away. It already boosts the longest ski run in Turkey at 12km and the longest ski season of all the resorts. However, on the downside is the bitter cold which is quite usual there. Although, if someone wanted a ski holiday with a difference, then the 2 resorts mentioned above are well worth a visit, perhaps for its exotic curiosity value, cultural interests, warm and friendly people, and for the experience of taking a Turkish bath after a gruelling days skiing!! However, I think the other resorts, including Saklikent canot be considered seriously for a ski holiday, as most of them only have 1 or 2 lifts and perhaps 6 or so different runs. However, if you are ever in these area's during the ski season, then they are definetly worth spending a day on the slopes there.