shirleyanntr

following on from Mrlins post about thermal resorts there are some great ski resorts in Turkey ..which i dont think get widely advertised in the uk.
there is a super resort in the mountains outside antalya..just about an hours drive called Saklikent...not the same Saklikent thats near to Fethiye.

lorraine

GarryP

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.

lorraine

Garry I agree they are tame in comparison to the European ski resorts, but as I am about 20yrs out of touch then this is ideal for me and a gentle re-introduction, just cant get Gordon to agree, says he saw enough of that ''white stuff'' his home country of Scotland. Still think that I could talk a few people living in my region to just a 4 day holiday. never know.

I will try to find out a bit more from the locals and the local travel agents.

lorraine

This looks promising, have they finally got their act together and the Ski resort will open? If it does then it is still some 90km from Fethiye and I dont think we will see the extreme slopes of the Swiss Alps but you never know. I have copied this article from the recent 'land of lights' new updated website.

Skiing Centre for Fethiye One of the popular centres for local and foreign tourists is the sea, sun, sand, historical and natural sights, Fethiye is now getting ready for winter tourism.

A large part of the construction of the skiing centre at the Eren Mountain has been completed. The work was sped up as 1,5 million YTL was allocated by the Minisitry of Culture and Tourism. A major part of substructure work has been finished at the Skiing Centre at the Eren Mountain, which was started 3 years ago and only the assembly of the tele ski is to be completed

lorraine

Is there any members in the Fethiye or Antalya area that are thinking of going skiing this coming January? I have tried talking hubby into going skiing on the Antalya side this winter but he is from Scotland and cant see the fun in the white stuff as he so puts it!! I dont want to go alone so if anyone is going and would like a hanger on please let me know. this will give me enough time to get to the gym and get a fit in readiness I am house trained and polite and only turn the air blue occasionally.