Erciyes or Palandöken? Choosing Between Turkey's Two Biggest Mountains
Erciyes has more terrain and Cappadocia next door. Palandöken has better snow, a longer season and a real city at its base. Here is how to choose.
3 min read
Palandöken Ski Resort
Palandöken Ski Resort runs from 2,200 m to 3,176 m, making it both the highest resort in Turkey and the one with the longest season. It can open in November and stay open into May — effectively the only place in the country for spring skiing.
- Altitude
- 2200–3176 m
- Total pistes
- 50 km
- Lifts
- 14
- Season
- November – May
Palandöken's reputation rests on its snow. The harsh continental climate of Eastern Anatolia produces an extremely dry, light powder; to find the same quality in Europe you would have to go high into the Alps. The roughly 12 km descent from Ejder peak is one of the longest runs on the continent.
The resort sits just 6 km from the city centre and 15 km from the airport — a position very few ski areas anywhere can match. Land in the morning and you can be on the snow before noon. Our ski and snowboard rental service at Palandöken runs without interruption from November through May.
Palandöken Ski Resort at a glance
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| City | Erzurum |
| Altitude | 2200 – 3176 m |
| Total pistes | 50 km |
| Number of runs | 25 |
| Lifts | 14 |
| Snow type | Very dry powder |
| Season | November – May |
| Nearest airport | Erzurum Airport — 15 km |
| Difficulty split | Beginner %20 · Intermediate %40 · Advanced %40 |
Distances
| From | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Erzurum city centre | 6 km | 0 sa 12 dk |
| Erzincan | 190 km | 2 sa 25 dk |
| Trabzon | 320 km | 4 sa 30 dk |
| Ankara | 875 km | 10 sa 30 dk |
Palandöken pistes and Ejder 3200
The 25 runs at Palandöken skew far harder than the Turkish average: about 40% are graded advanced. It is also one of the few resorts in Turkey with a FIS-homologated race piste.
Ejder 3200 is the heart of the resort. The gondola reaches 3,176 m, and the descent from the top runs continuously for roughly 12 kilometres. The vertical of about 1,000 m is enough to tire your legs on a single run.
| Run | Length | Level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ejder descent | ~12 km | Intermediate – Advanced | One of the longest runs in Europe |
| Kapıkaya | ~3 km | Advanced | Steep, technical, used for race training |
| Hınıs / learning area | ~1 km | Beginner | Right in front of the hotels |
How to get to Palandöken
Flying is the standard way in. Erzurum Airport has frequent daily flights from Istanbul and Ankara, and the transfer to the slopes takes under 20 minutes. Most hotels include a free airport shuttle.
If you prefer the train, the Eastern Express calls at Erzurum, and it is a 15-minute taxi or hotel shuttle from the city to the resort. Driving from Ankara takes around 10 hours and is not advisable in winter.
Where to stay at Palandöken
There are five-star hotels and smaller lodges right at the base, all of them ski-in / ski-out. Staying in Erzurum city is markedly cheaper and still only 15 minutes away.
What the city offers is exactly what sets Palandöken apart from other Turkish resorts: real evenings out, cağ kebabı for dinner and historic medreses to visit on a rest day.
Palandöken season and snow quality
The season opens in late November and can last into early May — nowhere else in Turkey comes close to six months. In January and February temperatures can drop below −20 °C, and that cold is exactly what keeps the snow dry.
March and April are the most enjoyable weeks here: higher sun, reasonable temperatures, and snow that is still powdery. Because of the altitude you may feel tired on day one — drink plenty of water and take the first day easy.
Frequently asked questions
When does the Palandöken season open?
Usually in the last week of November, running to late April or early May — the longest ski season in Turkey.
Is Palandöken too hard for beginners?
Although 40% of the runs are advanced, the learning area and blue pistes in front of the hotels are perfectly adequate for a first-timer. That said, Kartalkaya or Erciyes make for a gentler start.
Can I rent a snowboard at Palandöken?
Yes. All-mountain and freeride boards — including wider shapes suited to dry powder — are available from November to May, with free delivery to your hotel.
How do I get from Erzurum Airport to Palandöken?
The airport is only 15 km away — under 20 minutes by taxi. Most hotels provide a free transfer.
Related articles
Powder Snow in Turkey: Where to Find It and How to Ride It
Eastern Anatolia produces powder as dry as anywhere in Europe. Here is where it falls, when to go, and what you need to ride it safely.
4 min read
Spring Skiing at Palandöken: Turkey's Only Late-Season Resort
Most Turkish resorts close in March. Palandöken can run into May — empty pistes, warm sun and snow that is still dry if you get the timing right.
3 min read
All ski resorts
Erciyes Ski Resort
Erciyes Ski Resort spreads across the northern and western flanks of the 3,917 m Mount Erciyes and, with 112 kilometres of marked runs, is the largest ski area in Turkey. Its 34 pistes — reached from the Hisarcık, Tekir and Develi gates — cover everything from wide blue slopes where a child can take a first lesson to demanding black descents that start at 3,400 m.
- Altitude
- 3400 m
- Total pistes
- 112 km
- Lifts
- 18
Kartalkaya Ski Resort
Kartalkaya Ski Resort sits between 1,850 and 2,200 m in the fir forests of the Bolu mountains, with 22 pistes and 25 kilometres of terrain. Being 265 km from Istanbul and 230 km from Ankara makes it the most-visited weekend ski destination in Turkey.
- Altitude
- 2200 m
- Total pistes
- 25 km
- Lifts
- 12
Uludağ Ski Resort
Uludağ is the first name that comes to mind when Turks talk about skiing. Its 24 pistes and 30 kilometres of terrain run from the hotel zone at 1,750 m to a 2,543 m summit, and it is the only major resort a skier can reach from Istanbul in half a day.
- Altitude
- 2543 m
- Total pistes
- 30 km
- Lifts
- 15
Sarıkamış Ski Resort
Sarıkamış Ski Resort lies 55 km south-west of Kars, set between 2,100 and 2,634 m in Scots pine forest. Its international reputation rests on "crystal snow": in this exceptionally dry climate, snowflakes reach the ground with their crystal structure intact.
- Altitude
- 2634 m
- Total pistes
- 22 km
- Lifts
- 6
Related pages
Reserve your gear before you travel to Palandöken
Fill in the request form and we will get back to you the same day.