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Located in central northwest Turkey, not far from Ankara, Elmadag ski resort is a small ski destination suitable for beginners and is easily accessible from the nation’s capital city. Lying on the northern slopes of the Elmadag mountain range, Elmadag offers an exciting break from the city, even if you are an expert carver.

Facilities at the resort are minimal but include the essentials, such as ski and snowboard equipment rentals and lessons from qualified instructors. Elmadag ski resort has a well-equipped hotel with 33 beds and a sauna, swimming pool, a la carte restaurant and disco, while the university’s lodges provide an additional 130 beds.

Elmadag ski resort only has one piste that is aimed at beginner to intermediate level skiers and snowboarders. It is 820 feet wide and just over half a mile long. One teleski ski lift provides access to the slope at a rate of over 700 people per hour.

If you have a car, there are plenty of sights worth visiting in Ankara’s environs, such as Golbasi Lake on the Konya road to the south of the city and nearby Incek, a beautiful green area. Meanwhile, Karagol Lake just north of the city is also worth a look. Ankara is also surrounded by delightful forests where walking can be enjoyed and there are also several thermal springs within a short drive of the city.

The ski season at Elmadag ski resort runs from December to April and is best enjoyed between January and March when snow conditions are most favourable. The easiest way to get here from Ankara is to take a private shuttle or drive, while frequent flights arrive in Ankara from Istanbul, from where shuttles also operate.

Skiing in Elmadag

Elmadag ski resort is conveniently located near Ankara on the northern slopes of Elmadag Mountain at an altitude of about 5,000 feet and is an ideal ski destination for beginners wanting to escape the bustle of the city.

There is only one treeless slope at Elmadag ski resort, which is suitable for beginners, while lower intermediates can also strut their stuff here. The slope is nearly 3,000-feet long and is fed by one teleski ski lift.

There isn’t much scope at Elmadag ski resort for alternative winter activities apart from horseback riding, but the hotel does provide a heated swimming pool and sauna for residents and après-ski can be enjoyed at the hotel’s restaurant, bar and disco. Elmadag town has additional après-ski enticements.

There are ski instructors available to teach skiing and snowboarding at Elmadag ski resort and there are ski rentals; while accommodation is provided by a good hotel and a number of university lodges.

The best snow at Elmadag ski resort can be found in February and March during the December to April ski season, while cheaper chairlift passes and hotel rates can be had in April. If you are already in Ankara, taking a shuttle to Elmadag is the most practical way of getting here, while if you are staying in Istanbul, it is a 4-hour drive to the resort.

Transportation to Elmadag

Elmadag ski resort is just over 20 miles east of Ankara and 300 miles southeast of Istanbul and is accessible by road, while part of the journey can be made by rail. The most convenient way of getting here is to fly from Istanbul to Ankara and hire a car for the final stretch; while some visitors choose to drive all the way from Istanbul or take a bus or train from Istanbul to Ankara, then travel by road to the resort.

If you are driving from Istanbul, take the O-4 towards Ankara, from where the D-200 continues east to Elmadag; Elmadag ski resort is well signposted. From Ankara-Esenboga Airport, take the D-140 highway south to the O-20 ring road east, from where the D-200 goes to Elmadag. The D-200 runs all the way to Elmadag from the centre of Ankara.

It is possible to take a train all the way from London, but the three-day journey to Istanbul via Paris, Munich, Wien Westbahnhof and Bucharest may be too lengthy for some people. From Istanbul it is another long journey to Ankara, although trains to Elmadag run frequently.

Ankara-Esenboga Airport receives regular daily flights from Istanbul aboard Turkish Airlines and Onur Air at a good price and the flight time is less than 1 hour. Shuttle buses run from the airport via the city to Elmadag ski resort.

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