Essential Travel Ski Guides

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Home to many international ski competitions, Palandoken ski resort in Eastern Turkey is one of Turkey’s best ski destinations, with its superb snow conditions, long runs and excellent facilities and accommodation options. Palandoken is situated on the northern slopes of the mountain which shares the same name and has an altitude in excess of 9,842 feet.

The resort village of Palandoken is situated at 7,218 feet and has commendable facilities including a ski school with highly qualified instructors, ski and snowboard equipment hire, first-aid station and a clinic. In addition, several of the hotels here have ski shops with an array of skiing merchandise for sale.

Palandoken receives a massive annual snow fall of around eight feet and there are 25 miles of well-groomed pistes in Palandoken and a 2,952-foot vertical, with three chairlifts and a t-bar providing slope access at a rate of 1,100 people per hour.

There are several ski-in/ski-out hotels at Palandoken ski resort that offer fantastic wellness and après-ski facilities. The mid-mountain ski-in/ski-out Dedeman Hotel also comes with its own chairlift which residents can use for free. If you can’t find a room at the village, the town of Erzurum has many more accommodation options as well as lively bars and restaurants.

Away from the slopes and not far from Palandoken ski resort is the popular and historical town of Erzurum, which boasts a historical district and a modern city with tree-lined boulevards and grand buildings. Sights to look out for are the Seljuk buildings, 12th-century Ulu Mosque and the Cifte Minareli Medrese, a double minaret masterpiece.

Palandoken ski resort’s ski season extends from October to May and it has quality snow conditions throughout most of the season; cheaper rates can be had in October. Flying to Erzurum from Istanbul and taking a taxi is the most convenient means of transport to Palandoken.

Skiing in Palandoken

Situated on the awesome Palandoken Mountain near Erzurum, Palandoken ski resort is a very accessible ski destination in remote Eastern Turkey, boasting numerous quality slopes and some enviable powder snow. Palandoken is well known among professional skiers and as a result it has excellent accommodation and services.

The 25 miles of slopes at Palandoken ski resort are some of the longest in Turkey and boast some spectacular terrain. The pistes mainly appeal to intermediate and experienced skiers and snowboarders, but there is also plenty of opportunity for all levels as well as cross-country terrain. Four ski lifts traverse the 2,952-foot vertical to supply the slopes a rate of up to 1,100 people per hour.

Alternative winter activities at Palandoken ski resort include Alpine skiing, ski touring and heli-skiing, while various hotels at the village are well-equipped with wellness facilities such as Turkish baths, saunas, heated swimming pools and fitness centres. The hotels also provide après-ski and nearby Erzurum has numerous restaurants and bars.

Palandoken ski resort has all the usual ski-related services and facilities including a ski school, lots of ski shops with rentals and repairs, and a clinic and first-aid centre. There are hundreds of beds available at the slopes in top notch hotels and chalets, while Erzurum and the surrounding villages have a bed base in excess of 6,000.

Cheaper prices can be found in October and November during the October to May ski season at Palandoken ski resort. The most practical travel option for getting to Palandoken and away is to fly to Erzurum via Istanbul and transfer to the resort by taxi or bus.

Transportation to Palandoken

Located in Eastern Turkey more than 620 miles east of Istanbul, Palandoken ski resort is fortunate in being near to the city of Erzurum, which is the transport hub for eastern Turkey. Travelling by road, rail and air to Palandoken ski resort is possible, but flying to Erzurum and then transferring by bus or taxi to the resort is the most practical option.

The distance from London to Palandoken Mountain is less than 2,500 miles and takes about a week if you choose to drive, making it an inconvenient transport option and not feasible for those with only a short break. Driving from Istanbul to Erzurum to Palandoken ski resort is a 2-day journey via the O4, D-200 and D-100 highways.

If you have three days to spare, you could take the train to Istanbul and tackle the onward rail journey to Erzurum, which takes another 24 hours. There are four departures daily from Waterloo Station in London that go via Paris, Munich and Bucharest before arriving in Istanbul. Long distance buses run on roughly the same time frame, but work out more expensive than trains in Turkey.

The only real option for getting to Palandoken from the UK and the rest of Europe is to fly to Istanbul and then take a 90-minute flight to Erzurum on Turkish Airlines or Onur Air. Shuttles and taxis run to the city, from where various hotel buses are waiting to take you to the resort. If you are driving, take the D-100 six miles southeast to Erzurum, from where the D-950 heads southwest towards Palandoken ski resort.

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