Getting lost in white, climbing to the summit in every kind of weather and skiing under the lights in the evening: that is, in short, what we lived in Palandöken, Erzurum, in January 2022.
What are Erzurum and Palandöken known for?
Erzurum is a large city on a high plateau in eastern Turkey, and Palandöken Mountain rises right next to it with its ski resorts. The city is rich in history too, with the Twin Minaret Madrasa, the Yakutiye Madrasa and Erzurum Castle, and its signature dish is cağ kebab.
How do you get to Erzurum and where do you stay?
For us the easiest and shortest way from Istanbul is by air, a flight of about two hours. Hotels offer airport transfers if you let them know before you go. We stayed at Sway Hotel. Palandöken is made up of independent sections, and hotels have their own pistes and chairlifts, so guests do not pay a ski pass fee.
What are the pistes like?
There are red, black and blue pistes. The blacks are not very hard but have sections that need care. The pistes are neither very long nor very short, and a chairlift and a drag lift take you to the top.
What is night skiing like?
The best part is that there is night skiing every day, with the pistes open until 8 pm. I first thought it would be freezing and miserable, but I wanted to give it a chance. It proved how much you can enjoy something you assumed you would not like. Do not be afraid to try. Since the light is different at night, ride a little slower, always wear a helmet and take more breaks.
What if the weather turns bad?
One day an unplanned storm, fog and snowfall kept us from skiing, but we still found a way to enjoy the day, and later the conditions improved. Skiing in fresh snow after a snowfall is a wonderful feeling. In the mountains you need to be ready for anything, physically and mentally.
For cold days, Rider Healthcare makes a cashmere sock with silver yarn, and Galata Healthcare offers a hot-drink sachet. Educated Moto Riders organises winter trips for those who prefer a group.
Read the full story in Turkish with photos and videos: Erzurum Palandöken Kayak Rehberi.