There are a few good skiing resorts around Istanbul where can be reached on a daily base. Among them, Uludag and Kartepe are the most popular and easy reachable ones with a daily tour.Uludag - The Great Mountain - is the highest point of Western Anatolia and also the best known ski center in Turkey. As and alternative Kartepe - The Snow Hill - is a closer and recently developed ski center.
Please find more information about the tours and the resorts below :
Tour Details
Daily Ski tours to Uludag from Istanbul - 130 eur per person : Tour details : You will be transferred to the port to take an early ferry to Bursa. You will be met at the port and transferred to your hotel in Uludag. Estimated arrival time to the site is about 11:00. You can use our contracted hotel facilities in the site. You will be served a lunch pack including sausage sandwich and drinks. After spending couple of hours in the site by either skiing or exploring the fresh&beatiful mountain resort, you will be transferred to the port again for the return ferry to Istanbul departing at late afternoon. We will meet you at the port and transfer to your hotel. The tour departs everyday of the week expect Sunday. We require 4 people to operate the tour. You can contact with us in advance to check the departure dates. The tour cost include air-conditioned minibus transportation, lunch pack, contracted hotel ski pass facilities and round trip ferry tickets. 0-2 years old childs are free, 3-6 years old ones are %50 discounted, all others regarded as adult.
Daily Ski tours to Kartepe from Istanbul - 120 eur per person : Tour details : You will be picked up from your hotel in the early morning and drive to Kartepe with a private van. The jouney will take about 3 hours through a splendid scenery. You should expect to be at the sight by 11:00. You can use our contracted hotel facilities in the site. You will be served a lunch pack including sausage sandwich and drinks. After spending couple of hours in the site by either skiing or exploring the fresh&beatiful mountain resort, you will depart in the early afternoon for the return drive to Istanbul. You should expect to arrive to your hotel by 19:30. The tour departs everyday of the week. We require 4 people to operate the tour. You can contact with us in advance to check the departure dates. The tour cost include air-conditioned minibus transportation, lunch pack, contracted hotel ski pass facilities. 0-2 years old childs are free, 3-6 years old ones are %50 discounted, all others regarded as adult.
1 night & 2 days Ski tours at Uludag - 210 euro per person : Tour details : You will be transferred to the port to take an early ferry to Bursa. You will be met at the port and transferred to your hotel in Uludag . Estimated arrival time to the site is about 11:00. You can use our contracted hotel facilities in the site. We will provide you one of the most comfortable hotels in the site with central location and comfortable rooms. Enjoy the next day in the site as well by either skiing or exploring the fresh&beatiful mountain resort untill you are transferred to the port for the return ferry to Istanbul departing at late afternoon. We will meet you at the airport and transfer to your hotel. The tour departs everyday of the week expect Sunday. We require 2 people to operate the tour. The tour cost include 1 night half board hotel accommodation in private ensuite double/twin rooms, air-conditioned midibus transportation, lunch pack, contracted hotel ski pass facilities and round trip ferry tickets.. The 3rd. person is 20 euro less for triple room accommodation. 0-2 years old childs are free, 3-6 years old ones are %50 discounted, all others regarded as adult.
What about Uludag ?
Uludag, 36km south of Bursa, is one of the country’s favorite winter sports centers and as well as skiing, its richness of flora and fauna has made it into a National Park and summer activities like trekking and camping are also popular. Uludag was previously known as Olympus Misios in ancient times, and is known in mythology as the place where the gods watched the Trojan war.
Uludag is 2543m high, making it the highest point in the Marmara region, and the Aras Waterfalls and glaciers at the peak are its most interesting geographical features. The steep slopes mean that plant life varies widely between the Bursa plane and the peak, something which has been analyzed by botanical scientists and has made Uludag prominent around the world in this type of research.
The suitable conditions have also formed a habitat for many species of animal and bird life, like bears, wolves, jackals, foxes, roe deer, rabbits, pigs, partridges, wild pigeons, vultures, eagles, black kites, nightingales and gold crests. The Bakacak watchtower at Cobankaya gives a great view over the surrounding area. Between December and May, Uludag is covered with snow sometimes up to 4m deep, making it suitable for skiing, and it is one of the most popular winter sports centers in Turkey. There are 27 hotels, 15 of which are privately owned, with a total of over 3000 beds. The area also has shopping halls, restaurants, cafes and bars, entertainment and health centers.
What about Kartepe ?
Kartepe, The Snow Hill is located about 1700m high above the sea-level with a fantastic view looking over Sapanca Lake on one sight and Izmit Bay on the other. The sight is popular among the Turkish people for city-breaks. There are good walking routes, traditional villages, fishing farms and natural waterfalls in the surrounding area. The sight has 14 natural tracks and also 3 telesiej and chair lifts and 2 teleskis.
We recommend Kartepe especially if you would like to spend more time in the site and escape away from the crowdness. It is also a good place to go with the childs and for the ski beginners.
