Turkey

Turkey is famous for its clear waters, beautiful beaches and Mediterranean climate. Less well known are its snow-capped mountains, even though there are plenty of them.

Turkey's actually a very mountainous country. Its highest peak, Mt Ararat, stands at 5165 metres (16,945 feet) - which is a good deal taller than anything in the Alps - and many of the surrounding mountains are covered with snow for as much as half the year.

Skiing and snowboarding in Turkey is still in its infancy as a sport. That said, while the après ski might not be up to the standards of resorts in the Alps, there's enough variety of terrain across Turkey's own ski resorts to keep most skiers and riders happy.

Erzurum-Palandoken is one of the most challenging ski resorts in Turkey. It has a vertical descent of 900 metres (2,952 feet) and the best snow conditions of any resort. Basic facilities are available - accommodation, restaurants, tuition and equipment hire - and the resort is easily accessible from the town of Erzurum.

Antalya-Saklikent, just 50 kms (31 miles) north west of Antalya, is close enough to the coast for you to be able to spend the morning skiing or riding the hill and the afternoon swimming in the Med. If that's what you really wanted to.

The ski season in Turkey runs between December and April, give or take a few weeks either end.

Cost

A one-day adult lift pass will cost you around US$30.

Getting here

There are regular flights to Istanbul and Ankara from most European cities. Several other airports serve regions close to ski resorts in Turkey, including Kars and Erzurum.