Going on a Ski Holiday Alone: A Guide for Solo Travellers

Many people put off their first ski holiday because nobody else is free on the same dates. That is a shame, because skiing is one of the easiest holidays to take on your own. On an organised package the day already has a shape: you learn in a group, eat with the others and travel up the mountain together. You are rarely alone for long unless you want to be.

Why skiing works so well on your own

• Group lessons: Beginner lessons take place in groups of 8 to 10 people at a similar level. You spend the morning with the same faces, and by lunch you are already talking about the morning's falls.
• Everything is organised: Transfers, the shuttle to the slopes, equipment, clothing, the lift pass and meals are all arranged. You do not have to work out any logistics on your own in a place you do not know.
• Shared meals and evenings: Breakfast and dinner are at the hotel and lunch is on the mountain, so there is always company at the table. On the 2-night package there is also a night out in the city on Saturday for anyone who fancies it.

Your room: shared or single

If you travel with a partner or friend, you share a room. Solo travellers share a twin room with another participant of the same gender, which is also an easy way to meet someone from the group. If you would rather have a room to yourself, write "I would like a single room" in your booking notes.

Your first evening

The holiday starts with check-in from 14:00, dinner at the hotel and a welcome meeting where you meet the team and the other guests and hear how the next days will run. Equipment and clothing are handed out and fitted around your arrival. By the time you go to bed, you will know the people you will spend the next morning with.

Choosing the right package

• Never skied before: The First Steps package starts with a 4-hour beginner lesson, followed by practice with instructor support for the rest of the day.
• Some experience: The Experienced package starts with a piste tour with our leaders, then free skiing on runs that suit your level. If you ski alone in the afternoons, the morning tour has already shown you the runs.
• How long: The 2-night package runs from Friday to Sunday, the 4-night package from Monday to Friday. Weekdays are quieter on the pistes, and four days give you far more time to progress.

Skiing safely on your own

When you ski without a friend, a few habits matter more than usual:

• Tell someone your plan: Let your instructor, leader or a roommate know which area you are skiing in and when you will be back.
• Keep your phone warm and charged: Carry it in an inside pocket, as the cold drains batteries quickly, and save the team's contact details before you go up.
• Know your return time: Check when and where the shuttle back to the hotel leaves, and plan your last run so that you arrive in time.
• Stay on marked runs at your level: Without a friend nearby, a fall on a run that is too hard is more serious. Leave the steeper runs for days with company.
• Find a ski buddy: Someone from your lesson group is usually happy to ski together in the afternoon.

Our guide to planning your ski day at Erciyes explains how the gates, lifts and meeting points work.

After the slopes

The hotel is in Kayseri city centre, so it is easy to explore on your own in the evenings; see our guide to things to do in Kayseri. If you have a few extra days, Cappadocia is about an hour away; our guide to Cappadocia in winter shows how to combine the two.

Practical tips

• Getting there: Getting to Kayseri is up to you. Transfers from Kayseri bus station and Kayseri Erkilet Airport to the hotel are free; details are shared 2 to 3 days before your holiday. See how to get to Erciyes.
• Going home: Book your journey home for 19:00 or later on the last day; the last day ends on the pistes in the afternoon.
• Booking: A $100 deposit per person secures your place, and you pay the rest when you arrive.

Find your package

If you are starting from scratch, see the First Steps package; if you already ski or snowboard, the Experienced package. Learning as a grown-up? Our guide to learning to ski as an adult is a good place to start.

• Solo travel
• Ski holiday
• Beginners
• Erciyes