When Do Ski Resorts in Turkey Open? 2026–27 Season Guide
When Erciyes, Uludağ, Palandöken, Sarıkamış and Kartalkaya actually opened in recent seasons, what decides the opening date, and how to plan a ski trip to Turkey before the date is announced.
Most ski resorts in Turkey open between early and mid-December, but the date is set by snow, not by the calendar. The same resort can open in late November one year and in mid-December the next. When we wrote this guide in October 2026, neither Erciyes nor Uludağ had announced a firm opening date. Below you will find when the main resorts actually opened in recent seasons, what decides the date, and how to plan a trip before it is announced.
Opening dates in recent seasons
- Erciyes (Kayseri): Opened on 30 November 2024, which officials called the earliest start in 20 years. In 2025 the season began on 18 December and ran until 15 May 2026.
- Palandöken (Erzurum): Some runs were open on the weekend of 13 December 2025, with 41 cm of snow measured. The official opening ceremony followed a few days later.
- Sarıkamış (Kars): Open by 18 December 2025, with 70 cm of natural snow and all of its 30-plus kilometres of pistes running.
- Uludağ (Bursa): The 2024–25 season was announced to start officially on 13 December 2024, with some runs opening from 1 December if snow allowed. In mid-October 2026 the snow on the mountain had already reached 20 cm, and the season is expected to open in December, depending on snowfall.
- Kartalkaya (Bolu): The 2023–24 season opened on 15 December 2023 with 50 cm of snow.
The pattern is clear: most of the big resorts open in the second or third week of December. Late-November openings, like Erciyes in 2024, happen in years when the snow arrives early.
What decides the opening date?
A resort opens once there is a lasting snow cover that groomers can pack and smooth into pistes. The 40–70 cm of snow measured on the opening days above gives a good idea of what that means.
- First snow is not the season: In 2025 the first snow of the year fell on Erciyes on 8 September, yet the season opened on 18 December. Autumn snow usually melts in the mild days that follow.
- Snowmaking: Erciyes has more than 150 snow cannons and a 235,000 m³ reservoir to supply them. But snow cannons only work when it is cold enough, so a mild December delays artificial snow too.
- Altitude: Snow settles earlier and lasts longer on high mountains. Altitude goes a long way to explaining how Erciyes kept skiing until mid-May in 2026.
- The first runs can open before the official day: Some resorts open a few runs before the official ceremony, as Palandöken did in 2025.
Skiing early in the season
In the first weeks of the season not every run and lift will be open. Much of the snow on the pistes may be artificial, which is hard and slippery in the morning. Our guide to skiing different snow conditions explains how to handle it.
- Book flexibly: If you are booking for early December, choose an option with free cancellation or date changes.
- Go midweek: The first weekends of the season feel even busier because fewer runs are open.
- Check the piste report before you travel: The resort's official channels show which runs and lifts are open.
The busiest weeks
New Year's Eve 2026 falls on a Thursday and 1 January 2027 is a public holiday in Turkey, so the New Year turns into a long weekend. Turkish school holidays matter even more: the winter break runs from 25 January to 5 February 2027, and the spring mid-term from 8 to 12 March 2027. These three periods are when pistes and hotels are at their busiest.
For quieter slopes, pick the first half of January or weekdays from mid-February into March. Our Erciyes ski season guide goes through the season month by month, and families will find more tips in Erciyes with kids.
Where to follow the opening date
Each resort's operator announces the exact date once the snow situation is clear. For Erciyes, the best source is the operator Kayseri Erciyes A.Ş.: its official website and social media accounts. The website itself notes that the opening date depends on the weather and that updates are posted on social media.
- Webcams and snow reports: They show the real snow cover on the pistes and are far more reliable than news of the first snowfall.
- Local news: Openings are usually announced at a ceremony attended by the governor's office or the municipality.
Planning Erciyes for 2026–27
Our departure dates for this season are set: the 4-night packages start every Monday from 21 December 2026 to 15 March 2027, and the 2-night packages every Friday from 25 December 2026 to 19 March 2027. Whether pistes and lifts are open always depends on snow and weather, so the booking terms are worth knowing.
See Erciyes ski holiday prices for costs and how to get to Erciyes for travel. If you are starting from scratch, look at the beginner package; if you already ski or snowboard, the experienced package is for you. And if the snow comes late, adding a trip to Cappadocia in winter makes a good back-up plan.
Destinations mentioned
Erciyes
Türkiye
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